My lover is my boss (LingOrm)

3 - Just listen

Orm's pov

The next day, as soon as I arrived at the office, I was greeted by the familiar hustle and bustle of excited colleagues preparing for the upcoming trip to Hong Kong. The atmosphere was electric—emails flying back and forth, hurried conversations about the conference, and the subtle hum of office banter all created a sense of collective anticipation. I had already received all the briefings and important documents for the conference, but it was clear that everyone else was equally excited. There was something invigorating about knowing we'd be traveling together, representing our company on such an international stage.

I couldn't help but smile as I saw a few team members exchanging high-fives and grinning from ear to ear. They were all celebrating, just like me. The prospect of visiting Hong Kong, meeting with the Malisorn Industries executives, and spending a few days away from the usual office grind had us all feeling elated. It was a rare chance to step out of our daily routines and showcase our skills in front of some of the industry's biggest names.

Amid the celebrations, the sharp, unmistakable voice of Ms. Ling Kwong cut through the noise like a knife. Her tone, as always, was firm, and it immediately commanded the room's attention.

"I see you're all quite happy about this trip," Ling began, her eyes sweeping across the team. The entire office went quiet. "And you can enjoy it, but don't get too comfortable. Don't be late, don't be unprepared. This is business, not a vacation."

There was an awkward silence for a moment, but then a few murmurs of agreement broke the tension. One or two team members even threw in a cheer, though it was more subdued now. Everyone knew what Ling expected—professionalism, punctuality, and results.

"Sure," I replied, trying to sound confident. Ling's gaze flicked to me for a second, her eyes narrowing slightly before softening. Then, unexpectedly, she addressed me directly.

"Kornnaphat, can you come to my office for a second?"

I blinked, surprised by the request. The tone of her voice was gentler than I'd anticipated. Was I in trouble? I couldn't tell, but I nodded, stood up from my desk, and followed her out of the room. As I walked behind her, I noticed the office atmosphere shift back to its previous excitement. People resumed their conversations, though I felt a few curious glances follow me as I headed toward Ling's private office.

When we reached her office, she motioned for me to enter, closing the door softly behind us. The air in here was different—quieter, more isolated from the lively chatter outside. Ling leaned casually against the edge of her desk, her arms crossed in a way that suggested she wasn't here to deliver bad news.

"Any problem with the spreadsheet?" I asked, my voice betraying the slight nervousness I felt. I knew I hadn't made any errors, but I was still cautious.

Ling shook her head, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "No, no problem with the spreadsheet. Actually... I wanted to apologize."

I blinked, utterly taken aback. Ling—Ms. Kwong—apologizing to me? That was something I never expected. She was known for her strict, no-nonsense demeanor, and apologizing was not something I ever thought would be in her playbook.

"For what?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She sighed and leaned back slightly, her expression softening even more. "Yesterday. I was harsh on you, and I didn't listen. I wasn't in the right headspace because of my migraine, and I took it out on you. That wasn't fair, and I'm sorry."

I stood there, processing her words. The memory of yesterday's tense exchange resurfaced in my mind, but the apology, coming from Ling, felt almost surreal.