The next morning, Vivian hurried out of her home before her grandmother could wake up. She had no energy left after yesterday's grueling events. Her head throbbed from the effects of the alcohol she had consumed the night before, and her heart was heavy with memories she had long tried to bury.
As her driver pulled out of the driveway, she let her thoughts drift back to the evening before. She had never imagined that Alvin, her ex, was the heir to the Thakkar Group.
In the three years they had been together, he had kept that part of his life hidden from her, successfully maintaining the facade of an ordinary man. He was charming, attentive, and seemed content with the simple life they had built together. But it was all a lie.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
Not that she was any better. She had kept her background hidden too. They had both been playing roles, both too afraid to reveal their true selves. Perhaps that was why their relationship had collapsed so spectacularly.
After their breakup, Vivian had made a vow to herself: she would never see her ex's undeniably charming face again. She could still hear her own voice, sharp with anger, as she'd spat out those final words before leaving his side forever,
"Alvin, if possible, do not show your face in front of me ever again. And if by any chance, we unfortunately collide, let's act as strangers."
Her chest tightened at the memory. The pain from last night's hangover mixed with the emotional turmoil of seeing Alvin again, and it felt like salt being rubbed into a wound that she had worked so hard to heal.
A mile away from her friend's home, Vivian picked up her phone and called Sanvi. She didn't need to say a word as Sanvi was already responding, knowing the exact purpose of that call.
"Sohan is preparing some hangover soup. I'll bring it over for you!" Sanvi's voice was filled with the a warm concern.
Vivian smiled, grateful for her friend's care. "Yes, thank you. You're a lifesaver," she said, before ending the call.
By the time they started out of the parking lot to the company, the smell of Sohan's hangover soup greeted her like an old friend. Sanvi handed her the thermos as soon as she got into the car, along with a spoon, warning her that it was hot. Yet ignoring her caution, Vivian greedily took a spoonful, only to burn her tongue early in the morning.
"I warned you!" Sanvi scolded, with an amusement in her tone. But Vivian couldn't stop herself from gulping down more of the soothing soup, even if it was scalding.
"Looks like you skipped breakfast again," Sanvi noted, the familiarity of this routine making her smile. Vivian often skipped meals, especially on mornings after those dreadful blind dates, unwilling to answer her grandmother's questions. She would rather not see her for a few days until everything cools down, only for the routine to follow again.
"I don't have the strength for that same conversation again," Vivian muttered as she slurped down the last of the soup. She began closing the thermos but paused when Sanvi asked about the blind date. The cap remained in her hand, half-closed, as her mind drifted back to the past holding the most painful memories of her life.
That ominous day from seven years ago had never left her memories. It had only been pushed deep down below the good memories of her life, alongside other sad ones.
The day she left New York, shattered by betrayal, had marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life—one filled with loneliness and a determination to never be hurt again. She had buried herself in work, building a life that was entirely her own. But the wound had never truly healed.
Every attempt to erase it had been in vain, and now, with Alvin back in her life—even in this distant, unexpected way—the wound felt as fresh as ever.
"Vivian?" Sanvi's voice brought her back to the present, snapping her out of the painful reverie.
Vivian shook her head, not wanting to linger in the past. "I'd rather not talk about it," she said softly, and that was enough for Sanvi to drop the topic. Her friend knew when to push and when to let things be. It was one of the reasons Vivian valued her so much.
When they finally reached the company, chaos greeted them. An old man was shouting at the receptionist, demanding to see the CEO of SITARA Ltd. The scene was so out of place in the usually serene lobby that it took Vivian a moment to process what was happening.
"What's going on here?" she demanded as she approached the reception desk, her voice cutting through the commotion like a knife.
The old man turned at the sound of her voice, recognising her almost immediately.
It was Mr. Shah, her aunt's only brother and a man with a history of dubious behavior in the company. Vivian composed herself quickly, addressing the terrified receptionist with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," she said, her tone soothing as she gestured for the receptionist to step aside. "I'll handle this."
The receptionist, visibly relieved, nodded and quickly made her exit, replacing herself by other one. Vivian then turned her attention to the scoundrel in front of her, her expression hardening.
"Mr. Shah, what are you doing here?" Vivian's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it that didn't go unnoticed.
"I was fired! Why?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the lobby as he refused to lower his voice even in the face of her calm yet terrifying demeanor.
Vivian took a breath before responding, choosing her words carefully. "You got what you deserved, Mr. Shah," she said, her tone matter-of-fact, leaving no room for argument.
"As the company secretary, you failed in your duties, and your embezzlement of company funds is not something we can overlook now, can we?"
Mr. Shah's face flushed with anger, his eyes narrowing as he pulled out his termination letter. In a fit of rage, he tore it into pieces and threw them at Vivian, who remained unfazed by the childish act.
"Even if you tear up your termination letter, you're still fired in the records."
"Nonsense!" he yelled, making Vivian's ears ring. She winced, shutting them for a moment to block out the unwanted noise.
"Gosh, why are you so loud?" she said, her tone sharp as she lowered her hands. "Guards, please escort Mr. Shah out," she ordered, her voice cold as steel.
The security guards, who had been watching the scene unfold, quickly stepped forward. They grabbed Mr. Shah by the arms, then bowed a little to Vivian, as they began to lead him toward the exit.
"This isn't over, Vivian Kapoor!" Mr. Shah shouted, his voice laced with venom as he struggled against the guards. "You'll regret this!"
But Vivian didn't flinch. She simply watched as the guards dragged him away, her expression remaining calm and composed until he was out of sight. Only then did she allow herself to release the breath she had been holding.
Sanvi, who had been standing quietly beside her during the entire exchange, finally spoke up. "Are you okay?"
Vivian nodded, though the encounter had left her feeling somewhat tired. "I'm fine, Let's get to work."