Under New Management

Chapter 10: A Moment of Vulnerability

The days following the retreat seemed lighter, almost as if the ropes course had loosened some of the tension that had weighed down the office. Mia noticed it in small ways—a few more smiles, less hesitation in meetings, even the occasional joke exchanged between colleagues. She had to admit, as much as she had dreaded the retreat, it had done what it was meant to do: bring people together.

But the deadlines were still looming, and the production delays hadn't magically resolved themselves. Mia threw herself back into work, determined to keep the momentum going. The revised marketing strategy was well underway, and although the extended pre-launch campaign meant more work for her team, she could see the value in keeping their audience engaged while the production issues were sorted out.

It was late on a Tuesday evening when Mia finally found herself alone in the office. She had stayed behind to finish up a presentation for the next day's meeting, her desk illuminated by the glow of her laptop screen. The rest of the office was dark, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by a heavy silence that settled over the empty cubicles.

As Mia typed away, she was startled by the sound of footsteps echoing in the quiet space. She looked up, surprised to see Jason walking through the rows of desks, his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and his tie loosened. He looked different—less polished, more human. The sight of him caught Mia off guard, and she quickly looked back at her screen, not wanting to seem like she was staring.

Jason approached her desk, pausing for a moment before speaking. "You're still here?"

Mia nodded, trying to keep her tone light. "Just finishing up some last-minute changes for tomorrow. You?"

Jason set his jacket down on a nearby chair and ran a hand through his hair, his usually composed demeanour slightly frayed at the edges. "Same. I needed to catch up on a few things before the board meeting."

Mia noticed the weariness in his voice, the way his shoulders sagged as if the weight of the entire company was pressing down on him. She hesitated for a moment, then closed her laptop, deciding that the presentation could wait. "You look like you've had a long day."

Jason gave a humourless chuckle, leaning against her desk. "You could say that. It's been one of those weeks."

Mia glanced at him, sensing that there was more he wasn't saying. She'd seen him handle pressure before, but this felt different—like the cracks were starting to show. "Want to talk about it?"

Jason looked at her, surprised by the offer. For a moment, he seemed to consider brushing it off, but then he sighed, the fight draining out of him. "It's the production delays," he admitted, his voice low. "They're worse than we anticipated, and the board is breathing down my neck about it. Every day it feels like there's a new issue, a new fire to put out, and I'm starting to feel like I'm running out of ways to keep up."

Mia watched him, her own frustration momentarily set aside as she saw the strain in his eyes. She realised that, for all their clashes and disagreements, Jason was facing a pressure she couldn't fully comprehend. He was the one everyone looked to for answers, the one who had to shoulder the blame when things went wrong.

"You don't have to do it alone," Mia said softly, her voice steady. "We're all in this together, Jason. You've got a whole team here who want to help, who want to see this project succeed as much as you do. Don't forget that."

Jason looked at her, and for a moment, Mia thought she saw something shift in his expression—an unspoken gratitude, a silent acknowledgment of the support he'd been too proud to ask for. He nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. "Thank you, Mia. I know I haven't made it easy, and I appreciate you saying that."

Mia shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We've all got our roles to play. Yours just happens to be the hardest one. But you're not alone in this, and we'll figure it out together."

They stood there in silence for a while, the soft hum of the building the only sound between them. Mia could feel the weight of the moment, the unspoken understanding that they were both fighting the same battle, even if from different sides of the boardroom table.

"You know," Jason said finally, his voice quieter now, "I've been in this industry a long time, and I've seen a lot of people come and go. But I can honestly say, I've never met anyone quite like you, Mia. You're relentless, and you don't back down, not even when you're up against me. It's... refreshing."

Mia felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, a rare compliment from a man who rarely gave them. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze with a steady resolve. "I'm just doing my job," she said, though her voice held a hint of pride. "And for what it's worth, I think you're doing a damn good job too, even if you don't always hear it."

Jason's lips curved into a small smile, and for the first time, Mia saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his eyes—something real, something honest. It was a side of him she'd never seen before, and it made her realise that maybe, just maybe, they weren't so different after all.

"Thanks, Mia," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "That means more than you know."

Mia nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle in her chest. She wasn't sure what to say, wasn't sure how to respond to the quiet intensity of the moment. But she knew one thing: she was grateful for it, grateful for the chance to see Jason not as the demanding CEO who seemed to thrive on conflict, but as a man trying to navigate the same uncertainties as everyone else.

They lingered there a little longer, the silence between them comfortable, almost companionable. Finally, Jason pushed off from her desk, grabbing his jacket and giving her a nod. "I should get going. Early start tomorrow."

Mia nodded, watching as he made his way to the door. "Get some rest, Jason. We'll figure this out."

Jason paused at the doorway, turning back to look at her one last time. "Yeah. We will."

As he left, Mia sat back down, her mind still buzzing from the conversation. She knew there were no easy answers, no magic solutions to the problems they faced. But she also knew that they were stronger together, that the walls between them were starting to crumble, brick by brick.

And for the first time, Mia felt like they weren't just colleagues, or even rivals—they were allies. They were two people trying to do the best they could in a world that often felt overwhelming, and that, more than anything, was what mattered most.

With renewed determination, Mia turned back to her laptop, diving into her work with a fresh sense of purpose. She wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but for tonight, she was content knowing that, whatever happened, she wasn't facing it alone.