Lingling stretches in her chair, rubbing her tired eyes. It's been a long morning, filled with back-to-back meetings and endless emails. She flips through the pages of a report, jotting notes in her neat handwriting.
Lingling (to herself): "Why does every project feel like a ticking time bomb these days?" She exhales and glances at the small photo frame on her desk.
The photo shows a younger version of her sister, beaming in her white coat. It's the one thing that makes the chaos worthwhile.
Her moment of quiet is interrupted by her phone buzzing. She frowns when she sees the caller ID.
Lingling (muttering): "Mr. Sethratanapong's office? Why...?"
Hesitating for a second, she picks up the call.
Lingling: "Hello, this is Lingling Kwong speaking."
Assistant: "Good morning, Ms. Kwong. Mr. Sethratanapong would like to meet you in his office. He asked for you to come now."
Lingling's stomach flips. It wasn't unusual for her boss to call, but meetings with the CEO himself were rare.
Lingling: "Understood. I'll be there shortly."
After hanging up, she takes a moment to calm her nerves. She smooths her shirt, grabs her notebook, and forces a deep breath.
Lingling (softly): "It's just a meeting. Nothing unusual... right?"
---
The office is intimidating, as always. The grand bookshelf, the marble desk, the faint smell of cologne-it all makes Lingling feel small. She steps in carefully, clutching her notebook tightly.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Ah, Lingling. Come in, come in."
He's smiling warmly, but there's something unusual about his tone. Lingling notices the untouched coffee cup on his desk-a rare sight for a man who usually starts his meetings with a sip.
Lingling: "Good morning, sir. You wanted to see me?"
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Yes, please have a seat. This isn't about work-it's... more personal."
Lingling raises an eyebrow but sits down. She places her notebook on her lap, fidgeting with the corner of the pages.
Lingling: "I see. Is everything all right?"
He leans back in his chair, folding his hands together.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Lingling, you've been with this company for so many years now. I've watched you grow from a struggling intern to one of our most reliable employees."
Lingling (blushing slightly): "That means a lot to hear, sir. I've always been grateful for the opportunities you gave me."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "And you've earned every bit of it. But I wanted to talk about the past-not your work accomplishments, but your personal journey."
Lingling stiffens. She doesn't like revisiting her past struggles, but she nods politely.
Lingling: "Of course, sir."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "When your mother passed, and your father remarried, you took on responsibilities that no one your age should have had to face. You worked day and night to provide for your sister. It was admirable-truly."
Lingling's heart twists. She doesn't talk about those days often, but hearing them brought up so plainly stirs something inside her.
Lingling (quietly): "I did what I had to. My sister's dreams were worth it."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "And that's why I stepped in to help. I saw potential in you, Lingling, but more than that, I saw someone who deserved a chance. Do you remember those days?"
Lingling nods. How could she forget? The late-night shifts, the constant fear of failure, and then the overwhelming relief when Mr. Sethratanapong offered his help. It felt like salvation.
Lingling: "I'll always be thankful, sir. You changed our lives."
There's a pause. Mr. Sethratanapong smiles faintly, but there's a weight in his gaze now.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "I'm glad you feel that way, Lingling. Because now, I'm asking for something in return."
Lingling's breath catches. She sits up straighter, her grip tightening on the notebook.
Lingling: "Of course, sir. What do you need?"
He leans forward, his tone calm but firm.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "I want you to marry my daughter, Orm."
---
Across town, Orm lounges in a plush chair at a trendy café. Her designer sunglasses are perched on her head, and she's scrolling through her phone, barely listening to her boyfriend Kai ramble about his "business plans."
Kai: "Babe, this is serious. I just need another 200,000 baht to finalize the deal."
Orm (rolling her eyes): "You're serious every week. And every week, nothing changes."
Kai (grinning): "That's because I'm on the verge of something big. You'll see. Trust me, babe."
Orm groans and sips her iced coffee. Before she can respond, her phone buzzes. It's her mother.
Orm: "Ugh, what now?"
She answers reluctantly.
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Orm, you need to come home. Your father has something important to discuss with you."
Orm: "Can't it wait? I'm in the middle of something."
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "No, it cannot. Be home in an hour."
The call ends abruptly. Orm huffs and shoves her phone into her bag.
Orm: "Family drama. Gotta go."
Scene 4: Sethratanapong Mansion - The Talk
Orm barges into the grand living room, her designer bag swinging carelessly from her shoulder. Her father sits calmly by the large windows, flipping through a newspaper, while her mother sips tea with a faint smile. They both glance up as she enters.
Orm: "Alright, what's the emergency this time? Did someone lose the Wi-Fi password again?"
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Orm, you're late. We said one hour."
Orm (flopping onto the couch): "And I made it in an hour and fifteen minutes. Be proud, Mom."
Mr. Sethratanapong (lowering the newspaper): "Orm, this isn't about your questionable sense of time. It's about your behavior."
Orm (mocking): "Oh no, not my behavior. What did I do now? Order too much online? Max out my card? Or is this about the time I borrowed your car for that road trip?"
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Orm, stop being childish. This is serious."
Orm (grinning): "You two say that every time. What's it now? Are you cutting my allowance? Again?"
Her father sighs heavily, setting the newspaper aside.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Orm, we're not blind. We've noticed the changes in you. You've gone from being an understanding, responsible young woman to-"
Mrs. Sethratanapong (interrupting): "A spoiled, reckless brat."
Orm (gasps dramatically): "Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom. Love you too."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Don't interrupt. You barely take work seriously anymore, you've been spending like there's no tomorrow, and don't even get me started on your so-called boyfriend."
Orm: "Kai? What's wrong with Kai? He's an entrepreneur! He's building his empire!"
Mrs. Sethratanapong (rolling her eyes): "An empire of unpaid debts, maybe."
Orm: "He's just waiting for his big break! You wouldn't understand. He's... passionate."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Orm, we're done watching you throw your life away. So here's the deal-you're going to get married."
Orm stares at them, blinking in disbelief. Then, she bursts out laughing.
Orm: "Oh, that's a good one. Married? To who? One of your business partner's sons? Let me guess, he owns a yacht, right?"
Mrs. Sethratanapong (smiling faintly): "No, dear. We've found a woman for you."
The room goes silent. Orm's laughter stops abruptly.
Orm: "A woman? You're kidding."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "We're not. Her name is Lingling Kwong. She's smart, hardworking, and grounded. Everything you used to be."
Orm (defensive): "I'm still grounded! I just... like to enjoy life a little. Is that a crime?"
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Orm, enjoying life doesn't mean spending half the day at a café with that leech Kai or ignoring your responsibilities. Lingling is a far better match for you."
Orm: "A match? What am I, a puzzle piece? You can't just shove me into someone's life and call it a fit."
Mr. Sethratanapong: "Actually, we can. And if you say no, we're closing all your accounts. No more credit cards, no more shopping sprees, and definitely no more funding Kai's imaginary business."
Orm's jaw drops.
Orm: "You wouldn't."
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Try us. We're done enabling this behavior."
Orm (mocking): "Oh, so this is what tough love looks like? Forcing your daughter into a marriage to teach her a lesson?"
Mr. Sethratanapong: "It's not just about teaching you a lesson. It's about saving you from yourself. Lingling's exactly the kind of influence you need."
Orm: "Wow, so now I need a babysitter too? Great parenting, guys."
Mrs. Sethratanapong: "Call it what you want, but you're meeting her. And if you don't shape up, you can say goodbye to your spoiled lifestyle."
Orm (throwing up her hands): "Fine! I'll meet her. But don't expect me to roll over and say yes just because you think she's perfect."
Her parents exchange a look, clearly satisfied with her reluctant agreement.
Mr. Sethratanapong: "That's all we're asking. Give it a chance, Orm."
Orm (grumbling): "Yeah, yeah. But if this Lingling person starts lecturing me about life choices, I'm out."
Mrs. Sethratanapong (smirking): "Oh, I have a feeling she'll surprise you."
---
Orm storms out of the room, muttering to herself as her parents share a knowing smile. The stage is set for the chaos to come.
_to be continued _