Tim and Milena, hand in hand, walked towards the beachfront restaurant where they planned to have dinner with Susan and Deshawn. It was a beautiful evening, the sun setting in hues of orange and pink, casting a gentle glow over the waters. The soft breeze ruffled Milena's hair, making her laugh as she tried to push it away from her face. Tim chuckled and said, "You look beautiful, even with that windswept look."
She blushed, leaning in to kiss him. "You always know how to make me feel special."
As they approached the restaurant, they spotted Susan and Deshawn at a table, chatting animatedly with a tall, muscular man who was laughing at something Susan said. Seeing them approach, Susan waved them over. "Tim! Milena! Come meet Marcus!"
Marcus stood up, his smile easy and his eyes twinkling with mischief. He extended a hand towards Tim, "Hey, you must be the lucky man. Susan and Deshawn have told me so much about you. Congrats on the wedding."
Tim, ever the timid one, replied, "Thank you, Marcus. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Milena, a bit taken aback by Marcus's confident demeanor, merely nodded, "Nice to meet you too."
The evening progressed with laughter, food, and drinks. Marcus, ever the charmer, shared tales of his nightlife adventures, owning clubs in South Florida, and his many escapades. While he seemed genuinely interested in their stories, there was an underlying current of intent in his interactions with Milena. He occasionally complimented her, making her blush, while ensuring Tim never felt threatened or left out.
Deshawn, sensing the possible tension, chimed in with stories of his and Marcus's younger days, making everyone laugh. Susan, meanwhile, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the attention Marcus was subtly giving Milena, though she did nothing to encourage it overtly.
As the night wore on, and after a few drinks, Susan suggested, "Hey, why don't we head to one of Marcus's clubs after dinner? I think it'll be fun!"
Deshawn, ever the supporter, agreed, "Sounds like a plan!"
Milena looked hesitant, her unease clear. "I don't know, Susan. You know I'm not really into clubs."
Tim squeezed her hand under the table, sensing her discomfort. "We can go for a little while, if you want," he whispered.
Marcus, catching the hesitation in Milena's voice, quickly interjected, "It's okay, Milena. I understand clubs aren't everyone's scene. How about this? Come by, see if you like it, and if not, no pressure to stay. I'll even ensure you get a quiet table away from the noise, just for you and Tim."
While Marcus's words were kind and understanding, there was a hint of persuasion in his eyes, which Milena or Tim didn't catch.
Milena, not wanting to be the party pooper and sensing that Susan was eager to go, reluctantly agreed, "Alright, we'll come for a bit."
