When Two Hearts Meet Again

CHAPTER 1

Orm’s heels clicked softly against the marbled floor of Vireya Luxe’s lobby. The sunlight filtering through the glass walls cast shadows across her face, but nothing could dim the nervous flutter of her heart. She hadn’t been inside a building that belonged to Lingling Kwong in over three years. She never thought she’d walk into one again.

She hadn’t even known this was Lingling’s company. When her agency told her about a mysterious luxury brand expanding its campaigns internationally and wanting a top Thai creative director, she’d jumped at the offer. She needed the change. She needed the money. But most of all, she needed to run from the heartbreak that had stained her soul like indigo ink.

“Miss Orm Kornnaphat?” a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. A young assistant in a chic gray uniform greeted her. “Miss Kwong will see you now.”

Orm’s breath caught. She thought the CEO wouldn’t be involved in first-day introductions. The name ‘Kwong’ hadn’t clicked until last night, when she skimmed through a press article. Her heart had sunk into her stomach.

Now she stood at the threshold of a door she never wanted to knock on again.

The assistant led her to the top floor. Orm could feel her pulse in her ears. She wiped her clammy palms on her slacks as they stopped in front of a grand matte-black door.

“Good luck,” the assistant whispered, then left.

Orm pushed the door open.

Lingling stood behind her sleek black desk, back straight, hands clasped. Her face hadn’t changed—still porcelain-smooth, still unreadable, eyes sharp like obsidian. She wore a pale beige pantsuit with gold embroidery near the collar, her long black hair tied into a tight low ponytail. The only thing that had changed was the absence of warmth.

“Miss Sethratanapong,” Lingling said coolly, voice devoid of emotion. “Welcome to Vireya Luxe.”

Orm tried to smile, but it faltered. “Thank you... Miss Kwong.”

A flicker of something passed through Lingling’s eyes, gone too fast to catch.

“I didn’t know you were—”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Lingling cut in. “Your work was selected independently by our design department. I was not involved.”

Silence stretched between them like a rope frayed at the ends. Lingling’s voice was all business. “You’ll be leading the creative direction for our ‘Bloom in Ice’ campaign. I trust you’re capable.”

Orm flinched at the irony of the title. “Yes. I am.”

“Then we have no issue.”

Orm hesitated. “Lingling, I—”

“You may leave,” Lingling said. “We’re done here.”

Orm blinked back the sting of tears. This was the woman she had loved. Still loved. But now, the Ice Queen stood colder than ever before.

And yet, under all that elegance, Orm swore she saw something in Lingling’s eyes. Something that hadn’t died. Not yet.

She turned and walked away.

Lingling sat back in her chair, hiding the tremble in her fingers. She had practiced what to say for hours. She had planned for this moment since the moment she’d seen Orm’s name on the team list. But her heart? Her heart had not been ready.

Behind her, on her shelf, sat a single photograph—face down for years.

She turned it over.

It was of them. Orm laughing. Lingling smiling.

Before everything burned.