Under New Management

Chapter 9: Forced Proximity

The following week brought a flurry of activity as Mia and her team scrambled to adjust to the new timeline. With the launch date pushed back, they had more breathing room, but the pressure to keep the project on track was as intense as ever. Mia found herself juggling a dozen tasks at once, her days blending into a blur of meetings, emails, and late nights at the office.

As if the workload wasn't enough, the company's annual team-building retreat loomed on the horizon. Normally, Mia would have been looking forward to a break from the office, even if it was just a day spent at a stuffy corporate event centre. But this year, the retreat felt more like an unwelcome distraction—another obligation piled on top of an already overwhelming schedule.

The retreat was set to take place at a lakeside lodge about an hour outside of the city. The agenda was filled with the usual array of trust exercises, workshops, and motivational speeches, all designed to boost morale and foster teamwork. Mia couldn't help but feel a pang of cynicism at the thought—morale was the last thing on her mind when she was buried under a mountain of work.

On the morning of the retreat, Mia arrived at the office feeling less than enthusiastic. She'd barely slept, having stayed up late finalising the latest adjustments to the marketing plan. Her head throbbed from lack of rest, and the idea of spending the day playing icebreaker games and listening to pep talks made her want to crawl back into bed.

As she boarded the coach that would take them to the lodge, Mia scanned the seats for a familiar face. Most of her team had already claimed spots together near the back, but as she made her way down the aisle, she realised there was only one seat left—next to Jason.

Of course, she thought, suppressing a sigh. It was just her luck.

Jason looked up as she approached, his expression unreadable. "Morning," he said, nodding to the empty seat beside him.

"Morning," Mia replied, forcing a smile. She hesitated for only a moment before sitting down, determined not to let the awkwardness get to her. "Ready for a day of forced fun?"

Jason chuckled, a rare sound that caught Mia off guard. "Something like that," he said, leaning back in his seat. "I'm not exactly a fan of these things, but apparently, they're good for 'team cohesion.'"

Mia snorted, unable to hide her amusement. "Yeah, because nothing says teamwork like a trust fall."

Jason smirked, glancing sideways at her. "Well, if you're the one catching me, I might actually feel safe."

Mia blinked, surprised by the unexpected compliment. It was the closest thing to a joke she'd ever heard from him, and she couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do my best not to drop you," she said, shaking her head.

The coach ride passed in a surprisingly comfortable silence. Mia found herself relaxing, the usual tension she felt around Jason easing in the quiet of the early morning. As they pulled up to the lodge, she felt a flicker of optimism that maybe the day wouldn't be so bad after all.

The lodge was nestled in a serene setting, surrounded by tall pines and overlooking a tranquil lake. The air was crisp and cool, a welcome change from the stuffy office environment. Mia took a deep breath, letting the fresh air clear her head. Maybe this wouldn't be a total waste of time.

The morning kicked off with the usual introductions and icebreaker activities. Mia and Jason were assigned to the same team, along with a mix of colleagues from various departments. They started with a series of low-stakes challenges—building structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows, solving riddles, and navigating an obstacle course blindfolded.

Mia found herself pleasantly surprised by how well their team worked together. Jason, despite his reputation for being aloof and demanding, was focused and encouraging, offering suggestions without dominating the conversation. It was a side of him Mia hadn't seen before, and she couldn't deny that he was a natural leader, even in such a light-hearted setting.

As the day wore on, the challenges became more involved, culminating in a high-ropes course that loomed ominously over the group. The course consisted of a series of elevated platforms and tightropes, suspended high above the ground. Mia eyed it warily, her stomach doing a flip at the thought of being so far up.

"Alright, everyone," the instructor called out, clapping her hands to get their attention. "For this next challenge, you'll be working in pairs. The goal is to get across the course together, supporting each other every step of the way."

Mia turned to find Jason standing beside her, his expression calm but expectant. "Looks like we're partners," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Mia nodded, trying to mask her nervousness. "Guess so. Let's hope neither of us has a fear of heights."

Jason smirked. "I'll let you in on a secret—I'm not a fan of heights either. But I trust you."

Mia's heart did a strange little flutter at his words. She wasn't used to hearing Jason talk about trust, especially not when it came to her. But she pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.

They clipped into their harnesses and ascended the ladder to the first platform. From up high, the ground looked a lot farther away, and Mia's pulse quickened as she steadied herself. The wind tugged at her hair, and the ropes swayed slightly under her weight.

"You've got this," Jason said, his voice steady. "Just take it one step at a time."

Mia nodded, grateful for the encouragement. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the first rope, feeling it wobble beneath her feet. She reached out, gripping the guide ropes tightly as she moved forward, her heart racing.

Jason followed close behind, his movements measured and deliberate. They moved in sync, pausing every few steps to adjust and keep their balance. Mia could feel the tension in her muscles, but she kept going, focusing on Jason's voice as he offered quiet reassurances.

"Almost there," he said, his voice calm. "You're doing great."

Mia glanced back, catching his eye. There was something about the way he was looking at her—steady, supportive, almost proud. It gave her the boost she needed to push through the last stretch, her confidence growing with each step.

Finally, they reached the end of the course, stepping onto the final platform with a collective sigh of relief. Mia's heart was still pounding, but she felt a rush of accomplishment. She turned to Jason, a grin spreading across her face.

"We did it," she said, breathless but exhilarated.

Jason nodded, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, we did."

They unclipped their harnesses and descended the ladder, rejoining the rest of their team. Mia could still feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, but it was tempered by a newfound sense of camaraderie. Working with Jason hadn't been easy, but in that moment, it had felt right—like they were on the same page, facing the same challenges, and moving forward together.

As the retreat wound down and the group gathered for a final debrief, Mia found herself sitting next to Jason once again. The sun was setting over the lake, casting a warm glow over the water, and for the first time in a long while, Mia felt a sense of calm.

"Thanks for today," she said, turning to Jason. "I know this isn't really your thing, but I appreciated having you as a partner."

Jason looked at her, his expression softening. "Likewise. You did great out there. And I think we make a pretty good team, even outside the office."

Mia smiled, the tension between them feeling lighter, more manageable. "Yeah, I think so too."

As they boarded the coach to head back to the city, Mia couldn't help but feel that the day had been a turning point. Forced proximity or not, she and Jason had found a way to work together, to trust each other in a way that went beyond the confines of their professional roles.

And as the city lights came into view, Mia knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they were stronger now—both as individuals and as a team. The walls between them were still there, but they were starting to come down, brick by brick, step by step. And for the first time, Mia felt like they were truly on the same side.