Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Niharika's POV
I immediately contacted Mr. Bose informing him what Mr. Walia had said. We focussed over the people knowing about this project. Only me, Mr. Bose, Arpit and Sapna knew about it. I couldn't imagine who could betray me. Mind pointed out at Arpit but instincts did not. Mr. Bose has never done anything like that despite having several opportunities in the past. He is the one whom I could trust. Sapna is kind of mysterious but what would a house maid do, I thought brushing off all these thoughts.
While discussing the things Vikram could do, we realized possibilities are endless. My annual fashion show, international deal and shares are under a serious threat apart from the research project, I realized.
During the discussion, one of my employees came up with a letter. Upon examination, we realized it was a court notice. A woman named Niyati Verma had complained against our facial cream in the consumer forum. According to her, many customers in her beauty spa got different allergic reactions from the product. She assumes that the product contains harmful chemicals. She has been in the spa business for 5 years and it is for the first time her reputation is at stake. I was shell-shocked because I had myself been using the same product for years and it was simply impossible.
"Mr. Bose, I can see something amiss here. If this goes to the media, we will be facing loss. Our shares might decline. Our international deal may come under threat. Please call the immediate meeting with my attorney, the PR head and my security head", I said this in a baffled tone.
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The meeting was summoned individually with all the three.
"Mr. Raghav, I want your team to inquire everything about this lady and her spa. Collect information about the customers facing this issue. Plus, keep this operation low-key. Also, put Arpit and Sapna under surveillance and I want to know who has leaked this information", I asked my security head.
"Varnika, things must not leak in the media at any cost. Pay as much as is required but snap this news from every blog, newspaper and news channel. It's simply not true and I will not put my company's reputation at stake for this", I concluded with my PR head.
After Raghav and Varnika left. I had to talk to my lawyer, Mr. Diwakar Singh. I asked, "Mr. Singh, how could I prove my innocence without spoiling my company's reputation."
"How are you sure that the product is not problematic? We can compromise and pay that spa owner and finish up the things because if it is found that your product is the reason. I am afraid you will have to take it down from the market", said Mr. Singh in a very practical tone.
"Mr. Singh, first of all, I am paying you to help me out of this thing. You aren't paid by Vikram or Niyati, I assume. So you are here to make sure that my product remains in the market. Secondly, being a user of this product for a long time, I am sure it is safe. Plus, the charges of harmful chemicals are really false because none of my products contain anything like that and I make it sure personally", I said frustrated.
"Madam, you are taking me wrong. By the way, why are you blaming Vikram Walia, just a normal question."
"He has threatened me", I confided in.
"Alright. Don't worry. We will show the lab test reports for our product. We should get the tests done immediately from the government lab. Also, we will find who is behind all this controversy. You need not worry". My advocate assured me.