chapter 23

SerendipityEpisode-23As Megha ran her hand over her hair and adjusted the saree while glancing in the elevator's mirror, she felt the tension rising.The clock was ticking fast, but the elevator was moving painfully slow, stopping at every floor. People got in and out, oblivious to her inner turmoil.She was already immersed in the presentation she was about to give, mentally calculating every move.Finally, the elevator dinged, and she stepped out on the 27th floor. Just as she did, a tall man in a suit entered the elevator.Megha didn’t see his face, but the familiar scent of sandalwood cologne caught her attention, foggy yet captivating.It lingered in the air, distracting her for a brief moment. She had no time to turn back and see who it was, as the elevator doors closed, and her phone rang. It was Gupta Sir.She strode toward the conference room with a sense of urgency, her heart racing.Inside, Gupta Sir stood, his face lighting up the moment he saw her. The worry he'd carried on his face dissolved into relief, replaced by a smile as he nodded in silent appreciation.His eyes conveyed what words didn’t need to express ‘I knew you would make it’‘I will never let you down’, Megha silently assured him, both of them exchanging unspoken confidence in each other.Within the next five minutes, Megha coordinated with Supreme’s technical team, ensuring everything was in place for the presentation.At 10:25 sharp, senior executives started filing into the room, and Megha greeted them with a professional smile, her mind already mapping out the next hour.She had faced many such presentations, but there was something different about today—an excited energy beneath her calm demeanour.Yet, she expertly concealed it behind a composed, confident exterior, a skill honed both as a professional and as a mother.The room filled up, and finally, the CEO himself, Prakash Sannyal, walked in. His presence stunned Megha.She hadn’t expected the CEO to personally attend the meeting, which only underscored how crucial this project was to Supreme. Presenting in front of him meant everything had to be flawless.After a brief handshake between Sannyal Sir and Gupta Sir, everyone took their seats around the large oval teak table.Megha’s presentation flashed onto the 65-inch LCD screen, and once she received the green light from Sannyal Sir, she began.Her voice steady, She introduced SWC and briefly highlighted Gupta Sir's contributions to the M&A consultancy sector.She spoke with confidence about the significant projects SWC had completed over the past five years, the high standards expected by Supreme Group, and how SWC had consistently delivered on those expectations.As she explained the first 10 slides, she noticed the positive reactions from the executives—the nods, the smiles. Her years of experience told her the presentation was hitting the right notes.But just as she was about to switch to the 11th slide, the door to the conference room opened.On the black screen, Megha could see a blurry reflection of someone tall, in a blazer, standing at the door with a phone in hand.Her eyes immediately narrowed in frustration. She had little patience for people who arrived late to important meetings. She turned to see who had interrupted.And there he was....‘What’s he doing here?Her thoughts raced. Why didn’t I notice this before? I should have realized...It hit her. Of course! If he isn’t here, where else would he be?But what a timing. Half of the presentation is over, and now he shows up?Her initial shock reflected on her face—her raised eyebrows and wide eyes betrayed her surprise.But Megha quickly composed herself, her expression hardening into one of quiet displeasure. Her narrowed eyes and the crease of irritation on her forehead were clear signs of her frustration.He however, just stood there, a slight smile playing on his lips. He took in her reaction with an almost playful amusement, as if he had expected it.Rajeev Mehra!!!His left thumb was casually tucked into his trouser pocket, and his iPhone rested loosely in his right hand. He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on her, unbothered by her fury.It was his typical stance, and somehow, it both infuriated and unnerved her.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... Â