My lover is my boss (LingOrm)

18 - Caught?

On Monday, I made my way to Ling's office, armed with the excuse of having wrong calculations. It wasn't really about the numbers, though. I needed to talk to her about the 500,000 baht she had casually deposited into my account as if it was nothing, and the fact that she thought it was an appropriate "reward." I still couldn't believe she had done that without even a heads-up.

As I entered her office, I saw her sitting at her desk, looking up at me with that familiar smile that always made my heart skip a beat. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, and I knew she was anticipating my reaction.

"Liked the surprise?" she asked, her voice smooth and teasing as she leaned back in her chair.

I crossed my arms, trying to look stern, though it was hard to keep up the act when she looked at me like that. "Why? It's too much money, Ling," I said, my voice softening despite myself.

Ling sighed, standing up from her desk and walking toward me with a confident, almost predatory grace. "Orm," she said, reaching for my waist and pulling me gently toward her. She guided me until I was standing between her legs as she sat back on the edge of her desk, her hands resting on my hips. "It surely isn't too much money," she said, her tone playful yet serious.

I frowned, placing my hands on her shoulders, trying to keep my resolve. "It is, Ling. I'm fine with what I receive already."

She smiled up at me, her fingers brushing against my waist as if the topic wasn't really a concern for her. "If I could, I'd buy you the whole world," she said softly. "But I can't, so stop worrying about it."

"I don't need the world," I said, shaking my head slightly. "I need you to stop throwing your money away like this."

Ling chuckled, her grip tightening slightly as she pulled me closer. "It's not throwing money away, Orm. It was a compliment for your cooking," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

I sighed, feeling the tension between us dissolve just a little. "But it's still a lot of money," I argued, though my voice had lost some of its edge.

She smirked, clearly enjoying my frustration. "So what about it being a reward for being so hot?" she teased, her fingers sliding up my back in slow, deliberate strokes.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "You only say that because I'm always in dresses or skirts when I'm around you."

Ling's smirk widened, and she leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with mine. "Actually," she said, her voice dropping to a low, sultry tone, "I say that because I've already seen you in more than just dresses and skirts."

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

She chuckled softly, her breath warm against my skin as she whispered, "You aren't the type to wear just dresses and skirts. I've seen you in shorts, pants, tanks, even blazers. And every time, you're somehow even hotter."

I felt my heart race, but my mind was stuck on how she had "already seen me" like that. "How did you see me like that?"

Ling leaned back slightly, a smug look crossing her face. "I've seen you at the market. You didn't know, did you?"

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "That explains a lot," I muttered, shaking my head.

"Yeah, I tend to keep an eye on you," she said, winking playfully.

I couldn't help but laugh, still processing the fact that Ling had been watching me without my knowing. "You're unbelievable."

She grinned, looking up at me with that mischievous glint that always made my stomach flip. "And your friend Becky... Did she figure out what's going on with us?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Of course. She knew immediately. She knows I'd never ask for an extra payment like that."

Ling chuckled, nodding. "I figured. I'm not the best at lying, am I?"

"Not at all," I replied, smiling down at her. "But it's fine. She's cool with it."

Ling's smile softened, and she reached up to gently stroke my cheek. "You liked the ring, though, right?"

I glanced down at the ring on my finger, the one she had given me as a symbol of our relationship. I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth in my chest. "I liked it," I said honestly. "But I love the person who bought it even more."

Ling's eyes sparkled with affection as she whispered, "I love you too, baby."

I was about to lean in and kiss her when we heard a knock at the door. My eyes widened in panic, and I rushed to step away from her, slipping out of her embrace just in time.

Ling barely had time to adjust herself before the door opened. Standing there, looking slightly awkward and out of place, was Bright.