As Demi cuts the cake with the ceremonial precision of someone who’s had too much champagne, Eliza slides into the seat beside me.
“I have news,” she whispers, leaning close. “I’m going to give my notice.”
I nearly choke on my drink. “You what?”
She grins, eyes bright with nervous excitement. “I’m coming with you. If you’ll have me. I’ve already started updating the client files I can legally bring.”
“Are you serious?” I stare at her, processing this unexpected turn.
“Dead serious. I’ve been waiting for someone to show me it’s possible to leave. Turns out that someone was you.” She looks nervous suddenly. “Unless you don’t want?—”
“No, no.” I cut her off, squeezing her arm. “I just… I wasn’t planning to hire anyone so soon, but I’d be an idiot to turn you down. You’re the best paralegal I’ve ever worked with.”
Eliza’s face brightens, relief washing over her features. “Really? Because I already drafted my resignation letter. It’s sitting in my drafts folder, just waiting for me to hit send.”
“Do it,” I say, surprising myself with my certainty. “We’ll figure out the details later.”
She pulls out her phone, taps a few times, and then holds it up triumphantly. “Done. No going back now.”
“To new beginnings,” I toast, clinking my glass against hers.
As the celebration continues around me, I find myself observing everyone with a strange new clarity. Demi animatedly tells Aaron’s brothers a story that involves wild hand gestures. Jasmyn and Cindy huddled together, probably plotting their own escapes. And Aaron, always Aaron, his eyes finding mine across the table whenever I look his way.
I never expected this, not just leaving Parras, but having people actually follow me. Someone believes in me enough to upend their own career. The weight of it settles on my shoulders, not as a burden but as something to be proud of.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Aaron murmurs, sliding back into the seat beside me. “I can see the gears turning. Let yourself enjoy this moment, Minji. You’ve earned it.”
Afternoon turns into evening, and the cake is replaced by loaded potato skins and wings. Demi takes photos for what she calls my future biopic, while Axel and Grayson keep the drinks coming. I laugh more than I have in a long time, and the knot of anxiety in my chest loosens with every passing hour.
When Jasmyn finally stands to leave, citing an early court appearance tomorrow, she pulls me aside.
“I meant what I said earlier,” she tells me, her eyes serious despite the champagne flush in her cheeks. “You’ll be my first call. It might just happen sooner rather than later.”
“I’ll welcome you with open arms,” I say, and I mean it.
After everyone else has left, Aaron and I walk hand in hand to his car.
“So, Ms. Lee of Lee & Associates.” He opens the passenger door. “Are we heading to your place or mine?”
“Your place,” I say immediately. “You have a better shower.”
He chuckles, those dimples appearing in his cheeks as he helps me into the car. “My shower it is. Though I was thinking we might want to get a little dirtier before we get clean.”
The look he gives me sends a rush of heat through me. Even months later, Aaron still has this effect on me. One glance from him and my mind goes blank.
“I could be persuaded.” I shrug, trying for nonchalance and probably failing miserably.
As we drive through the city, I watch the lights blur and feel strangely free. For the first time in my adult life, I don’t have to go to an office tomorrow. No billables to track, no partners to impress, no William to deal with.
“What are you thinking about?” Aaron asks.
“How much I love you,” I reply.
“I love you too, but really what are you thinking?”
“Well, I just took a flying leap off a career cliff and I’m still waiting to hit the ground.” I turn to look at him. “Is it normal to feel this calm about potentially ruining my life?”
“You haven’t ruined anything,” he says with such conviction I almost believe him. “You’ve set yourself free. There’s a difference.”
