THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY: THE FIRST HEIR OF AN EMPIRE

Las Vegas, with its dazzling lights and promises of eternal glamour, had always been Bryan Mendes’ playground. The son of a dynasty of magnates and the current CEO of one of the city's largest companies, he was the king of a luxury empire. Lavish parties, glittering casinos, and beautiful women were part of his everyday life, but behind the expensive suits and calculated arrogance, there was something he never allowed anyone to see: the emptiness that consumed him. Despite all the power and wealth he possessed, he felt that something essential was missing.

That night, at yet another party atop one of Vegas' most exclusive skyscrapers, Bryan was surrounded by friends and business colleagues. Music pulsed in the background, and champagne flowed freely. His fiancée, Natália, stood by his side, laughing and chatting with other members of Las Vegas’ elite. She was beautiful and perfect at first glance, with impeccably styled blonde hair and a charming smile, but Bryan knew that Natália’s smile was as superficial as the city lights that sparkled below them.

"Bryan, darling, you’re so quiet today. What’s going on?" Natália asked, gently placing her hand on his arm.

Bryan smiled, but it was a rehearsed, automatic smile. "Nothing, just thinking about work," he replied, taking a sip of his whiskey. "I have an important meeting tomorrow."

Natália shook her head with a dismissive air. "Always work, work, work. You need to relax, darling. We’re going to Monaco next week; you’ll see how wonderful it will be."

Bryan nodded, but his mind was already elsewhere. He knew Natália didn’t really care about his concerns. For her, everything was about maintaining appearances. She wanted to be the wife of a magnate, to live in mansions and have her name splashed across magazines, but there was a growing distance between them, something he could no longer ignore.

"I’ll be right back," Bryan said, pulling away from the crowd. He needed air. Something different.

He stepped out of the penthouse onto the balcony, where the night breeze gently blew. The city lights glittered in the distance, but Bryan felt nothing. Everything seemed mechanical, as if he were trapped in a gear that turned endlessly, never leading him anywhere. He pulled his phone from his pocket and started scrolling through work messages, looking for something to distract him. However, the superficiality of it all—the money, the power, the parties—was beginning to erode his soul.

In the distance, his eyes settled on the bar across the street. It was a simple, modest place, something very different from the luxurious clubs he usually frequented. Suddenly, he felt an urge to leave that suffocating environment. Without telling anyone, he descended to the building’s lobby and walked out the front door, heading toward the bar. Something about the place called to him, something he couldn’t explain.

The Bar The bar was simple, with yellow lights and soft music playing in the background. It was a refuge for ordinary people, far from the spotlights and excesses Bryan knew so well. As he entered, he noticed the place was crowded, but not with the loud crowds he was used to. Here, people were engaged in quiet conversations, sharing genuine laughter and sipping cheap beer.

Bryan sat at the bar, unnoticed. No one here recognized him as the powerful CEO of Las Vegas. He was just another man searching for something he couldn’t define.

"Good evening, what can I get you?" A soft, welcoming female voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up, and his eyes met those of a young woman behind the bar.

She looked nothing like the women he usually saw at elite parties. Her brown hair was tied back in a casual manner, and she wore a simple waitress uniform. But there was something in her eyes—a depth, a sincerity that unsettled him.

"I... I'll have a beer, please," Bryan replied, surprised by the casual tone of his own voice. He, who always ordered the finest whiskeys and champagnes, now just wanted a beer.

"A beer?" The waitress smiled, as if finding his choice interesting. "I thought you were more of the type who orders expensive whiskey."

Bryan raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

She laughed lightly. "You seem like the kind of guy who's always at glamorous parties, wearing expensive suits and surrounded by important people. Am I wrong?"

He smiled, genuinely for the first time that night. "Maybe you’re right. But tonight... tonight I just want a beer."

She handed him the drink and introduced herself. "My name is Vitória. And you?"

"Bryan," he said, accepting the beer.

The casual touch of the conversation surprised him. Vitória didn’t seem to care who he was or where he came from. In fact, she seemed more interested in what he actually thought. And that was something Bryan wasn’t used to finding.

"So, Bryan," she began, wiping the counter near him, "what brings you to a place like this? It doesn’t seem like your kind of bar."

He looked at the beer glass as if searching for the answer there. "I guess I just needed somewhere different... something different."

"Something different?" Vitória laughed. "Sounds like you’re running from something."

"Maybe I am," he admitted, feeling surprisingly comfortable being honest with her. "Sometimes, it feels like the more I have, the more I feel like something’s missing. Does that make sense?"

She tilted her head, thoughtful. "It does. I think a lot of people feel that way, even those who don’t have everything. We always want something that seems out of reach."

Bryan watched her for a moment, intrigued by the simplicity of her words and the way she seemed to understand him, even without knowing his story. There was a sincerity in Vitória that drew him in, a sense that, unlike everyone around him, she wanted nothing from him but a real conversation.

"Have you always worked here?" he asked, trying to learn more about her.

"Yes, for a few years now. It’s not my dream job, but it pays the bills." She smiled, but Bryan saw a glimpse of something deeper in her eyes.

"What are your dreams, then?" He found himself asking, genuinely interested.

Vitória was silent for a moment, as if considering whether she should share something so personal with a stranger. "I want to help people. I always have. Maybe work in something that makes a difference in someone’s life, you know?"

Bryan nodded, feeling even more intrigued. She was different. Very different from anyone he knew in his world of superficiality.

"You don’t seem like the typical Las Vegas magnate," she observed with a slight smile.

"I don’t always feel like one," Bryan admitted, taking another sip of his beer.

As their conversation flowed, Bryan felt an unexpected sense of peace. There, in that simple bar, with a waitress who had no idea who he was, he found a moment of clarity. Maybe what he sought wasn’t in glass-and-steel skyscrapers, in parties, and in excesses. Maybe it was in the simpler things, in the more genuine people.

The atmosphere in the bar continued to hum with a calm and soothing energy. While most of the patrons spoke in hushed tones, Bryan couldn’t take his eyes off Vitória. There was something intriguing about her, something he couldn’t quite define, but it drew him in irresistibly. The simple way she smiled, the honesty in her eyes—everything felt so different from what he was used to.

He stared at his beer, reflecting on how he ended up in this unexpected place and about the woman in front of him, who seemed completely indifferent to his wealth or position.

"You seem lost in thought," Vitória said, interrupting his daydreams. She was leaning on the counter, cleaning some glasses, but clearly engaged in the conversation.

"Maybe I am," Bryan replied, smiling. "It’s rare to find someone you can have an honest conversation with in Vegas."

Vitória chuckled, a soft and genuine laugh. "I guess you haven’t been hanging out in the right places, then."

"Probably not," he agreed. "But maybe I found the right place tonight."

She raised an eyebrow, sensing his subtle flirtation. "And what brought you here, besides needing a beer? Las Vegas is full of luxurious, glamorous places for someone like you."

Bryan was silent for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. "I think sometimes you need to get away from the glamour, you know? All those parties, rich people, events... It can be suffocating."

Vitória nodded, understanding. "It must be hard, with so many responsibilities and expectations. But at the same time, it’s hard to imagine that someone with your life would have concerns like that."

Bryan laughed, but there was a touch of melancholy in his voice. "You’d be surprised. Sometimes, what looks like glamour is just a mask to cover the chaos inside."

Vitória stopped wiping the counter and looked at him directly. Her eyes, deep and curious, seemed to be probing something more in Bryan. "I get what you mean. People always underestimate me. They look at me and think I’m just a waitress, no story, no dreams. But we all have our own struggles, don’t we?"

He nodded, admiring the unexpected depth in her words. "Yes, we do."

There was a brief silence between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was as if both were absorbing the connection that was forming, a spark that felt natural and intense at the same time.

"How long have you worked here?" Bryan asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Three years," she replied, with a small smile of satisfaction. "It’s not my dream job, but it’s honest. It pays the bills, and I meet interesting people."

Bryan leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "And what are your dreams?"

She hesitated for a moment, as if pondering whether she should be so open with someone she had just met. But there was something about Bryan, something that made her feel like she could trust him. "I want to make a difference in people’s lives. Work with social causes, maybe open a nonprofit someday."

He was silent for a few seconds, admiring the simplicity and yet the greatness of what she said. In the world of excess and superficiality he lived in, meeting someone so genuine was almost shocking.

"That’s incredible," he said sincerely. "Not everyone wants to make a real difference."

"Thank you," she replied, smiling softly but with a thoughtful expression. "And you? What makes you happy, Bryan? And don’t tell me it’s money or success."

Bryan laughed, though it was more self-deprecating than joyful. "If I knew the answer, maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here in some random bar right now."

Vitória looked at him curiously. "It’s funny. You have everything people dream of having, but you still seem to be searching for something. Like... you don’t know what you want from life yet."

Bryan observed her for a moment, surprised by her insight. She was right. He had it all—money, power, a beautiful fiancée—but deep down, he still felt an emptiness that none of it filled. And for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel the need to hide that.

"You’re right," he admitted. "It’s like the more I achieve, the more I realize something’s missing."

"And what do you think is missing?" she asked, curious.

He sighed, looking into his glass. "I don’t know. But I don’t think I’ve ever let myself find out."

Vitória nodded, understanding. In a way, she knew what he meant. Everyone had their own paths to follow, but sometimes society, expectations, and success distracted them from what truly mattered.

"What do you say we get out of here?" Bryan asked suddenly, changing the subject. "I mean... leave the bar. Take a walk, talk."

Vitória looked at him suspiciously but with amusement. "Are you asking me out?"

He smiled, a genuine smile that lit up his face. "I guess I am. Not in the conventional way, of course. But I like talking to you, and maybe we could keep the conversation going away from the counter."

She laughed but then frowned, as if considering it. "Bryan, I’m not like the women you’re used to—those from parties and fancy hotels. I’m not going to sleep with you just because you ordered a beer and said a few nice words."

He raised his hands in surrender. "I know. And I’m not asking for that. I just... want to talk. Walk. Get to know you better."

Vitória looked at him for a few seconds, assessing whether he was sincere. Something in the tone of his voice and the way he looked at her made her believe him, against her initial judgment. Maybe there was more to Bryan Mendes than just the charming millionaire CEO.

"Alright," she finally said. "But just a walk. And I’m paying for my own drink."

Bryan laughed. "Deal."

The two of them left the bar together, the cool night breeze of Las Vegas wrapping around them. The city lights felt distant now as they walked through the quieter streets, away from the glare of the casinos and parties.

"You’re not what I expected," Vitória said, breaking the silence.

Bryan raised an eyebrow. "What did you expect?"

"Someone arrogant. Who thinks the world revolves around him because he has money."

He smiled, looking ahead. "Maybe I am a bit like that. But... I’m trying to change."

"Why?" she asked, turning to him.

"Because I met someone who made me realize that maybe there’s more to life than I was willing to see."

Vitória stopped and looked at him, surprised. "And who is that person?"

Bryan gave her an enigmatic smile and, without breaking eye contact, replied, "I’m still figuring that out."

His answer earned him a smile from Vitória, a sincere smile that lit up her eyes in a way Bryan hadn’t seen in other women. And at that moment, he knew he wanted to know more about her. More than just a few hours of conversation. He wanted to understand who she was, why she made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time: authenticity.

Time passed quickly as they talked and walked. Without realizing it, they arrived at the front of the hotel where Bryan was staying. He looked up, seeing the lights shining in the tall windows, before turning his attention back to Vitória.

"This is where I’m staying," he said casually, trying not to sound too forward.

Vitória hesitated, feeling the undeniable attraction between them but not willing to give in so easily. "I’m not sure that’s a good idea."

Bryan noticed her discomfort and smiled, stepping back. "No rush, Vitória. We can keep it like this... just talking. No pressure."

She smiled gratefully, appreciating that he wasn’t rushing things. "Thank you, Bryan. You’re different from what I thought."

"And so are you," he said, watching her as she took a step back, ready to leave.

"So... see you later?" she asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

Bryan gave a slight nod. "See you later, Vitória."

She turned and walked slowly away from him but not without looking back one last time. Bryan stood there for a few seconds, watching her disappear into the night, feeling something he hadn’t felt in a long time: a spark of hope.

Something about Vitória made him believe that, maybe, he was closer to filling the void that had been haunting him.