Under New Management

Chapter 15: The Confession

Mia spent the rest of the afternoon in a fog of anxiety. The board's pressure on Jason, their questioning of her strategy—everything felt like it was unraveling at the seams. She couldn't focus on her work, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the conversation she had overheard. The way Jason had defended her had meant more than she cared to admit, but the board's insistence on immediate results left a bitter taste in her mouth.

The office was winding down by the time Mia decided to head home. She gathered her things, trying to calm the storm brewing in her mind. She needed a break, a moment to breathe and collect herself before she said or did something rash. As she reached the elevator, her phone buzzed with a message from Jason.

**Jason:** *Can you come to my office before you leave?*

Mia hesitated, her heart pounding. Part of her wanted to ignore the message, to avoid whatever difficult conversation awaited her. But she knew she couldn't run from this, not if she wanted to keep fighting for the project—and for her place in it.

She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and made her way back to Jason's office. The door was closed, and she knocked lightly, her nerves on edge.

"Come in," Jason called from inside, his voice muffled but clear.

Mia pushed the door open, stepping into the familiar space that now felt fraught with tension. Jason was seated behind his desk, his tie loosened and his expression weary. He looked up as she entered, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.

"Thanks for coming," he said, motioning for her to sit. "I wanted to talk to you about—"

Mia didn't let him finish. The stress, the frustration, the fear of losing everything she'd worked for—all of it came rushing to the surface. "I heard what they said, Jason," she blurted out, her voice tight. "About me. About my strategy. I heard them questioning whether I'm the right person for this."

Jason's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his features. "Mia, I—"

"And I heard you stand up for me," she continued, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to stay composed. "Thank you for that. But if the board wants me out, if they think I'm not good enough, I need to know now. I can't keep working like this, always wondering if I'm one mistake away from being replaced."

Jason stood, crossing the room to where Mia was seated. His expression softened, a mixture of concern and something deeper, something that made Mia's heart ache in ways she couldn't fully understand. "Mia, stop," he said gently, his voice cutting through her spiraling thoughts. "You're not being replaced. Your strategy isn't the problem. We're dealing with setbacks that are beyond anyone's control, and the board is panicking. But that doesn't mean they don't see your value. I see your value."

Mia looked up at him, her resolve crumbling under the weight of his words. "I just—I don't know if I can keep doing this. I'm working harder than I ever have, and it feels like it's never enough. I'm scared, Jason. I'm scared of letting everyone down."

Jason crouched down in front of her, his gaze intense and unwavering. "Mia, you're not letting anyone down. Not me, not your team, not this company. You've done everything you could, and then some. The fact that we're even still in the game is because of you."

Mia bit her lip, trying to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She had spent so long being strong, being the one who pushed through no matter what. But now, sitting here with Jason, she felt the weight of it all pressing down on her, and she didn't know how to carry it anymore.

"Why do you believe in me so much?" Mia asked, her voice cracking. "Why do you keep defending me when everyone else is ready to give up?"

Jason's expression softened, and he reached out, his hand hovering just above hers as if asking permission. When Mia didn't pull away, he gently took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "Because I know what it's like to feel like you're always one step away from failing," he said quietly. "I've been there. I've felt that pressure, that fear. And I know how hard it is to keep going when you're not sure if it's going to be worth it."

Mia's breath hitched, the sincerity in his voice cutting through her defenses. "But you still keep going," she said, her eyes searching his. "You always keep going."

Jason nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "And so do you. That's what makes you different, Mia. You don't give up. You don't back down. And that's why I believe in you. Not just because you're good at your job, but because you care. You care about this project, about your team, about doing things the right way. And that's something I can't teach. That's something you just have."

Mia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, the weight of his words settling over her like a warm blanket. For so long, she'd been pushing herself to prove she was capable, that she belonged. And now, hearing Jason's quiet but unwavering support, she felt a flicker of hope that maybe she wasn't fighting this battle alone.

"Thank you," Mia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there."

Jason smiled, a rare, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "You would have figured it out," he said softly. "You always do."

They sat there for a moment, the silence between them comfortable, filled with unspoken understanding. Jason's thumb brushed lightly over the back of Mia's hand, a gentle reminder that he was there, that he wasn't going anywhere. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Mia let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they were going to be okay.

"Jason," Mia began, her voice steadier now, "about last night—"

Jason shook his head, his expression serious but not unkind. "You don't have to explain," he said quietly. "I get it. We're in uncharted territory, and I don't want to push you into anything you're not ready for."

Mia squeezed his hand, her heart full. "It's not that I'm not ready. It's just... everything feels so uncertain right now. And I don't want to make things more complicated than they already are."

Jason nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes. "We'll figure it out," he said, his voice gentle. "No rush. No pressure. Just... let's keep doing what we're doing. And whatever happens, happens."

Mia smiled, a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. "Yeah," she agreed. "We'll figure it out."

Jason helped her to her feet, their hands lingering together for a moment longer before they finally let go. As Mia turned to leave, she glanced back, her heart lighter than it had been in days.

"Thanks, Jason," she said softly. "For everything."

Jason nodded, his expression warm. "Anytime, Mia. And remember—you're not alone in this. Not anymore."

Mia left his office, her steps a little steadier, her resolve a little stronger. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing: she wasn't facing it alone. She had Jason, she had her team, and she had herself. And for the first time in a long while, that felt like enough.