Minji raises an eyebrow, skepticism written across her features. “You don’t have to pretend for my sake.”
“I’m not pretending.” I guide her through a gentle turn, careful to maintain a respectful distance between us despite wanting to pull her closer. “Vanessa is my past. A complicated, messy part of my past that I’ve spent years processing. Seeing her was a shock, that’s all.”
“Eight years is a long time.”
“It is,” I agree. “But time doesn’t always equal significance.”
She looks at me directly now, her dark eyes searching mine for something—sincerity or deception. “What happened between you two?”
I consider deflecting, maintaining the professional distance she’s insisted on. But something tells me honesty might be the only currency she truly values.
“We wanted different things,” I state simply. “I was ready for marriage, family, roots. She wanted freedom, adventure, the ability to take opportunities without considering anyone else.”
“That’s it?” She sounds skeptical.
“The short version,” I admit. “The long version involves cheating on her end. But enough about Vanessa, tell me about how you ended up dating a man like William.” I know she said her personal life is off limits, but I think her guard is down just enough to share.
“Working in my field and wanting to advance, they look at things?—”
“Tell me the truth.” I pull her closer.
“That’s partially true, but believe it or not, I loved him. We met when I was an intern at the firm, and after I became an attorney, we started dating. He was intelligent and ambitious,but also… controlling. I thought it was because he cared, but in reality, he wanted to own me. Every success I achieved seemed to threaten him alone.” She speaks so softly that I have to lean in to hear. “I think it’s because I have ‘Esq.’ at the end of my name and earn more than him. He became controlling, then jealous; the more successful I became, the more intense it got. Sometimes he’d show up at my apartment, demand to see me, or threaten to tell Caleb we were sleeping together.”
“That’s insane.”
“I still thought I could fix it.”
“Did that bastard ever…” I don’t finish the sentence because I don’t want to force her into an answer she doesn’t want to give.
“No. Never.” The shake of her head is firm, hair swaying around her jaw. “He never physically did anything, but emotionally? He made me feel less than every single day. He hid it well in front of others, but behind closed doors… well, that’s another story.”
I feel anger rising at the thought of William or anyone treating her that way. No wonder she’s different. “Is that why you’re so guarded now?”
“I’m guarded because I’m practical.” Her fingers tense slightly against my shoulder. “Not everyone gets a happily ever after, Aaron. Some of us just learn to be content with what we have.”
“You deserve more than contentment.”
She gives me a look that’s both sad and skeptical. “There you go again, writing stories in your head.”
“I write what I see.”
The music shifts to something more upbeat, but we continue our slow dance, our bodies finding a surprisingly natural rhythm. I’m aware of every point where we touch—my hand at her back, her fingers resting on my shoulder, our palms pressed together.
“You know what I see?” Minji asks suddenly. “I see a man who creates fantasies for a living trying to turn a professional acquaintance into something it’s not.”
Her words sting, but I don’t let go. “Is that what you think this is? A fantasy?”
“I think—” She stops abruptly, her gaze fixed on something over my shoulder. “Your ex is still here, and she is watching us.”
I resist the urge to turn around. “Let her watch.”
“Aaron—”
I cut her off with a kiss. I’m overstepping… I know I’m overstepping, but I want her to know Vanessa means nothing to me. My past with Vanessa is something I never want to relive. My past with Minji, though, I want to relive it repeatedly until she’s as certain of my sincerity as I am. If it goes south, I’ll take the L and live with it. But if it goes right—if even for half a second, she wants it too—then maybe we rewrite our ending. For a heartbeat, she’s frozen, and I’m sure I’ve ruined everything. Then something shifts—her body softens, her fingers tighten on my shoulder, and she’s kissing me back with a hesitance that quickly transforms into hunger.
The world narrows to this single point of contact. The taste of champagne on her tongue, the subtle scent of jasmine, the small sound she makes in the back of her throat. My hand slides from her waist to the small of her back, pulling her closer, feeling the heat of her body through the silky fabric of her dress. When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard. Her eyes are wide, lips slightly parted, cheeks flushed. For once, the always-composed Minji Lee looks completely undone.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” I whisper, though I don’t regret it for a second.
