Only us [LingOrm]

4

Ling's pov

The other day, I found myself on the balcony, phone pressed against my ear as I chatted with Faye. Orm was inside, deep in conversation with her agent, so I took the opportunity to step out, needing the cool air to calm the thoughts spinning in my mind. I chuckled as I recounted the earlier moment to Faye, knowing full well that the story would amuse her.

"You should have seen her face when I told her you were my girlfriend," I said, the laughter bubbling up as I remembered Orm's reaction—a perfect blend of shock and confusion. It was a rare moment where she seemed off-balance, and I relished it.

"You lied to your client just to mess with her?" Faye asked, her voice tinged with amusement. I could almost picture her smirking on the other end, her eyebrow quirked in that way that told me she was half-reprimanding, half-laughing at me.

"I'm working for her, and she's been flirting with me nonstop," I defended, though a grin tugged at my lips. "I had to put an end to it somehow."

"Uh-huh. And did it work? Is she still mad?" Faye pressed, her tone light but curious.

"I don't know. She's in a meeting with her agent right now," I said, glancing through the glass door back at Orm. Her posture was tense, her brows furrowed in concentration as she discussed whatever it was that needed hashing out with her agent.

"Well, I've got to hang up. Ying's calling me," Faye said, cutting our conversation short.

"Talk to you later," I replied, slipping my phone back into my pocket just as Orm emerged from the meeting room. Her face was unreadable, a mask of professional calm that didn't give away what she might be feeling. I moved to intercept her, hoping to get a read on her mood.

"Bodyguard," she greeted me with a coldness that made me wince inwardly. It wasn't like her to be so distant, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Maybe my little joke had gone too far. But then again, maybe this was for the best. I couldn't afford to flirt with a client, especially not one like Orm. It was a slippery slope, leading to nothing but tangled emotions and complications.

But logic wasn't exactly my strong suit, especially not when it came to Orm.

"Okay, come here," I said, grabbing her hand without thinking, dragging her out onto the balcony with me. She didn't resist, but the way she looked at me, arms crossed, told me I was on thin ice. "What's the matter?"

"Ask your girlfriend," she shot back, her tone sharp enough to cut.

I sighed, realizing where this was going. "Oh, so that's it? Calm down, Orm. I was just joking. Do you really think I would date Faye?"

"Wait, you were lying?" Her eyes narrowed, but she uncrossed her arms, her posture softening just a fraction as she realized the truth. A small, triumphant smile played on her lips as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. My heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her mood.

"Don't ever do that again!" she scolded, though her voice was light, teasing.

"Okay, I won't," I promised, though I couldn't help but laugh at how easy it had been to rattle her. "But your face was priceless."

"You've got a pretty laugh. Why don't you laugh more often?" she asked, her arms sliding down to wrap around my waist. The contact sent a shiver down my spine, her touch both comforting and electrifying.

"Because I have to look mean so no one kidnaps you," I joked, though there was a hint of truth in my words. My job was to protect her, to be the stone wall between her and any threat.