The Red String Between Us Part II: Frayed Threads

第9章 Two Days Before the Gala

      I wasn't expecting much when Harum told me to clear my evening. A dinner somewhere trendy, maybe a quiet lounge. But the moment I stepped into his car, I knew he had something else in mind. He was dressed in a tailored suit, crisp shirt, the faintest trace of cologne that made the air between us feel charged.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" I asked as he pulled off from my house.

He smirked, eyes on the road. "Dinner on the pier"

When we finally pulled off near the shoreline, I caught my breath. Nestled at the end of a small pier was a private setup—strings of lanterns casting a golden glow across the water, a canopy draped above a single table dressed in white linen. Candles flickered in the breeze, and the faint sound of waves lapped against the wood beneath us.

"Harum..." My voice came out softer than I intended.

He rounded the car, opening my door with an outstretched hand. "You said you wanted bold and modern," he said, lips quirking into that signature half-smile. "I thought I'd give you the same in a date."

I let him help me out, his hand firm and warm around mine. He walked me to the table, pulling out my chair before I could even think to do it myself. Chivalrous, old-fashioned in the most disarming way.

The courses came one by one, prepared by a private chef—delicate sashimi rolls, seared wagyu with truffle glaze, wine that shimmered ruby in crystal glasses. Between bites, Harum kept the conversation flowing with an ease I envied.

"So tell me," he said at one point, swirling his glass. "What does an Employee Excellence Gala really mean? Is this where they make you give a speech?"

I groaned, leaning back. "Don't remind me. Yes, I'll probably have to. Which means I need to look perfect and sound perfect while half the company judges me."

His gaze softened, steady on me. "Eden, you don't need a dress to make anyone proud. You walk into a room and people pay attention. The gala is just catching up to what's already true."

The words caught me off guard, making warmth creep into my cheeks. I looked away, focusing on the candlelight dancing between us. "That's sweet of you to say."

"Not sweet," he corrected, leaning in slightly.

As the night deepened, our conversation drifted—stories of childhood mischief, his first big business deal gone wrong, me confessing how terrified I was before my first presentation at Aoki Global. He listened intently, never rushing, never checking his phone, as though there was nothing in the world more important than hearing me.

When a cool breeze swept across the pier, I shivered, and before I could protest, he was shrugging out of his jacket and draping it around my shoulders. "Better?" he asked, his hands lingering just a fraction too long on my arms.

I nodded, suddenly very aware of how close we were sitting.

By the time he drove me home, the silence between us was heavy with things neither of us dared say. At my door, he walked me up the steps, his hand brushing mine once, twice.

"Well," he murmured, eyes searching mine, "thank you for tonight. I'll admit—I wanted it to be memorable."

I smiled, nerves tangling with something else entirely. "You succeeded." I said. "Would you like to attend the excellence awards with me? as a friend of course." I asked him. 

He leaned closer, so close I could feel his breath against my lips. The world slowed, anticipation coiled tight in my chest— "I would love to" He whispered. Just as he was going to kiss me, we heard a car door slammed.

We both turned just as two familiar figures emerged from a cab at the curb, luggage in hand.

"Surprise!" my mom called out, beaming. My dad followed with a grin. "We thought we'd get in early to help with gala prep!"

My stomach dropped. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I stumbled back a step, caught between Harum and my parents.

"Um—Mom, Dad," I stammered, forcing a smile, "this is... Harum."

If he was caught off guard, he didn't show it. Ever the gentleman, he extended his hand to my father with an easy smile. "It's an honor to meet you both."

My mom's eyes sparkled as she looked between us, suspicion written all over her face.

Harum immediately offered to help with the luggage, and my dad reluctantly let him take the bags from his hands. He carried them into the foyer with practiced ease before turning back to us with a polite smile.

"Well, I should let you all settle in," he said, his tone warm but measured. He leaned in as if to kiss my cheek goodnight, but the sharp glare from my father froze him mid-movement. With a subtle, knowing smile, he straightened instead.

"I'll call you," he murmured, before stepping out into the night.

I felt like a teenager all over again.