Page 137 of The Assist
“Stop talking.” His grin widens, but before he can say anything else, the side door creaks open. I don’t move rightaway. I hear footsteps first. Then voices. One calm and professional; Ben. The other Mia.
I’m already walking toward the corridor before my brain catches up. She turns the corner and stops dead. Her shoulders are set, and her eyes look like they’ve seen war. She looks exhausted and bright all at once.
Ben’s beside her, arm slung casually across her back. But the second her eyes meet mine, she steps away from him and comes straight to me. And I don’t hesitate to open my arms wide for her.
I pull her in so fast she gasps, arms coming around my waist, face pressed to my chest. I don’t care who sees. Don’t care that we’re in the hallway or that I’m still in workout gear. She’s here. She’s safe. And she’s mine.
“You okay?” I murmur against her hair.
She nods. “We won.”
I pull back just enough to see her face. “You serious?”
“They backed down. No disciplinary action. They want us to approve a statement, Ben’s vetting it.”
Ben, now standing a discreet few feet back, gives me a dry look. “Nice to see you again, Dylan.”
I reach a hand out, and we shake. “Thank you,” I say, low and honest. “For fighting for her.”
“I was fighting for both of you,” he says. “Though, full disclosure, I was ready to eat the board alive even if you turned out to be a complete tosser.”
“Charming,” I mutter.
Mia lets out a breath that sounds more like a laugh, the first real one I’ve heard from her in days. I tighten my arm around her waist, grounding both of us.
Ben slides his phone into his jacket pocket. “They’ll send over the draft statement in a few hours. I’ll let you two read it over, but I’ll handle anything dodgy. You’re legally in the clear.”
I nod. “What now?”
He glances at Mia. “She’s got some decisions to make about what happens next. Whether she wants to stay on here or look for something new. But that’s up to her.”
Mia leans into me. “I don’t want to make any decisions today.”
“You don’t have to,” I say. “Not now.”
Ben gives her shoulder a squeeze. “I’m going to head out. I’ve done my job.”
“More than,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow. “Just don’t screw it up.”
“I’m trying not to.”
He nods once. Then turns and walks down the corridor, leaving me and Mia and the faint hum of the vending machine in the next hallway. “I’m so bloody proud of you,” I whisper.
She looks up at me, eyes glassy. “I was terrified.”
“You didn’t look it.”
“I was holding onto every second of calm I had left. Most of it was pretending you were in the room.”
My throat tightens. “I hated not being there,” I say. “I wanted to kick the door in.”
“You would’ve ruined everything.”
“I know.” I rest my forehead against hers. “Still wanted to.”
She lets out a soft breath. “Can we leave now?”
