Under New Management

Chapter 7: The First Crack

By midweek, Mia's calendar was a minefield of back-to-back meetings, deadlines, and urgent emails. The revised project plan had been implemented, but the ripple effects of the production delay were still being felt throughout the company. Morale was low, and the pressure to deliver was higher than ever. Mia was running on little more than caffeine and sheer determination, but she kept pushing forward, unwilling to let anything—or anyone—see her falter.

Late Wednesday afternoon, as Mia returned to her desk after yet another exhausting meeting, she noticed an email from Jason waiting in her inbox.

**Subject:** Meeting Request – 5:00 PM Today

**Mia,**

I need to discuss some adjustments to the marketing strategy based on the latest production updates. Meet me in the boardroom at 5:00 PM.

Regards, 
Jason Whitmore

Mia frowned at the screen. Another meeting. She glanced at the clock—just past 4:30 PM. She'd been hoping to leave at a reasonable hour today, but it seemed that was now off the table. With a resigned sigh, she gathered her notes and made her way to the boardroom, mentally bracing herself for whatever new challenges lay ahead.

When she arrived, Jason was already there, his expression serious as he reviewed a stack of documents spread out before him. He glanced up as she entered, giving her a brief nod.

"Thanks for coming," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat. "I know it's late, but this couldn't wait."

Mia nodded, setting her things down and taking a seat across from him. "What's going on?"

Jason handed her a document, his gaze steady. "I've just received the latest production update. The delays are worse than we initially thought. We're now looking at a three-week delay, minimum."

Mia felt her stomach drop. "Three weeks? How is that possible? I thought we'd accounted for everything."

Jason sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So did I. But there's been another issue with one of our key suppliers. They've had a breakdown in their supply chain, and now we're at the mercy of their timeline."

Mia scanned the document, her mind racing. A three-week delay was a nightmare scenario. It meant they'd miss the planned launch date, lose their marketing momentum, and potentially fall behind their competitors. Everything they'd worked for could unravel in an instant.

"What are our options?" she asked, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice.

"We need to pivot," Jason replied, his tone brisk. "Rework the marketing strategy to keep our audience engaged while we sort out the production issues. We can't go silent, but we need to buy ourselves some time."

Mia nodded, already thinking through the possibilities. "We could extend the pre-launch campaign," she suggested. "Increase customer engagement with behind-the-scenes content, product teasers, maybe even a limited pre-order option to keep interest high."

Jason considered her suggestion, nodding slowly. "That could work. We'll need to be careful not to overpromise, but it's a viable strategy. Let's build that into the plan and present it to the team tomorrow."

Mia made a note, but her mind was still turning over the implications of the delay. She felt the familiar weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders, a gnawing fear that all their efforts might still fall short. She didn't want to let the team down, and she definitely didn't want to give Jason any reason to doubt her abilities.

"Jason," she said, her voice quieter now. "I know this isn't ideal, and I know you're under a lot of pressure, but... we're doing everything we can. The team is committed, and we're not going to let this setback define us."

Jason looked at her, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes—vulnerability, maybe, or at least the closest he'd come to showing it. "I know," he said quietly. "It's not the team I'm worried about. It's... everything else. The board, the investors, the expectations. Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, it's never enough."

Mia was taken aback by his honesty. She'd always seen Jason as unshakeable, the kind of leader who thrived under pressure. But now, sitting across from him in the dimly lit boardroom, she realised that he was human, just like the rest of them. He carried his own burdens, faced his own fears, and was doing his best to steer the company through uncharted waters.

"We're in this together," Mia said softly, meeting his gaze. "And whatever happens, we'll handle it. One step at a time."

Jason nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly in a faint, weary smile. "Thanks, Mia. I appreciate that."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the tension between them easing into something more like understanding. It wasn't exactly a turning point, but it felt like the first real crack in the wall that had always stood between them. Mia realised that, despite their differences, they both wanted the same thing—to see Greystone succeed, and to prove to themselves and to each other that they were capable of overcoming any obstacle.

As they wrapped up their discussion and finalised their plans for the next day, Mia felt a renewed sense of determination. She didn't know what the future held, and she wasn't naive enough to think that their problems would magically disappear. But she did know that she wasn't alone, and that for the first time, Jason was letting her in, even if only just a little.

As she left the boardroom, Mia glanced back at Jason, who was already gathering his papers and preparing for whatever came next. She wondered what it would take to fully break down the walls he'd built around himself, to see the man behind the CEO. But for now, she was content with the progress they'd made, however small it might seem.

The first crack had appeared, and Mia had a feeling that it was only the beginning.