Vivian worked tirelessly, determined to clear all her pending tasks before the weekend, knowing that her wedding loomed just days away. The pressure was immense, but she had successfully appointed Rohan as the new Company Secretary—a small victory amidst the chaos. The investigation into the company's financial losses was almost at its end, though the exact amount of embezzlement remained a mystery. To make matters worse, her cousin Kartik and her aunt had been unusually quiet on the matter Vivian was working on.
It had become clear that the embezzlement was not solely the doing of Pravin, her elder cousin. Her uncle and aunt were involved too, though Vivian had yet to find any concrete evidence linking them directly to the scheme. Despite her best efforts, it was like chasing shadows in the darkness.
A knock on her office door broke her concentration.
"Come in," Vivian called, shaking off her thoughts and trying to refocus on her work.
Sanvi, her trusted secretary, stepped inside. "Ma'am, the executive director wishes to meet you."
"My brother?" Vivian asked, raising an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden appearance. Kartik was not known for showing up unannounced, especially not in the company.
"Yes, ma'am," Sanvi confirmed, her tone as neutral as ever.
Vivian sighed. "I see. Let him in."
Kartik entered with a bright smile plastered on his face, a striking contrast to the tension Vivian felt in her gut. Without waiting for an invitation, he plopped down onto the couch and immediately began munching on the biscuits left there for visitors.
Vivian remained seated at her desk, eyeing him with a mix of irritation and curiosity. "What do you want?" she asked, deciding not to beat around the bush.
Kartik, clearly unfazed, crossed his legs and leaned back, chewing slowly. "I just got back from Australia this morning and heard some interesting news."
"Really?" Vivian raised one of her eyebrows, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"You're getting married," Kartik said casually, as if this was the most important revelation he had received.
Vivian's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's it? You didn't even check on Grandmother?" she shot back, her voice laced with disappointment. Her grandmother's recent heart attack weighed heavily on her, but clearly, it hadn't even crossed Kartik's mind.
Kartik blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Why would I?" he asked, his expression showing no hint of concern or perhaps he was completely unaware of their grandmother's heart attack.
Vivian rolled her eyes in disgust. "I expected this much. Yet it shocks me every time. Your parents are more interested in spreading news about my marriage than worrying about Grandma's health."
The conversation was already heading nowhere, and Vivian could feel her patience waning. She shifted her gaze back to her files, picking up her pen to continue her work. Kartik sat in awkward silence, clearly unprepared for the confrontation. He opened his mouth, but no words came. Vivian had clearly struck a nerve, and now he seemed ashamed, perhaps even embarrassed.
"I think you should leave now," Vivian said coldly. "Talking to you is no longer fun. You keep falling deeper and deeper into your own mess, and frankly, it's now boring."
Kartik jerked to his feet, his face flushed with anger. "Don't be so smug about your pathetic marriage, Vivian. You won't be enjoying your wealth and happiness for long," he snapped, heading towards the door.
But before he could leave, Vivian's voice cut through the room like a blade. "Wealth and happiness don't belong in the same sentence," she said, her tone sharp. "Wealth does not necessarily bring happiness. We, as a society, have very wrong insights and beliefs. To me, it has only brought despair and pain."
Kartik stopped in his tracks, still facing the door. "Oh really?" he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then why don't you give this company to someone who actually desires it?"
"Who said I don't desire this company?" Vivian shot back, her voice calm but firm.
"How hypocritical of you!" he snapped.
Vivian let out a soft laugh, acknowledging the truth in his words. "I know, I am a hypocrite," she replied, her voice filled with amusement, though a hint of sadness lingered beneath it.
"Ha!" Kartik finally turned around, his face twisted in anger. "You're just a pretentious bitch. You act like you don't care, but deep down, you're as greedy as I am."
Vivian scoffed. "People tend to think everyone's like them. I'm not like you. Yes, I hate what money does to people, but this company is my responsibility. I'm not walking away from that."
"I'm your elder brother!" Kartik's voice grew louder with every word. "I have more right to this than you do."
Vivian's eyes flashed with anger. "Says who? This isn't the sixteenth century, Kartik. The company belongs to Dad. He worked hard to build it while your father was off wasting time, just like you." She slammed her pen down on the desk as her temper flared in the air.
"And if by any chance, a disaster befalls our family and you end up inheriting the company, I'm sure you'll sell it off like a fool," she sneered.
Kartik laughed bitterly. "Do not underestimate me," he warned. "You haven't seen me in action yet!"
She hadn't forgotten the scam Kartik had run through the company seven years ago while she had been away in New York. It had taken years to clean up the mess, but even now, the stain of his betrayal lingered in the company's history, forever tied to the legacy of SITARA Fashion. The memory was like salt in an old wound, and her anger surged again, directed at the man standing in front of her.
"Whatever. Now get out, and don't show me your face until the wedding," she ordered.
Kartik left without another word, his pride clearly wounded. He couldn't stand being lectured by his younger sister, especially after knowing that she was more capable than he ever could be. Yet, deep down, he refused to accept it.
As the door clicked shut, Vivian felt a wave of disgust wash over her. Not just at Kartik, but at the entire situation—the family drama, the greed, the endless responsibilities. Everything felt tainted.
Sanvi entered the room quietly, going over the day's schedule. Vivian could sense the distance between them. The silence that had stretched on for a week now felt heavier than ever. Once Sanvi finished detailing the tasks for the day, Vivian finally spoke.
"I'm getting married this weekend," she said, pushing her papers aside and waiting for a reaction.
Sanvi barely looked up from her tablet. "Oh," she said simply, before excusing herself to attend to other work.
Vivian sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. She wasn't sure how to mend the growing rift between them, but one thing was certain; her life was far from the happily-ever-after she had once envisioned.