Not A Simple Engineer Boy!

Twenty Eight: Lorentz Force (Part 4)

Satya stared at her ace executive, the one who had been an achiever if nothing. She leaned back, her weight supported by the desk behind her. She tried to read her face, trying to understand if the accusations were true.

Why did she do it?

It was difficult to believe.

"Satya?" Xavier's deep voice cut through her thoughts.

He is pissed.

The issue wasn't something that she would let go easily, let alone him. They had everything in place and if it was true, why wasn't the QA department aware of these kinds of nuisances? Was it a regular event that people randomly hacked through other's information?

It was a major security concern.

Shaking her head in dejection, she stared at her employee, "Krithika, are you guilty of whatever Mr. Joseph just now accused you of?"

Krithika was standing still, her head dropped down in shame. Was she too embarrassed to face them?

"Ma'am, I..."

Satya could sense her nervousness, "Go on.", she encouraged her.

"I didn't use her computer for extracting any information.", she paused for a moment, "I... I was... It was just a harmless pr--"

"Enough of your explanation.", Xavier pushed back his chair as he stood, "There will be a disciplinary action taken against you."

He turned towards Satya, "We need to look into this.", he looked calm but Satya sensed the underlying anger, "This is bad."

He is so fucking pissed.

Satya sighed, "Krithika, if you have anything to tell us, please say now."

There was no reply.

"I am disappointed in you, Krithika.", Satya clicked her tongue and waved her hand to dismiss, "Out."

After Krithika left, she saw Xavier pacing across his cabin. She felt uneasy watching him so tense, "Xav, she is young."

Stopping in his tracks he glared at her, "Irresponsible, that's the word."

He was right, young or old, no one should be as irresponsible as that girl. They worked with international clients who would sue them for millions of dollars if the design secrets went out.

She shuddered with the thought, "What do you want to do? Fire her?" she asked.

"We don't do that shit in the Xhasis, we aren't like others.", he frowned, "She should learn. If I wanted to, I could have fired her the day when she argued with me."

"What argument?"

"Doesn't matter.", he shrugged, "She seems to be intelligent and hard-working."

Satya nodded, still hung up on his last statement.

Argument?

"We can suspend her for a week and later train her.", he continued, "Probably, we should strictly re-train all our junior employees, it will help them understand the seriousness of the work we do here."

"Yes.", she agreed, "I'll talk to the QA Head, we need to review our security systems and all the software."

Xavier nodded in agreement.

She walked towards the exit of his cabin, "I'll email her the suspension order in an hour.", she opened the door and turned to see him, "Don't worry, I'll fix it."

"Ask her to meet me later this afternoon for a one-on-one discussion."

"It's today!?"

"No, it was last month but I had missed it.", he continued, "After the discussion, I'll hand her the written suspension order."

"That's cruel." Satya's voice held a distinct distaste. It was despicable, to show hope and punish.

"That's how I work and that's how I teach.", calmly replying he moved to his seat and sat down, "And for our employees, you are their idol, let's keep it that way. You don't need to tarnish your image."

The harsh edge in his voice disturbed her. She stared at him for some time before bidding goodbye as she left him alone in his cabin.

Is he jealous of me?

--

"Krithika, I am so sorry!", Priya cried, "I had no idea that sir...sir would be present here...", she fell into a fit of tears, "...he would be here that day."

Standing in a corner of the restroom, Krithika passed a few tissues to Priya who kept lamenting. She observed how flustered her friend looked, enveloped in red and shaking like a whimpering baby.

It already had dawned on her that whatever she did was wrong- to help or not. She could have declined Priya's request and there would have been no harm. But she had committed a blunder- almost a crime considering the breach in security- and she should pay for it.

Her heart felt a stab of pain remembering how Satya's face held disgust for her. Her idol was disappointed in her. She deserved it.

One month she had steered clear of Xavier's presence from her life and her world had held some semblance of peace. As soon as she collided with him, there was nothing but an appalling explosion. Ill-fated as fuck.

Perhaps, hatred was a mutual emotion between them.

She sighed, "Priya, I don't think we can time-travel to the past and do something about it.", she pressed her hands reassuringly, "Please stop crying, you are hurting yourself. I took the blame, let's wait and see what they are going to do with me."

"That's wrong!", Priya screamed causing two other women there to look at them, "It was a fucking mistake! I was the one who had asked you to help."

"And I had agreed.", she continued, "I should have thought about the complications, so I have to share the blame."

"Yes, share not completely own it yourself. Krithika...", poor Priya wasn't even able to breathe.

"I know how important this job is for us.", she wiped her tears, "Just pray to your Lord Krishna that they don't throw me out of here for permanent.", she gave her a sad chuckle.

"Oh, Lord Krishna!"

"Come on, don't cry so much.", she chided, "Akash's heart will break to see you like this."

Priya's cheek tinted even deeper- if that was possible- and she shushed her. Krithika burst out laughing.

"Now, wash your face, and then we can go back to our respective work spaces.", she emphasized, "I am sure I have an email ready for me."

She had already cried too much after her argument with Xavier and there was nothing left in her anymore. Also, this time she was guilty, perhaps punishment was what she deserved.

--

A/N

The video of the song attached is just too funny, search on YouTube to watch the best visualization to show how unlucky one could be.

"Ashubha Mangalakaari" it is, haha.

Much relatable content XD

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