My lover is my boss (LingOrm)

19 - Power

Orm's pov

"Boss—oh, Korn," Bright said as he entered Ling's office, his voice hesitant. He had spotted me sitting there and immediately looked uneasy, unsure of how to proceed with both of us present.

Ling's expression shifted. Her usual warm demeanor, which she always showed around me, disappeared. She straightened in her chair and leveled Bright with a cold, piercing gaze, reminding me just how sharp she could be when it came to work. I had almost forgotten how different her tone could be when dealing with others. "Say it," she said, her voice icy, the softness she reserved for me nowhere to be found.

Bright hesitated for a moment, clearly unnerved by her change in attitude. "Actually, I wanted to ask for a... a previous payment," he finally stammered, looking down at his feet like a kid asking for permission to do something he knew wasn't allowed.

Ling didn't even blink. "I can't make exceptions," she replied curtly, her voice flat and dismissive. It was as if he were nothing more than an annoyance, and she had already moved on from the conversation, refocusing on her computer.

Bright stood there, unsure of what to do. He shifted awkwardly, preparing to leave, clearly dejected by her harsh response. But something inside me wouldn't let him walk out like that. I knew Ling could be strict, but she was also fair. Bright had been working hard, and while his request was unusual, I felt he deserved a bit of understanding.

Before he could walk out, I called after him. "Ms. Kwong," I said, and Ling's head snapped up to look at me, her eyes wide with surprise. I rarely addressed her so formally, especially in private. I offered Bright a reassuring smile before turning back to Ling. "Bright deserves it. He's very focused on his work."

Her eyes narrowed, clearly not expecting me to interject. I gave her a look, subtly raising my hand where the ring she had given me sparkled in the light. Her expression softened immediately, though Bright couldn't see it. She let out a resigned sigh, knowing she couldn't deny me, not when I was looking at her like that.

"Fine," she said with a wave of her hand, turning her attention back to Bright. "How much do you need?"

Bright blinked, clearly taken aback by her sudden change of heart. "The payment of two months," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he couldn't believe his luck.

Ling leaned back in her chair, the sharpness in her tone still present, but the edge had softened just slightly. "80,000 baht," she said flatly.

Bright nodded quickly, grateful. "Yes, thank you."

Ling gave a dismissive nod. "I'll transfer it later. For now," she added, glancing at me, "I need to have a little conversation with Ms. Sethratanapong."

Bright turned to me, his face full of gratitude. "I'm sorry," he whispered, as if his request had caused any trouble.

I gave him a small smile. "No worries," I said softly, watching as he hurriedly left the office.

Once the door closed behind him, the atmosphere shifted again. Ling's posture relaxed, and the coldness in her demeanor melted away. She stood up and walked over to me, her eyes full of questions.

"Say it," I said, meeting her gaze as she approached.

Ling stopped in front of me, her expression conflicted. "Why?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost pleading. "Why did you step in for him?"

I sighed, feeling my frustration rise to the surface. "You transferred me half a million baht, Ling," I said, crossing my arms. "I'll give it back to you, and you can pay him with it."

Her eyes widened, a look of hurt flashing across her face. "I don't want the money back, Orm," she said, her voice firm but tinged with sadness. "I want you."

I felt my heart clench at her words, but I couldn't ignore the frustration that had been building up inside me. "But you won't win me with money," I said, my voice rising slightly as the words tumbled out. I didn't want to fight with her, but I needed her to understand. "I don't care about money, Ling. I care about you."

Ling's expression crumbled, and she looked genuinely sad now, her eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice so soft I almost didn't hear her. "I just... Can we talk about this at home?"

I shook my head, reaching out to take her hand in mine. "Ling, I understand your point," I said gently, trying to soothe the tension between us. "But I don't care about the money. I want you. I want us. So instead of giving me all this money, just kiss me and tell me you love me. That's all I need."

Her eyes searched mine, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Really?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

"Yes," I said with a soft smile, squeezing her hand. "That's all I need."

Ling's expression softened, and she stepped closer, cupping my face with her hands. "I love you," she whispered, her voice full of sincerity, before leaning in to kiss me. Her lips were soft against mine, and the kiss was tender, filled with all the emotions she hadn't been able to express with words.

I kissed her back, letting the warmth of the moment wash over me. When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, smiling softly. "I love you too," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But now I have to go back to work. For you, ironically."

Ling groaned playfully, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Do you have to?"

"Yes," I laughed, gently pushing her away. "I do."

She pouted, clearly not ready to let me go. "Fine. But make sure you don't work too hard," she said, her voice teasing but affectionate.

"I'll try," I replied, giving her one last peck on the lips before turning to leave.

"Bye, baby," Ling called after me, her voice light and playful again.

I smiled to myself as I left her office, my heart feeling lighter than it had earlier. Despite the misunderstanding, we had found a way to communicate, to show each other what really mattered. And in the end, that was worth more than any amount of money Ling could ever give me.

As I made my way back to my desk, I couldn't help but think about how far we had come—how much we had grown together. Ling could be stubborn, yes, and sometimes a little over-the-top with her gestures. But at the core of it all, her heart was in the right place. She just needed to be reminded that what I valued most wasn't her wealth, but her love.

And as I sat down at my desk, I couldn't wait to get home that night—to her, to our little world, where no amount of money or work could ever come between us.