Thawing the CEO's Heart

Chapter 3: A Disruptive Encounter

The first week at Aoom Corporation was a whirlwind for Meena. She dove headfirst into her role as Aoom's efficiency expert, determined to prove herself in the cutthroat world of corporate politics. But as the days passed, Meena encountered challenges she hadn't anticipated.

On her first day, Meena found herself inundated with tasks—schedules to coordinate, reports to analyze, and meetings to attend. Despite her best efforts to stay organized, the sheer volume of work left her feeling overwhelmed. As the hours stretched into the evening, Meena realized she had made a critical error in underestimating the demands of her new position.

Aoom, ever the vigilant observer, took note of Meena's struggle. In their daily meetings, she scrutinized Meena's progress with a critical eye, pointing out mistakes and inefficiencies with a cool detachment that sent a shiver down Meena's spine.

By the end of the week, Meena's confidence had taken a beating. She had made several errors in her reports, missed deadlines, and failed to anticipate Aoom's expectations. Each misstep felt like a dagger to her pride, and she feared she was falling short of Aoom's standards.

One evening, as Meena prepared to leave the office, Aoom summoned her to the penthouse once again. Meena's heart sank as she entered the dimly lit room, bracing herself for another round of criticism.

"Meena," Aoom's voice was softer than usual, her expression tinged with frustration. "I expected more from you."

Meena's throat constricted with guilt. She had let Aoom down, and now she had to face the consequences.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Chaiyawat," Meena said, her voice trembling. "I'll do better, I promise."

Aoom sighed, running a hand through her hair in a rare display of vulnerability. "I hired you because I saw potential in you, Meena. But potential means nothing without results."

Meena felt a surge of determination. She couldn't let Aoom down—not after everything she had sacrificed to be here.

"I won't let you down again," Meena vowed, her voice steady. "I'll work harder, I'll learn from my mistakes, and I'll prove myself to you."

A flicker of something akin to pride crossed Aoom's face, and Meena felt a glimmer of hope ignite within her.

"Very well," Aoom said, her tone softer now. "You have one more chance, Meena. Don't waste it."

As Meena left the penthouse that evening, she knew the road ahead would be difficult. But she was determined to rise to the challenge, to prove herself worthy of Aoom's trust, and to emerge stronger than ever before. And with that resolve burning bright in her heart, Meena set out to conquer the trials that lay ahead.

The next day...

As Aoom Corporation navigated the intricate web of business dealings, a meeting with a prominent investor was set to take place. Mr. Chiu, a well-known figure in the financial world, arrived at Aoom's penthouse office with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Aoom greeted Mr. Chiu with her usual composed demeanor, though her instincts bristled with caution. As the meeting progressed, however, it became apparent that Mr. Chiu's intentions were far from purely business-oriented.

Midway through the discussion, Mr. Chiu's demeanor shifted, his gaze lingering on Meena with an unsettling intensity. His comments took on a suggestive undertone, veering into inappropriate territory that made Meena squirm in her seat.

Aoom's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin as she observed Mr. Chiu's blatant disregard for professionalism. Despite her composed exterior, a storm brewed beneath the surface—a visceral reaction she couldn't quite comprehend.

When Mr. Chiu's advances escalated to a point of blatant harassment, Aoom's facade shattered. In a rare display of emotion, she lashed out with a fury that stunned both Mr. Chiu and Meena.

"Get out," Aoom's voice was cold, cutting through the tension like a knife. "I will not tolerate such behavior in my company."

Mr. Chiu recoiled, taken aback by Aoom's sudden ferocity. He stammered an apology, but Aoom's resolve remained unyielding.

"You've crossed a line, Mr. Chiu," Aoom said, her tone steely. "Consider our partnership terminated."

With a sense of finality, Aoom showed Mr. Chiu the door, her jaw clenched with righteous indignation. As the door closed behind him, a heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of Meena's shaky breaths.

Meena sat frozen in her chair, her mind reeling from the shock of what had just transpired. She couldn't believe Mr. Chiu's brazen behavior, nor could she fully comprehend Aoom's visceral reaction.

Aoom turned to Meena, her expression unreadable. "Are you alright?"

Meena nodded, though her hands trembled with residual fear and disbelief. She had never experienced such blatant harassment in a professional setting, and the encounter left her shaken to her core.

"I—I'm fine," Meena said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aoom studied Meena for a moment, her gaze softening with a rare hint of compassion. "I'm sorry you had to endure that, Meena. It's unacceptable."

Meena swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling inside her. She had always admired Aoom's strength and resolve, but today, she witnessed a side of her boss that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

As the shock began to subside, Meena felt a surge of gratitude towards Aoom—an unspoken acknowledgment of the protection and support she had provided in her moment of vulnerability.

With a newfound sense of determination, Meena resolved to confront the lingering trauma of the encounter and emerge stronger than ever before. And as she stood alongside Aoom in the aftermath of the tumultuous meeting, she knew that together, they would weather any storm that came their way.

To be continued...

Author's Note: How do you like it so far?  Hope you'll vote for my story 😊