When the restaurant became too crowded and their plates were empty, Adam chanced a suggestion that they could have a few drinks. To his surprise, Yui accepted without thinking. There was a different kind of spark in her eyes now that the presentation was over, and he realized just how much pressure she must have put on herself to deliver.

“Are we taking the car?” Yui asked as he led the way through the busy streets of Puerto Banus on that mid-season evening.

Adam took the chance to touch her while he stirred them towards the less crowded surf walk. He placed his hand on her back as they navigated the waves of people and was pleased to see she didn’t pull back.

“Can I drink and drive without you commenting?” he teased.

“Absolutely not!” she replied without even thinking.

“Thought so, and I was hoping to take you out for a few drinks, so I already paid for 24h parking.”

“You did?”

Suspecting she might have something to say about that, Adam was quick to change the subject, pointing towards a beach bar that looked postcard-perfect. On one side, the bar overlooked the marina with its luxury yachts, on the other, nothing but the endless expense of the Mediterranean Sea. It was just windy enough to create that soothing, rhythmic staccato of the waves which made the atmosphere perfect. With the sun down, it was a bit chilly, just perfect for their jackets, and Yui seemed to be finally enjoying herself. He noticed she had adorable dimples when she smiled, but chose not to comment on it, lest he insulted miss corporate in some unknown way.

The waiter, a pretty local girl who was all smiles, appeared by their table the moment they decided to sit, before they could even check the menu.

“What do you recommend?” Yui asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Adam had a feeling miss Ishida had no drinking experience beyond wines that pair with different types of meat, and mimosas. “I bartended for a few years during university. Can I suggest something?” he asked and was rewarded with those cute dimples again. Only then did he turn to the waiter. “Does your bar mix special drinks?”

“Of course, just let me know what you want and we’ll make it happen!”

The cocktail Adam described was a mix of purples and oranges, inspired by a Marbella sunset.  The tall glass filled with granita and alcohol was a perfect match between sweet and sour, making Yui moan happily the moment she took a tentative sip.

“You might wanna pace yourself,” he warned her, as she enjoyed another long sip from her straw. “I had her make it with extra alcohol.”

“Of course you did. Is this always how you are? Always get your way with just a smile and a wink?” a glass of wine and now that wonderful cocktail was about Yui’s limit between sober and tipsy.

He gave her a perfect teeth smile and spread his arms.

“Whatever do you mean, I’m a what you see is what you get kinda guy. And I don’t always get my way. Definitely not with you.”

She shook her head. “You are absolutely ridiculous, Adam!”

“How about we make a pact not to insult each other tonight?”

“Oh, it’s not an insult, mister engineer,” she giggled softly. “It’s a compliment, really.”

“Yeah? And what makes me ridiculous? I like to think I’m a down to earth kinda guy.”

“All of… this,” she paused gesturing vaguely towards his entire person with the hand that wasn’t holding the cocktail. “I mean… you look like Geralt of Rivia if he had a baby with Cloud Strife, how is that not ridiculous?”

So little miss corporate had a geeky side. Adam smiled.

“Please, Geralt’s only hot in the game. According to the books he was ugly as fuck. And Cloud definitely looks better than I would in a dress”

It was her turn to raise her eyebrows in surprise. “You played Final Fantasy? And read the Witcher books?”

Adam allowed himself a moment to just look at her face. There was a different kind of light in her eyes that had nothing to do with the cocktail he suggested for her. She was simply enjoying herself, slowly coming out of her hard shell. Underneath her ridiculous schedules and perfect posture, little Miss Ishida was many layers of interesting. “What, do you think I spend all my time smashing beer cans on my forehead?"

Yui licked her lips, holding back a laug. Her posture changed and she let her hair fall in her face, framing that beautiful, pale skin. Her jacket was on the back of the chair and her blouse fell just slight off skew. It was the first Adam had seen her anything but impeccably put together outside of her room.

"I wouldn't want to answer that, thank you," she retorted, her voice laced with subtle humor. "I thought you'd be more of a FIFA kind of guy, not Witcher."

A loud laugh escaped Adam. They say strong essences come in small bottles, and he never thought that saying to ring truer than right then.  "Rather not answer, yet you answered with a burn. You're Takeo's daughter alright," he teased before taking another drink from his Whiskey Red Bull. "I'm not a soccer kind of guy, unless it's played on grass, by the side of the road with beer and no rules."