Chapter 8 - Vosbein

Orm went home, her heart feeling like it had been ripped apart. The moment she stepped inside, Koy greeted her with a warm smile, but it quickly faded when she saw the tears streaming down her daughter's face.

"My dear, what happened?" Koy asked, concern evident in her voice.

Orm barely managed to hold herself together as she dropped her bag on the floor. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto them, sobbing.

"Lingling hates me," she choked out. "She doesn't want to see me ever again."

Koy immediately knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around her trembling daughter. "Oh, my love," she whispered, stroking her back.

Orm clung to her mother, unable to stop the tears. "I already expected this, Mom. I knew she'd be angry. But hearing her say it... seeing how much I hurt her... it was unbearable." She let out a deep, shuddering breath. "It's my fault. I ruined everything."

Koy held her tighter, letting her cry. "Tell me, my love. What really happened? Why didn't you go back to her?"

Orm pulled away slightly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I wanted to, Mom. I wanted to so badly." She took a shaky breath. "But Dad... his condition was getting worse. You saw how it was back then. I couldn't just leave."

Koy nodded solemnly.

"I was afraid, Mom. Afraid that if I left, I would lose him. And when he finally..." Orm's voice broke as she swallowed back more tears. "When he finally passed, I had nothing left in me. I was empty. I shut down."

Koy brushed Orm's hair back gently. "You were grieving, Orm. It's understandable."

Orm shook her head. "That's not all, Mom." She hesitated, then admitted, "I was also protecting her."

Koy frowned. "Protecting her?"

Orm nodded. "Dad's company was in the middle of a crisis, and the media was all over us. If I had gone back to Lingling, the press would've found out about her. They would've dragged her into everything. I couldn't let that happen."

Koy sighed, finally understanding the full picture. "So, instead of reaching out, you let her believe you abandoned her."

Orm flinched at the harsh truth. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought... maybe if I stayed away, she'd be safe. That she wouldn't have to deal with the mess that came with our family's name."

Koy cupped her daughter's face, her expression both loving and firm. "Orm, love isn't about making decisions for someone else. It's about facing things together."

Orm's tears fell again. "But now it's too late, isn't it?"

Koy shook her head. "It's only too late if you stop trying."

Orm kept crying, her sobs muffled against her mother's shoulder. "God knows how many times I stood in front of her apartment, wanting to knock on her door, wanting to tell her everything. But I couldn't. I just couldn't." Her fingers dug into the fabric of her mother's blouse as she trembled.

Koy held her tighter, gently running a hand over her daughter's back. "Oh, my love..."

Orm sniffled, her voice breaking. "I even went to her graduation, Mom. I watched from a distance. She looked so happy that day. She was smiling, surrounded by friends. I wanted to run to her, to tell her how proud I was, how much I missed her." She let out a shaky breath. "But I didn't. I couldn't ruin it for her. She deserved to be happy, even if it meant without me."

Koy pulled back slightly, looking at Orm's tear-streaked face. "Why didn't you just tell her the truth, sweetheart?"

Orm shook her head. "Because everything was falling apart, Mom. Every little thing I did, every move I made, was being watched. I didn't want her to become a headline just because of me."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "And then... Dad was gone. And after that, I just shut down. I couldn't feel anything anymore. I threw myself into work, into taking over the company. I thought if I kept moving, if I kept working, I could forget."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But I never did."

Koy reached for her daughter's hands, squeezing them gently. "Orm, my love... you don't have to carry all of this alone."

Orm let out a bitter laugh. "I tried to be strong, Mom. For you, for the company, for everyone. But the truth is, without you... I don't think I would've made it. There were days I thought I'd be better off gone."

Koy's grip on her hands tightened. "Don't ever say that," she said firmly, her voice filled with both love and pain. "You are my daughter. You are my everything."

Orm swallowed hard, her chest tightening. "But I ruined everything, Mom. I blame myself for everything. And Ling? She said she never wants to see me again."

Koy brushed her daughter's hair back, her expression soft yet knowing. "Then prove to her that you won't leave again. Show her that you're not the same person who walked away all those years ago."

Orm blinked, her mother's words settling deep in her heart. Maybe... maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe she still had a chance to fix this.

____________

Days, weeks had passed, and Orm had thrown herself into work, drowning in reports, meetings, and problem-solving. It was the only way she knew how to numb the pain of losing Lingling. But today, work wasn't just a distraction—it was a full-blown crisis.

Sitting at the head of the conference table, Orm rubbed her temples as the voices around her blurred into a chaotic mess.

"The media just picked up the story this morning," Pring, her chief legal advisor, said gravely. "If we don't act fast, we could be facing a massive lawsuit."

Orm exhaled sharply. "Give me the details. Everything."

Pring exchanged glances with the other executives before continuing. "There have been multiple reports of food poisoning linked to one of our best-selling products—the frozen ready-to-eat chicken meals."

Orm stiffened. "How bad is it?"

"We have over thirty confirmed cases so far," Pring said. "Hospitals are treating severe cases of foodborne illness, and some patients are even pressing charges. The public is already in an uproar."

Another executive chimed in. "Orm, if we don't handle this correctly, our brand reputation will be destroyed. We're talking about possible product recalls, lawsuits, and government investigations. This could cost us billions."

Orm clenched her jaw. "Do we know where the contamination came from?"

"Our initial investigation points to one of our suppliers," Pring said. "But the issue is—"

"It's the same supplier we've been using for years," another executive finished.

"That doesn't matter," Orm interrupted. "If they're responsible, we cut ties immediately. Issue a recall and shut down production on the affected products until we get this under control."

Pring hesitated. "That's the thing... The supplier is denying everything. They're claiming the issue wasn't from their facility but from improper storage during transportation. If they fight back, we'll be in a legal battle over liability."

Orm clenched her fists. This was turning into a nightmare. "Have we tested the remaining product stock?"

"Yes," Pring confirmed. "And the results are... mixed. Some batches show contamination, others don't."

"That means we can't fully prove if the issue started with them or with our distribution," Orm muttered.

"The public doesn't care where the contamination started, Orm," another executive said bluntly. "They just want accountability. And right now, all fingers are pointing at us."

Orm sighed, leaning back in her chair. Every decision she made now could either save or sink the company.

"Okay," she finally said. "We cooperate fully with health authorities and launch our own internal investigation. In the meantime, we pull every affected product from shelves, no matter how much it costs us. We issue a public statement taking responsibility and assuring customers that we are handling the situation."

"Orm, this is going to cost us millions in recalls alone—"

"I don't care about the money," Orm cut him off. "I care about the people who trusted us. If we don't handle this right, it's not just about lawsuits. It's about losing everything we've built."

The room fell silent. Orm might have been tough, but she was fair. And when she made a decision, there was no turning back.

She inhaled deeply, trying to focus. But deep inside, she knew this crisis wasn't just about her company.

It was about proving—to herself, to the world, and maybe even to Lingling—that this time, she wasn't running away.

_____________

Orm barely had time to breathe before another storm hit.

Her secretary knocked on the door, poking her head in. "Ms. Sethratanapong, Milk Vosbein is here for the meeting."

Orm exhaled sharply. Milk Vosbein. The name alone was enough to irritate her.

Milk wasn't just any businesswoman—she was the owner of Vosbein Foods, the exclusive distributor of Orm's products. She was young, ambitious, and ruthless in negotiations. They had clashed before, but today, with the food contamination scandal looming, Orm knew this meeting would be brutal.

The door opened, and Milk Vosbein walked in, exuding confidence. Dressed in a crisp white suit, she tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder as she took a seat.

"Orm," she said with a smirk. "I'd say it's nice to see you, but given the current disaster... I think we both know it's not."

Orm leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "Cut the theatrics, Milk. I assume you're here to talk about the recall."

Milk arched an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm not just talking about it. I want answers. Do you have any idea how much money my company is losing because of your tainted products?"

Orm's jaw tightened. "We're investigating the source of contamination. Until we have definitive proof, I suggest you tread carefully before blaming me."

Milk let out a cold laugh. "Tread carefully? Orm, your brand is collapsing. Customers are boycotting. The media is ripping you apart. And now you want to act tough?" She leaned in. "You're lucky I haven't terminated our contract yet."

Orm narrowed her eyes. "And you're lucky I haven't replaced you as my distributor."

Milk smirked. "Replaced me? With who? You and I both know I run the biggest distribution network in Thailand. Without me, your products won't reach a single shelf."

Orm clenched her fists. She hated how Milk was right.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself. "I don't deny the damage this is causing, but I won't let you use this as an opportunity to strong-arm me into a worse deal."

Milk's expression darkened. "This isn't about deals, Orm. This is about survival. Your company is on the verge of collapse. If you don't fix this—fast—I'm pulling out."

Orm stared at her. "You wouldn't dare."

Milk leaned back, crossing her legs. "Try me."

A tense silence filled the room.

Finally, Orm spoke. "Give me one week. We'll find the source of contamination, and I'll personally make sure the public regains trust in our brand."

Milk studied her for a moment. Then, with a smirk, she stood. "One week, Orm. No excuses."

She turned and walked out, leaving Orm seething.

This crisis was only getting worse.

____________

Lingling's POV

Lingling scrolled through her phone, her chest tightening with each headline.

"Sethratanapong Foods Scandal: Massive Recall After Contamination Crisis!"

"Orm Sethratanapong Under Fire—Customers Outraged Over Tainted Products!"

"Vosbein Foods Threatens to Cut Ties—What's Next for Sethratanapong Foods?"

The news was everywhere. Every article, every video clip showed Orm—her once-confident demeanor now overshadowed by exhaustion. She looked worn out, her usual poise cracking under the pressure of constant scrutiny. The interviews showed her trying to remain composed, but Lingling knew her too well. Orm was drowning.

She sighed, rubbing her temples. Why do I even care?

She shouldn't care. Orm had broken her. She had every right to let her suffer alone. But that didn't stop the nagging worry eating away at her.

Lingling tapped on a video interview.

Orm sat at a press conference, dressed in her usual tailored suit, but her eyes... God, her eyes. They looked hollow, strained. The reporters fired questions at her relentlessly.

"Ms. Sethratanapong, how do you plan to regain public trust?"

"What about the victims of the contamination? Will they be compensated?"

"Is it true Vosbein Foods is reconsidering their partnership with you?"

Lingling saw the moment Orm hesitated—just for a second. A second too long. That slight falter in her expression. The world saw a company Chairwoman scrambling to do damage control, but Lingling saw something else.

She saw Orm, the girl she once loved, struggling to hold everything together.

Lingling clenched her fists. She wanted to reach out, to ask if she was okay. But no.

She shook her head and locked her phone.

Not my problem. Not anymore.

_________

Orm's POV

Orm sat in the private dining room of an exclusive restaurant, fingers tapping against her wine glass. She hated waiting.

Especially for someone like Milk Vosbein.

The doors swung open, and Orm looked up—only to immediately regret it.

Milk strode in like she owned the place, a vision in a sleek, dark green dress that clung to her in all the right places. Her long, black hair was styled in soft waves, and her sharp eyes gleamed with amusement. She looked exactly like trouble.

Orm should've known better than to meet her like this. Alone.

"Orm Kornnaphat." Milk smirked as she approached. "To what do I owe the honor?"

Orm exhaled, straightening in her chair. "Sit. We need to talk."

Milk raised an eyebrow but complied, sliding into the seat across from her. The way she moved—slow, deliberate—made Orm's jaw tighten.

They hadn't spoken in years. Not since that night.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing. Orm never looked back.

But Milk? Milk never let people forget.

She picked up the wine menu, barely glancing at it before setting it down with a smirk. "You never called."

Orm sighed. "Milk—"

"No, really," Milk interrupted, leaning forward, resting her chin on her hand. "I was starting to think I wasn't memorable."

Orm pinched the bridge of her nose. "Can we be adults about this? Please?"

Milk laughed softly. "You think I'm not being an adult? Orm, you called me. At night. Invited me to an expensive dinner. Tell me that doesn't sound like a date."

Orm clenched her jaw. "This is about business."

Milk tilted her head. "So serious. Fine, then. Tell me—why am I here?"

Orm took a deep breath. "Vosbein Foods is our biggest distributor. If you pull out now, it's going to wreck us."

Milk traced the rim of her wine glass, watching her. "Wreck you, you mean."

Orm's patience was thinning. "This isn't about me, Milk. There are hundreds, rather thousands of employees who rely on this company. I need you to reconsider."

Milk hummed, pretending to think. Then, with a slow smile, she leaned in, lowering her voice. "And what exactly do I get in return?"

Orm tensed. "A stable partnership. Profit. Everything we've built together in the last 7 years."

Milk chuckled. "Orm, you're cute when you try to be professional."

Orm shot her a warning glare. "This isn't a game."

Milk held her gaze, her smirk fading just slightly. "I don't play games, Orm. You of all people should know that."

Silence hung between them for a moment. Heavy. Tense. Charged.

Orm swallowed. She wasn't sure if she was negotiating for her company or for control of this conversation.

Milk finally leaned back, crossing her legs. "I'll think about it."

Orm exhaled. It wasn't a yes—but it wasn't a no either.

Milk smirked. "And Orm?"

Orm looked up.

"Next time you want to talk business, don't invite me to a place with candlelight."

Orm leaned back in her chair, studying Milk, who sat across from her with an unreadable smirk. "Why not?" she asked, voice calm but pressing.

Milk chuckled softly, swirling the deep red wine in her glass before taking a slow sip. Her gaze flickered to Orm's lips before locking onto her eyes. "Because you might wrap me around your fingers again."

Orm raised a brow, intrigued. "I don't remember you being the type to get caught up in anyone."

Milk smirked, tilting her head slightly. "You're right. But that night?" She leaned forward just a little, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "You almost had me."

Orm swallowed, gripping her own glass tighter. She knew Milk was toying with her. Testing her. But there was something in her voice that made Orm's pulse quicken—something more than just playful arrogance.

"That was years ago, Milk." Orm finally said, keeping her tone neutral.

Milk shrugged, eyes gleaming. "Doesn't mean I've forgotten." She rested her elbow on the table, fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "You were something else back then." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Still are."

Orm exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "I didn't invite you here to reminisce."

Milk tilted her head, pretending to think. "No, I suppose not. You're here because you need me." She let the words hang between them before adding, "And I like the sound of that."

Orm stiffened. "I don't need anyone, Milk."

Milk chuckled, reaching across the table, her fingers brushing over Orm's hand, just barely. "You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart."

Orm didn't pull away. She hated the way Milk looked at her, like she could see right through every wall she put up. And the worst part? It wasn't just business tension in the air.

Milk leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. "Are you going to beg me to stay?"

Orm finally pulled her hand away, but not before she felt a rush of heat shoot through her spine. "I don't beg."

Milk smirked again, slow and knowing. "Then convince me."

Milk swirled her wine, eyes locked on Orm. "So, should we get out of here?" Her voice was low, teasing.

Orm leaned back, studying her. "And go where?"

Milk smirked, inching closer. "Somewhere more... private."

Orm exhaled, gripping her glass. "You think I'd fall for that again? I'm not that person anymore."

Milk chuckled. "But. I think you want to." She stood, adjusting her dress. "Oh well, if you'd rather sit here pretending you don't... suit yourself."

She turned toward the exit, pausing just long enough to glance back. "Last chance, Orm."

Orm clenched her jaw, staring at Milk's retreating figure. "Why does she remind me of her?" she muttered under her breath.

The way Milk smirked, the confidence in her stride—it reminded Orm too much of Lingling. She shut her eyes, exhaling sharply. "Damn it." But still, she didn't move.

_________

The days dragged on, and the pressure kept mounting. Orm was running out of time—if she didn't salvage the deal with Vosbein Foods, her company would take a massive hit. Investors were restless, the media was ruthless, and the board was breathing down her neck.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Milk.

Milk: Pack your bags. We're flying to Japan tomorrow. If you want to fix this, you need to convince my team in person.

Orm exhaled sharply, gripping her phone. Japan? With Milk? This was going to be a problem.

The next evening, they met at the airport. Milk arrived in a sleek black ensemble, her presence commanding as ever. She handed Orm a first-class ticket without a word.

"I hope you're ready," Milk said with a knowing smirk. "Because if you mess this up, there's no second chance."

Orm didn't respond—she just tightened her grip on the ticket.

This trip wasn't just about business anymore. It was a high-stakes game, and Milk was making it clear that she held all the cards.

Orm exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "Why are you really doing this, Milk?"

Milk smirked, stepping closer. "Let's just say, if this deal goes through, I win in more ways than one."

Orm sighed. "I need Vosbein Foods, not whatever game you're playing."

Milk chuckled. "Oh, baby, it's all the same." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "Now, are we flying to Japan or are you backing out?"

Orm clenched her jaw, grabbing her passport. "Let's go."

Milk grinned. "That's my girl."

Orm muttered. "I'm not your girl." She sighed

Milk adjusted her coat and turned to Orm with a smirk. "Shall we?" she asked, slipping her arm through Orm's with ease.

Orm sighed, adjusting her sunglasses, trying to ignore the way Milk clung to her like they were something more than business partners. Just as she was about to respond, a familiar voice cut through the airport noise.

"Welcome aboard."

Orm froze.

Lingling stood at the entrance of the plane, greeting passengers as she always did—with professionalism and warmth. But the moment her eyes landed on Orm, that warmth dimmed. Then her gaze flickered to Milk, still wrapped around Orm's arm.

Orm stiffened, instinctively trying to remove Milk's grip, but the woman held on tighter.

"No backing out now," Milk whispered teasingly, her lips too close to Orm's ear.

Lingling's posture straightened, her fingers curling slightly before she forced herself to relax. She turned her attention to the next passenger, pretending as if the sight of Orm with another woman meant nothing.

But inside, it felt like a knife twisting.

Orm swallowed hard, stepping past Lingling, feeling the weight of her gaze even as she walked away..

__________

As the flight took off, Orm and Milk leaned in, discussing their upcoming business negotiations in Japan. Lingling, stationed at the galley, stole occasional glances in their direction. Who the hell is this woman clinging to Orm like that? Milk was practically draped over Orm, whispering closely into her ear with an amused smirk.

Orm, on the other hand, kept her eyes on her laptop, her expression serious, but she made no real effort to move Milk away. Lingling clenched her fists. Not my problem. Not my business.

A soft chime rang from first class. Someone had pressed the service button.

Lingling composed herself before walking over. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Milk lazily pressing the button with one hand—while the other rested on Orm's arm.

"A glass of champagne, please," Milk requested, her voice dripping with amusement. Then she turned to Orm. "What about you, babe?"

Orm didn't even glance up. "I'm not drinking."

Milk rolled her eyes and smirked at Lingling. "Two glasses of champagne, then."

Lingling gritted her teeth, keeping her expression professional. "Right away, ma'am."

As she turned to leave, Orm's voice stopped her. "Ling—"

Lingling hesitated, gripping her tray tightly. Why does she sound like that? Like she still—

Milk cut in before Orm could finish. "Orm, focus. We have business to handle." She squeezed Orm's arm possessively, making sure Lingling saw it.

Lingling inhaled sharply. Without another word, she walked away.

Lingling returned with the champagne, setting the glasses down carefully. "Your drinks, ma'am." Her voice was professional, but Orm could sense the coldness behind it.

Just as Lingling turned to leave, Orm instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Ling, we're just business partners," she said, her voice softer than she intended.

Milk, watching the exchange with interest, raised an eyebrow. She had suspected there was history between them, but this reaction confirmed it. Smirking, she leaned in close to Orm and, without breaking eye contact with Lingling, softly bit Orm's earlobe. "For now," she murmured.

Lingling stiffened, yanking her hand away. Her eyes flickered with something—anger, hurt, maybe both. But she didn't let it show. "Enjoy your flight," she said curtly before turning away.

Orm clenched her jaw, rubbing her temples as Milk chuckled beside her. "So, that was interesting," Milk mused, swirling her champagne. "She looked like she wanted to throw this in my face."

Orm shot her a glare. "Don't start."

Milk grinned, tilting her head. "Relax, Orm. I don't know who she is to you, but I have a pretty good guess. And I gotta say... this just got a lot more fun."

Orm scoffed, leaning back against her seat. "Will you stop, Milk?" she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Milk chuckled, swirling the champagne in her glass. "No. This is fun." She shot Orm a playful smirk. "Besides, I can't help but wonder—who was it that finally grounded you? Back then, you were all about having fun."

She took a long sip of her champagne, eyes flickering toward where Lingling had disappeared. "I wanted more, you know. But you never let it get serious."

Orm exhaled sharply, her patience wearing thin. "Milk, enough."

Milk smirked, swirling the champagne in her glass before taking a slow sip. Then, she leaned in again, her voice teasing yet sharp. "Relax, Orm. I'm just saying... I don't mind being the other woman."

She winked before settling back in her seat, watching Orm's reaction with amusement.