Page 46 of Gamechanger

"Enough!" Fredericks's fist came down on the table with a resounding thud. "This isn't a debate, Moretti. This is damage control. Now, are you going to be part of the solution, or do we need to start discussing severance packages?"

The threat hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I looked around the table, searching for a friendly face, a hint of understanding. I found none.

"I need some air," I mumbled, stumbling to my feet.

"Milo," Tasha started, her voice softer now. "Please, just—"

But I was already moving, fleeing the conference room on unsteady legs. I ignored the calls behind me, the protests fading as I staggered down the hall.

My vision blurred, the familiar corridors suddenly alien and hostile. I collided with the wall, fumbling for the door handle of my office. As I all but fell inside, one thought pounded in my head, drowning out everything else:

What have I done?

I was going to lose everything. My job. My dignity. Finn.

A wailing sound filled the air. It took me a moment to realize it was coming from me.

I slumped against the door, sliding to the floor. My chest heaved, each breath a desperate gasp. The edges of my vision darkened, the world closing in around me.

"Milo?" A gentle voice cut through the fog of panic. "Milo, can you hear me?"

I blinked, struggling to focus. Dr. Chen crouched before me, her face etched with concern. I had no idea how long she'd been there. Her hair was slightly disheveled, as if she'd hurried down the hall to check on me. The scent of peppermint tea, which she always carried in a thermos, wafted towards me.

"I can't," I choked out. "I can't do this. I can't—"

"Breathe with me, Milo," she instructed, her voice a steady anchor. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. That's it."

I tried to follow her lead, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Dr. Chen placed a hand on my shoulder, its warmth grounding me.

"Focus on my voice," she continued. "Tell me five things you can see right now."

I blinked, forcing myself to look around. "The... the carpet. My desk. Your shoes. The window. A... a pen on the floor."

"Good," Dr. Chen nodded encouragingly. "Now four things you can touch."

Slowly, agonizingly, the vise around my chest loosened. The room came back into focus, the edges softening. Dr. Chen guided me through the rest of the grounding exercise, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos in my head.

"There you go," Dr. Chen murmured. "You're safe, Milo. You're okay."

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping. "Nothing about this is okay."

"Perhaps not," she agreed, settling herself more comfortably on the floor beside me. "But you're not alone in this. Have you spoken with Finn?"

Finn. My phone. I scrambled for it, hands shaking as I unlocked the screen. A text message glowed up at me:

Hope it's a productive day. I love you.

The sob that tore from my throat was equal parts anguish and relief.

"Milo," Dr. Chen said gently. "I think it's time we talked. Really talked. Not just about this situation, but about everything that led up to it."

I nodded, swiping at my eyes. "I don't even know where to start."

"The beginning is usually a good place," Dr. Chen smiled softly. "Tell me about when you first realized your feelings for Finn were more than just friendship."

I took a deep breath, the memory washing over me. "It was when I was on assignment for the environmental consulting firm. I brought seaweed snacks into the locker room for the players. Finn was there. We started talking and hit it off as friends right away. I immediately noticed the size difference between him and the other players. I just... I wanted to protect him. To hold him. It terrified me."

Dr. Chen nodded thoughtfully. "And why do you think it terrified you?"

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