Chapter 7

The soft light of the early morning filtered through the thin curtains, painting stripes across Ling's bare skin. She lay nestled against Orm, their bodies still warm from the night's passion. She chuckled softly, a puff of warm air against Orm's shoulder, her breathing still heavy. "It's only the beginning, darling," she murmured, more to herself than to the sleeping man. Orm didn't stir, his breathing deep and even. He was completely out, exhausted from their shared intimacy.

A sharp rap on the door jolted Ling back to reality. Her eyes widened, a sliver of panic creeping in. She quickly disentangled herself from Orm's embrace. Carefully, she pulled the thin blanket up over his naked form, shielding him from potential view. Scrambling for her discarded clothing, Ling pulled on a pair of pants and a loose shirt. With a final, hurried glance at Orm, she composed herself as best she could and opened the door.

Prim stood there, her arms crossed, face pinched with annoyance. "Have you any idea I've been looking for you and Orm for, like, thirty minutes?" she snapped, her voice tight with exasperation. 

"I will deduct that from your salary, both of you!" Her eyes narrowed further when she glanced past Ling into the room, spotting Orm still asleep in the bed, the blanket barely covering her form. "Also! This guest room is not a brothel!" Prim's voice was a hiss, her disappointment palpable.

Orm groaned, her consciousness slowly returning, awareness dawning with the sound of Prem's angry words. She felt a wave of awkwardness as she realized they had been caught, completely vulnerable.

Ling cringed. "Come on, we already did our jobs. Maybe we can go home, right?" she pleaded, desperately wanting to escape the awkwardness and the judgmental gaze of Prim.

"Have you any idea I am looking for you and Orm for like 30 minutes? I will deduct that to your salary, the both of you!" Prim said disappointedly and also caught Orm sleeping in bed. "Also this guest room is not a brothel!!" 

Orm was waking up realizing she hears Prim's angry voice and feels awkward that she caught them. 

"Come on, we already did our jobs and maybe we can go home, right?" Ling said, desperately wanting to leave. 

"No! You will work overtime after all you did this mess! My god!!" Prim walks out and Ling mimicking her face after Prim left. 

Prim's mouth fell open. "No! You will work overtime after all you did this mess! My god!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. Then she turned and stomped away, leaving Ling and the still-waking Orm in her wake. 

Orm started, her hand flying to her cheek to brush away the evidence of her tears. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she stammered, unable to articulate the jumbled mess of emotions swirling within her. She turned abruptly, her back to Ling, and hurried away towards the far side of the garden.

Ling was left standing, a knot of confusion tightening in her chest. "Orm, talk to me," she called out, feeling a pang of worry. But Orm didn't respond. She watched as Orm resumed her post guarding the garden, her face carefully averted. What was that about?, she wondered, a sense of urgency creeping in.

Ling followed her, approaching Orm slowly. "What was that?" she repeated gently, her voice softer now.

Orm hesitated, her shoulders slumped. Finally, she spoke, the words tumbling out in a rush, "It feels...it feels like I'm also like Mei." Ling's brow furrowed, trying to piece together her meaning. 

"I know we're dating, but I was planning to break up with her," Orm admitted, her voice cracking slightly. "She's so busy solving her problems with Tanya, Ling. It feels like I'm just... a background character." She paused, drawing a shaky breath. "I didn't fight our relationship because I always get jealous easily, I know it's stupid." A fresh wave of tears threatened to spill as she confessed her inner turmoil.

Ling felt a pang of pity for Orm, and her confusion began to melt away, replaced by a deeper understanding. She hadn't realized the extent of Orm's distress. She'd been so consumed with her own worries about Mei and her sister that she had overlooked the subtle signs of Orm's insecurity. Now, seeing her vulnerable and upset, Ling felt a wave of sincere compassion. She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to lightly touch Orm's arm.

"Hey," Ling said softly, "I know you didn't mean to be jealous too much. And I'm sorry that you were bothered from my plans, I really want justice for my sister."

"I know, I didn't tell you to ignore your sister," Orm responded, her voice barely a whisper.

Ling enveloped Orm in a warm embrace, offering the comfort that words seemed to fail to provide. Orm leaned into the hug, a small smile flickering across her face, relieved to finally feel acknowledged. After a moment, they broke apart, their eyes meeting. A flicker of something more passed between them.

"Ling, are you not mad at me?" Orm asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. "You're thinking I'm unfair for Mei..."

Ling shook her head quickly, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "At least you're admitting you had made a mistake, and I think Mei, too, needs to look at herself. And, I can be honest with you that it's not easy for me either to do this without you here beside me." She paused, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "But I hope there's one thing you can do for me, at least to help me."

"What?" Orm asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.

"I hope we can talk about it properly, maybe...if we could drink, in a resto-bar...anywhere you want, somewhere we could relax," Ling suggested, her tone light.

Orm sighed, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I don't know...you hear about our salary!" she exclaimed, chuckling humorlessly.

Ling just shrugged, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "Ugh... I don't care about that, it's my treat. Baobao."

Orm giggled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the pet name and the genuine warmth from Ling. With a defeated sigh, she finally nodded, a small but genuine smile gracing her lips. They would talk, truly talk, and perhaps, just perhaps, things would start to feel a little bit lighter.

"Your agent, reporting for duty!" Tam, all of 6 years old and radiating an almost unbearable level of enthusiasm, stood proudly, fists on his hips, a makeshift cardboard badge pinned to his shirt.

Ling blinked, momentarily startled out of her focused state. She looked at Orm, who pinched the bridge of her nose, a sigh already forming on her lips. "What agent?" Ling asked, her confusion genuine.

Tam's bright blue eyes widened innocently. "You told me I should spy on my parents so I can get my karate belt!"

A slow realization dawned on Ling. She had vaguely remembered a conversation with Tam, a half-serious, half-joking suggestion to hone his observation skills. She had been desperate for anything to distract him from the crushing monotony of her own situation. It had been a throwaway line, a way to engage the restless child.

"Oh, that," she said, trying to salvage the situation. "Well, tell me first what you found out. Anything you heard, that they told you."

Tam puffed out his chest, eager to share his intel. "My dad keeps lecturing my mom about monitoring you guys, that's what I heard. But later on, my dad caught me sneaking at the door, trying to hear more of them." He looked down, suddenly self-conscious.

Ling suppressed a sigh of her own. This wasn't exactly the coded information she was looking for, but she couldn't dismiss Tam's efforts, however misguided. "Then what else did you find out?" she asked, her voice softer.

Tam's face crumpled slightly. "My dad told me not to meddle when it comes to them talking adult words. They encouraged me more on focusing on karate." His voice was tinged with dejection. He hadn't found the secret weapon to his black belt.

Ling understood. She couldn't push him further. He was just a kid, caught in the crosshairs of her adult problems. "Okay, look," she said, trying to make it sound like a proper mission briefing. "I don't want you to expect to get the black belt just because of this experience. But I wanted to train you to do basic things about being an agent. Practice again, spy on them again, but don't make them suspicious." She hoped by giving him a task again, she can still use him to her advantage.

Orm had enough. She rubbed her eyes. "Tammy, I think it's enough for this spy game that Mei offered to you. Try to rest now and play with your friends."

Tam's face fell, but he nodded obediently and shuffled out of the mansion, the cardboard badge drooping slightly.

Ling felt a pang of disappointment. Tam's childish enthusiasm was, in some strange way, a source of light in her dreary existence. "What was that for?" she said, turning to Orm, her voice sharp.

Orm stood up, the joints in her back cracking audibly. "Don't use that child for your own agenda, Ling. I know you're not really interested in him actually getting his karate belt." She glared at her, weariness and irritation warring in her eyes.

Ling's defenses went up immediately, her own frustrations finding a target. "Oh, so are you enjoying yourself working here with the rapist CEO?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Orm recoiled as if struck. "Enjoy?! This is the only job I have, and I have to follow the contract to get a new client. You have no idea what's going on, you just got here!"

"You think I don't know what's going on?" Ling retorted, her voice rising. "You think I don't see how he leers at everyone? How he manipulates every situation?" She pushed herself up from, the anger making her tremble. "And you, you just sit there and take it!"

Orm's face was tight with anger and something couldn't get in a fight with Ling, she knew she wouldn't understand. "Not everyone can afford to be idealistic, Ling. You just got here, you don't understand how things work." He stated, avoiding eye contact.

Ling felt a wave of disgust surge through her. "So, you'd rather be complicit? You'd rather make excuses for him?" Her voice was low, dangerous.

"I'm not making excuses!" Orm shouted, finally looking up at her, her eyes flashing. She ran a hand through her already disheveled hair. "I'm just trying to survive. I have bills to pay, Ling. I have a family to look after. Not everyone can afford to throw their job away just for the sake of their principles." She spoke, his voice lowered slightly which made Ling understand his struggle.

Ling stared at her, her anger slowly ebbing, replaced by a cold disappointment. She understood her desperation, she had been in that place herself. But she had chosen a different path, a harder one, one where she would fight for what she believed in, even if it meant sacrificing comfort and stability.

"Fine," she said, her voice flat. "But don't stop me from getting what I want. That is justice." She turned away from him, her back stiff.

The silence settled between them, thick and heavy, a tangible reminder of the chasm that had opened up between them.  but now, it felt less like a place of work and more like a battlefield, with Ling and Orm on opposing sides. The battle lines were drawn, and the war for justice, or maybe just for survival, had begun.

Ling hated the stillness. The garden, usually a vibrant swirl of color, felt like a gilded cage today. Her assignment – guarding it – was an insult. She, a woman trained in close-quarters combat, reduced to a glorified scarecrow. The simmering boredom curdled into a wicked idea. Tan and his pompous family, always so sure of their place, deserved a little chaos.

Her footsteps echoed on the polished stone as she headed toward the kitchen, a plan already forming. It was empty, thankfully, the clatter of pans silenced for now. Ling found a large bottle of cooking oil and with malicious glee, upturned it, letting the viscous liquid spread across the floor in a glistening puddle. It was a pathetic trap, really, but it was the best she could do with no time.

"What are you doing?" The maid's voice, laced with fear, cut through the quiet. She stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide at the mess.

Ling feigned innocence, a practiced skill. "Nothing, just bored. Is Mr. Tan around?" she asked, her voice casual, all the while aware of how obvious the oil stain looked.

Fate, it seemed, was on her side. Tan appeared, his brow furrowed. "I didn't assign you to guard this area, Mei!" he barked, striding towards her, oblivious to the danger shimmering underfoot. His foot landed squarely in the oil. His eyes widened for a split second before his legs went out from under him, and the back of his head struck the floor with a sickening thud. He lay still.

A smile, cold and sharp, spread across Ling's face. It had worked, better than she'd hoped. She fished out a small wad of bills and pressed them into the maid's trembling hand. "You have no idea what a bodyguard can do, right?" Her voice was low and dangerous. "Shut up and leave."

With the maid gone, Ling's mind raced, concocting another layer of humiliation for the unconscious man. She grabbed soy sauce and vinegar, liberally dousing Tan's expensive suit. She let out a soft exhale before she stomped out, leaving her mess, making sure she appeared to have just arrived. It would look like she was just doing her sister's duty after all. The garden felt less like a cage now, more like her personal playground, where Tan was just a plaything.

The engine hummed, a low thrum of anticipation that mirrored the tension coiled in Ling's gut. Dandao's words echoed in her mind, "How's your job interview, Ling?" God, that felt like a lifetime ago. A life she'd almost convinced herself she wanted. Now, the corporate ladder seemed a laughable fantasy compared to the volatile excitement of her new path.

"Heck no, I don't need some job interview anymore," she'd declared, a smirk playing on her lips. "I just work to be bodyguard I'm into Mei's identity now." Dandao's disbelief had been palpable, almost comical. Ling reveled in the shock. The confused flicker in her friend's eyes was a testament to how drastically she was breaking the mold, embracing the alluring chaos she'd finally been offered.

Dandao had tried, "What? I thought you're starting to get a job and spy our enemies but your ideas suddenly change, man."

But Ling hadn't cared, "I don't care, I wanted to play games with them. But I think I need a new phone and afterwards I'm going at Mei's apartment, claiming it as my other house i guess."

The new phone felt heavy in her palm, the sleek metal a stark contrast to the dusty, forgotten box she usually carried. Dandao had handed it over with a practicality that belied the gravity of the situation. "That will be your permanent phone, our triad's contacts are there. Also you can call our personal nurse if you need anything like you can't access to go to a hospital." The implication hung in the air, a silent reminder of the dangers she was diving headfirst into.

Ling shook off the unease. She was done with cautious steps. Mei's apartment. Her new playground. It was where it had all begun, where Dandao had caught her, a stray caught in a web of power and intrigue. It was time to reclaim that space, to make it truly hers, under her own terms.

Dandao's voice had pulled her back from her thoughts, "You're leaving already? Would you not join us today?" Ling had shaken her head, a rush of impatience surging through her. "No, I've got business to do." The vague answer was enough. She wasn't about to share her meticulously hatched plan, not yet.

The car surged forward, leaving Dandao behind. Ling gripped the steering wheel, a predatory grin widening on her face. She wasn't heading back to the scene of her capture. She was returning to claim her own territory. The game had changed, and she was ready to play.

The refrigerator hummed, its emptiness a stark contrast to the rumbling in Ling's stomach. She slammed the door shut, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "Seriously, Mei, what is this? A minimalist fridge or a starvation chamber?"

Just then, the door swung open again, this time revealing Orm, a tall, slightly dishevelled figure. She carried a case of beer, the bottles clinking against each other, a sound almost celebratory in the quiet apartment. Ling stared, eyebrows raised.

"I thought you treat me to a resto bar, but suddenly you changed your mind," Orm said, a hint of sarcasm playing on her lips.

Ling gave a short, humorless laugh. "Yeah, I forgot... I was focused on other things, thanks for the drink, though. Why would you also come here?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"To find you? What else?" Orm replied, placing the case onto the kitchen counter. She popped open a bottle with a practiced flick of his wrist.

Ling frowned. "I thought you were saying Mei was kind of hurting you by being so busy with her duties. So why bother coming to her house?"

Orm sighed, a frustrated puff of air. "Stop talking about her, I want to drink." She took a long swig, the liquid disappearing rapidly.

Orm proceeded to down another beer, and then another, each bottle emptied with almost alarming speed. "Hey, you should be careful, or else you'll end up drunk too early," Ling warned, a small worry creeping into her voice.

Orm's eyes, already a little glassy, fixed on Ling. "Why do you say that? Now you think I'm crazy because I can't handle relationships or what?" Her voice was softer now, tinged with sadness.

Ling grabbed a beer for herself, cracking it open. "Nah, what would make me say that?" she replied, taking a long pull from the bottle. "If I look so care about you, well... let's say, from now on, this is where I live. My second home. I don't want Mei's apartment to be wasted. I also don't know if you'll keep her things there in her room."

"I'll look at that later," Orm mumbled, already reaching for another bottle.

"Okay, let's drink," Ling agreed, a strange mix of concern and resignation washing over her.

The afternoon dissolved into a hazy blur of clinking bottles, shared snacks, and stories. The apartment, once silent and empty, filled with the low murmur of their voices and the occasional bursts of laughter. Both Ling and Orm were teetering on the edge of comfortable drunkenness, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air, masked by alcohol and forced joviality.

Orm's voice was slurred and thick with emotion when she spoke. "Ling, I can't do this anymore." She tried to push herself up, but her legs, unaccustomed to supporting her weight after the hours they had spent sprawled across the floor, wobbled precariously. Ling reached out a steadying hand, her gaze a mix of concern and confusion.

"What do you mean, baby?" Ling's voice was low and gentle, the alcohol smoothing out the edges of her words.

Orm's eyes searched Ling's face, finding the comfort she desperately needed. "I miss Mei, Ling. And every time I see you, it's like a knife twisting in my chest. I can't keep pretending this is okay."

Ling's hand tightened around Orm's arm, and she felt a pang of guilt. She had been selfish, using Orm to fill the void that Mei had left behind without considering the consequences. But she also knew that she couldn't give Orm what she truly needed: the love and acceptance of her ex-girlfriend.

"Orm, I'm sorry." Ling whispered, her voice thick with regret. "But I can't help the way I feel about you. You're so beautiful, and when we're together, it's like nothing else matters."

Orm looked at Ling, her eyes glassy with tears and desire. "I know, but it's not fair to either of us. We can't just keep doing this."

Ling knew she was right, but the thought of losing Orm was unbearable. The heat between them was undeniable, a fiery need that had been simmering since the moment they first laid eyes on each other. Orm's words stung, but the ache in her loins grew stronger with every heartbeat. "But what about now?" she murmured, leaning in closer.

Orm's resolve wavered as she felt Ling's warm breath on her neck, her pulse quickening. "Now is different," she managed, but the protest was weak.

Ling's hand slid up to Orm's cheek, cupping it gently. "Let me make you feel good, Orm. Just for tonight." Her thumb brushed across Orm's bottom lip, and the smaller woman's breath hitched. She knew it was a mistake, knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn't resist the siren call of Ling's touch.

Orm's eyes fluttered closed as Ling's mouth found hers, the kiss a fiery dance of need and regret. Ling's cock, already straining against her pants, grew even harder at the sweet taste of Orm's lips. She felt Orm's legs tense around her hips, gripping her as if trying to hold on to something that was already slipping away.

Breaking the kiss, Ling whispered, "I need you, Orm."

Orm's eyes snapped open, the gravity of their situation briefly sobering her. "Ling, we can't. I'm not over Mei, and you know it."

Ling's expression softened, and she pulled back slightly, her gaze dropping to Orm's heaving chest. "I know, baby. But maybe this can help us both forget for just a little while."

Orm bit her lip, the internal struggle playing out across her features. The room spun gently around them, and she felt the warmth of Ling's cock pressing against her thigh. Despite her better judgment, she wanted nothing more than to give in to the passion that had been building between them. "Okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "But just this once."

Ling didn't need any further encouragement. She pushed herself up, lifting Orm with her, and carried her to the bedroom, their kisses growing more urgent with every step. The air was heavy with the scent of lust and desperation as they tumbled onto the unmade bed, a mess of limbs and discarded clothes. Orm's small hands found their way to Ling's zipper, her fingers trembling with excitement and fear as she pulled it down.

Ling's cock sprang free, thick and eager, and Orm gasped at the sight of it. She had never seen anything so beautifully terrifying, so powerful and demanding. She took it in her hand, feeling the heat and the pulse of Ling's desire, and brought her mouth down to taste it. Ling's hips bucked upwards, a low groan escaping her lips as Orm took her in, her tongue swirling around the sensitive head.

Orm's own arousal grew with every suck and lick, her pussy aching and wet for Ling's touch. But she knew that she couldn't let herself fall completely, not when her heart was still in pieces. With a final kiss to the tip, she pushed Ling onto her back and straddled her, her own need now in control.

"Fuck me, Ling," she demanded, her voice thick with desire. "Make me forget everything."

Ling's eyes flashed with a mix of love and lust as she reached down, her fingers sliding through Orm's wetness. Orm gasped as Ling's thumb found her clit, rubbing it in tight circles as she positioned herself at Orm's entrance. With one swift motion, she thrust inside her, filling her completely. Orm's nails dug into the bedsheets as she cried out, the pain of Ling's invasion mingling with the pleasure of being claimed by her once again.

Their movements grew more frantic as the alcohol-fueled passion took over. Ling's hips bucked upward, driving her cock deeper into Orm with every stroke, while Orm's body rocked against her, desperately seeking release from the tumult of emotions raging within her. The sound of their flesh slapping together filled the room, a raw, primal symphony that seemed to echo the tumult in their hearts.

Orm's eyes squeezed shut as she rode Ling, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Each thrust was a reminder of the love she had lost, but also a promise of a new passion that could, perhaps, fill the emptiness inside her. She felt the pressure building, her orgasm approaching like a runaway train. But as she teetered on the edge, she realized that this wasn't enough.

"Ling, I need you...I need all of you." Orm's voice was a desperate plea, a silent admission of the depth of her craving.

Ling's eyes darkened, and she thrust harder, her cock plunging into Orm with a ferocity that was both punishing and exhilarating. She could feel the tension in Orm's body, the tightness of her muscles around her, and she knew that she was close. "You're going to cum for me," she murmured, her own voice a hoarse growl. "You're going to scream my name."

Orm's head fell back, and she moaned, her body tightening around Ling's cock. "I'm...I'm going to..." she gasped, and then she was falling over the edge, her orgasm crashing through her like a wave. She screamed, the sound echoing through the room, a raw cry of pleasure and pain that seemed to shake the very walls.

Ling watched Orm's face contort in ecstasy, feeling her pussy spasm around her cock. It was all she could do to hold back her own climax, but she waited, her muscles tensing with the effort. She knew that this was Orm's moment, a brief respite from the heartache that had been plaguing her.