Opposite Attracts

Later that night after their dinner. Entering her small studio apartment, Lingling dropped her bag onto the lone chair by her tiny dining table. She let out a sharp breath, running a hand through her slightly damp hair. Fatigue from work clung to her, yet her conversation with Orm kept echoing in her mind.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered to herself as she kicked off her shoes. “That woman thinks money can buy anything.”

She scoffed, shaking her head. As much as she needed the money, working for Orm Sethratanapong was not an option. She had enough on her plate already without adding an arrogant heiress to the mix.

With another sigh, she grabbed her towel and headed for the bathroom. A warm shower was exactly what she needed to wash away the stress of the day—and hopefully, the lingering presence of Orm in her thoughts.

Meanwhile, across the city, Orm stepped into the grand entryway of her family’s estate, a sleek, modern mansion that screamed wealth and power. She barely had time to breathe before her father, Oct Sethratanapong, intercepted her in the hallway.

“Where were you?” Oct’s deep voice carried authority, laced with suspicion.

Orm sighed, loosening her tie. “I had something important to take care of.”

Oct crossed his arms. “Orm, if this is one of your games—”

“It’s not,” Orm interrupted, though her tone lacked conviction.

Her father gave her a long, scrutinizing look. “Good. I have enough to deal with at work without your antics making things more complicated.”

Orm exhaled sharply. “Noted. Can I go to bed now?”

Oct nodded but didn’t look convinced.

As she walked to her room, Orm smirked to herself. If this was a game, she had every intention of winning.

The next morning, life resumed as usual.

Lingling arrived at the airport, dressed in her usual uniform, ready for another exhausting shift. It was the same routine—clean, serve, assist customers. Everything predictable. Everything normal.

Orm, on the other hand, was stuck in back-to-back meetings with the company board, listening to endless discussions about investments, market shares, and expansion plans. The weight of her family’s legacy pressed down on her shoulders.

By the evening, Orm decided she needed a break. She called up her friends, Faye and Namtan, and arranged to meet them for drinks.

But as she sipped her cocktail in a high-end rooftop bar, her mind drifted back to Lingling.

Orm smirked to herself.

This wasn’t over.

______________

The music pulsed through the club, drowning out the sound of clinking glasses and muffled conversations. Orm, draped in confidence and wealth, danced with ease, her movements smooth and deliberate. With a drink in one hand and a sly smirk on her lips, she let the alcohol course through her veins, adding to the intoxicating thrill of the night.

Her friends, Faye and Namtan, laughed beside her, lost in their own games of seduction and indulgence. Orm wasn’t different—women surrounded her, eyes filled with admiration and desire. She basked in their attention, teasing, flirting, leading them on. It was a cycle, one she had mastered over the years.

But tonight felt different.

No matter how many women leaned into her touch, no matter how many sweet words were whispered into her ear, Orm couldn’t shake one particular face from her mind.

Lingling.

That woman—so unimpressed, so indifferent, so frustratingly unattainable.

Orm had always been the one pursued. People craved her attention, hung on to her every word, wanted to be the one she chose. But Lingling? She couldn’t care less. She dismissed Orm like she was just another nuisance, an inconvenience.

And it irritated Orm to no end.

Why? Why was she thinking about a woman who didn’t even spare her a second glance?

She downed her drink in one go, the burn of alcohol fueling her frustration. No, she wouldn’t let this get to her.

Her eyes scanned the room, and then they landed on her distraction for the night.

Bam.

A beautiful, wide-eyed girl who was eager, naive—exactly Orm’s type when she wanted a fleeting conquest.

Yes, Bam would do.

Orm smirked, pulling Bam closer, whispering sweet nothings into her ear, making her blush and giggle. She was going to play the same old game—make Bam fall, make her obsessed, and then, just as easily, walk away.

Maybe then she could get Lingling out of her damn head.

________________

Orm woke up to the soft morning light seeping through the sheer curtains of the hotel room. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression. Another night, another woman, another meaningless encounter. She could hear the slow, steady breathing of the woman beside her—Bam.

She turned her head slightly, looking at Bam, who was still asleep, tangled in the sheets. Orm sighed. Normally, she would’ve been gone by now, slipping out before any awkward morning-after conversations could happen. But for some reason, she stayed.

Maybe it was because she didn’t want to go home yet.

Maybe it was because she was trying to convince herself that she wasn’t bothered by a certain airport cleaner.

Orm scoffed under her breath. Ridiculous.

Just as she was about to get up, Bam stirred, her eyes fluttering open. A slow smile spread across her lips as she saw Orm watching her. “Morning,” she murmured, stretching lazily.

Orm gave a small nod. “Morning.”

Bam propped herself up on her elbow, resting her head on her hand as she looked at Orm. “You stayed.”

Orm smirked, masking any real thoughts behind her usual confident demeanor. “Don’t get used to it.”

Bam chuckled. “I won’t.” Then, she reached out, tracing her fingers lightly down Orm’s arm. “Let’s have lunch together.”

Orm arched an eyebrow. “Lunch?”

Bam nodded. “Yeah. I know this nice place nearby. Let’s go.”

Orm thought about it for a second. She had nothing better to do. Maybe a meal would keep her mind occupied. “Fine,” she said with a shrug, slipping out of bed.

The restaurant Bam chose was stylish and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. It was the kind of place that fit perfectly with Orm’s lifestyle—high-end, exclusive, filled with people who mattered.

They were seated at a private booth, away from the other guests. A waiter handed them menus, and Bam immediately started looking through the options.

Orm, on the other hand, wasn’t paying attention. She leaned back in her seat, drumming her fingers on the table, her thoughts wandering.

She hated this feeling. This itch in her mind that she couldn’t scratch. It was infuriating.

“What’s wrong?” Bam asked, noticing Orm’s distracted expression.

Orm blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Nothing.”

Bam tilted her head. “You seem… distant.”

Orm smirked, picking up her menu. “I’m just thinking about what to order.”

Bam didn’t look convinced but let it go. “Well, everything here is good. Try the steak.”

Orm hummed in response, pretending to consider it. But the truth was, she wasn’t thinking about the steak.

She was thinking about Lingling.

Meanwhile, Lingling was at the restaurant where she worked part-time, busy handling the lunch rush. It had been an exhausting morning, and her shift wasn’t even close to being over.

She carried a tray full of dishes, expertly maneuvering through the crowded dining area. “Order up for table six,” she called out, setting the plates down.

“Ling!”

She turned to see Becky standing behind the counter, motioning for her to come over. Lingling sighed, placing her tray down before making her way over.

“What?” she asked, rubbing her temple.

Becky smirked. “Guess who just walked in.”

Lingling frowned. “I don’t have time for games, Becky.”

Becky nudged her lightly. “Look.”

Lingling followed Becky’s gaze toward a corner of the restaurant. Her stomach dropped when she saw who was sitting there.

Orm.

And she wasn’t alone.

She was sitting with Bam, looking as relaxed as ever, like she owned the entire place. Lingling’s grip on her apron tightened.

Of course. The rich heiress was here, again.

Becky nudged her again. “Small world, huh?”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Too small.”

Before Becky could say anything else, another waiter called for help, and Lingling was quick to take the excuse to escape. But fate wasn’t on her side.

She was handed a tray and told to serve table ten.

Orm’s table.

Lingling inhaled deeply, composing herself before walking over.

As she approached, Orm’s eyes immediately locked onto her. A slow smirk formed on her lips.

“Well, look who it is,” Orm said, leaning back in her chair.

Lingling didn’t react. She simply set their plates down. “Enjoy your meal.”

But before she could walk away, Orm spoke again.

“Didn’t know you worked here too.”

Lingling kept her expression blank. “It’s just a part-time job.”

Orm smirked. “You really don’t rest, do you?”

Lingling ignored her and turned to leave, but Bam, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“Orm, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Orm barely glanced at her. “Why? It’s not important.”

Lingling clenched her jaw, forcing herself not to react. She didn’t care what Orm thought of her, but hearing her dismiss her like that still rubbed her the wrong way.

Bam, however, didn’t let it go. “She’s clearly someone you know.”

Orm sighed, clearly annoyed at having to explain. “Fine. Bam, this is Lingling. Lingling, Bam.”

Lingling gave a curt nod, her tone flat. “Nice to meet you.”

Bam, on the other hand, studied her carefully. “So… how do you know Orm?”

Before Lingling could answer, Orm spoke first. “She’s just someone interesting.”

Lingling shot Orm a glare but didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Becky was waiting for her at the counter with a knowing smirk. “That was fun to watch.”

Lingling huffed. “It wasn’t.”

Becky chuckled. “You sure? Because I think Orm is enjoying this.”

Lingling groaned, walking away before she said something she’d regret.

Back at the table, Bam narrowed her eyes at Orm. “So. Just someone interesting, huh?”

Orm gave her a lazy smirk. “That’s what I said.”

Bam crossed her arms. “You don’t usually pay this much attention to someone unless they mean something to you.”

Orm took a sip of her drink. “You’re overthinking things.”

Bam wasn’t convinced. “Sure.”

Orm exhaled, setting her glass down. “Look, if this is going to be a problem for you, we can just—”

Bam raised a hand. “Don’t bother. I know how this ends.” She grabbed her purse and stood up. “I’m not interested in competing for your attention.”

Orm didn’t stop her as she walked away.

She simply leaned back in her chair, letting out a slow breath.

She should feel satisfied. Another meaningless encounter. Another person who walked away before she had to.

But as her gaze flickered toward where Lingling had disappeared into the kitchen, she realized—

This time, she wasn’t the one in control.