Mia walked briskly into the conference room, mentally preparing herself for the back-to-back meetings she had to handle. Her day had started off on a normal note, but somehow, she already felt the tension lingering from the previous night. As soon as she settled in, her phone buzzed—it was her best friend, Rachel.
"Hey, Mia! Are you okay? I just wanted to check up on you after last night," Rachel said, her voice full of concern.
Mia let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm fine, Rachel. It was an accident, nothing serious," she said, immediately apologizing for worrying her friend. "Besides, Ryan and I… we were just talking. Everything's okay."
Rachel's tone brightened, relief evident. "Oh, Mia! I'm so happy for you! I can't believe you and Ryan are finally… you know, together."
Mia smiled, her heart warming. They chatted for a few minutes about their lives, the company, and how things had changed. Once the call ended, Mia rose from the conference room and stepped outside to grab some mail.
As she rounded the corner, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" a familiar voice said. It was Daniel.
Mia recoiled slightly, memories of the previous night flashing in her mind. "Watch where you're going!" she snapped.
Daniel's expression shifted to worry, but he hurriedly tried to explain. "I didn't mean to—last night, I—"
"You didn't mean to what? If Ryan had been there, he would have—" Mia's voice trembled, then steadied with fury. "You would have hurt me, Daniel. You would have done something mercilessly."
Daniel's face softened, a hint of desperation creeping in. "Mia… I love you. I've loved you all this time. That's why I… I lost control. I—"
Mia's anger wavered for a split second, but before she could say anything else, a voice cut through the tension.
"Daniel! Stay away from her!"
Ryan had returned. His presence was immediate, commanding, and dangerous. Without a second thought, he stepped between them, his hand gripping Mia's arm. "Come with me," he ordered, his voice low and rough with anger.
Mia resisted slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Ryan, I—"
"No, Mia! Now!" Ryan shouted, dragging her toward the company doors. "Do not go near him again!"
Mia finally stopped struggling, realizing that Ryan didn't believe her. Her mind raced, trying to explain that she had only bumped into Daniel by accident, but Ryan's protective instincts were in full force, and his anger was palpable.
Daniel stepped back, frustration and longing in his eyes. "Mia… he doesn't understand. He's going to misjudge everything," he muttered, but Ryan didn't even look at him.
Mia's heart sank as the misunderstanding settled like a weight between them. She just wanted to explain herself, but Ryan's firm grip and unwavering gaze left no room for words. She sighed, letting him lead her inside, silently vowing to clarify everything later—but for now, she would have to trust that Ryan would eventually understand.
Once inside the company, Ryan finally released Mia's arm, though his eyes never left her. She took a step back, brushing her hair nervously, searching his expression for a hint of understanding.
"Mia… I saw him," Ryan said, his voice low but tense. "You were with Daniel. Do you… do you care about him?"
Mia shook her head vehemently. "No! Ryan, it was an accident. I didn't mean to bump into him. I wasn't… I'm not interested in him. I—"
Ryan's jaw tightened, his gaze softening slightly but still cautious. "Then why did he say… that he loves you? That you—" He stopped himself, swallowing hard.
"I don't know why he said that! Ryan, I don't feel that way about him. You're the one I—" Her voice cracked, and she swallowed. "You're the one I care about. I only see you."
Ryan's stern expression began to falter, replaced by a mix of relief and lingering frustration. "Mia… you have to understand. I've been away. And when I see someone even close to you… I can't just—"
"I know," Mia whispered, stepping closer. "I get it. But Ryan, you have to trust me. Daniel meant nothing. I wouldn't ever… I would never betray us."
Ryan's hand found hers, squeezing gently, grounding both of them. "I want to believe you… I really do. But you have to let me protect you, Mia. You know how I feel."
Mia nodded, letting herself lean into him slightly. "I know. And I trust you… always."
A small smile tugged at Ryan's lips. "Good. Then we move forward together, okay?"
"Yes," Mia replied, her voice firm but warm. "Together."
For the first time that day, the tension between them dissolved. The misunderstanding was still fresh, but the connection—their bond—was stronger. They both knew that no one and nothing would come between them if they stayed honest with each other.