Under New Management

Chapter 22: Crossing the Line

The morning after their kiss, Mia woke up with a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment with Jason from the night before—the charged conversation, the way he looked at her, the feel of his lips against hers. It had been intense, consuming, and it had shattered the careful boundaries they'd both tried so hard to maintain.

But now, in the stark light of day, reality was crashing back in. The threats they were facing hadn't disappeared overnight, and Mia knew that their kiss—while undeniably right in the moment—had complicated things in ways they hadn't fully reckoned with.

Mia got up, showered, and dressed slowly, trying to steady her nerves. Today, she would have to face Jason in the office, and she wasn't sure what to expect. Would he regret it? Would he act like nothing had changed? Or worse, would he try to put the walls back up, pretending that their connection hadn't just leapt from simmering tension into undeniable reality?

By the time Mia arrived at the office, the usual buzz of activity had already started. She moved through the corridors, trying to project an air of calm, but her heart raced as she approached Jason's office. She half-expected to find him buried in work, brushing off last night as a momentary lapse. But as she rounded the corner, she saw Jason standing outside his office, waiting for her.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Jason's expression was unreadable, his posture tense. Mia swallowed, unsure how to bridge the gap between them now that they'd crossed a line that couldn't be undone.

"Morning," Mia said, her voice carefully neutral.

Jason nodded, his gaze steady. "Morning. Can we talk?"

Mia hesitated, glancing around. The office was already bustling with employees, and she could feel the eyes of her colleagues flicking toward them with subtle curiosity. She nodded, following Jason into his office. He closed the door behind them, the click of the latch sounding louder than it should.

Mia stood by the window, watching the city come alive outside. Jason leaned against his desk, his arms crossed. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the weight of what had happened pressing down on both of them.

"I'm not going to pretend like nothing happened last night," Jason said finally, his voice low but firm. "We crossed a line, and I don't regret it. But I also know this changes things—for both of us."

Mia nodded, turning to face him. "I don't regret it either. But we need to be smart about this, Jason. The board, the team, the threats we're dealing with—they're all still real. And if anyone finds out about us..."

Jason ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. "I know. But I'm done pretending that we're just colleagues. Mia, I've felt this building for a long time, and I don't want to keep hiding it. Not from you, at least."

Mia's heart twisted. She knew exactly what he meant. The constant push and pull between them had been impossible to ignore, and last night had only solidified the reality of what they were to each other. But acknowledging it was one thing; navigating it in the middle of a corporate battlefield was another.

"What do we do?" Mia asked, her voice softer now. "How do we keep this... us... without everything else falling apart?"

Jason stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "We take it one day at a time. We keep things quiet for now—at least until we figure out who's behind the breach and what they want. But I'm not going to let this get in the way of how I feel about you. We're in this together."

Mia nodded, feeling the warmth of his words settle over her. "Together."

Jason reached out, his fingers brushing her arm in a gesture that was both reassuring and intimate. The contact sent a familiar shiver through Mia, a reminder of the connection that had finally come to the surface. But before they could say more, a sharp knock on the door interrupted the moment.

Mia and Jason quickly stepped apart, the spell broken as Emily poked her head in, her expression tight. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's something you both need to see. It's urgent."

Mia exchanged a look with Jason, her unease flaring up again. "What is it?"

Emily glanced around, her voice hushed. "It's the security footage. They finally traced the man from the break-in, and it's... well, you need to see it for yourself."

Mia and Jason followed Emily down the hallway, the tension between them momentarily overshadowed by the urgency of the situation. They entered the security office, where a monitor displayed paused footage of the man they'd encountered in the alley.

But as Mia looked closer, her stomach dropped. The man's face was clearer now, no longer obscured by shadows. And she recognized him.

It was Andrew Cole, her ex-boyfriend.

Mia's blood ran cold. She hadn't seen Andrew in over a year, not since their messy breakup had left her reeling. They'd cut all ties, and she'd never expected to hear from him again, let alone see him involved in something like this.

"What the hell?" Mia whispered, staring at the screen. "Why would he—?"

Jason's expression was grim. "You know him?"

Mia nodded, her mind spinning. "We dated. A long time ago. But he's not... I don't understand why he would do this. He has no reason to come after me, or the company."

Jason's jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring. "Mia, this changes everything. If he's involved, we need to find out why—and fast. He could be the key to understanding this whole thing."

Mia's thoughts raced, a mix of fear and anger bubbling up inside her. Andrew's appearance in the footage felt like a betrayal all over again, dragging up old wounds she'd thought were healed. She had no idea why he'd targeted her, but the implications were terrifying. Had he been behind the threats? The stalking? Was he trying to mess with her, to get back at her for something she didn't even know she'd done?

Mia's voice shook as she turned to Jason. "I need to talk to him. I need to find out what the hell he's doing."

Jason looked conflicted, but he nodded. "We'll get security to track him down, and I'll be right there with you. You're not facing this alone."

Mia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She'd fought hard to keep her past behind her, but now it was coming back to haunt her in ways she'd never imagined. Andrew had crossed a line, and Mia wasn't about to let him tear apart everything she'd built.

As they left the security office, Mia felt Jason's hand on her back, a silent promise that he was there, that he wouldn't let her face this battle alone. They had crossed a line, and now another lay before them, one that would force Mia to confront the ghosts of her past.

But she wasn't afraid. Not anymore. Whoever was behind this, whatever Andrew wanted, Mia was ready to face it head-on.

Because she wasn't just fighting for her career or her safety anymore—she was fighting for herself, for the future she wanted, and for the connection she and Jason had risked everything to find. And nothing, not Andrew, not the threats, not the tangled mess of their lives, was going to take that away from her.