Episode 2
The storm hadn't ended with the crash. For Riya Agrawal, it had only just begun.
After being dismissed harshly by her manager, she sat alone at her desk — her fingers trembling slightly, though she tried her best to keep them steady as they hovered over the keyboard. Around her, whispers floated like smoke.
"That's the girl who damaged the manager's car, right?"
"She's just here because she knows someone in HR."
"Pretty face, empty head."
Riya had learned to ignore these murmurs, but they still stung. It wasn't the first time. Ever since she joined Suryavanshi Enterprises, her department treated her like an outsider. She was efficient, yes. Organized, yes. But appreciated? Not at all.
Her manager — Mr. Kapoor — seemed to have made it his life's mission to turn every small mistake into a full-blown disaster. And today was no exception.
"Riya!" he shouted from his cabin. "Get in here — now!"
She entered, clutching her notebook like a shield.
"Is this how you take care of important deliveries? Do you have any idea how much reputation matters in this business? Or is that beyond your understanding?"
Riya stood silent, biting the inside of her cheek. The crash hadn't even been her fault.
"Sir, I—"
"Don't speak unless asked!" he snapped.
She swallowed hard, eyes burning. No one spoke up for her. Not the HR girl who once smiled at her, not the colleague she helped last week. No one.
She stepped out of the cabin, back into the battlefield of silent judgment. Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
> "Next time you crash into someone's car, at least pretend to care. – RS"
Riya stared at the message, jaw clenched.
RS. Ryansh Suryavanshi.
So that's who he was. The Ryansh. The CEO himself. She had heard about him, of course — everyone had. Ruthless, unreadable, and never seen smiling. His presence in the office was rare, but when he did arrive, the air felt heavier. People walked straighter, spoke less.
She had unknowingly insulted him. No wonder he'd looked at her like she was nothing.
Later that afternoon, the HR department buzzed with sudden activity. An unexpected mail had been sent:
> Subject: Emergency All-Team Meeting – 3:00 PM – Conference Hall A
Attendance mandatory for all departments.
Agenda: Department Restructure and Performance Evaluation.
People whispered and speculated. Someone joked nervously, "Maybe Ryansh is finally cleaning house."
Riya's heart pounded. She wasn't ready for more drama.
At 3:00 sharp, the meeting room was packed. The heavy conference door opened, and in walked Ryansh Suryavanshi — dressed in a tailored charcoal-black suit, with an air of icy indifference. His sharp jawline, cold eyes, and no-nonsense expression silenced the entire room without a word.
He stood at the head of the table, glancing at a tablet in his hand, and finally said in a crisp voice:
> "I've reviewed the last six months of this department. What I've seen is disappointing. There will be major changes, effective immediately."
He continued, speaking like his words were bullets — direct, brutal, and unapologetic. Several employees looked visibly shaken. Riya, though sitting at the far end, felt his gaze on her once — brief, unreadable.
She tried not to flinch.
Then, Ryansh turned to Mr. Kapoor and said flatly:
> "You've been responsible for project handling and team mentoring. I've noticed certain staff members being constantly under-evaluated or over-criticized. Today, that ends."
Everyone held their breath. Mr. Kapoor opened his mouth, but Ryansh raised a hand.
> "We will now reveal department audit results. Including hidden performance evaluations… and the names of employees who have been misjudged."
Riya's pulse skipped.
Wait… Hidden evaluations?
Just as the screen behind him lit up — names beginning to appear, red vs green scores — the screen froze. The technical team rushed forward.
Ryansh folded his arms, irritation flashing in his eyes. "We'll wait," he said, his voice dangerously calm.
And in that moment, Riya sat frozen in her chair, unaware that her name… was about to flip her entire reality.
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💌 Author's Note
Uh-oh. Did you feel that tension? 😳 Things are heating up fast in Entangled Fates, and trust me — the next part will change everything. What do you think will happen when the performance audit is revealed? And what will Ryansh do when he realizes who Riya really is?
Thank you so much for supporting this journey! Your reads, votes, and comments keep me going — and don't forget to tell me how you felt about this twist! 💥
Love,
Aarya Patil