Page 60 of Rival to the Billionaire

"I…I'm fine." She loosens her hold over me, before looking back towards the restaurant. "Is this the big surprise?"

"That it is," I reply, tapping my finger against the side of her helmet. "Welcome to La Sonrisa. It's like a true oasis. The owners are super nice. And the food. Fucking perfect. Everything on the menu will make you squeal. It offers a nice, cool environment with a comfortable, laid-back ambience…" My voice trails off when I catch her looking at the restaurant again. "What?" I ask.

Her steady gaze continues taking in the space. “It’s…wow. How did you find this spot?"

"Well, believe it or not, I've been to Vegas a lot in my heyday."

Her lips twitch as she rolls her eyes. "Oh, I believe it. And this 'heyday' of yours was when? Yesterday?"

"Oh, I see how it is." I grin. "You joke now. But I'll have you know that the Ryder you're looking at right now is a hell of a lot different from the Ryder I used to be."

"And how are you different, exactly?"

"Helping to develop the app has taken a lot of my time these days...but I've also used that time to become more focused and disciplined. Because I'm all-in on this thing." I feel Jenny stiffen, her hands gripping my waist again a little tighter. "I've seen the results of my dedication. I've seen how taking a step back and analyzing everything--even the parts you hate--can strengthen you and your vision. I've seen how making mistakes, and not hiding from them, can build an even stronger foundation in the end."

"I see," she breathes out.

There's a crack in that voice of hers. A tiny crack.

I turn towards her. "And I'd like to think I'm more open than I used to be." I glance at her. "And I feel calmer. Less…less driven by short-term wins and more attentive to my long-term gains. In the past few years, I've seen the man in the mirror who made me realize I might not have been the best version of me."

"Really?"

"Really," I continue, reaching out so I can steady Jenny as she climbs down carefully from the back of the bike. I peek up at the vintage neon sign that reads, 'La Sonrisa.' A dimmed red, pink, and orange light. "I'm doing things differently, trying new things…"

Finally, I climb down, and can't help but notice Jenny's tense stance, gaze fixed on me. I straighten, gesturing towards the restaurant. I reach for Jenny's helmet to help her remove it before taking off my own. "Shall we?"

Outside, there's a small table and some chairs with a gauze canopy overhead, where candles burn softly. The décor is low-key. Almost like a garden oasis. I can tell Jenny is trying her hardest to be calm, but I've caught a few glimpses at the way she jitters.

Is she nervous? Why?

"Signs point to it being Latin food," I say, opening the front door for her. "But it's really this global fusion of Peruvian, Indian, Thai… You name it. The owners are from Seattle, actually" I add. "By way of Tijuana. The food is quite legendary. And you won't be disappointed."

Doesn't take us long to be greeted by the hostess, who directs us past the candles towards a table in the back, hand-picked by the owner himself.

And then we're seated, our menus in hand.

"Wow," Jenny breathes out, glancing around. "It's beautiful."

"Isn't it?" My eyes follow hers.

"But…" She peers back at me. "I still don't feel comfortable saying this, Ryder, but…"

"But what?”

"It's…very sweet of you to bring me here."

"That's because I knew you would appreciate it,” I reply, before reaching for my menu. She does the same, but when I notice that she's simply looking at the cover, I tilt my head at her. "Do you need a moment?" I ask.

"No," she replies immediately. "I was going to just order my hundred-dollar pork chop and be done with it, but I think I should make a habit of exploring options where I find them. I don't want to be that person…who sticks to her comfort zone because it's what they're used to." Her tone is contemplative, solemn, and I get the feeling she's not just talking about food anymore.

"Fair enough," I say. "Tell you what. Why don't you let me choose for you? I promise I'll make sure you try something new. Something you'd never have thought of by yourself."

"Oh, how generous of you," she playfully teases. "You forget that I'm a foodie, too."

I chuckle, lowering my menu so she can see the cover. "I haven't forgotten. I like to think of you as the ultimate foodie. You eat like you're afraid the food will expire right in front of you."

"Oh? So, you're saying my tastes can't be trusted then. Alright, fine. What would you order?"

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