Under New Management

Chapter 14: The Slip-Up

The next few days passed in a blur of meetings, revisions, and long hours hunched over her desk, but Mia's spirits were higher than they had been in weeks. The notebook Jason had given her was already filled with ideas, to-do lists, and notes from their brainstorming sessions, and each time she flipped it open, she was reminded of his quiet support. It wasn't just a tool; it was a tangible sign of the trust that was slowly building between them.

Still, the pressure of their looming deadlines never fully eased. The competitor's accelerated launch date loomed over them like a dark cloud, casting a shadow on every strategy session and every late-night push to close the gap. Mia was determined to prove that they could still come out on top, but the weight of the task was always present, a constant reminder of how high the stakes were.

By Thursday afternoon, Mia was running on little more than coffee and sheer willpower. She was in the middle of drafting a new proposal for an upcoming campaign when her phone buzzed with a message from Emily.

**Emily:** *Emergency gossip session in the break room. Now.*

Mia smirked, rolling her eyes. She could always count on Emily to find a way to lighten the mood, even when things were at their most chaotic. She pushed her chair back and made her way to the break room, curious about what could be so urgent.

Emily was already there, leaning against the counter with a smug grin on her face. "You're not going to believe this," she said, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"What is it?" Mia asked, pouring herself another cup of coffee. "Did someone finally snap and quit?"

Emily laughed, shaking her head. "Nope. Better. I just overheard that Jason's meeting with some of the board members later today, and apparently, they're looking to make some big changes."

Mia's stomach tightened, her grip on her coffee cup faltering. "Changes? What kind of changes?"

Emily shrugged, her eyes wide with excitement. "I don't have all the details, but from what I gathered, they're not happy with the current pace. They're pushing for some drastic moves to get things back on track, and they're looking at all options."

Mia's mind raced. She knew the board was anxious, but she hadn't expected things to escalate this quickly. She couldn't help but worry about what those "drastic moves" might entail. Cuts? Restructuring? Would Jason be forced to make decisions that could undermine everything they'd been working toward?

She set her coffee down, the familiar burn of frustration flaring in her chest. "This is exactly what we don't need right now," Mia muttered. "We're so close, Em. If they start making changes now, it could throw everything off."

Emily nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I know. But hey, maybe it's just talk. You know how these things go—rumours fly around, and half the time, they don't come to anything."

Mia wanted to believe that, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just idle gossip. Jason hadn't mentioned anything about the meeting, and she couldn't decide if that was a good sign or a bad one. Was he shielding her from the worst of it, or was he trying to handle it on his own, not wanting to worry her?

Mia spent the rest of the afternoon in a haze of anxiety, her focus slipping as she tried to piece together what was happening behind closed doors. She knew she needed to keep her head in the game, but the uncertainty gnawed at her, a constant distraction that she couldn't quite shake.

It was late in the day when she finally decided she couldn't take it anymore. She gathered her courage and headed for Jason's office, determined to get some answers. She needed to know where they stood, even if the truth wasn't what she wanted to hear.

When she reached his office, the door was slightly ajar. She hesitated, hearing Jason's voice inside, low and tense. Mia paused, not wanting to interrupt, but as she stepped closer, she caught snippets of the conversation.

"...don't think you understand the position we're in," Jason was saying, his frustration clear. "We're not just dealing with a timeline issue. This is about our credibility, our brand. We can't afford to make rash decisions now."

Mia's heart pounded in her chest. She leaned in closer, her curiosity overriding her better judgment.

"We've been patient, Jason," a deep, unfamiliar voice responded. "But patience isn't going to save us from losing market share. We need results, and we need them now. If that means shaking things up, then so be it."

Mia felt her breath catch. The urgency in the board member's tone was undeniable, and Jason's silence that followed was even more telling. She could imagine the tension in the room, Jason standing his ground, but the pressure mounting on all sides.

As Mia debated whether to step back or make her presence known, the conversation took a turn she hadn't expected.

"Maybe it's time to reconsider your team's approach," the board member said pointedly. "If Mia Bennett's strategy isn't delivering, then we need to explore alternatives."

Mia's blood ran cold. Her name, her strategy—her entire role in the project was being questioned, scrutinised. She felt a surge of panic, the fear of being undermined, of having her hard work dismissed in one fell swoop.

Jason's response was immediate, his voice firm. "Mia's done an exceptional job, and I stand by her strategy. She's one of the most competent people on this team, and I won't throw her under the bus just because we're hitting a rough patch. We'll deliver, but we need the time and space to do it right."

Mia's heart swelled, a mix of relief and gratitude flooding through her. Jason was defending her, standing up for her in a way she hadn't expected. But her moment of solace was short-lived, as the board member pushed back.

"You're too close to this, Jason. You need to make hard choices, or the board will make them for you."

Mia stepped back, her pulse racing. She knew she couldn't linger any longer without being discovered, and the last thing she wanted was for Jason to know she'd overheard. She turned and hurried down the hall, her mind spinning with the implications of what she