The automated glass doors whispered shut behind her and, just like that, she was inside. Kavya stepped into the glass fortress that was the Glassglow Headquarters.
The reception area still looked the same, almost unchanged in the one year, she had not stepped foot into it. It was still a shrine of clinical opulence – white marble and black steel. The company's logo gleamed behind the desk gleamed in obsidian glass, a silent indication of precision and power.
The security team scattered throughout, dressed in blue uniforms, earpieces in place as their eyes scanned every face – old and new – with a calm that came with years of practice.
By the time she has come in, the reception area was a symphony of movement – a steady stream of employees in sharp suits and spotless white lab coats.
The receptionist – a young man in a grey tie froze mid-call when he saw her. The security turned. One of them reached for his earpiece. Another looked like he saw a ghost. They twitched. Nobody made a move to stop her.
Kavya stepped forward without blinking. She passed through the biometric gates without pausing. She raised her eyebrow slightly as she noticed her access was not evoked. She smirked.
She moved on to the lounge. Joseph was already waiting for her.
"They are in a board meeting", he said, fallin in step with her. "Emergency meeting. Mr. Vikram called it."
Kavya arched a brow, "Let me guess, to make Darsh CEO officially."
Joseph nodded, "He cited the reason that he had been the interim CEO and he knows the workings. He is more able according to him."
Kavya's smile did not reach her eye.
"Not so soon"
She moved with the precision of a predator towards the elevator – calm but deadly.
Joseph spoke again, "You know, they are going to cite your disappearance as a main reason. Show this as instability and say that you are compromised, emotionally and mentally. That you are being reckless."
Kavya glanced at him, "Really, well let's show them what recklessness really looks like."
At the board meeting
Kavya stepped into the boardroom and paused.
Her eyes immediately landed on Vikram - sitting in the President's chair – her father's seat. Something twisted inside her chest. The overhead light sharpened the lines on his face – his freckles and wrinkles were suddenly more prominent as he shifted his posture with an annoying smugness.
Technically as the stand-in president there was nothing wrong, and yet, despite it being the reality it was still a hard pill to swallow.
The seat wasnot supposed to be his. He is a traitor. It was her dad's and it will be forever in her heart.
Feigning ignorance he went on with his discussion Kavya calmly took a seat diagonally – one where he himself used to sit once.
The atmosphere was grim as the latest stock reports flickered on the screen-shares slipping, investor getting dissapointed and agitated.
Kavya zoned out. She tried to imagine what her father would do at this moment but failed.
Instead her mind wanted to go back inpast stay in the reverie for ever. A time machine would have sufficed for her.
Never had she wanted see a day without her dad. She wanted to pinch herself and affirm that all these things are just her overthinking A dream which will pass and she will wake up in her home in her cozy bed her dad scolding her for being late for breakfast!
A happy warm family. No cold wars. No animousity.
A cranky slick voice disrupted her thoughts, a very familiar one "Look at you-sitting there like you belong. Draped in nostalgia, hoping it passes for authority."
Kavya ignored Vikram.A sigh escaped her lips.
Mr. Singh, one of the senior shareholders, raised his concern. "I'm not satisfied with the stock revenue reports this month for this perfume division. The numbers are declining abruptly. I need answers, and I need them now. Otherwise, I may have to reconsider my position."
The boardroom was filled with a kind of tension that could be felt in the bones.
At one end of the table sat Vikram, a picture of unbothered authority. On either side of the table sat the board members, some anxious, some restless,
Every man and woman in the room could feel the underlying power current. They glanced at each other uncomfortably.
Vikram cut him off swiftly. "I'm well aware, Mr. Singh. Don't worry about it."
Shifting his gaze towards Kavya said Infact this incident would not have occurred if someone did not barge their way in. The market hates uncertainty, and someone's reckless power play unsettled everyone."
The jab was clear.
Kavya turned red at his words and her blood boiled but she held back. The accusation was true but she was left with no choice..
The boardroom assistant projected some customer reviews collecting from various platforms.
Kavya was appointed to be the head of this department now stood up.
"EVEN though Glassglow is a biotechnical and pharmaceuticals company, this is a special division introduced by Our President,we need to pay equal attention to it. I have analysed the situation and my opinions compiled into a presentation."
Before she could continue, the double doors swung open and Darsh stepped in, tall and broad-shouldered, his suit sculpted to a lean, frame.
Sharp jaw ruffled hair and confident gait
He had composed himself after the confrontation in the parking lot. He moved forward – almost casually – prepared for the meeting.
His impatient stormy black eyes darted across the room and stopped on HER.
Her eyes gleamed with confidence.She didnot waste a moment on him and started her presentation.
Darsh took a seat at the far end of the table, deliberately distancing himself.
Kavya flicked through few images with the remote.
Here are some reviews from loyal old customers…
● Customer Review 1:
"I adored 'Solstice Ruin'— the Recent Few batches feels diluted, almost watered down. Losing the signature scent.Kind of shocked and utterly disappointed."
● Customer Review 2:
"Midnight Bloom" was my go-to for years, Infact my husband got it for me at our tenth anniversary but the scent now feels generic, kind of same like usual cheap perfumes made me wonder if I bought a counterfeit. Hoping for Revival of OG scents !"
●Customer Review 3:
Honestly, 'Myriad' still shines bright. The recent changes haven't hurt my loyalty. GlassGlow is eternal."
Next slide .
Graphs of Various perfume sales appeared on the screen.
Kavya addressed the members
"As it is clearly evident that Lacuna and Myriad are practically carrying
The brand. Vellum and Umbral are selling on name recall, not scent differentiation….
Basically I am not refraining myself
The motto right has become
'Minimal risk. Minimal originality. But it will lead to minimal relevance.'
Kavya looked around the room, processing the reaction of the members present.
MR SINGH speaks up
"GlassGlow wasn't built to echo market noise. I invested cause Glassglow was the chaos.
Raghav a product department manager spoke up However We are gearing up for releasing Pichutan soon.A completely unique boldness and unike anything we have created till now!"
DARSH locks eyes with Kavya who glanced coldly at him.
It's not love. It is hatred
Contempt disguised with conflict, confusion
And a bit of hope.
Hope for salvation.
Turning back she went on,
"The stock drop is a blessing in
Disguise. A WAKE UP CALL."
For Glassglow to
1. Not just recover, but rule the perfume industry .
2. We need to bring the glory of Solstice Ruins and Midnight Bloom while launching new limited-edition scents-one of them Being Pichutan aiming at the younger customers.
3.We can use our social medias-a to a good use and collaborate with influencers and celebs to gain the trust back. I also am personally eager to launch a new side product organic perfume lines if possible.
FOR THE FIRST TIME ,heads round the table seemed to gain clear vision of their upcoming days and nodded in approval.
VIKRAM objected that Glasglow doesnot need any charity.Marketing cannot hide the fault in these products.
Darsh now spoke up .
"To err is to be human . I AM CONFIDENT w will definitely crush this round of competition."
Vikram's expression soured, frustration evident despite his usual composure.
-----------------------------------------------------------
AFTER THE MEETING
Kavya's POV
The door slammed shut and furiously she called Joseph.
Hello.
How is everything going?
I cannot stand it anymore.Everything is getting on my nerves now.
Fuck it .
That bloody fucker sat on the very seat dad used to sit .Son of a bitch. He was sitting there like --like-he built this Singhaniya empire.
Ugh! I wanted to go and straight slap the shit outta him and ram his head.
"Darsh" gets under my skin every time hating the fact that he is handling Pichutan.
Joseph softly said, " Kavya YOU need to calm yourself down."
"You are a fighter in the game"
The opponents are trying to bait you but this time you will not lose .Try to gain some of the people by your side…
Kavya scoffed bitterly .
How the heck will I ! Half of them treats him like a messiah and and –
Joseph cut through "That is what you are here for. TO reveal the dirty man behind mask. Strip him naked of his facade.Take back your company.
That is when you can finally be peaceful.
Joseph , paused for a bit and with slight dissapointment, replied;
—Vikram's accounts are like a fortress, but I'm getting through layer by
layer. He's clean on the surface, but the dirt's there. Hidden.
.
.
.
For now there is something wrong
in the hospital about your mother.
Kavya froze.Shivers ran down her spine.
The nurse attending was behaving suspiciously just like you predicted
last time.When it is time for her meal and medicine few men are guarding the door…
Should I take some action or I keep on observing?
Her voice dropped,
Goodness. He will not spare even my comatose mother….
I will tear him into pieces.. Did you install the camera there ?
I did..
Great, monitor the footage for now.Take action immediately if anything goes wrong.
A brief pause. She walks to the window, overlooking the city skyline.She sees Darsh underneath the window and he was talking to clients and shaking their hands.The clients went away…Vikram embraced Darsh.
Her fists clenched.
Mark my words.
His good days will not last long.
Not while I am breathing.I will strangle him in his lies.
Joseph:Then let's give him a noose.
.
.
.
.
A plan forming. Not yet vengeance. But the path to it."