Almost Ready, Almost Caught

Lingling's usually immaculate office was in disarray. Stacks of papers, a calendar with countless notes and a small velvet ring box hidden under a file folder painted a picture of chaos. For someone who managed billion-dollar deals with ease, planning a proposal had turned Lingling into a bundle of nerves.

"Everything has to be perfect," she muttered, pacing in front of her desk. She checked her list for the tenth time that morning. Flowers? Confirmed. Lights? Confirmed. Dinner? Confirmed. Ring? She opened the box, staring at the sparkling diamond. "Too much? No. It's Orm. She'll love it.*

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Freen and Becky barged in, uninvited as usual, carrying coffee and snacks.

"We come bearing caffeine and chaos," Becky announced, dropping a bag of pastries on Lingling's desk.

Freen leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. "You look like you're preparing for a hostile takeover, not a proposal."

Lingling shot them a sharp look. "This is the most important moment of my life. I can't afford mistakes."

"Mistakes like forgetting to breathe?" Becky teased. "You're wound up tighter than Freen's budget spreadsheets."

"Excuse me," Freen said, mock offended. "My spreadsheets are works of art."

Lingling groaned. "Can you two take this seriously?"

"Okay, okay," Becky said, holding up her hands in surrender. "What do you need from us? Moral support? A distraction for Orm? Someone to hold the ring dramatically while you propose?"

"I need you to stop talking," Lingling replied dryly.

Ignoring her, Freen inspected the checklist on Lingling's desk. "You've got everything covered. What's there to stress about?"

"Everything," Lingling snapped. "What if the flowers aren't perfect? What if the lights don't work? What if Orm says—"

"She'll say yes," Becky interrupted firmly. "You're Lingling Kwong. You could propose with a stick of gum, and she'd say yes."

"I'd pay to see that," Freen added, grinning.

Lingling glared at them, but her lips twitched slightly. Despite their antics, their confidence in her was comforting.

---

Meanwhile, Orm was growing increasingly curious about Lingling's behavior. Over the past week, Lingling had been more secretive than ever, disappearing into her office for hours and brushing off Orm's questions with vague excuses about "work."

That afternoon, Orm cornered Lingling in the kitchen. "You've been acting weird lately. What's going on?"

Lingling froze, her hand halfway to the coffee machine. "Nothing. Just... busy with some projects."

Orm narrowed her eyes. "You're always busy, but you're never this... evasive. Are you hiding something?"

"Of course not," Lingling said quickly. Too quickly.

Orm crossed her arms. "You know, you're a terrible liar."

Lingling avoided her gaze, muttering something about deadlines. Orm sighed, stepping closer. "If you're in trouble or stressed about something, you can tell me. I'm here for you."

Lingling softened at her words but managed to maintain her composure. "I'm fine, Orm. Really. Just trust me, okay?"

Orm didn't look convinced but nodded reluctantly. "Okay. But if this is about Becky and Freen convincing you to join some weird scheme, blink twice."

Lingling couldn't help but laugh. She stepped closer, brushing a hand against Orm's cheek. "I love you, you know that?"

Orm's frown eased, replaced by a small smile. "I love you too. But you're still acting weird."

"Noted," Lingling said with a chuckle, kissing Orm's forehead before retreating to her office.

Late that night, Lingling sat alone in the living room, the ring box resting on the coffee table in front of her. The penthouse was quiet, save for the soft hum of the city outside. She stared at the box, her mind racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.

*Very soon, everything changes.*

For someone who thrived on control and precision, the unpredictability of this moment was terrifying. But as she thought about Orm's laugh, her smile, the way she made every day brighter, the fear melted away.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Orm, who wandered in, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Ling? What are you doing up?"

Lingling quickly slid the ring box under a book, forcing a calm expression. "Just thinking."

Orm sat beside her, resting her head on Lingling's shoulder. "About what?"

"You," Lingling admitted softly. "How much I love you."

Orm smiled against her shoulder. "I love you too. But you need to sleep. Whatever you're stressing about, we'll handle it together."

Lingling wrapped an arm around Orm, pulling her closer. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

"Good," Orm mumbled, already half-asleep. "Now come to bed."

Lingling stayed for a moment longer, watching Orm's peaceful face. She picked up the ring box again, holding it tightly. You've got this.

Soon she'd take the biggest leap of her life, and she knew—deep down—that Orm would be right there with her.

---