The Two of us

Kavya stared at the two people seated before her-her so-called consultant and her incompetent marketing manager.

"Do I have to do everything myself?" she snapped, eyes locking with Glory. "As my consultant, isn't it your job to foresee possible setbacks?"

Then her glare shifted. "And you, Mr. Paul-your incompetence is sickening. I've had it with you."

Paul shifted uncomfortably. "Madam Kavya, it's just a minor setback. These things take time-"

"Minor?" Her voice rose sharply. "How dare you? I don't pay you the big bucks for setbacks. You know what? Get out of my sight."

Paul stood quickly, ready to flee, but then-

"And clear your desk while you're at it."

He froze. Then dropped to his knees.

"Please, Madam Kavya. I'll do better-I'll work twice as hard. Please, ma. I'm good at this."

Kavya took a slow, cold step toward him, eyes like steel.

"I don't want good, Paul. I want the best. If I were just good, would I have built all this?" She gestured around the lavish office. "Would Kavya's Glow be the top beauty brand in Los Angeles if I settled for average? Now get your ass off my floor and get the hell out of my building!"

Paul scrambled out in silence.

She turned to Glory. "As for you, missy-I assume you already have a solution to this new problem?"

"I... you... actually... yes, ma. I do," Glory stammered.

"Good. I hope so. Because if not, you'll be out of a job very soon. Get out."

When the room finally fell silent, Kavya walked to the large mirror across the office. Her reflection stared back-a flawless, poised, powerful 26-year-old woman. Beautiful. Elegant. Fiercely driven.

CEO of Kavya's Glow. The face of the brand. A woman who built an empire.

"Oh, Kavya, stay calm," she whispered to herself, breathing in deeply. "Breathe."

She exhaled slowly, steadied, and returned to her desk.

Just then, her office door flew open.

"What's up, girl?"

Patricia.

Kavya sighed. "I should've known knocking would be too much to expect."

"Will you get over yourself?" Patricia grinned, plopping down in the chair. "You missed me. Admit it."

Kavya rolled her eyes. "Why are you so hyper?"

"Oh, I don't know," Patricia said casually, glancing around. "Maybe because I just saw a grown man crying while being escorted out. Any idea what that was about?"

Kavya didn't flinch. "Crazy things happen these days."

Patricia raised a brow. "Cut the act, Kavya. You made that man cry."

Still flipping through documents, Kavya replied calmly, "He was incompetent. I can't afford to have weak links in my team."

Patricia snatched the file from her hands. "Not everyone has to be a workaholic like you, or a perfectionist for that matter. Give your staff a break-and take one yourself."

"A break?" Kavya made air quotes. "Breaks don't buy stock options or Chanel bags."

They both chuckled.

"Well," Patricia said with a dramatic sigh, "a break does earn you some steamy sex with a hottie."

Kavya raised