Chapter 33 (Cake)
John was startled by his initial answer.
“No,” he immediately changed. He couldn’t comprehend how he had arrived at the ‘Yes,’ feeling as if he were inviting his own death.
Priyank felt like a raging bull amidst a sea of red flags. Either everyone around him was behaving foolishly, which he knew wasn’t the case, or else he wouldn’t have employed an incompetent assistant.
However, since Priya entered his life, everyone seemed to sound increasingly foolish, as if they were teetering on the edge, ready to push him over the brink into anger.From NôvelDrama.Org.
Ignoring John’s protest, Priyank scrutinised the food before him. “What about the meeting? Dispose of this food, or I’ll dispose of you. Don’t make me do the work you’re paid for,” he commanded.
“Yes, boss, we do have a meeting scheduled for the project. Something unforeseen occurred, causing a delay,” John stammered as he deposited the entire cake package into the trash.
John had no desire to further provoke Priyank’s anger. While he was indeed paid for his work, each day he entered the office felt like tempting fate.
After ten years of working together, Priyank’s temper remained unchanged.
Despite the familiar anger and relentless work ethic that had contributed to the company’s success, there were times when things spiraled out of control.
“Shall we proceed, or do you expect me to carry you to the meeting room?” Priyank’s mocking tone filled the air as he began to walk towards the meeting room.
“No, sir,” John replied, following behind. “I’ll inform the team.” He quickly dialled the manager to gather the entire team in the meeting room.
As they entered the meeting room, tension hung thick in the air. Priyank’s demeanour resembled that of an enraged bull ready to charge.
Once seated, Priyank wasted no time. “Explain to me who is responsible for the loss,” he demanded.
The staff exchanged nervous glances, unable to conjure up any excuses.
“Sir, it’s not a mistake on our part; it originated from the other side,” one employee, visibly trembling yet attempting to compose himself, responded.
The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, each moment with Priyank feeling like an eternity. Whenever a meeting convened, it felt like stepping into a war zone, where one wrong move could spell disaster for everyone’s livelihoods.
It seemed as though they were all walking on eggshells, desperately trying to safeguard their positions within the company.
“And what were all of you doing when this happened? Doesn’t this company compensate you tenfold compared to others in the industry?” Priyank’s accusation pierced the air.
It was an undeniable truth. Despite Priyank’s demanding nature and high expectations, he compensated his employees generously, far beyond industry standards. That’s why individuals clamoured to join his company.
Even with his infamous temper, Priyank never took the hiring process lightly. He sought individuals who could not only perform their duties but also appreciate the opportunity afforded to them.
This was precisely why Priyank loathed errors. If he were lenient with every misstep, his company’s reputation would suffer.
To maintain their standing at the top, strict precision was essential in everything Priyank and his employees undertook.
“Brief me on everything and provide details on how you plan to resolve the entire issue,” Priyank commanded.
As soon as Priyank uttered those words, the team manager rose to his feet, launching into a detailed explanation of the incident and proposing strategies to mitigate the losses.
After three gruelling hours of discussion,
“Alright, as we’ve discussed, I expect everything to be resolved within two weeks, no longer. If another incident occurs, I’ll remove the entire team from this project and this company, ensuring no one else will hire you,” Priyank declared sternly, rising from his seat and issuing a threatening ultimatum to everyone present.
Given that his workforce consisted solely of men, with Priyank never having hired women, he didn’t hesitate to push his staff to their limits.
“Understood, sir,” they all replied in unison, their voices devoid of enthusiasm.
“And as for you, John, I’ll ensure you receive your usual generous compensation this time,” Priyank remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
John held his breath, anticipating another deduction from his salary. While he wasn’t underpaid by any means, continual cuts to his earnings left him worried about his financial stability.
“I am sorry, sir,” John muttered, avoiding any mention of his salary concerns.
“You’d better. Take care of the remaining tasks,” Priyank instructed before exiting the meeting room, leaving a collective sigh of relief in his wake.
“It’s always so intense,” someone remarked with a sad smile as they all settled back into their seats, grateful for the meeting’s conclusion.
As Priyank stepped into the corridor, he rolled up his sleeves, shrugged off his coat, and loosened his tie. Evening had already descended, but time seemed to slip away unnoticed whenever he immersed himself in work.
‘What is she doing?,’ Priyank pondered as he wondered what Priya could possibly be up to alone in his meeting room.
Upon entering his office, he was taken aback to find Priya seated and indulging in cake.
‘Cake?,’ he exclaimed, his surprise evident. How had she managed to retrieve the cake John had discarded into the trash?
Earlier, after only two and a half hours of sleep, Priya had awakened feeling bored and restless. Despite the discomfort of her sore feet, she had mustered the energy to leave the office. Along the way, she spotted the trash can nearby, just a short distance from Priyank’s office.
Upon finding the untouched cake inside its packaging, she hesitated momentarily before deciding to take it and went inside the office again .
Since the cake was still sealed, she saw no harm in enjoying it. After all, it had been discarded, and she had stumbled upon it by chance. With that justification in mind, she had begun devouring the unexpected treat.
“How did you get the cake, Priya?” Priyank’s voice boomed, his nerves on the brink of bursting.
Startled, Priya flinched, causing the cake to topple onto her lap. She glanced up at Priyank. “Why are you shouting? Doesn’t your throat hurt? I only took two bites, and look what happened,” she retorted.
She didn’t understand why he was so angry, but to her, the loss of her cake felt significant.