My lover is my boss (LingOrm)

13 - The date

We arrived at a luxury restaurant, the kind of place that felt like it belonged in a movie—the lighting soft and intimate, the decor dripping in elegance. Every corner seemed to gleam with sophistication, just like Ling herself. As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. Everything screamed high-class, but it was undeniably beautiful.

Ling, on the other hand, looked completely at home. She was breathtaking, wearing classy caramel-colored pants that hugged her figure in all the right ways, paired with a crisp white shirt that was slightly unbuttoned, revealing just enough of her collarbone to make my breath hitch. She carried herself with the kind of confidence that made me feel like the luckiest person in the world just to be sitting across from her.

We were talking about random things, life, work, the usual small talk. Ling spoke with ease, her words flowing effortlessly. She had a way of making even mundane topics sound interesting. But if I was being honest, I wasn't really paying attention. I was too captivated by her—the way the soft lighting of the restaurant made her skin glow, the way she moved her hands as she spoke, the subtle smile playing on her lips.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize I had been staring at her for far too long until the waiter approached our table, breaking the spell.

"Ling, can you choose for me?" I asked, trying to play it cool as I glanced at the fancy menu in front of me. I had no idea what any of the dishes were, and in that moment, all I could think about was how out of my element I felt in this world of luxury.

Ling smiled at me, a knowing look in her eyes, and nodded. She rattled off the names of the dishes to the waiter with the kind of ease that made it clear she was well-versed in places like this. I watched in awe as she ordered for the both of us, the confidence in her voice making me feel more at ease.

When the food arrived, it looked almost too good to eat. The presentation was immaculate, the colors vibrant, and the smell—oh, the smell—was mouthwatering. Ling, ever the caretaker, served me a portion of the food onto my plate before dishing out her own.

"Eat," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You really need the energy."

I nearly choked at her words, my mind instantly jumping to Becky's teasing earlier about me and Ling. Becky's dirty-minded suggestions of why I might need energy flashed through my head, and I couldn't help but laugh nervously. "For what?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

Ling raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by my reaction. "You lack energy. You're always sleeping, so you need to recharge," she said, matter-of-factly, her concern genuine.

"Oh, right," I said, embarrassed at where my thoughts had gone. I quickly shoved a bite of food into my mouth, trying to hide my flustered state. As I continued eating, I started to feel the cold air from the restaurant's air conditioner settling in. It wasn't unbearable, but I was definitely feeling the chill, and I tried to hide the fact that I was shivering.

Ling, ever observant, caught on. She excused herself, claiming she needed to go to the bathroom. I nodded, distracted by the meal, but when she returned, she wasn't empty-handed. Instead, she came back with her blazer draped over her arm.

Without a word, she gently placed it over my shoulders, the warmth of the fabric immediately comforting me. "Put it on. You're cold," she said softly, her gaze warm and tender.

I looked at her, surprised. "Thanks," I whispered, pulling the blazer tighter around me. It smelled like her—soft, subtle, and completely intoxicating.

"You like the food?" Ling asked, her tone casual as she took another bite of her meal.

"I love it," I replied, smiling at her.

"I'm glad," she said, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction at my response.

...

As we left the restaurant, the evening air was cooler than I expected, and I was thankful for Ling's blazer still wrapped around me. She held my hand as we walked, her touch grounding me as we made our way to her car. I had felt so out of place at the restaurant, but with her beside me, I felt more comfortable, more myself.

When we reached her car, she stopped and turned to me, a small smile playing on her lips. "I have something for you," she said, reaching into the backseat.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Flowers?" I asked, my eyes widening as she handed me a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, their fragrance immediately filling the air around us.

Ling looked slightly shy, her usual confidence tempered by a hint of vulnerability. "I'm sorry if it's out of nowhere or a bit random, but I wanted to bring you something."

I stared at the flowers, momentarily speechless. "I—I didn't bring anything," I stammered, feeling suddenly unprepared.

Ling chuckled, tilting her head at me. "Did you have to?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

"Well, yes?" I said, unsure of what the etiquette was here.

She shook her head, smiling softly. "Of course you didn't. You bring me happiness—something money can't buy. I'd give up every baht I had, just to have you in my life."

Her words hit me like a wave, and I felt my heart swell at the sincerity of them. "That was... really cute, actually," I said, smiling at her.

Ling laughed, her smile widening. "Thank you. So, I was thinking," she continued, her tone playful now. "Maybe we could go to a park and see the stars?"

I nodded, my excitement bubbling up at the thought. "I like the idea."

"Then let's go," Ling said, and with that, she started the car, the low purr of the engine setting the mood for the rest of the night.

...

The park was quiet when we arrived, the soft glow of distant streetlights casting long shadows over the grass. A few couples were scattered here and there, enjoying the cool night air, but for the most part, it was peaceful and serene.

Ling parked the car and got out, pulling a towel from the backseat as she made her way to a spot under a tree. She spread the towel out on the grass, smoothing it down before sitting down and gesturing for me to join her.

"Come," she said, her voice low and inviting. "So you won't get your clothes dirty."

I smiled and sat beside her, settling into the space she had made for me. After a moment, I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her as I lay back, resting my head on her shoulder. The smell of her perfume, that familiar scent that I had grown so fond of, filled the air around us, and I felt completely at ease.

I turned slightly, resting my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her warmth. The feeling of being so close to her was comforting, soothing even, and before I knew it, the gentle rhythm of her breathing and the soft sound of the night lulled me into a peaceful sleep.

...

I woke up in my bed, the soft glow of morning light streaming through the window. Disoriented, I sat up, looking around for Ling, but she wasn't there.

Instead, Becky stirred on the mattress on the floor, blinking sleepily as she sat up. "She brought you back," Becky said, her voice still thick with sleep. "She carried you to bed, took off your heels, cleaned off your makeup... even took off your rings and necklaces."

I smiled, looking up at the ceiling as I processed what Becky had just said. "God, she's perfect," I murmured, my heart swelling with affection.

Becky yawned, her eyes landing on the blazer draped over the chair next to me. "Is that her blazer?"

"Yes," I said quickly, grabbing it before Becky could touch it. "And don't even think about it. I want it to keep her perfume."

Becky chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're so in love with her."

I lay back down, hugging the blazer close, breathing in the lingering scent of Ling's perfume. Becky wasn't wrong. I was falling for her—hard.