Lost and Found
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and expensive perfumes lingered in the air as Lingling wiped down a polished table, her hands moving on instinct. The airport lounge was a place of transition—travelers coming and going, faces she would see once and never again. It was a strange feeling, working in a place that never really stood still.
She adjusted her glasses, brushing a loose strand of her long, dark hair behind her ear as she glanced at the clock. Her shift wasn't over yet, but her feet were already aching. It wasn't even the end of the day, and she still had another job waiting for her later.
Lingling sighed and rolled her stiff shoulders before straightening her uniform. It was nothing special—just a crisp white blouse and a fitted black skirt that made her look professional enough. She never had the time—or the money—to dress fashionably, and even if she did, she wouldn't know where to begin. Makeup? She had never been good at it. Jewelry? Pointless when she was always working. It wasn't that she didn't care about looking pretty, but life hadn't given her the luxury of spending time in front of a mirror.
She had been working since she was eighteen, picking up any job she could to stay afloat in Bangkok. It had always been just her, living alone in a cramped apartment, far from her parents in Khon Kaen. They were aging, and she wanted to support them, but no matter how hard she worked, it felt like she was always one step away from struggling.
Still, she never complained. Life was what it was. And right now, life meant making sure this lounge was spotless before the next wave of passengers arrived.
With a small sigh, Lingling picked up an empty glass left behind by a careless traveler. Her life was simple. Routine. Predictable.
She had no idea that was about to change.
_________
Orm Sethratanapong had never once worried about money.
Born into one of Thailand's wealthiest families, she had grown up with the best of everything—designer clothes, private schools, first-class flights, and an endless stream of people willing to bend over backward to please her. If there was a life of luxury, Orm lived it effortlessly.
She adjusted the cuffs of her custom-tailored suit, the fabric smooth beneath her fingertips as she stepped into the airport lounge. She had just landed from Hong Kong and was already preparing to leave for Phuket the next morning. Business, meetings, a quick getaway—her schedule was always full, but she thrived on it.
Orm was a walking contradiction. By night, she was the life of the party, breaking hearts and making women fall for her with effortless charm. By day, she was the no-nonsense heir to a business empire, trained from a young age to take over the family's growing food manufacturing companies. Her father had drilled it into her head—she had to be better, stronger, sharper. There was no room for mistakes when the whole world was watching.
She had a reputation, though. Women fell for her all the time, but Orm had a rule—never let it get serious. The moment someone caught feelings, she pulled away. It wasn't that she didn't believe in love; she just didn't have the time or the interest in something as complicated as relationships.
Orm leaned back on the plush lounge seat, tapping away at her phone. She had messages from a few women she had met recently, invitations for drinks, casual flirtations—but she wasn't in the mood. Her flight had drained her, and she just wanted to relax for a moment before heading home.
A waitress passed by, setting a fresh cappuccino on the table next to her. Orm didn't even glance up. This was her world—places like this, filled with quiet luxury, where people catered to her without her having to ask.
She checked the time and exhaled. She should head out soon.
Standing up, she grabbed her blazer, smoothed her long dark hair, and exited the lounge with the confidence of someone who knew the world was at her feet.
She never noticed the phone she left behind on the table.
__________
Lingling wasn't surprised to find a forgotten phone lying on one of the tables. It happened more often than people would think—travelers too busy rushing to their next destination, leaving behind wallets, passports, even entire bags at times.
She picked it up, flipping it over in her palm. It was an expensive model, sleek and obviously well taken care of. Whoever owned it was definitely rich.
With a small shake of her head, she sighed. The last thing she needed was the hassle of tracking someone down, but it was part of the job.
She glanced around, but the lounge had already emptied out. Whoever had left the phone was long gone.
Then, the screen lit up with an incoming call.
Without thinking, Lingling swiped to answer.
"Hello?"
There was a pause, then a voice—smooth, confident, and undeniably female.
"Who's this?"
Lingling blinked. "Uh... I work here. Someone left this phone in the lounge."
A low chuckle sounded on the other end. "That would be me."
Lingling frowned slightly. She wasn't sure what she expected, but the voice on the other end didn't sound particularly concerned. More amused than anything.
"Well, you forgot it," she said plainly.
"And you picked it up. How kind of you."
Lingling sighed. "Look, I can leave it with lost and found, or you can come get it yourself."
"I'm already out of the airport," the woman replied. "But I'll be back in Bangkok tomorrow."
Lingling hesitated. "So... what do you want me to do with it?"
There was a slight pause, then—
"Hold on to it for me."
Lingling blinked in surprise. "What?"
"I'll pick it up when I'm back," the voice said smoothly. "You don't mind, do you?"
Lingling narrowed her eyes at the phone in her hand. Who the hell was this woman?
Before she could ask, the voice added, "I'm Orm, by the way. And you are?"
"Lingling," she answered automatically, though she wasn't sure why she even bothered.
"Well, Lingling," Orm said, amusement laced in her voice. "Looks like we'll be seeing each other soon."
And with that, the line went dead.
Lingling stared at the phone, then exhaled, shaking her head.
She had no idea who this Orm woman was, but something told her that holding onto this phone was going to be more trouble than it was worth.