Hanley was seated at the head of the large boardroom table, surrounded by seasoned shareholders and board members, all of whom had long been part of the company's journey. Today was no ordinary meeting—it marked his official induction as chairman of the board.
Despite Hanley's achievements, there was a sense of skepticism in the room. He was relatively new to the corporate world, and many wondered if he was truly ready to take on such a pivotal role. The most vocal opponent to his rise was Samantha Sreejith, a strong advocate for her son, Sanjay, whom she firmly believed was the most qualified person to lead the company. Others, including Manoj Rao, the owner of the Mumbai brand, and Laila Sitar, head of a Chennai-based production company, lent their support to her cause.
Sanjay, with his four years of experience at the company, was seen as the more seasoned choice. His qualifications were clear to everyone in the room. And yet, despite the odds, Hanley's rise was undeniable. Matthew's unwavering trust in Hanley had tipped the scale in his favor, and when it came time to vote, Hanley emerged victorious.
As the results were announced, a round of applause echoed through the room. Everyone stood, offering their congratulations, but it was clear that some, particularly Samantha, were not pleased with the outcome.
"Congratulations," Samantha said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Some people just get lucky, don't they? No effort, yet they end up on top."
Hanley, recognizing her bitterness but remaining composed, smiled politely. "Don't worry, Ms.Samantha," he replied, his voice steady. "This is just a temporary position. Only until Dad is able to return. After that, he'll make the decision about who should be the permanent chairman."
Samantha's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing more, her words clearly aimed at undermining Hanley. He understood her frustration, and though he could empathize with her disappointment, he knew that in this moment, the power to decide was out of his hands.
"We'll see," Samantha said, her smile tight as she turned to leave. Sanjay, on the other hand, was visibly pleased. He crossed the room to Hanley, offering a congratulatory handshake, his pride in his own family's legacy unmistakable. But for Hanley, this was just the beginning.
Sanjay, however, was in high spirits, his enthusiasm palpable as he clapped Hanley on the back.
"Congrats, Han. From soldier to chairman—talk about a leap! But let me tell you, it's not as easy as saving people," Sanjay said with a playful grin, clearly enjoying himself.
"Let's see how it goes. Or you can just take over," Hanley replied, patting him on the shoulder casually.
"Sorry, man. I've got my own plans. I'm not sticking around here forever," Sanjay said, his smile faltering for a moment as his face tightened.
"Your mom's already causing trouble for me. Whatever you've got in mind, just make sure it doesn't land on my head," Hanley replied with a resigned sigh, clearly weary of the situation.
"Forget it. She says a lot of things. It won't affect our friendship," Sanjay said, reassuringly. Hanley, however, didn't respond, his gaze focused on the door as he walked out.
"One more thing—I almost forgot. We've launched a new department," Sanjay said, hurrying after him and stepping into the elevator with a little more urgency.
"A new department?" Hanley asked, raising an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued but not entirely invested.
"A World of Webtoons," Sanjay said proudly, his chest puffed out with excitement. "It's going to be big."
Hanley, though, wasn't particularly intrigued. "Why would I care about that?"
Sanjay noticed Hanley's lack of interest and leaned in, speaking faster. "Why don't you ask me who's joining us?"
"I'm really not interested. If you want to push your ideas, go ahead. But these little cartoon creations aren't really my thing," Hanley replied, his tone flat.
"Webtoons aren't just little cartoons, Han. They're huge. Some of the biggest web series out there are based on Webtoons. It's a whole movement!" Sanjay said, trying to convince him, his voice filled with excitement.
Hanley wasn't in the mood for the sales pitch. "Whatever. You handle it, okay?" he said, his expression indifferent.
"Fine, I will. But come on, let me introduce you to the team." The elevator doors opened, and Sanjay pointed toward Bella's cabin. He reached out, grabbing Hanley's hand and pulling him in that direction. Hanley hesitated for a moment, but followed, his curiosity mixed with a reluctant sense of duty.
Hanley's hand was firmly held by Sanjay, who was pulling him toward their cabin.Hanley felt Sanjay's hand grip his firmly as he was gently but decisively pulled toward their cabin.
Inside, Bella was absorbed in her work, creating an animated character on the computer. She was sharing her creation with Vicky, and in that moment, their bond had grown effortlessly, as if they had been friends for much longer. As Bella carefully added the final touches to the character, she delicately drew Vicky's signature tousled hair, making the design come to life.
However, as her gaze briefly shifted from the screen, Bella's eyes caught sight of Sanjay leading Hanley toward their cabin in the distance. The sight made her heart skip a beat. Instinctively, she turned her head, her smile fading softly, as if the world around her had shifted ever so slightly.
The lines began to move in and out through the character's tousled hair, and it was only when the pattern of his hair shifted in the image that Vicky noticed Bella's distraction. Before he could make any sense of it, Bella quickly sprang from her chair and dashed into her cabin to hide. Vicky, utterly confused, stared after her.
Bella pressed her finger to her lips, signaling for silence, whispering "shh" as she tried to remain unnoticed. Just then, Hanley, having been pulled along by Sanjay, freed himself from Sanjay's grip and said, "No. I'm really not interested. You can manage this on your own. Let me go."
Sanjay began to speak, but Hanley, without pausing to listen, frowned and turned sharply toward his office. He entered without another word, leaving Sanjay behind.
Sanjay walked in and, noticing Vicky, gestured toward Bella. Bella, still absorbed in her thoughts, had her eyes shut tight, praying fervently to every god she could think of. Her tense face revealed subtle creases, a clear sign of the anxiety that weighed on her. Sanjay quickly snapped his fingers near her eyes, breaking the silence with a soft sound.
Startled, Bella opened her eyes, instantly confirming that Hanley was nowhere in sight. She exhaled deeply, a wave of relief flooding her as her breath steadied. Sanjay, observing the shift in her demeanor, raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.
"Just some dust. I thought I'd clean it off," Bella quickly replied, tapping the edge of her desk and dusting her hands. She then adjusted her specks before standing up.
"Don't worry about things like that. Do you like the office, BS?" Sanjay asked, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against the desk.
"Of course... if I've survived this long, that's already an achievement," Bella said, attempting a smile, but her gaze continued to search, hoping hanley would stay out of sight.
"Bella, who are you looking for?" Sanjay asked, noticing her distracted eyes.
"No one…" Bella replied hastily, shaking her head. But then, without warning, she sneezed, "Ha…chii!"
"God bless you!" Vicky called out from his seat, his voice filled with warmth. Bella was about to thank him when another sneeze interrupted her, "Ha…chii!"
"Are you alright, Bella?" Sanjay asked, moving closer and gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes…" Bella quickly stepped back, avoiding his touch. Another sneeze followed, and she rubbed her nose. "I think it's just an allergy," she said with a shrug.
"Okay, take a rest. I'll bring you some medicine," Sanjay said kindly, guiding her back into her chair.
"Okay, take some rest," Sanjay said, gently guiding her back into the chair. "I'll bring the medicine."
With a swift motion, he rushed out, heading straight for Hanley's office. He opened Hanley's drawer and began searching through the medicine box, looking for something to treat Bella's allergy.
"What's going on?" Hanley asked, his eyes still glued to the phone as he absentmindedly played a game, but his curiosity got the better of him.
"BS is having some sort of allergy. I'm trying to find the right medicine," Sanjay replied, frustration growing as he couldn't find anything suitable.
Hanley calmly opened another drawer and pulled out a tablet box, tossing it toward Sanjay.
"Catch it," Hanley said, and with quick reflexes, Sanjay caught the box in his hands.
"Thanks," he said, rushing out of the office.
As Sanjay left, Hanley's curiosity stirred. He moved toward the window and drew the curtain open, his gaze fixing on Sanjay, who was now giving medicine and water to a woman sitting in the chair. She was facing away from him, and he couldn't see her face, but there was something about the scene that drew him in. The woman, though unseen, felt familiar, like someone he should know.
A feeling of intrigue crept up on him, and before he could think much more, he stood up and moved toward the door.
"Are you alright, BS?"
Bella, who had been holding her nose and sneezing, heard Hanley's voice from behind her. Her eyes snapped open in surprise, and the air seemed to leave her lungs for a moment. Her heart pounded in a frantic rhythm, filled with sudden fear.
Hanley stood still, waiting for a response. He raised an eyebrow and, looking at Sanjay, asked what was going on. Sanjay shrugged, giving a nonchalant gesture, clearly unaware of the situation, before turning to face Bella.
"BS, this is the person I thought I'd introduce you to. Our new chairman... Mr. ..." Sanjay began, but before he could finish, Bella sprang to her feet with a sneeze.
"I need to leave, Sir. I really don't feel well... Can I go?" Bella's words caught Sanjay off guard.
But Bella had no intention of looking at Hanley. She quickly averted her eyes, her focus solely on finding her bag near the desk. Vicky, noticing her movement, swiftly handed the bag to her. Without missing a beat, Bella grabbed it in one smooth motion, as if it had been waiting for her.
Seeing Bella's sudden behavior, the three of them stood in stunned silence. Hanley, in particular, was taken aback. He had never experienced anything like this before. In fact, he couldn't help but chuckle quietly to himself without realizing it.
It was then that Sanjay noticed Bella had left her ID tag on the desk. He quietly picked it up and slipped it into his pocket before following Hanley back into the office, as if nothing had happened.