When Disaster Meets Perfection

Ch 32 A moment of jealousy

Two days later

Today had been an exhausting day for Annika. For the past 48 hours, she and her team had been immersed in a whirlwind of recruitment and training. Their mission was to build a cohesive team from scratch, and it was no easy feat.

The recruitment process had attracted a diverse pool of applicants, thanks to the company's open-ended criteria. Without specific qualifications or age restrictions for certain posts, Annika's team had to navigate a complex mix of personalities, skills, and experiences.

Some new recruits grasped the work effortlessly, their prior experience and expertise shining through. Others, however, required patience and extra guidance, struggling to comprehend the tasks at hand.

Annika and her team had to adapt their teaching styles to cater to individual learning needs. They encountered enthusiastic newcomers, eager to prove themselves, alongside seasoned professionals seeking a fresh start.

Then there were those who seemed mismatched for the roles, lacking essential skills or displaying questionable work ethics. Annika's team had to make tough decisions, balancing empathy with the company's interests.

As the day drew to a close, Annika reflected on the progress made and the challenges ahead. Building a high-performing team from such varied talent would require strategic leadership, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication.

Confident and determined, Annika stood ready to guide her team into a bright new era. Monday's kickoff would unleash  their collective potential, bleeding skills and innovations.

As Annika gathered her belongings and locked up the office, she glanced at the clock and groaned inwardly - 9 pm. Another long day, another bout of overtime. And to make matters worse, she was running later than usual.

Rushing toward the elevator side, Annika's mind shifted to her transportation woes. Her scooter had betrayed her this morning, forcing her to hail a cab to work. Now, she hoped to catch a timely ride home.

As Annika approached the elevator, she spotted Shivay heading toward the exclusive VVIP lift, engrossed in a phone conversation. On impulse, she swiftly closed the distance between them and gently tugged on his arm.

"Hey, come this way," Annika said, guiding him toward the regular employees' elevator.

Shivay raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden intervention, but didn't resist. He continued his conversation, listening intently as Annika holding his hand, walked alongside him.

Their steps synchronized as they approached the elevator, Annika's actions sparking a mix of curiosity and amusement in Shivay's eyes.

As they stepped into the elevator, Shivay ended his call and turned to Annika, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "What prompted this sudden intervention, Annika? Did you miss me terribly over the past two days and crave a private encounter?" He said pointing towards their hands.

Annika released his hand, her cheeks flushing. "Nothing like that," she clarified. "You were too absorbed in your conversation to notice you were heading toward the VVIP lift. I redirected you to avoid getting scolded by whoever's on the other end."

Shivay's grin lingered, intrigued by Annika's quick thinking. "Saving me from trouble, are you?" he teased.

Annika shrugged, her expression stoic. "Just preventing unnecessary complications."

Shivay's chuckles subsided as he asked, "You seem overwhelmed. Is your supervisor doing a good job?"

Annika's expression turned vexed. "Don't even get me started on him. He's been indifferent to our progress. He didn't even bother to review the employees we hired, and the report we submitted for final approval is still pending."

Shivay's interest piqued, he noted, "So, your team isn't fully established yet."

Annika shook her head. "Actually, I've already built my team. We've recruited the necessary talent, and we're set to begin work on Monday."

Shivay's eyes locked onto Annika, his expression a picture of curiosity. "How did you manage to finalize the team's employment?" he asked, his tone betraying no hint of his true intentions.

Unbeknownst to Annika, Shivay had strategically withheld the file, received from her office, planning to present it on Monday. His goal was to stall the project's kickoff, but Annika's revelation caught him off guard.

With the file still in his possession, Shivay wondered how Annika had proceeded without the necessary approval.

Before Annika could reply, the elevator doors slid open with a soft whoosh, Annika swiftly stepped out into the quiet office corridor, her pace sudden and purposeful. "I'll fill you in another time, Shivay," she called out over her shoulder, her voice light but hurried.

Without breaking stride, Annika hastened toward the exit, her heels clicking on the polished floor. Her abrupt departure left Shivay standing alone in the elevator, his expression thoughtful and his eyes narrowing in contemplation.

Shivay's gaze lingered on the empty corridor, his mind replaying their conversation and Annika's hasty exit. The questions he had wanted to ask, the clarifications he had sought, would have to wait.

Shivay exited the elevator, observing that Annika had taken the lift to the ground floor instead of the parking area. Intrigued, he diverted to the opposite side of the corridor, leading to the exclusive VVIP floor. Settling into his car, Shivay pondered how Annika had managed to hire employees without his approval.

As he drove out of the parking area, he spotted Annika standing outside the office, engaged in a phone call. Noticing she wasn't accompanied by her car, Shivay wondered if he should offer her a ride.

He decided to wait, thinking, "If she's still standing there in 10 minutes, I'll offer her a lift." Shivay parked his car nearby, keeping Annika in view.

His eyes occasionally drifted back to Annika, observing as she concluded her call and glanced around, seemingly searching for transportation. The minutes ticked by, and Shivay's curiosity grew.

Annika rushed out of the office, intending to hail an office cab. But to her disappointment, she found none available. Inquiring with the guard, she learned that the last cab had departed just minutes ago.

"Would I have made it if I hadn't diverted Shivay to the correct lift?" she wondered.

Just then, her phone rang, breaking her thoughts. Ishana's concerned voice echoed on the other end.

"Hey, where are you? You're running late, also you didn't take your scooty with you." Ishana asked.

"I am still in the office, waiting for a cab," Annika reassured.

"You wait there, I am sending someone to pick you up," Ishana offered.

Grateful, Annika agreed and waited, her eyes scanning the road for the approaching vehicle.

As the 10-minute mark passed, Shivay started his engine, intending to offer Annika a ride. However, his plans were foiled when a motorcycle pulled up beside her. A helmet was handed to Annika, who secured it and settled comfortably behind the rider.

Shivay's gaze lingered, his unease growing as Annika's face lit up with a radiant smile. Her arms wrapped tightly around the rider's waist, exuding a sense of familiarity and comfort.

A pang of discomfort struck Shivay, his mind racing with questions. Who was this person? Was he Annika's boyfriend? The thought unsettled him, stirring an unexpected surge of jealousy.

Shivay's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he started the engine, feeling an inexplicable anger. He pulled away from the curb, his eyes drifting back to the fading image of Annika and her mysterious companion.

As he drove off, Shivay couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just witnessed a private moment, one that left him with more questions than answers.

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