A Secret Meeting

Lingling sat in her office, the glow of her laptop illuminating her face as she meticulously went over her presentation for the final time. Her usually calm and collected demeanor was replaced by a subtle tension, her fingers drumming nervously on the desk as she muttered under her breath.

"Everything has to be perfect," she whispered, clicking back to the first slide titled: "The Impact of Orm Sethratanapong on Lingling Kwong's Life." She adjusted the alignment of the text for what felt like the tenth time, even though it was already flawless.

Her gaze flicked to the velvet ring box sitting quietly on the edge of her desk. Just the sight of it made her stomach flip—a strange, unfamiliar sensation for someone who prided herself on being unshakable. "The most important pitch of my life," she muttered, taking a deep breath.

Lingling glanced at the clock. The meeting room was ready, and soon everyone would arrive. She smoothed down her blazer, gathered her materials, and whispered to herself, "You can do this," before heading out to face her audience.

The Kwong Corps meeting room, known for hosting high-stakes business deals, was unusually crowded that afternoon. Lingling had gathered her parents, her sister Milk, and Orm's parents, along with the usual crew—Becky, Freen, and Suzy. The air was thick with curiosity.

Orm's dad leaned over to his wife. "Do you think this is about a merger?"

Becky, overhearing, whispered to Freen, "A merger of hearts, maybe. Romantic and terrifying, just like Lingling."

Lingling entered the room, clutching a stack of papers and her laser pointer. She looked composed—on the surface. Only those who knew her well could see the tension in her shoulders.

She stood at the head of the table, cleared her throat, and began. "Thank you all for coming. I've gathered you here for an important matter regarding Orm."

"What did she do this time?" Orm's dad quipped, earning chuckles around the room.

Lingling ignored the remark and clicked to the first slide of her PowerPoint. "Slide one: 'The Impact of Orm Sethratanapong on Lingling Kwong's Life.'"

The room fell silent, then erupted into laughter.

"Oh, this is going to be good," Freen muttered, leaning back in her chair.

Lingling's voice was steady as she walked the room through her presentation, each slide more absurdly detailed than the last. She included:

A timeline titled "The Orm Effect," highlighting key moments in their relationship, like their first meeting, first date, and the day Orm moved into the penthouse.

A pie chart labeled "Time Well Spent," where 70% was "With Orm," 20% was "Work," and 10% was "Miscellaneous (mostly coffee)."

A SWOT analysis, breaking down the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in their relationship.

Orm's mom raised her hand, trying to keep a straight face. "Lingling, dear, is this a marriage proposal or a quarterly review?"

"Both," Lingling replied without missing a beat. "I've prepared backup slides if needed."

"Of course, you have," Orm's dad chuckled.

Lingling clicked to the final slide: a picture of the engagement ring. The slide was simple but dramatic, showcasing the sparkling diamond from every angle. Gasps filled the room as everyone leaned forward to get a better look.

""That's... not a ring," Freen said, shielding her eyes. "That's an entire diamond mine."

"I feel like I need sunglasses just to look at it," Becky added, squinting at the screen."

Even Lingling's usually reserved father chuckled. "Subtlety was never your strong suit, was it?"

Lingling, blushing faintly, replied, "It's perfect for her. And yes, it's big because my love is big."

Lingling turned to Orm's parents, her tone softening. "I wanted to gather you all here today to formally ask for your blessing. Orm is everything to me. She's my partner, my home, my happiness. I want to spend the rest of my life showing her how much she means to me."

Orm's mom smiled warmly. "Lingling, you already have our blessing. You've had it since the day you made her smile like that."

Orm's dad added, "Just make sure she doesn't sprain her wrist wearing that thing."

Lingling's mom nodded approvingly, "You've always had a way of going over the top, Lingling, but this is the good kind of over the top. Orm is lucky to have you."

Milk, ever the tease, leaned back and added, "Make sure you record her reaction. She'll cry for sure."

Becky nudged Lingling, "You better bring tissues for yourself too. Just saying."

Freen raised her glass of sparkling water, dramatically declaring, "To Lingling, who somehow managed to make love look like a board meeting and still be romantic!"

Suzy, still looking at the ring, chimed in, "Can I borrow it for selfies? Just for a week."

Lingling's mom nodded approvingly. "We're proud of you, Lingling. Orm has been a wonderful addition to this family."

With both families' blessings secured, the room erupted into a mix of applause, laughter, and playful teasing. The energy was contagious, and even Lingling's usually reserved demeanor softened into a rare and genuine smile.

"Two business empires merging," Orm's dad joked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm just wondering which name will go on top."

"Lingling and Orm—it's alphabetical," Freen quipped, earning a chuckle from the room.

Becky, as usual, jumped in. "Forget boardrooms. We're here for the wedding planning, and I better get a starring role. Who else is going to supervise the champagne, wine, and the entire wedding vibe? Only Becky can make elegance and extravagance collide in such a spectacular way."

"Supervise?" Freen smirked. "You mean obsess over every detail while sneaking sips of champagne and calling it 'quality control.'"

Milk chimed in, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. "All I'm saying is, if the playlist isn't danceable, I'm revolting. No slow songs unless it's for the bride and bride."

Lingling's mom smiled, her tone warm. "With the two of you, I'm sure the wedding will be just as memorable as today—chaotic, but full of love."

Freen, with her signature smirk, quipped, "To Lingling, who somehow managed to make a wedding proposal into a corporate meeting. Truly iconic."

Lingling shook her head, but her smile didn't waver. She raised her own glass. "Thank you all for your support—even if I'll probably regret letting Becky near anything wedding-related."

The room erupted in laughter again, clinking glasses all around. As the chatter grew, Lingling sat back, taking it all in. For once, her mind wasn't racing with business plans or strategies. Instead, it was filled with thoughts of Orm—and the life they would build together. And in this rare, unguarded moment, she felt nothing but certainty and joy.

As the families shared jokes and laughter, elsewhere, Orm was sitting in their penthouse, scrolling aimlessly on her phone. Suddenly, she sneezed, startling herself. She frowned and looked around. "Why do I feel like someone's talking about me?"

She glanced at the clock, noting how quiet the day had been. Life felt rather too peaceful for her liking. "Where is everyone?" she muttered to herself, before returning to her scrolling, her mind still spinning with mild suspicion.