Nadia's heart sank the instant she sat back down.
She had screwed up.
Badly.
She had completely shattered the momentum Mika had been building, the careful pressure he had applied without even consulting him.
She had stepped in while he was still moving, still speaking, still doing exactly what was needed. And from the way he was looking at her now, he was not happy about it at all.
Her stomach twisted with regret. She hated that cold, disappointed stare more than anything in the world.
So she immediately reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a gentle, almost desperate shake.
"I-I'm sorry, Mika." She whispered, voice low enough that only he could hear. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, but I had to."
"The situation was getting too out of hand. I was worried something drastic would happen, so I...I went over you and said those things. I'm really sorry for that."
