Chapter 12 #2
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “And I don’t care.”
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.
“No,” she agrees. “You shouldn’t have.”
But she doesn’t pull away. Instead, her eyes drift to my mouth again, and I feel a surge of hope that maybe, just maybe, I haven’t completely blown this. That she wants this as desperately as I do.
“Minji, I—”
“Aaron!” Axel’s voice cuts through the moment like a knife. He’s approaching quickly, his expression unreadable. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone you need to meet.”
Minji steps back immediately, her spine straightening as she smooths invisible wrinkles from her dress.
The softness I’d glimpsed just a few seconds ago vanishes behind her professional mask.
My fingers curl into fists at my sides. She deserves better than what she’s settled for—a life where she’s convinced herself that loneliness is safer than risking her heart again.
Somehow, I need to prove to her that what we could have together is worth that risk.
“Of course.” I try to keep the irritation from my voice. “Who is it?”
“Jordan Reed. The film producer who’s been trying to get the rights to Between the Lines for the past year.” Axel’s eyes flick between us, clearly sensing the tension. “He’s only here for another fifteen minutes.”
I look at Minji, torn. This could be a major opportunity for my career, but the last thing I want to do right now is leave her. Last time I left her standing alone I almost lost her. I don’t want to lose her again.
“Go.” She shoos me off. “This sounds important.”
“It is,” Axel confirms.
“I’ll be right back,” I promise her. “Ten minutes, tops.”
She nods, but something in her expression tells me she’s already retreating, mentally if not physically. “Take your time.”
Before I can stop her, she’s walking away, her pink dress a beacon in the crowded room.
“Did I interrupt something?” Axel asks, though his tone suggests he knows exactly what he walked in on.
“Nothing that can’t be continued later,” I say with more confidence than I feel. “Let’s go meet this producer.”
We are a few feet away from Jordan when Grayson grabs my arm stopping me. “Yo, what did you do to the TA?”
“Huh?”
“Minji, I saw her heading to the elevator.”
“She’s leaving?” I pull away from Grayson, my heart suddenly in my throat. “What do you mean she’s leaving?”
“She grabbed her purse from the check desk. Looked pretty determined.” Grayson’s expression is serious for once. “What happened?”
I don’t bother answering, already pushing through the crowd toward the elevators. Jordan Reed and his film rights can wait. I catch a glimpse of pink disappearing into an elevator just as the doors begin to close.
“Minji!” I call out, breaking into a run.
The doors slide shut. I jam my hand between them, forcing them back open.
“You’re leaving.” I step inside. Not a question.
“I shouldn’t have come. This was all a huge mistake.”
“What the hell just happened in the last two minutes? Is it because I kissed you?”
The doors close behind me, sealing us in together. The descent begins, each floor marking another second of tense silence.
“No… yes… hell, I don’t know.”
“Minji—”
“Don’t.” She holds up a hand. “Please don’t say whatever romantic speech you’re composing in your head right now.”
“I wasn’t going to give you a speech.” I step closer, careful not to crowd her. “I was going to apologize.”
“You don’t need to say sorry. We just got swept up in the moment and to not fall further down the abyss of sexual tension, it’s best if I go home.”
I reach for her hand, but she pulls back. The elevator feels like it’s descending too quickly, my stomach dropping with it.
“Sexual tension?”
Minji fixes her gaze on the floor numbers as they light up in sequence. “What else could it be, Aaron? We’ve known each other for a week.”
“Two weeks,” I correct her. “With a decade-long intermission.”
She shakes her head, a strand of hair falling across her face. I resist the urge to tuck it behind her ear.
“That’s not how time works.” She looks at me. “You can’t just pick up where we left off when there was nothing to pick up in the first place.”
I don’t know why she is trying so hard to forget about us.
About what we had going on in the past. The elevator reaches the lobby with a soft chime.
When the doors slide open, Minji steps out immediately, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she heads for the exit.
I follow, quickening my pace to catch up.
“Minji, wait. Please.”
She stops, her back still to me, shoulders rigid. The lobby is quiet, just a few late-night guests passing through. When she finally turns, her expression is a battlefield of conflicting emotions.