Souvenir - Chapter 6.2

I exhaled, regaining my composure. “You certainly did. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Kenny stepped inside, taking a quick glance around my office before her eyes settled back on me. “I was in the area and thought I’d drop by. But honestly, I was hoping we could talk. We haven’t had the chance to properly catch up since that day at the aquarium.”

That day.

I still remembered the way Suu had tugged at my coat, her small voice laced with unspoken emotions.

Kenny took a seat without waiting for an invitation, casually crossing her legs. “Relax, Tommy. I’m not here for anything serious. I just missed talking to an old friend.”

I studied her for a moment before leaning back in my chair. “Alright, I’m listening.”

She glanced at the neatly stacked legal documents on my desk and chuckled. “You’re still as meticulous as ever. I bet you even organize your sock drawer by color.”

I smirked. “You’d be correct.”

“Figures.” She tilted her head slightly, her expression turning more thoughtful. “But… I feel like something’s changed about you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Changed?”

“Yeah.” She tapped her fingers against the armrest. “You seem… different. Softer, maybe? More settled. There’s something in your eyes that wasn’t there before.”

I knew what she meant. Suu had changed me in ways I hadn’t even realized until others started noticing.

“Maybe I have,” I admitted.

Kenny watched me carefully, as if trying to read my thoughts. “Is it because of your daughter?”

I hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yes. Suu has become the most important person in my life.”

She smiled, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes. “That’s nice… I’m happy for you, Tommy. Really.”

There was a pause before she spoke again, this time more hesitantly.

“Would it be alright if I met her?”

That question made me pause.

Letting Kenny into my home—into Suu’s world—was a significant decision. I had already spent days debating whether to invite her over after she reached out.

But after today, something in me shifted.

Maybe it was the familiarity of our shared past, or maybe it was the simple fact that I trusted Kenny enough to at least introduce her to Suu.

I exhaled slowly, nodding.

“Alright,” I said. “Come over tomorrow for lunch.”

Her smile widened. “Great. I’ll bring dessert.”

As she stood up to leave, she hesitated for a brief moment before placing a hand on my desk. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the side of you I never got to know, Tommy.”

And with that, she walked out, leaving me staring after her, deep in thought.

“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly. Do you have a moment?”

It seemed Kenny had already spoken to my secretary—who, by coincidence, was also her junior. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to enter my office without prior notice.

I guessed my secretary had played along with the surprise, intentionally not informing me. Why, I had no idea.

“Hey, Kenny. It’s been a while. I didn’t expect to see you here. What’s going on?”

I was so caught off guard that I instinctively saved my unfinished document, closed my laptop, and stood up.

Kenny remained by the door for a moment, smiling, but as she walked toward me, her expression shifted into something more serious.

“I’ve been thinking about you two ever since we met at the aquarium.”

You two.

The way she said it sent an uneasy chill down my spine.

I suddenly remembered—back at the aquarium, she had been about to say something when Suu pulled me away, insisting we leave. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But now, standing here in my office, I felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

What did she mean by “you two”?

Was this some kind of threat?

I had always been aware of how transparent men could be when it came to their desires, but I never thought our situation—mine and Suu’s—would be noticed so soon.

Women, especially when it comes to emotions and relationships, possess an unnerving ability to perceive things before they are spoken. The idea that Kenny might have figured something out made my heartbeat quicken.

If she had, what kind of excuse could I possibly give?

I opened my mouth, about to say something—anything—to steer the conversation elsewhere, but before I could, she closed the distance between us.

Her fingers grasped my tie, pulling it slightly as she slipped her other hand beneath my collar.

She traced her fingertips along the edge of my suit jacket, slowly sliding them upward as she leaned in.

I hadn’t expected her to get this close, and my body stiffened instinctively. I turned my head slightly to avoid her gaze, but she had a firm hold on my tie, keeping me in place.

“Back when Daniel and I used to drink with you at the bar, I always hoped you’d make a move,” she murmured. “I wanted you to.”

Her auburn hair brushed against my cheek, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. Her heavily mascaraed lashes framed eyes that glistened, almost as if she were on the verge of tears.

She always had that kind of expression—one that made men want to hold her, protect her. Maybe that was why Daniel had fallen for her.

Back then, I had found her charming too. I had wanted her.

But I stepped aside for Daniel.

Because, at the time, securing my future—my career—was far more important than romance.

Then, before I could stop myself, my lips were on hers.

She parted them slightly, and her tongue slipped into my mouth.

I let it happen.

Heat rushed through my body, responding to hers.

The office was silent. It was past lunchtime—my secretary was out, and no one else would be visiting at this hour.

Kenny must have known this. She had chosen this time deliberately.

The city’s noise filtered faintly through the closed windows—the distant honk of a car horn, the muffled chatter of pedestrians.

But inside this office, the world had faded away.