Opposite Attracts

Orm was not used to waiting.

She got what she wanted, when she wanted it. People, money, influence—it all came effortlessly. But Lingling was proving to be the exception.

For weeks, Orm had memorized her schedule—without even meaning to. Weekdays, Lingling worked at the airport. Weekends, she was at the restaurant. It was so predictable that Orm could find her anytime she wanted.

And so, she did.

She would casually show up at the airport, pretending to be a passenger in need of assistance. Or she’d walk into the restaurant like a customer who just happened to be craving a meal at that exact time.

“Have you thought about my offer yet?” Orm would ask every time.

And without fail, Lingling would roll her eyes and reply, “Not interested.”

This had become a game.

A game Orm refused to lose.

But then, suddenly, Lingling wasn’t there.

Orm arrived at the airport one morning, expecting to see Lingling in her usual spot, either cleaning or taking a break. But she was nowhere in sight.

Annoyed, she approached the receptionist at the front desk.

“Where’s Lingling?” she asked, tapping her fingers against the counter.

The receptionist hesitated before answering. “She took a few days off.”

Orm frowned. “Why?”

“I’m not sure… but I think it was a family emergency.”

Orm’s brows knitted together. A family emergency? She hadn’t even thought about Lingling having family. She always seemed so independent.

For the first time, Orm felt something unusual.

Concern.

And she didn’t like it.

Meanwhile, in Khon Kaen, Lingling sat in her parents’ small home, preparing medicine for her mother.

Her mother, Aom, was lying down on a bamboo mat, resting after taking her prescription. Her father, Wei, sat nearby, looking worried but trying not to show it.

“You didn’t have to come all the way here, Ling,” Aom said weakly, managing a small smile.

“Of course, I did,” Lingling replied, placing a warm bowl of porridge on the table. “You were sick. What kind of daughter would I be if I didn’t come?”

Her father sighed. “You already do so much for us. We hate burdening you.”

Lingling shook her head. “You’re not a burden.”

She wasn’t lying, but she was worried.

Her mother had recovered for now, but the doctor said she would need maintenance medicine every month. And medicine wasn’t cheap.

Lingling had never once thought of giving up.

But for the first time, she was starting to wonder how much longer she could keep this up.

She needed a solution.

Back in Bangkok, Orm was growing impatient.

She didn’t like not knowing things. And she especially didn’t like waiting.

For days, she tried to distract herself with work, meetings, and going out with friends. She even indulged in her usual habit of flirting with random women.

But no matter what she did, she kept thinking about one thing.

Where was Lingling?

When Lingling finally returned to Bangkok, she went straight back to work.

She checked her schedule, ensuring she had enough shifts to make up for the days she missed. She also stopped by the restaurant to inform Becky she was back.

“Everything okay?” Becky asked, eyeing her with concern.

Lingling nodded. “Yeah. My mom’s better now.”

Becky leaned on the counter, watching her. “But?”

Lingling sighed. “But she needs medicine every month, and I don’t know how I’m going to afford it.”

Becky clicked her tongue. “You know… there’s a simple solution to this.”

Lingling groaned. “Not you too.”

Becky smirked. “Come on. You know Orm’s going to show up again and offer you a job. Just say yes already.”

Lingling took a deep breath.

Maybe Becky was right.

As if on cue, Orm appeared that night.

Lingling was wiping down tables when she heard that familiar, cocky voice.

“So, you’re back.”

She turned to see Orm, standing there with that smug look, arms crossed, like she had already won.

Lingling sighed. “You’re persistent.”

Orm shrugged. “I don’t like unfinished business.”

Lingling raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly is unfinished?”

Orm took a step closer, lowering her voice. “Are you going to work for me or not?”

Lingling studied her carefully. Orm looked the same confident, untouchable, effortlessly wealthy. But there was something in her eyes this time. Something different.

Lingling hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

“Fine.”

Orm blinked, caught off guard. “Fine?”

Lingling crossed her arms. “I’ll work for you. But on my terms.”

Orm smirked, recovering quickly. “That’s not how negotiations work, but fine. I’ll humor you.”

Lingling narrowed her eyes. “I’m serious. No weird conditions, no treating me like some toy you’re playing with. I work for you, and that’s it.”

Orm chuckled. “Relax. I just want to see what you’re capable of.”

Lingling wasn’t sure what Orm meant by that, but she had already made up her mind.

Her parents needed her.

And if working for Orm was the price to pay, then so be it.

Orm left the restaurant that night feeling victorious.

She had won.

But as she walked to her car, she realized something.

This wasn’t the end of the game.

Because for the first time in her life…

She didn’t just want to win.

She wanted Lingling to stay.

_____________________

Orm was nothing if not persistent.

And as expected, she was waiting at the airport once again, sitting at the lounge with a drink in hand.

Lingling wasn’t even surprised anymore.

She let out a sigh as she finished her shift, barely glancing at Orm as she walked past.

“So, you’re done working?” Orm asked casually, taking a sip of her drink.

Lingling shot her a tired look. “No, I’m actually heading to my second job as a part-time superhero. But sure, let’s pretend I’m done.”

Orm smirked. “Good. Then let’s talk about your contract.”

Lingling blinked. “You actually prepared a contract?”

Orm reached into her bag and pulled out a thick envelope, handing it over with a satisfied look. “Of course. I always come prepared.”

Lingling stared at the envelope. She was half-expecting Orm to hand her something ridiculous, but seeing the actual legal document made her pause.

Curiosity got the best of her.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with,” Lingling muttered as she followed Orm to a nearby restaurant.

The restaurant, as always, was an upscale one. Orm didn’t do “casual.”

They were escorted to a private dining area, and as soon as they sat down, Orm motioned for Lingling to open the contract.

Lingling hesitated, then slowly pulled out the papers. She skimmed through the first few lines before freezing.

She read them again.

And then again.

Lingling lifted her gaze, staring at Orm in pure disbelief.

“Are you serious right now?”

Orm grinned. “Completely.”

Lingling let out a disbelieving laugh. “Okay, let me get this straight. According to this contract—” she waved the papers in the air for emphasis, “—I will be your personal maid? At both work and home?”

Orm nodded. “That’s correct.”

Lingling squinted at the next line. “I have to answer all your calls and text messages at all times?”

“Obviously.”

Lingling’s jaw dropped as she continued reading.

“I also have to… ‘Ensure Orm’s morning coffee is made exactly to her preference—two shots of espresso, oat milk, no sugar, stirred clockwise for exactly five seconds’?”

Orm leaned back smugly. “That’s an important detail.”

Lingling groaned and rubbed her temples. “Oh, it gets better. ‘Must accompany Orm to all business events, vacations, and personal outings as required’—excuse me, am I your assistant or your emotional support animal?”

Orm chuckled. “You’re whatever I need you to be.”

Lingling flipped to the next page, her eyes narrowing.

“This is not a job contract. This is a servitude agreement.”

Orm shrugged. “Some people might call it that.”

Lingling exhaled sharply. “And what exactly do I get out of this?”

Orm smirked and took a sip of her wine. “A ridiculous salary.”

Lingling frowned. “How ridiculous?”

Orm leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Triple or quadruple what you’re making now.”

Lingling stared at her. “You’re joking.”

Orm’s expression remained serious. “I don’t joke about money.”

Lingling swallowed hard. That was a lot of money.

That could cover her mother’s medicine for years.

That could help her parents live more comfortably.

That could give her some actual breathing room.

But…

Lingling glanced back at the contract.

“You do realize this makes you sound completely unhinged, right?”

Orm smirked. “I prefer the term determined.”

Lingling shook her head, rubbing her face in frustration. “I don’t know if you’re a businesswoman or just incredibly lonely.”

Orm raised an eyebrow. “Why can’t I be both?”

Lingling sighed. “And what happens if I refuse?”

Orm leaned in closer, her tone playful yet firm. “Then I’ll just keep bothering you until you change your mind.”

Lingling groaned. “Of course you will.”

She stared at the contract again.

It was ridiculous. It was dramatic. It was completely Orm.

And yet…

Lingling closed her eyes, exhaled, and finally said,

“Fine. But I’m adding my own terms.”

Orm tilted her head in interest. “Oh? Like what?”

Lingling tapped the contract. “One: I’m not making your coffee.”

Orm gasped in mock offense. “Blasphemy.”

Lingling ignored her. “Two: I get actual days off.”

Orm pouted. “Boring.”

Lingling continued. “And three: If you start acting like an actual lunatic, I reserve the right to quit immediately.”

Orm placed a hand on her heart. “Lingling, you wound me.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Do we have a deal or not?”

Orm grinned, extending her hand. “Deal.”

Lingling hesitated before shaking it.

She had no idea what she had just gotten herself into.

But one thing was certain—

Life was about to get a whole lot more chaotic.

_________________

Orm swirled the wine in her glass, smirking to herself as she replayed the scene in her mind.

Lingling had agreed.

Sure, she had her conditions, but in the end, Orm had won.

She had gotten what she wanted.

“Nice one, Orm,” she murmured, taking a slow sip of her wine.

For now, all she had to do was wait for the contract to be finalized.

And then—game on.

________________________

Following morning. Lingling’s shift at the airport felt longer than usual.

It wasn’t that the work was any different—cleaning, organizing, making sure everything was in place—it was just that her mind wasn’t in place.

She moved on autopilot, going through the motions, but every time she paused for even a second, her thoughts drifted back to the contract.

What the hell did I just sign up for?

Orm wanted her to be her personal maid.

Not just at work—but at home, too.

At home.

Lingling groaned internally.

She wasn’t even sure why she had agreed. Maybe it was because she was tired of Orm constantly showing up and pestering her. Maybe it was because she knew the money would help her parents.

Or maybe it was because—

She shook her head. Nope. Not going there.

She pushed her cart of cleaning supplies toward the back room, checking her watch.

Just a few more minutes until she was done for the day.

As soon as her shift ended, Lingling changed into her casual clothes—a simple t-shirt, jeans, and her old sneakers. She slung her crossbody bag over her shoulder and walked out of the airport, blending into the crowd of people heading home.

Her apartment wasn’t far, just a short bus ride away.

As she sat by the window, staring at the city lights passing by, she exhaled slowly.

She lived a simple life.

Wake up. Work. Go home. Sleep.

Repeat.

She had always known this was how it would be. She had never expected more out of life. Never thought about living in luxury, or having things come easy.

She had accepted that her life would always be hard.

And yet—

Now, things were changing.

Because of her.

Orm Sethratanapong.

Lingling clenched her jaw.

The rich, arrogant, persistent heiress who wouldn’t leave her alone.

She could already imagine how difficult it was going to be, working for her.

No turning back now.

The bus came to a stop near her building, and Lingling stepped out, making her way up the stairs to her tiny apartment.

The moment she shut the door behind her, she let out a deep sigh, dropping her bag onto the couch.

She needed a shower.

She needed sleep.

But most of all—

She needed to prepare herself.

Because tomorrow, her life was about to change.