Day One : The Shrimp Incident
"Why is she here again?" Aria muttered under her breath as she spotted Malee in the lobby.
The marketing floor of Elan Beauty was alive with chatter, the sound of ringing phones, and the clacking of keyboards. But Aria's focus narrowed instantly to one figure: Malee, standing by reception in oversized sunglasses, holding a brown paper bag like she owned the place.
Pim appeared at Aria's side, peeking over her shoulder.
"She brought food again," Pim whispered. "You've got a stalker."
"She's not a stalker," Aria corrected, inhaling slowly. "She's just... persistent."
"Cute and persistent," Pim teased before wandering off with a grin.
Malee finally reached her.
"Lunch," she announced cheerfully, offering the bag like a peace treaty.
Aria opened it, spotted shrimp stir-fry, and shut the bag with an unimpressed click.
"I'm allergic to shrimp," she said flatly.
Malee froze. "What? You're kidding."
"Not even a little." Aria handed the bag back. "Might want to ask next time."
Malee chuckled nervously, scratching her neck. "Guess I almost killed you. Not the impression I was going for."
Aria gave her the faintest smile gone in a blink. "Exactly."
Day Two : Coffee Wars
"Let me guess," Aria said without looking up from her computer. "You're here again."
"Missed me?" Malee's grin was infuriating as she slid into the chair across from her desk.
"It's been one day," Aria muttered.
Malee placed a paper cup in front of her. "No shrimp this time. Just coffee. Black. No sugar. I asked Pim."
Aria paused, then reluctantly picked it up. "You do realize the next shoot isn't until next month. You have no reason to be here."
Malee leaned forward on her elbows, smiling like she had every reason in the world. "I figured I'd use the downtime to get to know the team. And, you know... you."
Aria's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't argue.
Malee Meets the Team
By mid-afternoon, Malee had settled in the break room, chatting with anyone who would listen. She had a natural magnetism that drew people in.
"You're the model, right?" asked a tall woman with auburn hair and a lanyard labeled Tessa – Product Development.
"Guilty," Malee said with a playful sip of iced tea.
"I didn't expect someone like you to hang around the office between gigs."
Malee's smirk deepened. "I've got my reasons."
"Aria, huh?"
Malee raised her brows. "That obvious?"
Tessa laughed. "She doesn't exactly smile when you show up but she doesn't throw you out either. That's something."
Malee leaned back, satisfied. "I'll take it."
Day Three : Aria's Patience Cracks
When Malee appeared again the next morning, balancing a bakery box of croissants, Aria's composure finally slipped.
She marched straight out of her office, arms crossed. "Malee."
"Good morning!" Malee beamed like she hadn't heard the warning in Aria's tone.
"You don't need to keep coming here. You're a model, not an intern."
Malee didn't flinch. "So you noticed I'm not an intern. Progress."
Aria gave her a long, level stare. "Why are you really doing this?"
Malee shrugged lightly. "I like the energy here. It's... focused. And you're here."
Aria's jaw tightened. "That's not a reason."
Malee's voice softened. "It is to me."
She walked away before Aria could reply, leaving her oddly unsteady.
Night — The Bar
The bar hummed with jazz and chatter. Malee lounged in a booth with friends, nursing a glass of whiskey.
"She's still ignoring you?" one asked, smirking.
"She's not ignoring me," Malee corrected smoothly. "She's maintaining professional boundaries."
"Same thing."
Malee laughed under her breath. "Not quite. She's not pushing me away. That means something."
Jara, swirling her drink, leaned in. "You really like this girl, don't you?"
Malee tilted her glass, studying the amber reflection. "She doesn't care who I am. She doesn't care about the parties, the covers, the name. She looks at me like I'm... nobody special. It's refreshing."
"So she's different."
Malee's smile faded into something quieter. "She's everything I never thought I'd chase."
Day Four : Cracks in the Armor
By Thursday evening, the office was nearly empty. Aria sat at her desk, lamplight glowing over neat stacks of folders. Outside, Bangkok's skyline twinkled with neon and headlights.
Her phone buzzed.
Malee: Dinner? No seafood. Swear.
Aria stared at the message for a long time, fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, she typed back:
Aria: Still no.
She didn't add an explanation. No emojis. Just curt finality.
But she didn't block her either.
For someone like Malee... that was enough.
Day Five : The Elevator Trap
The next morning, Aria stepped into the elevator, folder in hand. At the last second, before the doors closed, Malee slipped in.
Aria groaned softly. "Of course."
Malee leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Relax. I'm just here to say good morning. No food. No bribes."
"Good." Aria's eyes stayed on the panel lights.
A beat of silence. Then....
"Do I at least make your mornings more interesting?" Malee teased.
Aria's lips pressed into a thin line. But her pulse betrayed her. "You make them... louder."
Malee grinned like she'd won something.
Late Night : Uninvited Company
Hours later, Aria stayed late again, buried in reports. She didn't notice the door opening until Malee leaned on the frame, holding two coffees.
"I figured you'd still be here."
Aria sighed. "Malee, this isn't..."
"Coffee. Not seafood. Not croissants. Just company," Malee interrupted, stepping inside.
Against her better judgment, Aria accepted the cup. The silence stretched between them, not tense, but strangely calm.
For the first time, Aria didn't send her away.
And for the first time, Malee didn't push further. She just sat quietly across from her, sipping coffee, as Bangkok glowed outside the window.
Aria hated to admit it... but she didn't entirely mind.