Under New Management

Chapter 24: Fallout

Mia barely slept that night, her mind racing with the confrontation and everything Andrew had revealed. She tossed and turned, haunted by the look in his eyes when he'd admitted to using her as leverage in his twisted game. It was like she'd been dragged back into a nightmare she thought she'd left behind, but now, instead of hurting alone, she had to deal with the fallout that affected not just her, but her entire team and company.

By morning, Mia was running on coffee and sheer determination. She arrived at the office early, hoping to catch up on work and start regaining control of the situation. The reality of Andrew's actions was still sinking in, and she knew that the consequences were only just beginning to unfold. She wasn't sure how her colleagues would react once they learned the truth—how her personal life had bled into their professional world with such devastating results.

As she walked through the office, the atmosphere felt different. Colleagues whispered in small clusters, glancing up at her with expressions that ranged from sympathetic to curious. Mia did her best to keep her head high, her pace steady, but inside, she felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn't anticipated.

Emily was waiting at Mia's desk when she arrived, her face creased with worry. "Hey, I heard you went to see him. Are you okay?"

Mia nodded, setting her bag down and trying to muster a smile. "I'm fine, Em. It's just... a lot to process."

Emily sat down, her concern evident. "I can't believe he'd do something like this. I know you've been through a lot with him, but this... Mia, this is next level."

Mia sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, well, I didn't see it coming either. But now we know who's behind it, and we can start dealing with the mess he's made."

Emily leaned in closer, her voice low. "The police are already here. They're talking to security and going through all the evidence. It's going to be okay."

Mia nodded, appreciating Emily's support but knowing that the road ahead would be anything but simple. "I know. I just need to get through today."

The rest of the morning was a whirlwind of meetings with security, the legal team, and Jason, who was dealing with the aftermath with his usual calm but firm approach. They went over the security measures, the protocols, and the next steps to ensure that Andrew's actions wouldn't compromise them further. It was all practical, necessary, but it didn't make the knot in Mia's stomach go away.

After a tense meeting with the board, who had been informed of the situation, Jason caught up with Mia in the corridor. He looked exhausted, but his eyes softened when he saw her.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, falling into step beside her.

Mia shrugged, keeping her voice even. "I'm doing what I can. The board didn't seem too thrilled about all this."

Jason nodded, his expression serious. "They're worried, but they know this wasn't your fault. We're tightening everything up, and once the police have Andrew's statement, we'll have a clearer picture of what we're dealing with."

Mia leaned against the wall, the weight of everything catching up to her. "I just hate that this has affected everyone. I've worked so hard to keep my personal life separate from my work, and now it feels like everything's tangled up."

Jason reached out, his hand brushing hers in a subtle, reassuring gesture. "Mia, none of this is on you. Andrew made his choices, and he's going to pay for them. You've done everything right, and you've been stronger than anyone could expect. Don't carry his mistakes."

Mia squeezed his hand, grateful for his words. "Thank you. For everything. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Jason smiled, though there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—an unspoken acknowledgment of the bond that had only grown stronger in the face of their challenges. "We're a team. And I'm not going anywhere."

As they returned to their offices, Mia tried to focus on the tasks ahead. She was drafting an updated strategy report when her phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. She stared at it, her pulse quickening. Part of her wanted to ignore it, but something compelled her to answer.

"Hello?" Mia said cautiously.

There was a pause, then a voice she hadn't expected to hear again. "Mia, it's Andrew."

Mia's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't planned to speak to him again—not after everything he'd put her through—but now he was on the other end of the line, sounding broken and desperate.

"What do you want, Andrew?" Mia asked, her voice hard.

Andrew's sigh crackled through the phone. "I'm sorry, Mia. I know that doesn't fix anything, but I need you to know that. I didn't mean for it to go this far."

Mia's grip tightened on the phone. "It's too late for apologies, Andrew. You didn't just hurt me—you put everyone at risk. Why should I listen to anything you have to say?"

Andrew hesitated, his voice cracking with what sounded like genuine remorse. "I didn't know who else to call. They're still after me, Mia. The people I got involved with—they're not going to stop. I've told the police everything, but I don't know if it's enough. I'm scared, and I don't know how to fix this."

Mia closed her eyes, fighting back the mix of anger and pity that welled up inside her. Andrew was in over his head, caught in a web of his own making, and now he was reaching out to her—the last person he had any right to ask for help.

"You made your choices," Mia said quietly, her voice steady. "And now you have to deal with the consequences. But I'm not going to let you drag me down with you again."

Andrew's voice wavered, a plea in his words. "I'm not asking for your help, Mia. I just... I needed you to know that I didn't want this. I didn't want to hurt you."

Mia took a deep breath, letting the words sink in. She knew Andrew was trapped, that his regret was real, but she also knew she couldn't be the one to save him. He had crossed too many lines, and she had her own life to protect.

"I hope you figure it out, Andrew," Mia said finally, her voice firm. "But this is on you now."

She hung up before he could respond, her hands trembling slightly. Mia set her phone down, closing her eyes as she tried to steady herself. She had thought facing Andrew in person would bring her closure, but this unexpected call had only stirred up more emotions—conflict, sadness, and a lingering sense of betrayal.

Mia leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling. She had faced Andrew, and she had survived, but now she needed to reclaim her life and her sense of control. There would be fallout, there always was, but Mia was determined to keep moving forward, to put the past behind her once and for all.

A soft knock on her door pulled Mia from her thoughts. Jason stepped inside, his expression gentle as he took in the look on her face. "You okay?"

Mia nodded, though she felt the weight of everything pressing down on her. "Yeah. Just... processing."

Jason crossed the room, pulling her into a hug that Mia hadn't realized she needed until she was in his arms. She let herself sink into the comfort of his embrace, the warmth of his presence grounding her in the moment.

"You don't have to do this alone," Jason murmured, his voice a steady reassurance. "Not anymore."

Mia held on tight, letting herself believe it. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone. She had Jason, she had her team, and she had her own strength. And no matter what came next, Mia knew she was ready to face it—head-on, without fear, and without looking back.

Because she was done letting the past dictate her future. And with Jason by her side, the future felt like something she could finally look forward to.