Gentlemen Prefer the Slender Chapter 6 – Champagne Night

Pop!Fizz…

The cork of the Dom Pérignon flew open—with an Italian knife, by my hand.

Just the two of us, in a private room at the Imperial Hotel.The city lights shimmered beyond the window.

“Merry Christmas! Well—technically, it’s already over!”he said brightly.“You’ve worked hard this year. Must be a busy season for you.”

He was as energetic and full of life as ever—his presence alone seemed to fill the whole room.

We talked about his work, about my university,just easy conversation that somehow flowed naturally.

It turned out he was the president of a real estate company,with an office not far from the store where I worked.

Then, almost casually, he said:

“I’m separated from my wife. I have a daughter—I get to see her only once a year.”

Of course he’s married, I thought.He looked to be around fifty. It made sense.

Still, the evening continued gently.

We talked, we laughed,and shared a Christmas cake prepared by the hotel’s head chef—far too large to finish,so I took the rest home for my family.

Before leaving, the hotel staff turned the Dom Pérignon corkinto a tiny keychain as a keepsake.

Back home, I stared at the keychain in my hand,still wrapped in the dreamlike haze of the evening.

What a night... That cake was incredible,I thought,before quietly drifting into sleep.

To be continued...