Burning Orchids

I had never imagined that my first night in Singapore would start like this. I thought I’d be lost in the glittering streets of Orchard Road, sipping overpriced cocktails in some posh bar. I hadn’t expected to be at a high-profile art gallery, surrounded by whispers of wealth and scandal. But then again, I never expected to be so close to him. Kai Zhang. The name alone was enough to send a chill through my veins. The Zhang family and the Okons were enemies, rivals in every sense. Their hatred went beyond business; it was personal. My father would never forgive the Zhangs for a deal gone wrong, and I had been raised to feel that same hatred deep in my bones. But there I was—standing in the same room as Kai Zhang, pretending not to notice how his presence seemed to command the entire gallery. He was dressed in a tailored black suit that hugged his frame perfectly, the faintest touch of silver gleaming at his cufflinks. His jet-black hair was styled perfectly, every strand in place, as if he had just walked off a magazine cover. His eyes—the sharpest shade of brown—swept the room, pausing for a split second when they landed on me. I froze. His gaze was like a brand, searing into my skin. There was no mistaking that look—it was filled with recognition. A hint of curiosity. And something more—something dangerous. I couldn’t breathe. The rivalry that had existed between our families for years seemed to collapse into that moment. My heart raced, but I refused to show any sign of weakness. He was Kai Zhang, the son of the family responsible for so many of our losses. My father would have killed me for even being in the same room as him, let alone having him look at me like that. I turned away, my hand gripping my champagne glass a little too tightly. The bubbles popped in my ears, but the sound was drowned out by the pounding in my chest. I felt his presence behind me before I heard his voice. “Didn’t think I’d find you here, Talia.” His voice was low, smooth—like velvet, but with an edge that made every word feel like a warning. I turned slowly, carefully masking my shock. I didn’t trust my own voice, so I settled for a neutral smile. “I didn’t think I’d be here either,” I replied, my tone even, though inside my head, everything was unraveling. My family had warned me to stay away from him, to keep my distance from the Zhangs. But there he was, standing in front of me, looking like the enemy—and yet something about him made it hard to remember why I should hate him. Kai took a step closer, and I forced myself not to recoil. He was too close now, his cologne filling my senses—a blend of wood and spice, powerful and unforgettable. My pulse quickened against my will. This was wrong. So wrong. “You’ve always been full of surprises, haven’t you, Talia?” He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Didn’t think you’d be a fan of art. The Okons never strike me as the creative type.” I didn’t flinch at the subtle dig. His words were meant to provoke, but I had learned to shield myself from that long ago. “Art has its way of surprising you,” I said coolly, taking another sip of my drink, though my hand was shaking slightly. I couldn’t let him see how much he rattled me. “You’re playing a dangerous game.” He said it like a statement, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his boldness. “Dangerous?” I repeated, a laugh escaping my lips. “If you think a simple gallery is dangerous, then you’re in the wrong place, Kai.” His smile deepened, like he knew something I didn’t. “You’re not as naive as you seem. You know what I mean, Talia. You’re stepping into my world now. And trust me, it’s not as simple as you think.” I didn’t respond immediately. I couldn’t. The tension between us was palpable, and for a moment, I forgot about the rest of the world. All that existed in that moment was the silent war that raged between our families, now playing out between the two of us. “You don’t scare me, Zhang,” I finally said, my voice stronger than I felt. “Whatever your family thinks of mine, I’m not involved in your battles.” He took a step back, but his eyes never left mine. “You’re already involved, Talia. The moment you stepped into this gallery, you became part of the war. You just don’t know it yet.” I felt my pulse quicken again, but I refused to let him see it. The way he spoke—so calmly, like he held all the power in the room—made my blood boil. “Then why don’t you do us both a favor and leave me out of it?” I said, my voice sharp, but there was an edge of desperation hidden beneath. I wanted him to go away. I wanted the conflict, the heat, the pull between us to disappear. But it wouldn’t. It couldn’t. “I’d love to,” Kai said, his smile slow and deliberate. “But something tells me you’re not done with me yet, Talia.” I couldn’t hold his gaze any longer. I turned sharply, my heels clicking against the polished floor as I walked away. I needed space. Air. I needed to breathe without feeling his eyes on me. But as I moved deeper into the gallery, I could feel his presence still lingering, as if he had left an invisible mark on me. This wasn’t just a chance encounter. It was a spark—one that could set everything I knew on fire.