Whispers in the Dark [LingOrm]

Appointment Day

Orm's pov

"Orm, your dad is calling you," my assistant Ying said as she poked her head into my office.

I looked up from the report I was pretending to read, letting out a mock sigh. "Tell him I'm on my way. Also, where are the formalities?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Even though Ying was my assistant, she was more like a sister to me—always bypassing the formalities that most people in our company would never dream of ignoring.

She rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth twitching into a small grin. "Drop that shit, Orm, and go already," she said, her tone playful as she waved me off and left the room, her usual no-nonsense attitude shining through.

Taking a deep breath, I stood and straightened my jacket, pushing thoughts of my personal life to the back of my mind. My father rarely summoned me unless it was something important, so I knew I had to be on my toes. I walked down the long, sleek corridor that connected our offices. The walls were adorned with modern art that I never understood but my father insisted on.

When I finally reached his office, I knocked twice and entered, trying to mask the mix of anxiety and annoyance simmering inside me. "Hi," I greeted him, keeping my tone neutral.

My father, seated behind his massive mahogany desk, barely looked up from the papers he was shuffling. "Hey, I need your signature on this contract," he said, sliding a document across the desk toward me. His sharp eyes met mine briefly before he added, almost as an afterthought, "Also, how are you two?" He was referring to my boyfriend, and the question felt as heavy as the atmosphere in the room.

"Fine," I replied curtly, not wanting to dive into that topic. My focus shifted to the contract in front of me. I scanned the text, the legal jargon blurring as my mind wandered.

My father's voice broke the silence. "You should think of marrying him," he suggested, his tone calm, as if he were discussing the weather. The words hung in the air, feeling out of place in this cold, corporate setting.

I paused, the pen hovering above the paper. "No way," I muttered, half to myself. "He would totally cheat on me." The words spilled out before I could stop them, my eyes still on the contract.

"What? I thought you two were on good terms," he said, a hint of curiosity in his voice as he leaned back in his chair, studying me closely.

I finally looked up, meeting his gaze. "You know how it is. We're just avoiding each other so we don't fight," I admitted, shrugging slightly. The truth tasted bitter on my tongue. "But yeah, if we were married, he'd definitely cheat on me. It's just a matter of time."

My father frowned, his fingers drumming on the desk. "Why don't you break up with him, then?" he asked, the concern in his voice catching me off guard.

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. "I tried," I said, the memory making my chest tighten. "But he laid down on the road and said he'd rather die than break up. It's complicated, Dad."

A heavy silence filled the room as he processed my words. Finally, he nodded, the conversation dropping as quickly as it had started. "Got it. Anyway, pass me your schedule. I need to arrange a meeting with this company," he said, smoothly shifting back to business as he grabbed the paper from my hand.

"Okay, just let me know when it's happening. Also, do I need to dress up?" I asked, already planning what I'd wear. I had a reputation for pushing the boundaries of our company's dress code.

My father's lips twitched into a rare smile, the tension between us easing just a fraction. "Of course. This company is ultra-formal," he teased, his tone light, but the underlying message was clear: no more casual clothes.

I smirked, nodding as I turned to leave. "Got it. I'll make sure not to embarrass you."

As I walked back to my office, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever find the balance between who I was expected to be and who I really was. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to figure out who I wanted to be with—or without.