Guilty

Chapter 18 - it's business baby

As Aadhya stepped into the bustling office building, the familiar hum of activity greeted her ears. Employees rushed back and forth, papers fluttered in the air, and the atmosphere crackled with urgency. Miheeka stood waiting for her, a tablet in hand, ready to brief her on the latest developments.

With brisk strides, Aadhya approached Miheeka, her mind already racing with plans and strategies. As they walked, Miheeka provided a concise update on the situation, detailing the next steps they needed to take. Aadhya nodded, absorbing the information with a focused intensity.

In the midst of their conversation, Priya, Adi's secretary, hurried towards them, her expression tight with disapproval. "Everything is set in the conference room," she announced tersely, her demeanor betraying her reluctance to engage with Aadhya.

Ignoring any underlying tension, Aadhya acknowledged Priya with a nod of gratitude before continuing on her path. She exuded an air of authority, her confidence unwavering as she led the way.

Upon entering the conference room, Aadhya was met with a chorus of greetings from the assembled team. Some attempted introductions, but Aadhya wasted no time in cutting through the pleasantries. "We don't have time for introductions now," she declared firmly, her voice commanding attention. "Let's get to work. We can do introductions later once we've sorted out this whole matter."

As the tension in the room palpably thickened, Aadhya's inquiry cut through the chaos like a knife. "Do we have any leads on who leaked the news?" she demanded, her voice commanding attention. A member of the team quickly responded, "Ma'am, it was someone from the party. They posted the picture on social media, and the media took it from there." Aadhya wasted no time in issuing her next directive. "Okay, get the contact details of that person ASAP," she instructed with a sense of urgency.

Turning to Miheeka, Aadhya sought an update on the situation. "What's the progress on the news now? Has it subsided?" she inquired, hoping for a glimmer of good news. Miheeka's response dashed any hopes of a quick resolution. "No, ma'am. It has, in fact, blown out of proportion. It's too late to do anything," she reported solemnly.

A frustrated sigh escaped Aadhya's lips as she pondered their next move. "What now?" she thought to herself, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. Just then, another voice broke the silence, delivering yet another blow. "Ma'am, our stocks are crashing. We're down by 15%," someone informed her, sending a wave of panic through the room.

Aadhya's heart sank at the news, her mind racing with possibilities. "I told the Rathores I'll fix this. God, help me," she silently prayed, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on her. Her gaze wandered across the room, landing on a collection of product samples displayed nearby. "What samples are those?" she queried, her interest piqued.

Priya, Adi's secretary, hesitated before responding, unsure of Aadhya's intentions. "They're prototypes of our new launch," she explained cautiously. Undeterred, Aadhya requested the samples, prompting Priya to question her motives. "What are you going to do with those? They're just samples," Priya protested, her skepticism evident.

As tension thickened in the room, Adi's authoritative voice cut through the chaos like a knife. The sudden entrance commanded attention, prompting everyone to rise in deference. With a gesture, Adi signaled for them to resume their seats, his demeanor exuding a quiet confidence that demanded respect.

"Priya, get the samples," he directed firmly, his gaze unwavering as he addressed his secretary. The command was clear, leaving no room for hesitation. With a subtle yet impactful reminder of the chain of command, Adi continued, "You've been asked to follow her instructions, not the other way around."