Under New Management

Chapter 16: A Shared Secret

The days that followed felt like a tentative dance between Mia and Jason. They navigated their roles with renewed determination, yet there was a subtle shift in their interactions—something unspoken but palpable. The walls between them had lowered, but neither was ready to step fully into the vulnerability that lingered in the spaces they now shared.

Despite the challenges with the project and the board's mounting pressure, Mia felt more centered. Jason's unwavering belief in her had reignited her confidence, and she was determined not to let the weight of their setbacks pull her under. Her team mirrored her resilience, working late nights and early mornings to push their strategy forward. They all knew the stakes, but they also knew they had each other, and that was enough to keep them going.

One evening, Mia was the last one left in the office. The team had left hours earlier, exhausted but optimistic after another round of productive brainstorming. Mia had stayed behind, wanting to fine-tune the latest proposal before presenting it to Jason in the morning.

As she clicked through the slides, the soft sound of footsteps caught her attention. She glanced up to see Jason standing at the doorway, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up. It was becoming a familiar sight—Jason at the end of a long day, looking a little less polished but no less determined.

"Burning the midnight oil again?" Jason asked, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.

Mia shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Just wanted to finish this up. Figured I'd get a jump on tomorrow."

Jason nodded, stepping into the room. He looked around at the clutter of papers and empty coffee cups that littered the table. "Mind if I join you?"

Mia smiled, gesturing to the seat beside her. "Sure. Company's always welcome."

Jason took a seat, his eyes scanning the proposal on Mia's screen. "Looks good," he said, his voice thoughtful. "You've managed to pivot the campaign without losing sight of the original vision. That's not easy to do."

Mia felt a flush of pride at his words. "Thanks. It's been a team effort. I've got a great group of people working with me."

Jason glanced at her, his expression serious. "You're a great leader, Mia. Your team is a reflection of that."

Mia met his gaze, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. She had worked hard to be the kind of leader her team deserved, and hearing Jason acknowledge it meant more than she'd expected.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, reviewing the proposal together. It was a quiet, collaborative rhythm they had settled into, one that felt easy despite the pressures they were under. As they wrapped up, Mia glanced at Jason, noticing the tired lines around his eyes.

"You should go home," she said gently. "You look exhausted."

Jason chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I probably should. But I've never been good at calling it a night when there's still work to be done."

Mia tilted her head, curious. "Have you always been like that? Always pushing yourself to the limit?"

Jason hesitated, his gaze distant. "Yeah," he admitted softly. "It started when I was young. My dad was... demanding, to say the least. He had this idea of what success looked like, and anything less wasn't good enough. So I learned to keep pushing, no matter what."

Mia watched him, sensing the weight of his words. She had never heard Jason talk about his past, about the things that had shaped him. It was a rare glimpse into the person behind the CEO, and she felt a pang of empathy for the boy who had been pushed to chase a vision that wasn't his own.