22. Minji
MINJI
Why did the dinner have to be this week of all weeks?
All I want is to curl up at Aaron’s place and just exist as myself, not as attorney Lee.
Yet, if I want my career to keep moving forward, showing up is non-negotiable.
The drive to Le Ami slips by in a blur. Our conversation flows easily, touching on everything except what waits for me after dessert.
Aaron’s hand rests on my thigh, his touch both a claim and a comfort.
“You nervous?” he asks as we pull up to the restaurant.
“About dinner? No.”
I lean over and kiss him, quick but sweet. “Pick me up at ten-thirty?”
“I’ll be waiting.” His thumb traces my cheekbone. “Go knock ‘em dead, Counselor.”
“Hey, Honeybee?”
I turn back, one hand on the door frame. “Yeah?”
“Just so you know—” He grins, that dimple making an appearance. “—you look sexy in that dress. I’m already thinking about peeling it off you later.”
My breath catches as heat blooms across my chest and up my neck. The way his eyes travel over me makes my skin tingle, like he’s already touching me.
“Aaron.” I glance around to make sure no one heard him. But I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “I’m about to walk into a room full of senior partners.”
“And every person in that room will be thinking the same thing I am.” His voice drops lower, sending a shiver down my spine. “That you’re the most gorgeous woman they’ve ever seen.”
“You’re insane.” I blush.
“Just making sure you walk in there knowing exactly how incredible you are.” His smile softens. “Now go show them what Minji Lee is made of.”
I close the car door with a reluctant sigh, straighten my shoulders, adjust my clutch, and head toward the restaurant entrance.
As I step into the restaurant after leaving Aaron behind, my reflection in the glass doors stops me.
I barely recognize the woman looking back—a new glow in her eyes, a confidence born from being truly wanted.
Aaron has shifted something deep within me, and I’m not sure I could ever return to who I was before.
But tonight isn’t for daydreams about Aaron.
This partners’ dinner is the moment I’ve been chasing for three years, the date circled and recircled on my calendar, my own North Star.
Every late-night deposition, every weekend surrendered to case files, has led me here, my shot at finally catching the senior partners’ attention.
Inside, Le Ami’s understated elegance welcomes me. The ma?tre d’ leads me to a private dining room where William and several partners are already gathered, holding champagne flutes. The founder, Catherine Parras, elegant in her sixties with a sharp silver bob, is the first to notice me.
“Minji,” she begins. “Lovely to see you outside the office.”
“Likewise, Mrs. Parras,” I reply, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing server.
“Catherine, please,” she corrects with a warm smile. “We’re celebrating tonight. Well, if you excuse me, I see Jasmyn needs some saving from Terrance’s jokes.”
I nod and scan the room. All five senior partners are present. William, Jasmyn, and three senior associates from other offices are also here—my pulse quickens. With a group smaller than usual, the night feels more intimate.
“Minji.” William appears at my elbow, looking as annoying as ever with yet another ugly bow tie. This time, it’s a hunter-green tie with steamboats on it. “You look… different tonight.”
I take a sip of champagne. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Just an observation.” His eyes linger on me.
“Well, you and your observations,” my voice drops so only he can hear, “can go fuck yourselves. I hate you.” I turn on my heel, spotting Jasmyn across the room and gliding toward her.
“Girl, what did you say to him?” She whispers as I slide up beside her. “He looks like he just swallowed his bow tie.”
“Nothing of importance.” I smile, clinking my glass against hers. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to hear Terrance’s golf stories. Four times.” She rolls her eyes. “But Catherine rescued me, thank the heavens.”
Before we can catch up further, a gentle chime of silverware against crystal interrupts the room. Jonathan Parras, Catherine’s husband and co-founder, stands at the head of the table, gesturing for everyone to take their seats.
“I see we’ve all arrived,” he announces, his voice carrying the authority of someone used to commanding courtrooms. “Please, find your places.”
My heart sinks when I discover my assigned seat is directly across from William, but at least I have Jasmyn on one side and Catherine on the other. Small mercies.
“Before we enjoy this magnificent meal,” Jonathan continues once we’re all seated, “I’d like to share some exciting news.”
The table goes quiet. This is unusual; these dinners are usually just social, a chance to chat with the partners away from office politics.
“As many of you know, our firm has been considering expansion for some time,” Jonathan says, his gaze sweeping across the table. “Today, I’m pleased to announce that Parras Law will be opening a new office in Seoul next quarter.”
My champagne glass stalls halfway to my lips. Seoul. My hometown. The city I left behind seventeen years ago, a place I’ve only dared to visit twice since.
“This expansion represents a significant opportunity for our firm to serve international clients, particularly in corporate and intellectual property law,” Jonathan continues. “And we’ll need a strong leadership team to establish our presence there.”
Catherine leans closer to me. “Your work on the Kim Industries case last year made quite an impression, Minji,” she says quietly. “Your understanding of both Korean business culture and American legal frameworks is…”
My mind races to catch up with what she’s implying. “Are you saying—”
“Nothing’s decided yet,” Catherine says with a small smile. “But your name has come up in our discussions.”
The conversation drifts as servers present the first course, but I barely register the delicate seafood on my plate. Seoul. The idea of returning—not just to visit, but to build a life and career there—makes my heart ache. My mother would be over the moon.
“You okay?” Jasmyn whispers. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“They’re considering me for the Seoul office,” I whisper back.
Her eyes widen. “Holy shit, Minji! That’s huge!”
I thought tonight was about making partner here in the States, not halfway across the world. My mind races. Going back to Seoul could mean partnership a year ahead of schedule—the very thing I’ve been grinding toward.
“Would you go?” Jasmyn asks, keeping her voice low as the conversation around us flows.
“I… I don’t know.” Two months ago, I would have jumped. Now, with Aaron, everything feels different.
I cut off that thought. Six nights—that’s all we promised. I can’t pause my career for a man I’ve known for less than two months, no matter how safe he makes me feel.
“Earth to Minji.” Jasmyn nudges me under the table. “William’s been staring at you for the last two minutes. It’s creeping me out.”
I glance up to find William, indeed, watching me, a calculating look in his eyes. He raises his glass slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.
“So, Minji,” he says, loud enough to draw attention from nearby conversations. “What do you think about the Seoul office? Considering your… background, you must have thoughts.”
“I think international expansion is a logical step for the firm,” I say. “Seoul is quickly becoming a major hub for technology and intellectual property law. The opportunities are significant.” While I do love divorce law, switching the cases I take wouldn’t be difficult.
Catherine nods approvingly. “Precisely why we’ve been considering it for some time. The question now is who will lead the initiative.”
William leans forward, all false modesty. “I’ve been studying Korean business culture extensively. I even started language lessons last month.” Kiss ass.
I nearly choke on my wine. The thought of William attempting Korean is almost too much. No wonder people call lawyers liars. William’s lies deserve their own case study. He lies for the sheer sport of it.
“How impressive,” I say, not bothering to hide my sarcasm. “How many words have you mastered so far? Two? Three?”
A few chuckles ripple around the table, and William’s smile tightens.
“It’s about more than language, Minji. It’s about understanding global business dynamics. Something I’ve been focusing on in my recent cases.”
“Indeed,” Jonathan interjects smoothly. “Which is why we’re considering all our options carefully.
This isn’t just about who speaks the language.
It’s about who can build something substantial from the ground up.
The Hui-Wang case and the Thornton case will be looked at with scrutiny, so you two had better put your best foot forward. ”
Translation: whoever nails their case gets the golden ticket to Seoul. If that’s the game, I’m already winning. William has been botching the Thornton case from day one, and now that I know how much he needs it, I’ll let him take the reins. Meanwhile, the Hui-Wang case is smooth sailing for me.
As the main course arrives and plates are exchanged for new ones, the conversation shifts, but the tension lingers. I catch partners glancing between William and me, silently tallying our strengths and weaknesses. Our rivalry, always simmering, is now at a rolling boil.
By the time dessert is served, the Seoul discussion has given way to other topics.
I am acutely aware of the calculating looks still being exchanged between the partners.
My phone buzzes in my clutch. A text from Aaron, no doubt, checking in.
I resist the urge to look at it, focusing instead on Catherine’s story about a particularly difficult judge.
“He actually threw his gavel,” she says, gesturing with her dessert fork. “Thirty years in practice, and I’d never seen anything like it.”