Passion and Power

Chapter 86

3 weeks later
Hanni rushed to put the finishing touches on the homemade dinner she had prepared for Minji. It was already almost 6:00 pm, and Minji almost never walked through the door past 6 anymore. Not since, well. Three weeks ago. If she was ever going to be later than that she always called with an explanation.

Not only that, she had stopped going into the office at all on the weekends. Sometimes Hanni would wake in the middle of the night to see Minji furtively typing away, probably answering emails. But she never slipped away to her home office at the crack of dawn, or stayed up late in her office at home. It seemed like Minji had changed her work/life balance overnight, and took it on like every other challenge. Hanni smiled to herself:

When Minji Kim decides to do something, she damn well does it.

Hanni rarely made dinner herself. Minji had a chef that prepared delicious and healthy meals ahead, which they would warm up as needed. Of course, Hanni was very big on takeout and Minji was quite a chef when she took the time to cook. Hanni happily almost never did anything in the kitchen.

But tonight was special. And so she made the one dish she had taught herself and always made when she was cooking for someone - spaghetti and meatballs. She felt a bit silly, cooking such a simple dish for a food sophisticate like Minji. And she could have asked Minji's chef to make something special, but she wanted to do it herself. After all, they would be celebrating.

Minji smiled when she walked through the door. She saw Hanni carefully arranging the table, she'd even set out candles.

"It smells delicious in here." She said, coming up behind and sliding her arms around Hanni's waist.

"It's spaghetti and meatballs."

"Hanni - you cooked?" Minji said, sounding surprised.

Hanni laughed - of course Minji had figured out that was her go-to dish.

"I did. Just for you." She said, taking Minji's face lightly between her hands and pulling her in for a gentle kiss.

"To what do I owe the honor?"

"Just...um...for being you." Hanni put her forehead against Minji's. "I hope you're hungry."

"Starved." Minji said, rubbing her hand over Hanni's ass suggestively. "Especially for dessert."

"All in good time." Hanni chuckled and pulled out of Minji's arms to make their salads. "Do you want to pick out some wine?"

Minji went to the rather large pantry that stored a good portion of her wine collection and selected a bottle of red that she knew Hanni had enjoyed.

"This looks lovely, Hanni." She said after she opened the bottle and brought it over. She started to pour some for Hanni, but she put her hand over it.

"None for me."

"Really?"

"Not in the mood. But you go ahead." Hanni opened a bottle of Pellegrino and poured some for herself. They sat down to eat their salads.

"So, honey, how was your day?" Hanni couldn't help laughing at the typical scenario of husband and wife. But not exactly typical.

"Wonderful. Well, at least the last bit." Minji grinned. "The part about coming home to my beautiful wife."

Hanni reached across the table and took Minji's hand. "I really appreciate you coming home so early every night, since we talked. Decided, I mean."

"Well, it's not exactly early, more like, not-late. And it's been so, so good for me, Hanni. I never...well, it's been amazing. I'm more effective when I'm at work, but also, I've realized it's OK if I don't get as much done as I always have." She gave Hanni's hand a squeeze. "I'm letting go of some of my workaholic tendencies. Sometimes it's a bit scary, but it feels fantastic. Thanks for helping me learn that some things are more important."