Operation CEO Courtship

Setting the Stage

Lingling woke up unusually early that morning. No alarms, no back-to-back meetings—just a quiet, persistent resolve that had her pacing around her penthouse apartment. She'd spent most of the night scribbling ideas into her notebook, brainstorming how to prove to Orm that she wasn't just a distant, overbearing CEO. She was done letting her feelings stay hidden behind frosty stares and curt text messages.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Time to put it all into action.

Step 1: Morning Text, But Make It Extra

Just after sunrise, Orm's phone buzzed on the counter at Blooming Beans. She was still half-asleep, waiting for the coffee machine to warm up. Bleary-eyed, she picked it up, expecting a routine weather alert or something from Becky. Instead, the sender's name made her jolt awake.

Lingling Kwong: "Good morning, Orm. I was thinking about you—hope your day goes well."

Orm nearly dropped her phone. She read it again, convinced she was hallucinating. Lingling never initiated contact unless it was purely business. But "hope your day goes well"? That sounded almost... sweet.

She typed back, hesitating over every letter: "Morning, Lingling. This is a pleasant surprise. Everything okay?"

For a moment, Orm felt silly. Everything okay? She grimaced, wishing she'd gone with something wittier, but her brain was still booting up. Lingling's next message arrived before she could overthink:

Lingling: "Everything's fine. I'll be busy today, but I'll be in touch soon. Take care."

Orm blinked. "What is going on with her?" she muttered, half to herself, half to the empty shop.

Step 2: The Delivery

By mid-morning, Blooming Beans was in full swing, customers lining up for their caffeine fix. Becky was at the register, Orm was making lattes, and the air smelled like hope and espresso.

Suddenly, the door opened, and two delivery men struggled in with an enormous bouquet of exotic flowers—massive, colorful blooms that looked like they belonged in a five-star hotel lobby. A hush fell over the café as everyone paused to witness the spectacle.

"Delivery for... Orm," one of the men said, checking his clipboard.

Orm nearly frothed the milk into oblivion at the sound of her name. Becky snickered, shooting Orm a look so gleeful it was borderline malicious.

"These must be from our dear Ice Queen," Becky whispered, loud enough for Orm to hear.

The delivery men set the arrangement on the counter, revealing a small, elegant card tucked among the lavish petals:

"I heard you like colorful things. —L."

Becky cackled, fanning herself dramatically. "I've never seen something so extra. It's perfect."

Orm's cheeks warmed as she read the note again. "I... guess I should send a thank-you?"

Becky shrugged. "Duh. But watch out—Lingling going big means she's serious."

Orm bit her lip, a nervous thrill coursing through her. Serious indeed.

That afternoon, Becky texted Freen about the floral fiasco:

Becky: "Lingling just sent a crazy flower arrangement to Orm. You know, bigger than life. Customers were clapping. Orm's face was priceless."

Freen: "HA! So she's actually courting her? I thought she'd give up after the second meltdown."

Becky: "Nope, your bestie is going all-in. CEO style. And Orm is TOTALLY shook."

Freen: "Oh, this I gotta see. I'll be right over."

Becky: "Hurry. You might catch Orm mid-blush."

Step 3: Lingling's Grand Gesture Planning

Meanwhile, Lingling was in her office, meticulously typing away on her laptop. Her desk looked like a mini command center—sticky notes labeled "Orm's favorites," "Potential date spots," and "Flirty text ideas" dotted the surface.

Freen entered, raising an eyebrow at the chaos. "You look... busy. Please tell me these aren't new board meeting agendas."

Lingling huffed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Shut up. I'm strategizing."

Freen picked up a sticky note. " 'Sunset boat ride? Or too cheesy?' Wow. This is intense."

Lingling scowled, snatching the note away. "I told you—shut up. I'm trying to do this right. I can't just show up with coffee and hope for the best. Orm deserves better."

Freen's eyes softened at her friend's rare display of vulnerability. "You know, you could just ask her out. Like a normal person."

Lingling gave her a withering stare. "I'm a CEO. I don't 'just ask.' I plan. I execute. I conquer."

Freen snorted, grabbing another sticky note that read "Luxury gift hamper? Possibly tie in coffee theme???" "And you call yourself a professional. You're basically winging it with doodles."

Lingling rolled her eyes. "It's called brainstorming, Freen. Now be helpful and pick from these date ideas."

Freen scanned the notes. "All right, let's see... Karaoke night? That's a bit wild for you. Romantic dinner at a five-star restaurant? Too obvious. A private helicopter tour?" She paused. "You might want to tone it down so Orm doesn't freak out."

Lingling crossed her arms, annoyed but also reconsidering. "I suppose a helicopter might be too much. But the rest? I'm not sure."

Freen smirked. "Trust me, sometimes smaller gestures mean more. Orm's not a big showy person, from what I've seen."

Lingling inhaled deeply. "Fine. I'll dial it back. A little."

Later that day, Freen swung by Blooming Beans under the guise of needing a caffeine fix. She spotted Orm behind the counter, still eyeing the massive floral display that had taken over half the shop.

"Hey, Orm," Freen said, sauntering up with a grin. "Nice flowers."

Orm let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah, they're... something. Lingling's idea of a friendly gesture, apparently."

Freen laughed, leaning against the counter. "So how are you coping with all this lavish attention?"

Orm shrugged, a bashful smile creeping onto her face. "It's... a lot, but I can't say I hate it. It's just surprising to see this side of Lingling."

Freen chuckled. "She's done denying her feelings, if you ask me. She's determined, and in her world, determined equals unstoppable."

Orm's cheeks flushed. "Guess I'd better brace myself."

Freen gave a theatrical wink. "You have no idea."

Step 4: The Next Big Step

That evening, Lingling paced her penthouse living room, her phone clenched in her hand. She'd finally decided on a plan that balanced her CEO flair with a dash of personal touch. She typed a quick text to Orm:

"Are you free tonight? I'd like to see you—no boardrooms, no baristas, just us."

Her heart pounded as she hit send. She could practically feel the rush of adrenaline. This was it. If Orm said yes, she'd unveil the carefully orchestrated (yet modest, by Lingling standards) outing. She'd booked a cozy, private booth at a quaint bistro known for its understated charm—far from the glitz of rooftop bars or luxury hotels.

Within minutes, her phone buzzed:

Orm: "I'm free after 6. That sounds... nice. Where should I meet you?"

Lingling exhaled, a tiny triumphant smile shaping her lips. She typed back:

"I'll pick you up. 7 PM. Dress comfortably."

She could almost hear Orm's confused laughter through the screen. Dress comfortably? That was new, coming from the usually polished, high-fashion CEO.

Before Lingling left, she quickly updated Freen:

Lingling: "Operation CEO Courtship is a go. I'm picking Orm up at 7. Wish me luck."

Freen: "Ooooh, can't wait. Don't overdo it or you'll scare her off. LOL."

Lingling: "I said I'd dial it back. This is my version of 'dialing back.'"

At the same time, Orm was texting Becky:

Orm: "Lingling wants to pick me up at 7. She said 'dress comfortably'? What is going on?"

Becky: "Girl, just go with it. She's trying. And we both know you're secretly giddy."

Orm flushed, typing back quickly:

Orm: "Shut up. I'm not giddy. Just curious."

Becky: "Uh-huh. Sure."

As the clock neared 7 PM, Lingling sat in her sleek car outside Blooming Beans, her fingers drumming against the steering wheel. She stared at the notebook on the passenger seat—her "battle plan," as Freen called it. She took a deep breath, flipping it closed.

"Showtime," she whispered, heart pounding.

Inside the café, Orm peeked through the window, catching a glimpse of Lingling in her immaculate outfit, looking uncharacteristically nervous. She felt a flutter in her stomach, a mix of excitement and caution. What has she got planned?

With a final steadying breath, Orm grabbed her jacket. Ready or not, here I come, she thought, stepping out to meet Lingling.

Neither of them knew exactly what the night would bring, but one thing was certain: It would be a night of revelations, laughter, and maybe—just maybe—the first step toward something more than "complicated."Lingling's morning had started with an unusual buzz of energy. After weeks of internal turmoil, denial, and barely contained jealousy, she had finally resolved to do something about her feelings for Orm. The decision left her oddly invigorated—though she would never admit it, not even to herself.