The next morning, Rhea arrived before dawn at Mehra Industries. The corridors were silent, the polished floors reflecting the faint glow of overhead lights. She took a deep breath, replaying yesterday's encounter: Aarav's sharp gaze, Meher's dismissive smirk. Today, she vowed, she wouldn't let her nerves betray her.
At her desk—neatly organized with company stationery—Rhea found a single sheet of paper:
**"Agenda for Today
Review Q2 reports Prepare slides for Board meeting Schedule team one-on-ones
— A.M."**
Her heart raced. These tasks were high-stakes even for a seasoned assistant—but this was why she'd accepted the role. She squared her shoulders and opened the financial report file.
A faint click alerted her: Aarav stood behind her chair, arms crossed. "I expect those reports by 10 a.m. sharp," he said without looking at her.
Rhea nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll have them ready."
He turned to leave, then paused. "And Rhea—no more mistakes."
Swallowing, she simply replied, "Understood."
As Aarav's footsteps faded, Rhea forced herself to focus. Numbers, graphs, key takeaways… she worked swiftly, her fingers flying across the keyboard. By 9:45, the slides were polished, the data double-checked. She printed the deck and neatly stapled the notes.
At exactly 9:59, she stood outside the boardroom door, took one more breath, and stepped in.
The large table was already filled: Mehra's top executives sat in crisp suits, their expressions a blend of curiosity and impatience. Aarav stood at the head, remote in hand.
"Good morning," he began coolly. His gaze flicked to Rhea. "Please share the presentation."
Rhea advanced, setting the slides on the screen. As the first chart appeared, a murmur rippled through the room—her formatting was impeccable, her bullet points clear and concise. Aarav's stern face softened ever so slightly.
"Q2 revenue grew by 12%," Rhea summarized, pointing to the upward-trending line. "Market expansion in the northern region drove 8% of that growth, while cost-optimization initiatives accounted for the rest."
Heads nodded; scribbles filled notebooks. For the first time, Rhea felt a spark of confidence ignite. She continued through the rest of the report, never rushing, never hesitating.
When she concluded, the room was silent for a heartbeat—then Meher, seated beside Aarav, cleared her throat. "Well done, Rhea," she said, eyes gleaming. "That was… thorough."
Aarav's hand lifted in a rare gesture of approval. "Impressive work."
Rhea offered a shaky smile. The tension eased; she felt the collective weight of those expectations lift—just enough.
Later, as the meeting disbanded, Meher fell into step beside Rhea. "You handled that beautifully," she said softly. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Rhea's chest tightened. "Thank you."
Meher paused at the elevator. "And Rhea? If you ever need help navigating all of this"—she gestured at the grand office around them—"you know where to find me."
The doors opened, and Meher stepped in, leaving Rhea staring at her retreating back. Ally—or rival? Rhea didn't know yet. But she did know one thing: by proving herself in that boardroom, she had changed everything—both for her career and for the quiet storm brewing between her and Mehra Industries' powerful duo.