Tensions
The afternoon stretched on, with Lingling trailing behind Orm, attending meetings, taking notes, and making sure she was updated with every detail of Orm’s packed schedule. By the time the clock hit 2 p.m., Lingling’s stomach grumbled—a reminder that she hadn’t eaten yet.
Orm, still buried in work, barely noticed the time until her next meeting was about to start. She glanced at Lingling, who had been standing nearby, waiting for instructions.
“You should go eat,” Orm said, her tone firm but distracted as she flipped through a document. “I have another meeting now, and I don’t need you for this one. Take an hour.”
Lingling hesitated. “What about you?”
Orm didn’t look up. “I’ll eat later. Go.”
Lingling exhaled and left the office. She walked down to the ground floor, where several small food stalls lined the street. They were run by friendly vendors selling homemade dishes—simple, affordable, and, in her opinion, better than any high-end restaurant. She quickly ordered a plate of stir-fried basil chicken with rice and found a spot to eat.
As she took her first bite, she thought about Orm’s dismissive response. Despite her bossy nature, Orm probably hadn’t even realized she was skipping meals. Lingling sighed.
Without thinking much about it, she ordered another portion to-go.
Back at the office, Lingling returned just as Orm was ending a phone call. She stepped inside and placed the takeout container on Orm’s desk.
Orm raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”
Lingling crossed her arms. “Food.”
Orm leaned back in her chair, eyeing the container suspiciously. “And why exactly are you giving me this?”
Lingling rolled her eyes. “Because you haven’t eaten, and I’m your ‘personal maid,’ remember? If you collapse from hunger, I’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
Orm smirked but still hesitated before picking up the container. “You could’ve ordered from somewhere decent.”
Lingling scoffed. “That is decent. And cleaner than some fancy restaurants you go to.”
Orm sighed and opened the box. The smell of freshly cooked basil chicken filled the office. She took a bite, then another. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but it was actually… good.
“You have a point,” she said reluctantly.
Lingling smirked. “Told you.”
Orm shook her head, amused. “I didn’t know you could be thoughtful.”
“I’m not,” Lingling countered. “I just don’t want you being cranky from hunger while making me run around all day.”
Orm chuckled. “Sure.”
For the first time, she found herself genuinely enjoying the company of her so-called personal maid.
The workday finally came to an end. Orm leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms as she glanced at Lingling, who had just finished organizing the last set of documents for the day.
“You can go home now,” Orm said, rubbing her temple. “But be here early tomorrow. I’ll need you first thing in the morning.”
Lingling nodded. “Noted.”
Without another word, she grabbed her bag and left the office, taking the elevator down to the lobby. The moment she stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted her. She let out a deep sigh as she walked toward the bus stop. It had been a long day, and all she wanted was to take a shower, eat something simple, and sleep.
Back at her small apartment, Lingling followed her usual nightly routine—preparing a quick meal, showering, and setting her alarm early for the next day. While brushing her hair, she caught herself thinking about Orm.
She shook her head. “Ridiculous,” she muttered.
Meanwhile, Orm had no time to rest.
_________________
At the Gala.
Orm arrived at the grand ballroom of the luxury hotel, dressed in an elegant black gown, her hair perfectly styled. As expected, the event was filled with the country’s wealthiest business elites. She forced a smile as she made her way through the crowd, exchanging greetings and nodding at familiar faces.
Her father, Oct, was already engaged in conversation with several other executives. When he spotted Orm, he immediately waved her over.
“Orm,” Oct said with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Come, I want to introduce you to some people.”
Orm sighed internally but went along with it.
One by one, her father introduced her to the sons and daughters of other business tycoons—young, rich, and all undoubtedly raised with the same expectations she despised.
At one point, Oct leaned in and whispered, “You should pick someone from them. You’re not getting any younger, and neither are we. You should think about settling down and giving us a grandchild.”
Orm clenched her jaw. She had heard this same speech far too many times.
Scoffing, she pulled away and excused herself, walking toward the bar at the corner of the ballroom.
“Vodka,” she told the bartender. “Straight.”
She downed the first glass quickly and motioned for another.
Orm pulled out her phone and stared at the screen. For some reason, the first person who came to mind was Lingling. She hovered over her number, debating whether to call.
Then she shook her head. “What the hell am I thinking?”
Instead, she scrolled further down and dialed Bam’s number.
“Hey,” she said when Bam picked up. “Meet me at our usual place.”
Bam, already knowing what that meant, sighed. But she couldn’t say no.
“Okay,” Bam replied softly.
Orm smirked, finishing her drink before heading out. The night was still young, and she knew exactly how it would end.
________________
It was past six in the morning when Lingling’s phone rang, pulling her out of her deep sleep. Half-conscious, she groaned and fumbled for her phone on the nightstand. With one eye still closed, she pressed the answer button.
“Hello?” she mumbled.
A neutral voice came through the speaker. “Where are you?”
Lingling’s eyes cracked open slightly. “Huh?”
“Be at the Ritz-Carlton in thirty minutes,” Orm ordered flatly, then immediately hung up.
Lingling let out a long, frustrated groan and let her head fall back on the pillow. “Unbelievable,” she muttered before forcing herself out of bed.
She didn’t have the luxury of taking her usual slow morning routine. Instead, she rushed through a cold shower, dressed in a simple yet professional-looking outfit, and grabbed her bag. Taking the bus wasn’t an option today. If she wanted to make it on time, she had to take a cab.
By the time she arrived at the hotel, she spotted Orm standing near the entrance, her attention focused on her phone. But that wasn’t what caught Lingling’s attention—it was the woman who had just kissed Orm on the cheek before walking away.
Lingling raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she approached.
“Morning, Boss,” she greeted sarcastically.
Orm looked up, her face unreadable. “Follow me,” she said simply before walking into the hotel.
Lingling rolled her eyes but did as she was told.
Little did Lingling know, Orm had booked a private suite. They stepped inside the luxurious room, and the moment the door closed behind them, Orm casually removed her blazer and tossed it onto the couch.
Lingling, still clueless about the situation, frowned. “What exactly are we doing here?”
Orm smirked and leaned against the back of the couch. “Relax. I’m not going to do anything to you,” she said in amusement. “I ordered room service. We’re having breakfast.”
Lingling squinted at her. “Could’ve just gone to a normal restaurant.”
Orm shrugged. “I like my privacy.”
Before Lingling could argue, the doorbell rang. She went to open it, and a staff member entered, expertly setting up their breakfast spread on the dining table. The rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread filled the room.
Orm pulled out a chair and gestured toward the one across from her. “Sit.”
Lingling sighed but obeyed, not wanting to argue over something as trivial as breakfast.
For a while, they ate in silence. Orm was unusually quiet, staring into space as she absentmindedly pushed her food around with her fork. It didn’t take a genius to know that something was bothering her.
Lingling cleared her throat. “So… what are we really doing here?”
Orm looked up, her voice still neutral. “Having breakfast.”
Lingling gave her an unimpressed look.
Orm smirked. “You’re my personal maid now, remember? You join me for breakfast.”
Lingling sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. She picked at her food, stealing glances at Orm, who still seemed lost in thought.
Then, out of nowhere, Orm asked, “Do you live with your family?”
Lingling was caught off guard. “No. They live in the province.”
Orm nodded. “So you live alone?”
“Yes. For years now,” Lingling answered, still unsure why they were suddenly having this conversation.
Orm’s next question made her freeze. “No boyfriend? Girlfriend?”
Lingling nearly choked on her coffee. She coughed before staring at Orm in disbelief. “Why are you asking me this?”
Orm shrugged as she took another bite. “Just curious. You’re always grumpy. How are you supposed to get yourself a boyfriend or girlfriend? Whichever you prefer.”
Lingling scoffed. “Why? Do you have one?”
Orm, who had been mid-bite, paused briefly. “Nope.”
Lingling smirked. “Really? Because I saw you earlier with a girl.”
Orm nonchalantly took a sip of her juice. “She’s just a casual fuck buddy.”
Lingling choked so hard that she had to grab a napkin to cover her mouth. “Say what now?!”
Orm rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. You’re not fifteen. Don’t tell me you’re still that innocent?” Then, her lips curled into a teasing smirk. “Unless… you’re still a virgin?”
Lingling remained silent, glaring at her.
Orm’s eyes widened before she burst into laughter. “Wow. You really remind me of my dead grandma.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “This is hilarious.”
Lingling huffed. “Not funny.”
Orm was still chuckling, but Lingling’s next words made her pause.
“I just don’t believe in that concept,” Lingling said, sipping her coffee. “You must be lonely.”
Orm’s laughter faded instantly. She stared at Lingling for a moment, then stood up abruptly. “I’m taking a shower,” she muttered before heading to the bathroom.
Lingling watched her retreating figure, satisfied that Orm had tasted her own medicine. With a small smirk, she went back to eating.
_____________
Orm had been quiet the entire morning. From the moment they left the hotel, through the drive to the office, and even during work, she barely spoke a word. Lingling found it odd but didn’t push. She was used to Orm’s sarcasm and constant teasing, but today, the air around her felt… different.
Lingling took notes, followed her around through meetings, and did what was expected of her. Still, she could sense that something was off. Normally, Orm would throw in a few smug remarks or make fun of her for something, but today, there was none of that.
By the time the day ended, Lingling stood at the doorway of Orm’s office, ready to leave. “I’m heading out now,” she said, waiting for some sort of response.
Orm, sitting at her desk with her eyes glued to her laptop, barely reacted. She simply nodded without looking up.
Lingling frowned. “Alright then. See you tomorrow, Boss.”
Still, Orm didn’t say a word.
With a slight shrug, Lingling left, wondering what had caused this sudden change in Orm’s behavior.
Orm’s POV
Orm stared at her laptop screen, but the words and numbers blurred together. Her mind was far from the work in front of her.
Last night had been exhausting—not just because of the gala but because of what her father had said. You need to pick someone. You’re not getting any younger. Your mother and I want grandchildren.
She had heard it a hundred times before, but it never failed to annoy her. She didn’t want to be forced into anything. And yet, the more she thought about it, the more she realized how empty her life actually was.
She had wealth, power, and freedom. She could get anyone she wanted for a night. But did she really have anyone?
And then there was Lingling.
Her words from earlier echoed in Orm’s mind. You must be lonely.
Orm scoffed under her breath.
“She doesn’t know anything,” she muttered, leaning back in her chair.
And yet, a small voice inside her told her that Lingling had unknowingly struck a nerve.
Shaking her head, Orm sighed and closed her laptop.
It had been a long day.