Layers Beneath The Surface

As Orm handed Lingling her usual black coffee, the latter lingered by the counter instead of heading to her usual spot by the window. Orm raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

Lingling hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You've been running this café for a while, haven't you?"

Orm leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "About five years now. Why?"

Lingling's brows furrowed slightly. "It's just... you seem so comfortable here, but there's something about you that doesn't quite fit the picture."

Orm tilted her head, feigning ignorance. "Oh? Like what?"

Lingling's sharp eyes narrowed. "You're well-spoken, incredibly efficient, and you navigate social situations far too gracefully for someone who's just... running a café."

Orm smirked. "Not that I don't love the compliment, but you're reading too much into it.

Before Lingling could press further, Becky emerged from the back room, carrying a tray of mismatched mugs. "Hey, boss! Do we still have those fancy croissants left? You know, the ones your dad loves?"

Orm shot her a look that screamed not now, but Becky, oblivious, plowed on. "You remember how he was complaining about the ones in Paris? Like, how do you even complain about Paris croissants?"

Lingling blinked, her head snapping toward Orm. "Your dad? Paris croissants?"

Becky froze, suddenly registering Lingling's presence. "Uh... oops?" She bolted back into the kitchen.

Orm groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Ignore her."

But Lingling wasn't letting it go. "Paris croissants? Care to explain?"

Becky, realizing her slip, shrugged innocently. "Oh, you didn't know? Orm's parents are practically royalty. Real estate, boutique hotels—super fancy stuff."

"Becky!" Orm snapped, her cheeks flushing.

Lingling tilted her head, her interest piqued. "Is that so?"

Orm sighed, placing the steaming cup of coffee in front of Lingling. "It's... not a big deal."

But Lingling wasn't letting it go. "You never mentioned this before."

Orm rubbed the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Because it's not important. My family's into all that high-society stuff, but I wanted something simpler. Running this café felt right."

Lingling studied Orm for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You gave up a life of luxury for... this?"

Orm chuckled softly, leaning on the counter. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what they gave me. But I wanted something that felt like mine. Something real."

Lingling sipped her coffee, her sharp gaze softening as she considered Orm's words. "You're full of surprises."

"Good surprises, I hope," Orm quipped, her grin playful.

Lingling didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced around the cozy café, taking in the warm atmosphere that Orm had built. "It's admirable," she finally said, her voice quieter. "Not many people would walk away from that kind of privilege."

Orm shrugged, her easygoing nature shining through. "It's not about walking away. It's about walking toward something that feels right."

For a moment, Lingling felt a pang of guilt. Her own life, meticulously structured around ambition and expectations, suddenly seemed rigid compared to Orm's free-spirited choices. But more than that, she felt a growing respect for the woman standing in front of her.

Lingling set her cup down, her decision made. "I'd like to know more."

Orm blinked. "More?"

Lingling straightened, her CEO demeanor taking over. "About you. About your background, your choices. I want to understand."

"Okay, okay," Orm said. "What do you have in mind? A sit-down interview? A questionnaire?"

Lingling ignored her teasing and said simply, "Dinner. My penthouse. Tonight."

Orm's eyebrows shot up. "Your penthouse? That's... fancy."

"Is that a problem?" Lingling asked, her tone cool.

"No problem," Orm said quickly, her grin widening. "I just need to dig out my fanciest jeans."

Lingling smirked. "Don't bother. Just be yourself."

When Lingling's car pulled up to her penthouse, Orm stepped out, looking around with wide eyes. The sleek, towering building practically screamed luxury, and the city skyline glittered like a backdrop from a movie.

"Wow," Orm breathed, following Lingling inside. "You live here?"

Lingling didn't break her stride. "It's just a place to stay."

"A place to stay?" Orm echoed, taking in the minimalist yet stunning décor as they stepped into the penthouse. "Ling, this is a mansion in the sky. It's amazing."

Lingling shrugged, brushing off the awe. "It serves its purpose."

Orm chuckled, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."

The dining area was already set up, and a private chef moved with practiced ease, plating dishes that looked like they belonged in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

"Did you hire a chef just for tonight?" Orm asked, her voice laced with amusement.

"Of course," Lingling replied simply, as if this were the norm. "I wanted it to be... special."

Orm paused, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Special, huh? I'm flattered."

Lingling turned away, her composure faltering just slightly.

As they sat down, the conversation naturally drifted from casual chatter to more personal topics. Orm, always curious, couldn't resist poking at Lingling's carefully guarded exterior.

"So," Orm began, swirling her wine, "is this how your life has always been? Fancy penthouses, private chefs, designer everything?"

Lingling tilted her head, considering. "Something like that. My family... has resources."

"Resources?" Orm repeated with a smirk. "That's one way to put it."

Lingling smirked faintly in return. "You also come from a wealth."

Orm laughed softly. "What? Do I not fit the stereotype?"

Lingling didn't answer immediately. Instead, she studied Orm, as if trying to reconcile her image of the easygoing barista with the reality of her background. "No," she said finally. "You don't."

"Well, thanks, I guess?" Orm teased, taking a sip of her wine. "Becky's the same way. Her family's pretty loaded too, but she's happiest running the bakery side of things. We're simple people."

Lingling leaned forward slightly, her voice quieter. "That's... admirable."

Orm raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"Choosing simplicity when you didn't have to," Lingling replied, her gaze steady. "Most people wouldn't."

Orm chuckled, the sincerity in Lingling's tone catching her off guard. "It just felt right. What about you? If you could, would you choose something else?"

Lingling's expression softened, a rare vulnerability breaking through. "I don't know. Responsibility has always been... part of who I am. But sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have that freedom."

"Well," Orm said, her voice gentler now, "you don't have to wonder. You could always choose something different."

Lingling's chest tightened at the earnestness in Orm's words. For a moment, she didn't feel like a CEO. She just felt... seen.

Over dinner, the conversation flowed easily. Orm shared lighthearted anecdotes about her childhood and how she fell in love with running the café.

"Well, that's a first," Orm said, cutting into her dish. "Most people just want to know if the pastries are fresh or if I'm single."

Lingling leaned back slightly, swirling the wine in her glass with an almost casual air. But her gaze was anything but casual—it was sharp, focused. "And are you?"

Orm paused mid-bite, blinking at the unexpected question. "Uh... single? Yeah. Very single."

Lingling's lips curled into a faint smile, her tone deceptively casual. "Good. Let's keep it that way."

Orm blinked, her fork hovering mid-air. "Excuse me?"

Lingling met her eyes, her expression calm but her words laced with an unmistakable edge. "I mean, it'd be such a waste to let someone else claim you when... well, let's just say you've already caught someone's attention."

Orm's heart skipped a beat, but she managed to play it off with a teasing grin. "Someone's attention, huh? Do I get a hint?"

Lingling raised an eyebrow, her smile deepening. "Oh, I think you're smart enough to figure it out."

Orm leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "Hmm. Someone's being mysterious tonight."

Lingling shrugged, her tone turning cool again but with an unmistakable possessiveness. "Mysterious? No. Direct. Let's just say... I don't like sharing."

Orm's eyes widened, her teasing grin faltering for just a moment before she chuckled nervously. "Wow, okay. I didn't realize this dinner came with a side of territorial claims."

Lingling tilted her head, her voice soft yet firm. "Orm, when I want something, I don't let it slip away."

The weight of her words settled between them, the air thick with unspoken tension. Orm, flustered but oddly pleased, decided to lighten the mood. "Well, let's hope I'm not on the dessert menu tonight or this could get awkward."

Lingling's lips twitched in amusement, but her gaze never wavered. "Trust me, Orm. You're much more than dessert."

As they stood by the door, Orm hesitated, her usual playful confidence softening into something more genuine. "Thanks for tonight, Ling. It was... really nice."

Lingling's lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but the words didn't come. Instead, she simply nodded.

Orm leaned in, her movements deliberate yet gentle, and pressed a soft kiss to Lingling's cheek. The gesture was brief but enough to send warmth flooding through Lingling's chest.

"Goodnight, Ling," Orm said softly, stepping back.

Lingling touched her cheek, momentarily speechless. "Goodnight, Orm," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Orm climbed into Lingling's car, the driver nodding politely as they began the journey back to her place. As the city lights blurred past the window, Orm found herself smiling, replaying the night in her mind.

Back at the penthouse, Lingling stood by the window, gazing out at the city but not really seeing it. Her fingers brushed against her cheek where Orm had kissed her, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

For the first time in a long while, Lingling felt... light. Like she wasn't carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"Goodnight," she whispered to herself, her heart a little fuller than it had been just hours ago.