Scene 1: The Breaking Point
The conference room fell into a heavy silence as Rithvik entered, his presence commanding the room the moment he stepped inside. The clients, already seated, stiffened a little, trying to hide their nerves, but Rithvik was a professional, unbothered, his sharp eyes scanning the room as he made his way to the head of the table.
Thanwa and Pakorn flanked his side, settling into the seats next to him with casual ease. The Veerayut brothers were ever-present, their calm demeanor contrasting with the subtle tension swirling around the room.
Rithvik looked at everyone, his gaze cold and calculated. "Alright, let's begin the presentation," he said, his tone businesslike, yet carrying an undertone of authority that made it clear this was not a moment for mistakes.
The team around him jumped into action, as if on cue, but the atmosphere in the room was palpable. Aarohi's heart hammered in her chest as she sat at the far end, her fingers gripping the table so tightly her knuckles turned white. She'd spent hours making sure everything was perfect, but now… now she could feel it, the weight of expectation pressing down on her.
Everyone around the table exchanged uneasy glances, each one feeling the growing pressure. Rithvik's sharp eyes swept over the room, taking in the disjointed energy. And just as he settled into his chair, the room suddenly felt suffocating.
"What are you all looking at?" Rithvik's voice cut through the air, his question biting, as if he could sense something was off.
Aarohi's breath caught in her throat. It felt like all eyes were on her, though she hadn't said a word. But there was something in Rithvik's tone — something cold and distant, as if he were already beginning to calculate what was wrong.
Then, without warning, Aarav spoke up. "Rithvik, we've encountered a problem with the documents."
Rithvik's brow furrowed in confusion, his patience wearing thin. "Problem?" he repeated, his voice growing sharper.
Aarav, holding the documents in his hands, gestured toward the papers in front of him. "These aren't the right ones for today's meeting. This is the wrong set — this is for the MechaNova client, not the SavinoTech proposal."
A wave of discomfort rippled through the room. The clients exchanged uncertain glances, and the tension seemed to thicken. Rithvik's eyes narrowed as he reached for the documents and scanned them with increasing frustration. His jaw clenched, and a flicker of rage ignited behind his sharp gaze.
He didn't even try to hide it.
With a sudden motion, he threw the documents onto the table with force, the sound of them slapping against the surface echoing through the room.
"Who the hell did this?!" he barked, his voice dangerously calm but full of underlying fury.
Aarohi's heart dropped into her stomach as every inch of the room seemed to close in around her. She felt the heat rising to her face, her hands shaking as she fought to stay composed.
Aarav and Pim were about to speak, their voices faltering, but before they could explain, Aarohi blurted out, "Sir, it was me."
The room froze.
Rithvik turned toward her with such intensity, it felt like the air had shifted into something cold and suffocating. His eyes, usually so calm and collected, were now filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place — but it was unmistakable: anger. Raw, unfiltered rage.
"You." His voice was low, but the force behind it made her flinch. "I specifically told you, no mistakes. No slip-ups. I told you everything had to be perfect. And you come in here unprepared, giving me the wrong files? What is this, Aarohi?"
Aarohi opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She swallowed, her throat dry, and a lump formed in her chest. The anger in his eyes, the sharpness in his words — it cut deeper than she expected. The sting of it hit her right where she was vulnerable. She had always tried to stay professional, but the weight of his disappointment in her was suffocating.
"You've been working here long enough to know better than this." His words hit her like daggers, each one pushing her further into a pit of self-doubt. "How could you not even check the documents before placing them? This isn't a place for mistakes, Aarohi. And you've just made the biggest one."
Aarohi's mind went blank, and her body seemed to freeze. She wanted to explain — she wanted to say that Ms. Nok had told her to prepare those documents, that she had been following instructions. But her voice failed her. The more Rithvik spoke, the more her confidence cracked. His voice rang in her ears, and her hands shook so badly she thought the papers in front of her might slip from her grip.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Rithvik continued, his voice rising, his control slipping with every word. "Or worse — did you think it wouldn't matter?"
The silence in the room was deafening. Every single person, from the clients to the brothers, held their breath, unsure of how this would unfold. Aarohi felt like the weight of the entire room was pressing down on her. She could barely breathe.
He wasn't looking at her like he usually did. There was no warmth, no flicker of understanding in his eyes. Only disappointment. Anger. A silent accusation she couldn't escape.
Her throat constricted, and her heart was pounding in her ears. His words felt like a punch to her chest. She had always known Rithvik to be strict, but this... this was different. She had never seen him this way before. Never seen him this angry — this disappointed. And it hurt more than she cared to admit.
"I should've known better than to trust you with this." His words were cold, final. "You're the one who asked for this responsibility. So why is it that you can't even handle something as simple as documents for a meeting?"
Aarohi's eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't let him see her break. Not now. Not like this.
She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, but none of them could understand what this moment felt like. The betrayal of her own expectations. The disappointment she saw in Rithvik's gaze, sharp and unforgiving.
Her voice trembled as she managed to speak. "I... I'm sorry, sir. I—I'll fix this. I'll make it right."
But Rithvik only stared at her, as if her words meant nothing in that moment. There was no forgiveness in his gaze. Only cold, silent judgment.
"Make it right? I don't want you to fix it, Aarohi. I want you to not screw up again," he snapped. "You're here because you begged for this position, but now, it looks like you're not even capable of handling the basics."
Aarohi closed her eyes, feeling a lump form in her throat. She wanted to respond, to explain, but his words had already cut too deep. Every word felt like it was shattering something inside her.
And as the silence stretched on, her confidence felt like it had been torn apart, piece by piece.
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Scene 4: A Storm Greater Than Mistakes
The words had barely finished falling from Rithvik's mouth when the room descended into a deeper silence — not from fear this time, but from pure disbelief.
Every employee, even the most seasoned managers, looked frozen in place. Pim's hand trembled slightly where it rested on the edge of the conference table. Aarav, usually calm and composed, lowered his eyes, unsure how to process the situation. The air was heavy, tense, and uncomfortable.
But the true moment of shock came from across the table — from the clients.
One of them, Mr. Shun, the regional director of SavinoTech, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His expression turned from mild curiosity to outright displeasure. Another, Ms. Kanya, known for her sharp tongue and sharper business acumen, slowly closed the file in front of her with a disapproving click of her pen.
"Mr. Veerayut," she said, her tone firm yet eerily calm, "I must say, we came here today because your company has always maintained the highest standards — not just in business strategy, but in professionalism. What we just witnessed..." she gave a pointed glance toward Aarohi, who still stood trembling, "was not something we expected from Veerayut Group."
Mr. Shun nodded in agreement. "Mistakes happen. But humiliating an employee in front of a room full of professionals? That's not a mistake — that's a choice."
Rithvik blinked — just once — but his jaw clenched. His hands were balled into fists on the table. He didn't say a word, but his silence spoke louder than any apology ever could.
"We'll need to think again about this contract," Ms. Kanya added, rising from her chair with quiet grace. "Trust is the foundation of business. If internal communication is like this, what will happen when we rely on your team for long-term strategy?"
The clients stood one by one, murmuring polite apologies to Pim and Aarav, who scrambled to offer explanations — but it was too late. The damage was done.
Rithvik's cold glare shifted from the clients to Aarohi — a brief but brutal glance, full of seething frustration and unspoken words. His eyes narrowed, and with a hard breath, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the conference room.
The door slammed shut behind him with a sharp thud, sending a small jolt through the room.
"Rithvik—!" Pakorn called, quickly following him, with Thanwa trailing close behind. "Wait!"
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Meanwhile, in the Conference Room...
Aarohi stood still, as if she'd turned to stone. Her body felt too heavy, her legs weak beneath her. Her ears rang, the echo of Rithvik's sharp words still cutting through her.
Pim approached her first, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Aarohi… don't take his words to heart. He's just… under pressure. It wasn't your fault alone."
Aarav nodded. "We made the mistake of sending you to Nok. We should've guided you ourselves. I'm… I'm truly sorry."
Rhea rushed to Aarohi's side next, her brows furrowed, voice soft and fierce. "Hey, you did your best. That's what matters. Don't let him crush you."
But even as kind voices began to form a comforting circle around her, Aarohi's eyes began to blur. She blinked rapidly, not wanting to cry. Not here. Not now. But the sting behind her eyes wouldn't go away.
And just a few feet away… someone else was smiling.
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Ms. Thanchanok's Hidden Victory
From her seat, Ms. Thanchanok — Nok — watched it all unfold like a performance she had orchestrated. Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile, just faint enough to not draw attention.
So the Queen of Innocence made a mistake after all.
In her heart, a quiet triumph bloomed. She masked it well beneath a calm facade, but inside, she was gloating. For days, she had watched Aarohi gain Rithvik's trust — seen her walking confidently through the corridors, catching admiring glances from staff, even eating lunch beside the CEO. That was more than Nok had ever received, despite her years of loyalty and flawless work record.
He used to rely on me... until she came.
The jealousy that had simmered beneath Nok's polished exterior now felt justified. Watching Rithvik lash out at Aarohi in front of the clients? That was a reward in itself.
Let's see how far you get now, she thought, the inner venom laced with pride. Your fairy tale is cracking, dear. And I didn't even have to do anything — just watched you trip over your own feet.
She stood quietly as others tried to comfort Aarohi, pretending to sympathize, but her heart held none of it.
To Nok, this wasn't just a mistake — it was an opportunity.
And she had no intention of letting it slip by.
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