401: ASSERTING AUTONOMY

ARIEL'S POV Feeling the tap on my shoulder, I turned to see a man standing there, his gaze fixed on me with a curious intensity. His demeanor was confident, almost bordering on cocky, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the way he was looking at me. "Excuse me, miss. Can I have a word with you?" He asked, his voice smooth and persuasive. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he wanted, but eventually nodded in agreement. "Sure, what do you want to talk about?" I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. The man wasted no time in launching into his spiel, his words flowing effortlessly as he explained that he was a talent scout for a modeling agency. He went on to praise my appearance, complimenting my features and telling me that I had the potential to be a successful model. I couldn't help but giggle at his flattery, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief at his audacity. "Thank you for the compliment, but I'm really not interested in all that," I told him, sh