The Red String Between Us Part II: Frayed Threads

第34章 Shadows and Choices

      We had been back in Hokkaido for a few weeks now, and during that time, Kenji and I had continued seeing each other secretly, stealing quiet moments between work and the comfort of our homes. One evening, he surprised me with a private date that felt like something out of a dream. He had set it on the terrace of his backyard, bathed in the warm glow of countless candles, their flickering light dancing across the soft linens of a meticulously arranged table. At the center rested a heart-shaped sculpture made entirely of roses, and a violinist played a gentle melody that wrapped the world around us in intimacy.

Kenji poured my favorite wine, a 1981 Penfolds Grange, his fingers brushing mine as he handed me the glass. I felt the familiar thrill of being utterly seen. He took my hand in his, his gaze steady and full of emotion. "Eden," he whispered, his voice low and reverent, "I've practiced this a thousand times. I invited you here tonight not just for another date, but to ask what I asked on the boat back in Okinawa. I'm ready, and I'm all in. If you're willing to have me... I want to date you—exclusively."

My heart soared, and I couldn't help but smile. "Kenji, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I teased, leaning closer.

"I am," he replied simply, eyes locked on mine.

I reached up, cupping his face, and pressed my lips to his soft mouth. "Of course I will," I whispered.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause, leaving only the two of us in that perfect, suspended bubble of love and certainty.

After a few quiet sips of wine, we leaned back in our chairs, fingers intertwined. The intimacy of the night softened the edges of our usual worries, but the realities of our professional lives lingered in our minds.

"I wish we could tell everyone," he murmured. "I want the world to know how much you mean to me."

Kenji's hand traced circles along my back. "I feel the same," I admitted. "But the truth is... with everything at Aoki Global, and both of our responsibilities, going public now could complicate things unnecessarily. I want us to be free to enjoy what we have without scrutiny."

He nodded slowly, understanding. "So... we keep it private, just a little longer. But eventually?"

"Eventually," I promised, his eyes dark and earnest. "Soon, when the timing is right. I don't want to hide us forever—I just want to protect what we have while we build it stronger."

He smiled, squeezing my hand. "I can live with that... for now, I don't mind keeping our world between us."

Kenji leaned down, brushing his lips against my temple. "It's real. More real than anything I've ever felt."

The rest of the night passed in comfortable silence, punctuated by soft laughter and lingering touches, both of us savoring the secrecy of our love while imagining a future where it could be shared openly. In that private bubble of candlelight, music, and roses, I felt a perfect balance of joy and patience—a love worth waiting for.

Despite my growing love for Kenji, I had also made peace with the past. Harum and I still met for the occasional coffee, maintaining a gentle friendship built on honesty and respect. He had accepted my choice with grace, and the warmth of our continued camaraderie reminded me that life could be complicated yet kind.

      Just as I began to feel that we were settling into a rhythm, the board introduced a new layer of complexity. A global initiative had assigned a liaison to each Aoki Global office, reporting directly to the CEO of each division. For Japan, a new employee was being added to my division—Mallory Kingsley. I had never met her, and for now, all I knew was that she would be working closely with me. The presence of someone new made me pause, a quiet sense of tension settling over what had begun to feel like normalcy.

I had just settled into my office when the HR assistant knocked gently and slid a file across my desk. "Ms. Eden, this is the board's new directive. Please review."

I opened it, scanning the memo. The board had initiated the global liaison program. A new name caught my eye: Mallory Kingsley - Japan Division.

I frowned, unsure if I had heard the name correctly. It didn't ring a bell. Was she new to Aoki? I made a mental note to look her up later.

Later that afternoon, Kenji arrived at the office. He leaned casually against the doorway with that familiar confident air, and I felt my chest tighten at the sight of him.

"Everything okay?" he asked, noticing the document on my desk.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied quickly, brushing off the lingering confusion about Mallory. "Just reviewing this new liaison directive."

Kenji nodded, eyes sharp and attentive. "Sounds important." He reached out, brushing my hand gently as he passed. The touch, subtle but electric, made me smile.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of meetings and emails, and the thought of Mallory drifted to the back of my mind—brief, fleeting, unimportant. I had other things to focus on.