Thawing the CEO's Heart

Chapter 41: Love in Crisis

The weeks leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of activity for Aoom. With the demands of her dual roles as CEO and soon-to-be bride, her focus shifted more and more towards work, leaving little room for anything else. Unintentionally, this shift caused a growing rift between her and Meena, one that Aoom failed to notice until it was too late.

One evening, as Meena sat across from Aoom at the dinner table, she tentatively broached the subject that had been weighing heavily on her mind.

"Aoom, can we talk?" Meena's voice was soft, hesitant, as she tried to find the right words.

Aoom glanced up from her laptop, her brow furrowed with irritation at the interruption. "What is it, Meena?" Her tone was curt, unintentionally sharp.

Meena swallowed hard, trying to push down the knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. "I just...I feel like we're drifting apart," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "You seem so distant lately, and I don't know how to reach you."

Aoom's expression softened momentarily, but it quickly hardened again as her frustration resurfaced. "I'm sorry, Meena," she replied tersely, her tone lacking empathy. "I've just been swamped with work, you know how it is."

Meena nodded, her heart sinking at Aoom's dismissive response. "I understand, Aoom," she said quietly. "But it feels like you're always shouting at me or getting irritated over the smallest things. I miss the way things used to be between us."

Aoom's irritation flared at Meena's words, her patience wearing thin. "I'm doing the best I can, Meena," she snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't need you adding to my stress right now."

Meena recoiled at Aoom's sharp tone, feeling a pang of hurt and confusion. "I'm not trying to add to your stress, Aoom," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "I just want us to be happy."

Aoom's jaw clenched, her irritation growing with each passing moment. "Well, maybe if you were more understanding, we wouldn't be having this conversation," she retorted, her tone bordering on accusatory.

Meena felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of Aoom's words pressing down on her chest. "I'm trying, Aoom," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I can't do this alone."

As the silence stretched between them, the realization of the growing divide between them settled heavily in the air. And as they retreated to their respective corners of the room, each lost in their own thoughts, Meena couldn't shake the nagging feeling that their relationship was slipping through her fingers, lost in the relentless tide of work and obligations.

The next day..

Meena and Aoom found themselves in the midst of a tense meeting inside the conference room of AusTech, facing the major investors. Aoom's voice echoed with authority as she recounted the discovery of a longstanding embezzlement scheme within the company, her words igniting a storm of anger and accusations among the investors.

"You have the audacity to accuse us?" one of the investors roared, his face flushed with indignation. "We've invested millions in this company, and now you're telling us we're the ones stealing from it?"

Aoom remained resolute, her gaze unwavering as she stood her ground. "I have evidence to support my claims," she asserted firmly, her voice cutting through the heated atmosphere. "And I will not allow AusTech to be exploited any longer."

Meena, seated beside Aoom, felt a knot of apprehension tightening in her stomach as she watched the confrontation escalate. She knew that Aoom's unwavering commitment to integrity was commendable, but she also feared the repercussions of antagonizing the investors.