Mira woke to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. She groaned, rolling over to grab it, her body still deliciously sore from the night before. The sheets beside her were cold—Theo had already gotten up.
She squinted at the screen, her stomach dropping as she saw the flood of emails and messages from her boss, Daniel. The subject lines alone made her blood run cold: *"Urgent: Project Deadline Moved Up," "Performance Review Today," "Immediate Action Required."*
Her fingers trembled as she opened the first one.
*"Mira, I need you in my office in one hour. We have a problem."*
She sat up, rubbing her temples. This wasn’t just a bad day—it was a targeted attack. Daniel had been gunning for her ever since she turned down his advances months ago, but this was next-level sabotage.
Theo walked in, freshly showered, a towel slung low around his hips. His dark hair was still damp, droplets trailing down his chest. He took one look at her face and frowned. "What’s wrong?"
Mira swallowed hard, showing him the screen. "Daniel. He’s making my life hell."
Theo’s expression darkened. "That bastard. What’s he doing now?"
"Moving up deadlines, scheduling last-minute meetings, threatening my job." She tossed the phone aside, frustration bubbling over. "He’s trying to force me out."
Theo sat on the edge of the bed, his jaw tight. "I’ll handle it."
Mira stiffened. "No."
His eyes flashed. "Mira, I have connections. I can make this go away."
"I don’t want your connections!" She snapped, throwing the covers off and standing up. "I don’t want you to fix this for me. I can handle it myself."
Theo stood, towering over her. "This isn’t about fixing it for you. It’s about protecting what’s mine."
Mira’s breath hitched. "Yours? I’m not yours, Theo. I’m my own person."
His hands clenched at his sides. "You know what I mean."
"No, I don’t." She crossed her arms. "I won’t be some kept woman who runs to her billionaire boyfriend every time things get hard."
Theo’s eyes narrowed. "This isn’t about being kept. It’s about using the resources I have to help you."
Mira shook her head. "I don’t need your help. I need to stand on my own two feet."
Theo’s voice dropped, dangerously low. "Even if it costs you your job?"
Mira flinched but lifted her chin. "Even then."
Theo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You’re being stubborn."
"And you’re being controlling," she shot back.
Silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Mira’s chest ached. She didn’t want to fight with him, but she couldn’t back down either.
Theo finally spoke, his voice softer. "I just don’t want to see you hurt."
Mira’s throat tightened. "I know. But I have to do this my way."
Theo studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. But if things get worse—"
"I’ll let you know," she finished.
He didn’t look happy, but he didn’t argue either.
---
The office was a warzone.
Daniel had called an emergency meeting, and Mira walked in to find her entire team staring at her like she was already fired. Daniel sat at the head of the table, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"Mira, glad you could join us," he said, his voice dripping with false sweetness. "We were just discussing the new project timeline."
Mira sat down, her stomach twisting. "What new timeline?"
Daniel slid a document across the table. "The client moved up the deadline. We need this done in two weeks instead of two months."
Mira’s heart pounded. It was impossible. "That’s not feasible."
Daniel leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Then I suggest you make it feasible. Unless you’d rather we find someone who can."
Mira’s hands clenched in her lap. She wanted to scream, to tell him exactly where he could shove his impossible deadline. But she couldn’t. Not if she wanted to keep her job.
She forced a calm smile. "I’ll make it work."
Daniel’s smirk widened. "Good. Because if you don’t, we’ll have to reconsider your position here."
Mira’s breath hitched. This was it—he was giving her an ultimatum.
She stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I’ll get it done."
Daniel’s eyes gleamed. "I knew you would."
---
The next two weeks were hell.
Mira worked around the clock, surviving on coffee and sheer willpower. She barely slept, barely ate. Every time she thought she was making progress, Daniel would throw another obstacle in her path—a last-minute change, a missing file, a "miscommunication" that set her back hours.
She was exhausted.
Theo texted her constantly, checking in, offering help. She ignored most of them, too proud to admit she was struggling. But one night, after another sixteen-hour day, she broke down.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. Theo’s last message glowed on the screen: *"You don’t have to do this alone."*
Tears welled in her eyes. She was so tired. So, so tired.
She dialed his number before she could second-guess herself.
Theo answered on the first ring. "Mira?"
She swallowed hard, her voice breaking. "I can’t do this anymore."
Theo’s voice was immediate, sharp with concern. "Where are you?"
"Home," she whispered.
"I’m coming over."
---
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at her door.
Mira opened it to find Theo standing there, his expression stormy. He took one look at her—dark circles under her eyes, hair a mess, clothes wrinkled—and pulled her into his arms.
She burst into tears.
Theo held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. "It’s okay," he murmured. "I’ve got you."
Mira sobbed into his chest, her body shaking. "I can’t do it, Theo. I can’t keep up. He’s going to fire me."
Theo’s arms tightened around her. "Then let me help."
Mira pulled back, shaking her head. "I can’t. I won’t be dependent on you."
Theo cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "This isn’t about dependency. It’s about survival. You’re killing yourself trying to prove something, and for what? So you can say you did it alone?"
Mira’s breath hitched. "I don’t want to be weak."
Theo’s voice softened. "Asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human."
Mira’s throat tightened. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to let go, to let him carry some of the weight.
But she was scared.
Theo pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let me help you. Please."
Mira closed her eyes, her heart pounding. She was so tired of fighting alone.
"Okay," she whispered.
Theo exhaled, pulling her close again. "Thank you."
Mira buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.
---
Theo didn’t waste time.
The next morning, he showed up at her office with a team of lawyers and a very unhappy Daniel.
Mira watched from the sidelines as Theo laid out the evidence—emails, timestamps, witness statements—proving Daniel’s targeted harassment. Daniel’s face paled as Theo’s lawyers threatened legal action.
By the end of the meeting, Daniel had no choice but to back down.
Mira’s job was safe.
She stood in the hallway afterward, her hands shaking. Theo walked over, his expression unreadable.
"You didn’t have to do that," she said quietly.
Theo studied her. "Yes, I did."
Mira’s throat tightened. "I don’t know how to thank you."
Theo’s voice was soft. "You don’t have to thank me. Just let me be there for you."
Mira’s eyes burned. She wanted to. God, she wanted to.
But she was still scared.
Theo reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I’m not going anywhere, Mira. No matter how hard you push me away."
Mira’s breath hitched. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to let herself fall.
But she wasn’t sure she could.
Theo pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Go home. Get some rest. I’ll check on you later."
Mira nodded, her heart aching. She turned to leave, but Theo’s voice stopped her.
"Mira?"
She looked back.
"I love you."
Her breath caught. She wanted to say it back. She wanted to scream it.
But the words stuck in her throat.
Theo smiled sadly. "It’s okay. You don’t have to say it yet."
Mira’s eyes burned. She turned and walked away, her heart pounding.
She wasn’t ready.
But for the first time, she wondered if she ever would be.