Chapter Text
The flash clicked, then silence.
Lena Schuett lowered her camera, squinting at the model across the set. The room was filled with the smell of foundation, coffee, and ambition – the familiar perfume of F! Magazine’s creative floor. Working around her, assistants rushed between racks of gowns, adjusting lights, retouching makeup, whispering about deadlines.
After all, it was just another Monday at the most talked-about fashion magazine in Bangkok. But for Lena, it felt like walking through glass – sharp, reflective, and fragile.
“Great work today,” said Pansa “Milk” Vosbein, the Art Director, watching at the camera screen. Her voice was smooth but tired, like someone who carried perfection on her shoulders. “Ling’s going to love this set.”
Lena nodded. “She’ll still find a way to tell me it’s off-center.”
Milk laughed knowingly. Everyone at F! respected Lingling Kwong, the Creative Director – brilliant, composed, and cold-bloodedly precise. Ling was handpicked by the Board of Directors not just by blood but with her work ethics. Kate, the Editor-in-Chief despises her as they are step sisters, though only few in the office knew.
The studio door opened. A soft voice broke through the hum of production.
“Excuse me – um, I was told to assist on this shoot?”
Lena turned.
Standing by the door was Miu Natasha Taechamongkalapiwat, the new intern for Creative Department. She was clutching a clipboard like it might fly away, eyes bright with a mix of excitement and nerves.
Lena’s lips curved slightly. “You’re late.”
“I- I got lost. The elevator stopped on the wrong floor, and then –“
“It’s fine,” Lena interrupted, motioning her closer. “Just don’t stand where the light hits the reflector. Unless you want to blind yourself before lunch.”
Miu flushed, nodding quickly, then adjusted the equipment with careful precision. There was something magnetic about her – earnest, unpolished, and glowing with curiosity. She moved differently from the rest of the staff, who carried ambition like armor. Miu carried hope and Lena piqued her interest as it shouldn’t be.
“You’re ogling over the new intern,” Pattranite “Love” Limpatiyakorn, the Associate Editor, glanced up from her laptop.
“I am not 'ogling'.” Lena said nonchalantly to hide her amusement with the new intern.
“Whatever you say, I’m just warning you. You know how Kate can be if she gets jealous again.” Love emphasized.
Lena sighed, “I’ll be careful next time, Love.”
An email notification pinged through Love’s laptop.
“Speaking of the devil, Kate wants to see you.” Love showed the screen to Lena.
The room seemed to dim all of a sudden.
Of course Kate wanted to see her.
In her glass-walled office upstairs, Kate Pareena Busayasiri looked very sharp as the Editor-in-Chief – tailored blazer, perfect eyeliner, and that unreadable smile that had once made Lena fall in love.
Now it only made her stomach twist.
“You missed our breakfast meeting,” Kate said coolly, not looking up from her screen.
“I had a shoot,” Lena replied. “I told your assistant.”
Kate finally met her eyes. “You could’ve told me yourself.”
There was a pause – long, heavy. The kind that used to end in laughter, not distance.
Kate stood, circling behind Lena. “You’ve been spending a lot of time in your studio than with me these days,” she said casually holding Lena’s waist to turn her around.
Lena stiffened. “I- I am busy because you keep on changing the directives on the theme for next month.”
Kate’s fingers brushed her shoulder. “Be careful, honey. People talk.”
Lena stepped aside, pulse quickening. “You’re being paranoid.”
The words lingered like perfume- sweet, defiant, and dangerous.
“Just don’t give me a reason to be jealous, honey. You know how I can get.” Kate whispered, her tone dripping with warning and desire as she pressed her lips to Lena’s.
Lena kissed her back – but beneath the heat, all she could taste was the bitterness of what their love had become.
“I made you, remember that.” Kate hissed as she bit Lena’s lips.
“I can destroy anyone who gets in my way with you.”
Kate pushed Lena lightly signaling her that their conversation is done.
Lena left the room, wanting to vomit. She went to the nearest restroom to calm herself down.
“I should’ve broken up with her..” Lena stared at her reflection in the mirror, horror flickering in her eyes. The fluorescent light above buzzed faintly, matching the unease twisting in her chest.
Suddenly, the door behind her swung open.
A soft whiff of jasmine perfume filled the air as someone hurried inside.
“Oh, thank God you’re here,” a voice said breathlessly.
Lena turned, brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”
Miu smiled, a touch of nervous energy in her expression. “They’ve been looking for you. There’s a lunch meeting with the boss at eleven.”
Lena blinked, grounding herself as reality slowly seeped back in.
A lunch meeting. Right. Work.
“Thanks,” she said, running a hand through her hair, trying to erase the fatigue from her face. Her lipstick was slightly smudged – another silent reminder of the chaos she’d left behind.
Miu stood by the door, hesitant but kind-eyed. “Are you okay? You look a bit pale.”
Lena gave a tight smile. “Just didn’t sleep well.”
A lie, but an easy one.
Miu nodded, adjusting the camera strap around her neck – a simple, nervous habit Lena couldn’t help but notice. “I get that. I stayed up editing layouts for the mock cover. Ling said they were… ‘ambitious.’ I still can’t tell if that’s a compliment.”
That drew a small laugh from Lena, unexpected but genuine. “If Ling didn’t throw a critique at you, she probably likes you.”
Miu smiled shyly, the corners of her lips curling like the first sign of sunrises. “Then I guess I’m safe for now.”
Lena grabbed her camera bag from the counter, brushing past her. The faint scent of jasmine followed, light but disarming.
“You’re new here, Miu get used to the passive-aggressive comments of your superiors.”
Miu nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. By the way, I- I’ve seen your work. The Tokyo Streetlight series? It’s… incredible.”
Lena froze mid-step, surprised by the mention. That project was years ago- back when she still believed love could be art.
Her lips parted, soft with disbelief. “You’ve seen that?”
“Of course,” Miu said, eyes bright. “It made me want to work here. You have this way of making loneliness look… beautiful.”
The words hit Lena harder than she expected. For a moment, she couldn’t find her voice.
“Come on,” she finally managed, forcing a small smile. “Let’s not keep the boss waiting.”
As they walked down the corridor together, Miu’s soft chatter filled the silence Lena had long forgotten how to break. Somewhere between the elevator doors closing and echo of their footsteps, the bitterness on her tongue began to fade- replaced by something quiet, unfamiliar.
Something almost sweet.