"Rough day," he said, sitting down across from her.
Kiara nodded, letting out a long sigh. "Yeah. It feels like we're tearing everything apart."
Mike leaned forward, his gaze steady. "We're not tearing it apart. We're rebuilding it. We knew this wasn't going to be easy, but we're doing what's necessary."
Kiara smiled faintly, appreciating his unwavering support. "I know. It's just…hard."
Mike reached across the desk, taking her hand in his. "It's hard because we care. But that's why we're the right people to lead this company. We're not just thinking about profits—we're thinking about the people."
Kiara squeezed his hand, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "You're right. We're doing this for the right reasons."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day slowly easing as they leaned on each other for support.
"We're almost there," Mike said quietly. "Once this is done, we'll finally have a clean slate."