Chapter 6 The First Jealousy
By the time Friday arrived, Orm had learned that pretending to be Lingling Kwong's girlfriend was becoming less like a temporary marketing assignment and more like a second job.
There were schedules to memorise, appearances to attend, photographs to take, questions to anticipate, and an alarming number of rules that seemed to multiply every time P'Cherry thought of another possible disaster.
Orm had initially believed the hardest part would be convincing other people that she and Ling were together, but she had slowly discovered that the harder task was convincing herself to stop thinking about how ridiculous the entire situation was.
They had started with a photograph.
A badly timed photograph at a company ball, a little too much champagne, one unfortunate stumble, and Ling catching her before she fell had somehow turned into something big enough for the company's marketing department to build an entire strategy around.
What had originally been an embarrassing moment had become the foundation of Aurelia's second promotional push, and Orm's face had somehow become associated with one of the company's most valuable campaigns.
For someone who had only recently joined the company, it was both exciting and terrifying.
Her career was finally moving.
She had a chance to prove herself.
She had been given a project that mattered.
And now she was pretending to date the Executive Director who had once sat across from her during her presentation and dismantled her proposal with such precision that Orm had spent the entire evening wondering whether she should resign.
The universe clearly had a sense of humour.
Unfortunately, the universe wasn't finished.
"You're doing it again."
Orm looked up from her phone.
Ling was sitting across from her in the back of the car, one leg crossed over the other, looking entirely too calm for someone who had just accused Orm of something without explaining what it was.
"Doing what?"
"Frowning at your phone."
"I'm reading."
"You've been reading the same message for five minutes."
Orm immediately locked her screen.
"I was thinking."
Ling smiled faintly.
"About the campaign?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
Orm narrowed her eyes.
"Why do you say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you don't believe me."
"I believe you."
"You don't."
Ling's smile widened.
"You're very defensive."
"And you're very annoying."
"Good morning to you too."
Orm tried not to smile.
She failed.
The car continued through the morning traffic toward the office, and for a few minutes neither of them spoke.
Their relationship-fake, contractual, strategically designed and entirely inconvenient-had reached a strange stage.
They were comfortable.
Not completely.
Not dangerously comfortable.
At least, that's what Orm told herself.
But there were little things now.
She knew Ling liked her coffee without sugar.
Ling knew Orm always forgot to eat when she was focused on work.
Orm knew Ling hated being late.
Ling knew Orm became unusually quiet whenever she was worried about something.
They had developed habits without discussing them.
That was what bothered Orm most.
The pretending was supposed to be something they consciously did.
Instead, some parts of it had begun happening without thought.
"Are you nervous about tonight?" Ling asked.
Orm looked at her.
"Why would I be?"
"Because it's another event."
"I've survived several."
"True."
"And I know the rules."
Ling smiled.
"Do you?"
Orm immediately remembered the fifth rule.
No falling in love.
She looked away.
"Yes."
Ling studied her for a moment.
"Good."
Orm glanced back.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you forgetting."
There was something about the way she said it that made Orm pause.
Then the car stopped outside the office.
The moment passed.
Orm opened the door.
"Come on, Executive Director."
Ling smiled.
"After you, girlfriend."
Orm rolled her eyes.
"Don't call me that."
"Why?"
"It sounds weird."
"We're pretending."
"I know."
"Then get used to it."
Orm stepped out of the car.
"Absolutely not."
Ling followed, laughing quietly behind her.
?
The evening event was being held at one of Aurelia's partner venues, an elegant rooftop space overlooking the city.
It was not a major launch.
There was no stage, no formal presentation and no enormous crowd.
Instead, it was a networking event designed to bring together brand partners, media representatives, selected creators and people connected to the Aurelia campaign.
The atmosphere was relaxed.
At least, that was what the invitation had promised.
Orm had learned not to trust invitations.
Relaxed, in marketing language, usually meant that there would be enough cameras to make everyone forget how to behave normally.
P'Cherry was already waiting when they arrived.
She looked at Ling.
Then Orm.
Then their hands.
Then back at their faces.
"Good."
Orm immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You looked at our hands."
"I was checking."
"Checking what?"
"Whether you remembered."
Orm sighed.
"I remember."
P'Cherry smiled.
"Excellent."
Fluke walked over carrying two glasses of water.
"What's she checking?"
"Whether we're holding hands."
Fluke nodded seriously.
"Important."
Orm took one of the glasses from him.
"You people are obsessed."
"Occupational hazard."
"Of what?"
"Making your fake relationship believable."
Orm looked at Ling.
"See what you've done?"
Ling smiled.
"I didn't do anything."
"You exist."
"That's hardly my fault."
Fluke laughed.
P'Cherry shook her head.
"Please try to behave tonight."
Orm looked offended.
"I always behave."
Everyone stared at her.
Orm sighed.
"Fine. Usually."
P'Cherry pointed at her.
"That's exactly why I'm worried."
?
The first hour passed smoothly.
Orm spoke with several people from the creative department and a few brand representatives she had met during the original campaign.
She was beginning to feel more comfortable in these environments.
When someone asked about her contribution to the Aurelia campaign, she answered confidently.
When someone complimented the concept, she smiled.
When someone mentioned the unexpected attention surrounding her and Ling, she handled the questions without stumbling.
She had finally stopped feeling like the newest person in the room. She was beginning to feel like she belonged. That mattered more than she wanted to admit.
Her career at Aurelia was still young. Every opportunity mattered. Every mistake mattered even more. She couldn't afford to be remembered as the girl who accidentally became famous because she fell into her boss's arms.
She wanted people to remember her work. She wanted them to know that she deserved the position. That she could create. That she could contribute. That she wasn't simply standing beside Ling because the company had decided they looked good together.
"You're doing well."
Orm turned.
Ling was beside her.
"What?"
"You look comfortable."
Orm smiled.
"I am."
"I'm glad."
Orm glanced toward the crowd.
"People aren't looking at me like I'm the new girl anymore."
Ling nodded.
"Because you're not."
Orm looked at her.
"What?"
"You've earned your place."
The words were simple.
But coming from Ling, they carried weight.
Orm smiled.
"Thank you."
Ling nodded.
Then someone called her name.
"Ling!"
Ling turned toward the voice.
Orm watched as a brand representative approached.
She stepped away to speak with someone else.
She had barely taken three steps when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Orm?"
She turned.
Her eyes widened.
"Pete?"
The man standing in front of her grinned.
"I was hoping that was you."
Orm laughed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Working."
"Of course."
Pete was an old friend from before Aurelia.
They had known each other for years, long before Orm had ever imagined working for a major company. They had collaborated on smaller creative projects, spent ridiculous hours discussing ideas over cheap coffee, and survived the kind of deadlines that made people question their career choices.
He was one of those people Orm didn't have to explain herself to. With Pete, there was no need to carefully choose her words. He already knew her. And that familiarity immediately made Orm relax.
"You disappeared," Pete said.
"I got a job."
"I heard."
"How?"
"People talk."
Orm laughed.
"They really do."
Pete looked her over.
"You look different."
"Different?"
"More confident."
Orm smiled.
"Maybe."
"Definitely."
He looked toward the Aurelia displays.
"So this is your campaign?"
"Partly."
"You did well."
"Thank you."
"I always knew you would."
Orm smiled.
That was the kind of thing old friends said.
Simple.
Familiar.
Comforting.
She didn't notice the woman across the room who had turned her head the moment Pete walked up.
Ling watched them. She couldn't hear what they were saying.
She could only see Orm laughing. She saw Pete leaning closer whenever he spoke.
She saw Orm touching his arm while laughing at something.
She saw the ease between them. And something uncomfortable settled in Ling's chest. But she immediately dismissed it.
It was nothing.
Orm had friends.
Of course she had friends.
Ling knew that.
There was absolutely no reason for her to care.
She turned back toward the conversation she was having.
She listened.
She nodded.
She answered a question about the campaign.
But five seconds later, her eyes drifted back toward Orm.
Pete was still there.
Ling looked away.
Then back again.
Still there.
She frowned.
"Everything okay?"
Khun Dew's voice brought her back.
Ling looked at her.
"Yes."
Khun Dew studied her.
"You've been looking over there."
Ling glanced toward Orm.
"No, I haven't."
Khun Dew smiled.
"You have."
"I'm monitoring the event."
"Of course."
Ling narrowed her eyes.
Khun Dew's smile grew.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."