After the meeting with Mr. Park, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. The pressure of preparing for the presentation had been immense, but now that it was over and seemingly successful, I allowed myself to relax a bit. Ven and I left the client's office, and the sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the streets of Manhattan.
Ven turned to me with a grin as we walked down the sidewalk. "You hungry?" he asked. "I know a great spot not too far from here."
I nodded eagerly. "Definitely. I could eat a horse."
He laughed, and we continued walking, weaving through the throngs of people until we arrived at a small, unassuming door tucked between two much larger buildings. Ven led the way inside, and I was instantly struck by the cozy, intimate atmosphere of the place. It was a small restaurant, dimly lit with soft jazz playing in the background, and a bar that ran along one wall.
We took a seat at the bar, and Ven ordered us a couple of drinks—something strong, from the look of it. I didn't mind. I could use a drink after the day we'd had.
"To a successful meeting," Ven said, raising his glass.
I clinked my glass against his, smiling. "To a successful meeting."
The first sip burned as it went down, but it left a pleasant warmth in its wake. I could feel myself relaxing even more. We ordered some food—nothing too fancy, just a few small plates to share. As we ate and drank, the conversation flowed easily, and I found myself opening up to Ven in a way I hadn't with many people since my family's accident.
"So, Seren," Ven said after we'd been talking for a while, his voice low and smooth, "tell me something about you that I don't know. Something real."
I paused, swirling my drink in my glass. "Something real, huh?" I took another sip, feeling the alcohol starting to loosen my tongue. "Well, there's a lot you don't know about me, Ven. I guess… I guess I've been through some stuff. Lost some people who were important to me."
Ven nodded, his expression serious. "I get that. Loss is a tough thing to handle. But it shapes us, makes us who we are."
I nodded, appreciating his understanding. "Yeah, it does. But it still sucks, you know?"
"Yeah," he agreed, and we both took another drink. The silence between us was comfortable, almost companionable.
After a few more rounds, I could feel the buzz settling in nicely. The room seemed to have a soft, fuzzy edge, and I was warm all over. Ven had leaned in a little closer, his shoulder almost brushing mine.
"You know," I said, my voice a bit bolder than before, "I've never met anyone like you, Ven. You're… different."
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Different how?"
I laughed, taking another sip. "I don't know. You just are. You're… interesting. Mysterious."
Ven chuckled, his eyes sparkling in the dim light. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment. You're pretty interesting yourself, Seren."
I felt a blush creeping up my neck, and I looked away, pretending to focus on my drink. "You don't have to say that," I muttered.
"I'm serious," he insisted, leaning even closer. "There's something about you. Something… intriguing."
I turned to look at him, our faces now just inches apart. The alcohol had made me bold, and without really thinking about it, I reached out and touched his hand, my fingers brushing against his.
Ven didn't pull away. In fact, he moved his hand so that our fingers intertwined, his touch warm and firm. I could feel my heart starting to race, and I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or something else entirely.
"Ven…" I started, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes?" he prompted, his gaze intense.
"I… I really like spending time with you," I confessed, feeling a little embarrassed but too buzzed to care.
Ven smiled, his thumb gently rubbing the back of my hand. "I like spending time with you too, Seren."
There was something in the way he said my name, something that sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this way—this alive, this… excited.
"You know," I said, my voice dropping even lower, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me."
Ven chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that made my stomach flip. "And if I was?"
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "I wouldn't mind," I admitted.
For a moment, we just sat there, staring at each other, the air between us crackling with tension. I wasn't sure who moved first, but suddenly we were even closer, his breath warm against my cheek.
"Seren," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a thrill through me.
Before I could respond, he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. It was a soft, tentative kiss, but it was enough to send my heart into overdrive. I kissed him back, more confidently this time, my hand moving to the back of his neck.
The kiss deepened, and I could feel Ven's hands on my waist, pulling me closer. I melted into him, losing myself in the moment, in the heat of his touch and the taste of his lips.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally pulled back, both of us breathing hard. I stared at him, my mind racing with a million thoughts and questions.
"Wow," I whispered, a bit breathless.
Ven grinned, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Yeah… wow."
We were quiet for a moment, both of us trying to process what had just happened. I could feel my cheeks burning, but I couldn't help the smile that was spreading across my face.
"So… what now?" I asked, feeling a bit shy.
Ven shrugged, still smiling. "Now… we see where this goes."
I nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. "Yeah, I'd like that."
We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, the tension between us now replaced by a new, electric connection. By the time we left the restaurant, I knew that something had changed between us—something big, something that could change everything.
As we walked back to the hotel, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. I didn't know what was going to happen next, but for the first time in a long time, I was excited to find out.