chapter 19

SerendipityEpisode-19The bustling canteen of Supreme.... Friday afternoon, end of the five-day workweek...The air was filled with the delicious smell of food, accompanied by steaming mugs of tea and coffee.Laughter rang out, mingling with the buzz of gossip as employees gathered around tables, finding comfort in the routine of their workplace.At a corner table near the window, some of Supreme's ‘Intelligent’ and ‘Obedient’employees were busy praising their boss, Rajeev Mehra."I’m afraid Rajeev sir is going to fire me for sure," fretted Aditi, her worry palpable."I submitted the report late that day, and yesterday, Geeta and I were chatting outside his cabin, and he saw us.""Wow, Aditi, you should be given a medal for bravery," jested Akash from HR, waving his hand theatrically like a priest swinging a puja thali."Why do you all talk so negatively? Rajeev sir isn’t that bad. Yes, he gets angry and can be short-tempered sometimes, but he also encourages and appreciates everyone’s work,"Radhika, a junior manager from finance, chimed in with a light smile.“Radhika, it’s only been a year since you joined Supreme. We’ve been in exile for several years. Just last week,Rajeev sir fired the general manager of the sales department, and before that, the purchase manager from Supreme Logistics. The list goes on,” Jayesh exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone."Aree, Jayesh sir! Rajeev sir's career graph is so impressive. He joined as a management trainee at 23, ranked 10th in the CA finals, did his MBA from Oxford, and at just 33, he became the CFO.He’s the epitome of intelligence, efficiency, and smartness," Radhika continued, unfazed by Jayesh's complaints."Oh, you've really done your homework. What’s the plan, huh?" teased Sumit from the purchase department."He became CFO at 33 and has been excelling for the last five years. I bet Sanyal sir will retire soon, and Rajeev sir will become the CEO of Supreme Group,"Renuka from the tax department predicted confidently."Radhika, Renuka, what is going on? You both seem awfully impressed with 'Monster Mehra.' Always remember, this beast is dangerous. This monster won’t suddenly turn into a prince," laughed Kamlesh."Forget the prince! Why wait for him when we already have such an adorable boss?" Mona began, eyes dreamy."Those dark chocolate, mysteriously deep eyes. That sharp nose. His majestic forehead, thick black hair, and that businessman hairstyle.His square, upturned face, light brown complexion, and tall, muscular build, sometimes with a slightly overgrown stubble—adding to his handsomeness.And that intense gaze with a slight smile! When he walks into the meeting room with his white shirt sleeves rolled up and says, 'Good morning, everyone,' my heart skips a beat.Even on the most tiring mornings, he makes everything feel exciting. And in that charcoal grey blazer, he looks so royal!""Marketing Manager Mona, you should channel that creative flair into Supreme's ad campaigns!" Akash joked."But seriously, what are you thinking, crushing on your boss? And by the way, he’s a complete gentleman. You could ask any female employee at Supreme, and they'd all agree with me,"Aditi added, and all five women at the table nodded in unison. *@*@*@*@*Meanwhile, in Rajeev's office, the atmosphere was charged as intense discussions about the Technosys takeover unfolded....Rajeev, along with the VP of Corporate Strategy and the finance team, reviewed every detail of the reports prepared earlier that morning.Rajeev’s mission was to integrate smaller enterprises that stood in Supreme's way and eliminate unwarranted competition.Among these was Technosys, a Bangalore-based IT firm and a notable rival."We need to submit the proposal for Technosys' takeover by the end of April," Rajeev emphasized."We're short on time. Get JPM & Co. to start working on the proposal. I want the contract ready by evening. I'll sign and send it."As usual, Rajeev opted to assign the task to JPM & Co., their trusted partners for the past five years.However, there was one final presentation scheduled for Monday before a decision could be made.The VP of Corporate Strategy, slightly nervous, voiced his concern."But why even consider a new team when JPM has always delivered? We’ve worked with them on all major projects. I don't see the point in attending another presentation."Regardless of the discussion, everyone knew Rajeev’s decision would be final."We’ll sign the contract and send it off as soon as possible," Rajeev confirmed, instructing Geeta to finalize the paperwork.Later in the evening, Geeta informed him that JPM’s negotiations over their fee were still ongoing. They wouldn’t have a final figure until Monday.Rajeev, who had hoped to close the deal that day, was frustrated by the delay but had no choice but to wait....Little did he know, the upcoming week would bring an unexpected surprise.To be continued....© ®️ Meghna_Yadav 2021Special Thanks to friend Gayatri and my loving daughter, my buddy.Hello Readers,Illuminate the five stars of ratings with your gentle touch. Do let me know your thoughts via comments..Thanks and Regards,Meghana Yadav...