Breakfast had ended, and the warm clinking of dishes being cleared away filled the air. Orm's father folded his newspaper neatly and looked at her with a seriousness that instantly shifted the atmosphere.
"Orm," he began, his tone calm but firm, "I've been thinking. You've been talking about wanting to take the company under your name, but words mean nothing without action. If you're serious about this, it's time to prove yourself. No one is going to hand it to you just because you're my daughter."
Orm straightened in her chair, sensing the weight of his words. "What do you mean?"
Her father leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "I want you to join the company, unofficially, as the CEO-in-training. Start from the ground up. Learn how things operate-every detail, no matter how small. Earn the respect of those who work under you, and prove that you're capable of leading when the time comes."
Orm nodded, her expression turning serious. She had been waiting for this moment, for an opportunity to show that she wasn't just a figurehead. "I understand, Dad. I'll do it. I'll start today."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her father's lips, though he quickly masked it. "Good. You'll start with light tasks for now, but you'll need to work closely with your assistant and observe everything. Keep in mind, this isn't about doing things perfectly-it's about showing that you can handle the responsibility that comes with the role."
"I won't let you down," Orm replied, her voice steady with determination.
---
That evening, as the family done for dinner, Orm couldn't help but reflect on her first day. It had been both enlightening and exhausting, but she felt a sense of accomplishment that she hadn't expected. Her assistant had walked her through the basics, and she'd even managed to sit in on a few meetings to get a feel for the company's workflow.
The clatter of utensils on plates filled the dining room as Orm's mom poured herself another glass of water. "You're quiet tonight, Orm. Is everything alright?"
Before Orm could answer, the front door creaked open, and Lingling stepped inside, looking noticeably drained. Her shirt was slightly wrinkled, and her usually neat hair was pulled into a loose ponytail that seemed barely held together.
Orm's mom immediately noticed. "Lingling, dear, you look exhausted! Did you eat anything today?"
Lingling gave a tired but polite smile. "I had a quick snack at the office, but it's been a long day. Sorry I'm late."
"Don't apologize," Orm's mom said kindly. "Go freshen up, and I'll have Orm heat up some food for you. You need a proper meal."
Lingling hesitated but nodded. "Thank you, Auntie. I'll be back in a moment."
Orm looked up from her plate, mildly surprised but not about to argue with her mom's instructions. She stood and made her way to the kitchen, where she reheated the food and began plating it for Lingling.
By the time Lingling returned, her face looked a bit more refreshed, though the tiredness in her eyes hadn't entirely faded. She stepped into the kitchen and paused when she saw Orm setting the plate on the counter.
"You didn't have to do that," Lingling said softly, though the appreciation in her tone was unmistakable.
"It's no big deal," Orm replied, handing her the plate. "Sit down and eat. You look like you're about to fall over."
Lingling smiled faintly, taking the plate and sitting at the small kitchen table. As she picked up her fork, she glanced at Orm. "Thank you. It's just... nice, you know? To have someone care or wait "
Orm frowned slightly, sensing there was more behind Lingling's words. "What do you mean?"
Lingling hesitated, then gave a small shrug. "After my sister, Sonya, moved in with her boyfriend, it's just been... quiet at home. I've gotten used to eating alone. Coming back here and finding food waiting for me... it's a little overwhelming in a good way."
Orm leaned against the counter, watching her. "Well, you don't have to eat alone anymore if u not come late , We're here now."
Lingling's lips curled into a soft smile as she took another bite. "Thanks, Orm. Really."
After a moment of silence, Lingling looked up again, her expression curious. "By the way, how was your first day at the company? Your dad mentioned you'd be starting."
Orm blinked, slightly taken aback by the shift in conversation. "It was... interesting, I guess. Lots of new things to learn. I didn't realize just how much work goes into running a business."
Lingling chuckled lightly, though her tired voice made it sound softer. "Welcome to my world. You'll get used to it."
"Oh, so now you're the expert?" Orm teased, smirking.
Lingling smirked back, a flicker of her usual wit returning despite her exhaustion. "I'm not saying I'm an expert, but... okay, fine, I am."
Orm laughed, shaking her head. "Well, Miss Expert, any tips for surviving the madness?"
Lingling pretended to think, tapping her fork against her plate. "Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. And maybe a good cry in the bathroom once in a while."
Orm laughed again, the sound light and genuine. "I'll keep that in mind."
The two fell into a comfortable silence as Lingling finished her meal, and for the first time in a while, Orm felt a sense of closeness to Lingling that she hadn't expected. It was moments like these-small, quiet, and unexpected-that seemed to bring them closer together without either of them realizing it.
As Lingling continued eating, the clinking of her fork against her plate seemed to fill the silence in the kitchen. Orm noticed the slight awkwardness between them, the kind that lingered when two people were still figuring out the space they shared-especially in such quiet moments.
Orm shifted, trying to break the tension, though she wasn't sure why it felt so awkward in the first place. "Well," she said, standing up slowly, "I should probably get some beauty sleep if I want to look half-decent for the office tomorrow."
Lingling blinked, caught off guard by the abruptness of Orm's words. "Oh... right." She looked down at her plate for a moment, as if pondering something. Then, in a shy, almost hesitant voice, she spoke again. "Um... do you want to try some ice cream? I mean... if you're still awake..."
Orm raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised by the suggestion. "Ice cream, huh? That sounds pretty good, actually." Her mouth curled into a small, teasing smile. "Are you trying to keep me up all night with this kind of offer?"
Lingling blushed slightly, her eyes lowering, clearly embarrassed by her own suggestion. "No, I just... thought it might be nice. You know, after a long day."
Orm chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a yes then."
Lingling nodded, looking a little relieved that Orm hadn't rejected the idea. She quickly finished her food, and Orm waited patiently, watching her. As soon as Lingling put her plate down, Orm grabbed two spoons from the drawer and headed to the freezer.
She returned with a tub of vanilla ice cream and set it on the table between them. Lingling hesitated for a second, but then took her spoon and dug in. Orm followed suit, her thoughts wandering as she observed Lingling from the corner of her eye.
Lingling looked cute. That thought popped into Orm's head, but she quickly dismissed it. It wasn't the right time to focus on things like that. She couldn't allow herself to get distracted. Yet, the way Lingling carefully scooped up the ice cream, the way she shyly glanced at Orm when their spoons nearly touched-it was... endearing.
They ate in a comfortable, though slightly quiet, atmosphere. Orm broke the silence with a laugh. "I think this might be my new favorite thing. Ice cream and late-night talks."
Lingling's tired eyes lit up for a moment. "Late-night talks?" she asked, her voice soft but curious. "What do you talk about?"
Orm thought for a moment, considering. "Oh, just random stuff-life, school, people we meet. You know, nothing too deep." She smiled at Lingling. "But you seem to be more of a night owl than I thought."
Lingling chuckled weakly. "I don't know about that. I'm just... tired, I guess." Her voice dropped slightly, and her gaze shifted to the floor.
Orm noticed the tiredness on Lingling's face was starting to take over again. She yawned and stretched her arms, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.
"Well, I should probably let you get some sleep," Orm said, standing up. "But thanks for the ice cream. And, uh, for putting up with my crazy family."
Lingling stood as well, nodding, though she seemed hesitant. "It's fine. I actually... kind of like being here. Even with all the craziness."
Orm chuckled, feeling a bit lighter from their conversation. "You're welcome anytime."
With that, they made their way toward the shared bedroom. Lingling, as usual, tried to make herself comfortable on the couch, her tired eyes already drooping as she curled up under the blanket. Orm went into the bathroom to get ready for bed, taking her time to wash off the remnants of the day.
When she stepped out, she found Lingling was already fast asleep, the faint sound of her breathing a soft rhythm in the quiet room. Orm smiled to herself, though the feeling was strange-something she didn't quite recognize. She tucked Lingling's blanket a little tighter around her, careful not to wake her.
Lingling looked peaceful, even in her sleep. Orm stood there for a moment longer than she meant to, watching her. It was a strange feeling-one that Orm quickly brushed away.
She climbed into her own side of the bed, trying not to let her thoughts wander. The day had been a lot to process, but she couldn't deny that something about tonight felt... different.
As she closed her eyes, a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and she allowed herself to drift off to sleep, the faintest thought lingering: Lingling's pretty cute when she's shy.
---
Days passed by quickly, and both Orm and Lingling found themselves wrapped up in their own lives. Orm's days were filled with meetings, learning the ropes of the company under her father's watchful eye. It was a world she hadn't fully anticipated-complex, demanding, and relentless. But she embraced it, learning more each day, figuring out what it meant to carry the weight of her family's legacy. Slowly, she gained confidence, her footsteps becoming firmer within the company walls.
Yet, even as she began to carve out her path, there was a part of her life that still clung to the past. Kai.
Despite the pressure and responsibility that had come with being an unofficial CEO, Orm still made time for him-though it was getting harder and harder to juggle. Their secret meetings had become less frequent, and each time she had to squeeze him in between the hectic schedule of her day, she could feel the growing tension.
Kai was different now. The carefree charm he used to have was starting to feel forced, as if he was only pretending to be okay with the changes in Orm's life. When they met, it was always the same complaints.
"You've changed," he would say, his voice laced with frustration. "We used to spend so much time together. What happened to that? Now it's all about the company and your meetings."
Orm tried to brush it off, but deep down, the words stung. She knew he wasn't wrong, but she couldn't go back to the way things were. The company was her future, and she couldn't ignore it just to appease him.
Still, Kai couldn't let go of his grip on her. The more Orm focused on her career, the more he seemed to want to pull her back into his world-one that was full of negativity and reliance on her. He started to voice his fears out loud, his insecurities creeping into every conversation.
"I mean, what if you forget about me?" he'd ask, a hint of desperation in his voice. "You're busy now. What about us? What happens when you're making all that money and you don't need me anymore?"
Orm would stare at him, puzzled. "What do you mean by that? I'm not going anywhere."
But deep down, she felt a shift. The more he complained, the more she realized how much he was depending on her-not just emotionally, but financially. Kai never had much of his own. He relied on Orm to pay for most of the things they did together, from dinners out to weekend getaways. Now, his words started to reveal the truth.
"If you forget about me," he would continue, "then who's going to pay for everything? You know I can't afford all of this on my own, right? You're the one with the money."
Orm's heart sank a little. His words felt suffocating now, not reassuring. It was clear that Kai wasn't concerned about her well-being or happiness; he was more worried about what would happen if she outgrew him. She'd seen this pattern before, but now, it seemed more obvious than ever. He didn't want her to change-because he feared what it would mean for him.
And then, there were the subtle hints. The way Kai would touch her when they were together, crossing boundaries she wasn't ready to cross. Orm hadn't allowed him to go further yet, and she wasn't sure she ever would. But Kai didn't seem to understand that.
"Come on, Orm," he'd say, a smirk on his face. "You can't be that busy, can you? I think it's about time we take our relationship to the next level."
Orm would pull back, feeling a mix of discomfort and frustration. "Not now, Kai. You know I'm not ready."
But he didn't seem to hear her. His comments grew more persistent, each one pushing her boundaries just a little further.
Orm couldn't deny it anymore: Kai wasn't the person she thought he was. His dependence on her for money, his disregard for her feelings, and his pressure for something she wasn't ready for-it was all starting to feel like too much.
The more time she spent focusing on her work and the meaningful steps she was taking toward her future, the more Kai's negative energy weighed her down. Orm wasn't sure how long she could continue to balance both worlds. Every time she left him, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, like the air was fresher, the pressure was lighter.
It wasn't just about the company, or the money, or the power. Orm was beginning to realize that she deserved more than what Kai was offering her-more than just a relationship that drained her.
As she sat in the office late one night, catching up on work, Orm couldn't shake the feeling that maybe it was time to face the truth. Her life was changing, and maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go of things that no longer served her.
Her phone buzzed, a message from Kai flashing on the screen. "You coming over tonight? I miss you."
Orm stared at the screen for a long moment. She couldn't ignore the knot in her stomach anymore. She wasn't sure if she was ready to confront him about everything, but she knew something had to give.
With a sigh, Orm set the phone down and turned her attention back to the paperwork in front of her. It wasn't the same anymore. And it was time to accept that
_to be continued_
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