Under New Management

Chapter 3: Collision Course

The rest of the week passed in a blur of meetings, memos, and late nights at the office. Jason had wasted no time implementing his plans, and the changes were already being felt across every department. Mia could feel the tension mounting, not just within herself, but among her colleagues as well. The usual buzz of creativity and collaboration had been replaced by a nervous energy that hung in the air like a thick fog.

Mia had tried to keep her head down, focusing on her projects and avoiding further confrontations with Jason. But it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape his presence. He was everywhere—popping into meetings unannounced, reviewing proposals with a meticulous eye, and sending out directives that demanded immediate attention. It was exhausting, and Mia found herself growing more and more frustrated with each passing day.

On Friday morning, Mia arrived at the office early, determined to get a head start on the day. She had a major project deadline looming, and she knew that if she could just focus, she could get it done before the weekend. She was already seated at her desk, deep into her work, when her phone buzzed with a new email notification.

It was from Jason.

**Subject:** Project Planning Session – Today, 10:00 AM

**Mia,**

I've reviewed your latest proposal for the new product launch. There are several aspects I'd like to discuss in more detail. Please join me in the conference room at 10:00 AM for a project planning session. Bring your team.

Regards, 
Jason Whitmore

Mia stared at the screen, her heart sinking. Of course, he had feedback. She should have expected it—nothing she did seemed to meet his standards. She glanced at the clock; it was just after 8:00 AM. That gave her less than two hours to prepare.

Resigned, she forwarded the email to her team and set about gathering her notes. As much as she wanted to be angry, she knew she had to put her emotions aside and focus on the task at hand. If Jason wanted to pick apart her work, she'd be ready to defend it.

By the time 10:00 AM rolled around, Mia and her team were seated in the conference room, their notes spread out in front of them. The atmosphere was tense; everyone knew that this meeting had the potential to set the tone for the entire project, and they were all on edge.

Jason walked in right on time, carrying his usual air of confidence. He nodded briefly to the team before taking a seat at the head of the table. Without preamble, he pulled out a copy of Mia's proposal and began flipping through it.

"Let's get straight to the point," Jason said, his eyes scanning the document. "Overall, this is a solid foundation. However, there are several areas where I believe we can improve efficiency and impact. For example, the marketing timeline you've outlined is ambitious, but it doesn't account for potential delays in production. I'd like to see a revised plan that includes contingencies."

Mia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, he wanted more contingencies. She knew her timeline was tight, but she also knew it was achievable if everyone pulled together. "We've accounted for the usual production delays in our risk assessment," Mia replied, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. "I'm confident that with the current plan, we can meet the launch date."

Jason didn't look up from the document. "Confidence is good, but overconfidence can lead to mistakes. We need to be realistic about the challenges we might face."

Mia bit back a retort, reminding herself that this wasn't the time or place for a confrontation. "I understand your concern," she said instead, her voice carefully measured. "We'll revise the timeline to include additional contingencies, but I believe we should still aim for the original launch date. Pushing it back could affect our market advantage."

Jason finally looked up, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. "I appreciate your commitment to the timeline, Mia, but we can't let ambition cloud our judgement. I've seen too many projects fail because the team underestimated the risks involved."

Mia met his gaze, refusing to back down. "And I've seen too many projects lose their competitive edge because they played it too safe. We have a strong team, and I believe we can meet the challenge."

The room was silent, the tension between them palpable. Mia could feel the eyes of her team on her, waiting to see how this clash would play out. Jason's expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps respect?—in his eyes.

"Very well," Jason said at last, his tone still cool but with a hint of concession. "We'll keep the original timeline for now, but I want regular updates on your progress. If we see any indication that we're falling behind, we'll need to adjust the plan immediately."

Mia nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. It wasn't a victory, but it wasn't a defeat either. She'd managed to hold her ground, even if only partially. "Understood. We'll keep you updated."

Jason turned his attention to the rest of the proposal, offering more of his feedback—some of it constructive, some of it nitpicky. Mia took notes, doing her best to stay calm even as her irritation grew. By the time the meeting finally ended, she felt drained, like she'd just run a marathon.

As the team filed out of the conference room, Emily caught Mia's eye, offering her a sympathetic smile. "You handled that well," she whispered as they walked back to their desks.

"Did I?" Mia muttered, rubbing her temples. "I feel like I just got run over by a freight train."

Emily chuckled. "He's tough, but you stood your ground. That's more than most people would do."

Mia managed a small smile. "Thanks, Em. I just wish I didn't have to fight so hard to be heard."

They reached their desks, and Mia sat down, feeling the weight of the morning's meeting settling on her shoulders. She knew this project was crucial, not just for the company, but for her own career. If she could pull it off, it would be a major win—something that even Jason would have to acknowledge.

But as she glanced over at his office, where he was already deep in another meeting, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Jason Whitmore was a force to be reckoned with, and if she wasn't careful, she might find herself caught in his wake.

Mia sighed and turned back to her work, determination hardening her resolve. She wasn't about to let anyone, not even the CEO, derail her plans. If Jason wanted a challenge, he'd get one. But she wasn't going to let him win without a fight.