The morning after the disastrous party, I arrived at the office early, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters. My mind was still reeling from the previous night, but I had to push through and focus on my work. As I settled into my desk, I noticed a tense atmosphere among the employees. Whispers and sidelong glances suggested that last night's events had spread through the office like wildfire.
I sighed, knowing that damage control would be necessary. Just then, Rohan walked in, his expression serious.
"We need to talk, Sona," he said quietly, closing the door behind him.
"About Aryan?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes. He's taken a leave of absence," Rohan replied. "He's devastated. But that's not all."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart sinking.
Rohan hesitated before continuing, "There's a rumor going around that Aryan is planning to file a complaint against you. He claims you humiliated him publicly and abused your power as his superior."
I stared at Rohan in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! I only reacted that way because he forced the situation. He was the one who made a scene."
"I know, but we have to handle this carefully. The board has called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation," Rohan explained.
I nodded, trying to maintain my composure. "When is the meeting?"
"In an hour. You should prepare yourself," Rohan said, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder before leaving.
As the hour ticked by, I reviewed the events of the previous night in my mind, trying to anticipate the board's questions. When it was time, I made my way to the conference room, where the board members were already seated, their expressions stern.
"Miss Meyhotra, please take a seat," Mr. Sharma, the chairman, said as I entered.
I sat down, trying to project confidence. "Thank you."
"We've received a complaint from Mr. Aryan Mathur regarding the events at last night's party," Mr. Sharma began. "He alleges that you publicly humiliated him and abused your authority."
"With all due respect, Mr. Sharma, Aryan was the one who interrupted the event and created a scene. I tried to manage the situation as best as I could," I replied calmly.
"Can you explain your side of the story?" Mrs. Patel, another board member, asked.
I recounted the events of the previous night, emphasizing Aryan's impulsive behavior and my attempts to maintain professionalism. As I spoke, I could see some of the board members nodding in understanding.
"We will need to conduct a thorough investigation," Mr. Sharma concluded. "In the meantime, we ask that you maintain a low profile and avoid any further contact with Mr. Mathur."
"Of course," I agreed, feeling a sense of relief that the board seemed to be taking a fair approach.
As I left the meeting, Rohan was waiting for me. "How did it go?" he asked.
"They're going to investigate. For now, I need to lay low," I replied.
"Good. It's the best we could hope for," Rohan said, giving me a supportive smile.
Over the next few days, I focused on my work, trying to stay out of the spotlight. However, the tension in the office was palpable. I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me, judging and speculating.
One afternoon, as I was reviewing some reports, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the café across the street at 6 pm. We need to talk. – A."
I frowned, unsure of what to make of it. Aryan? What could he possibly want now? Despite my reservations, I knew I had to find out.