At 50, I believed my career was over. But when I started working at a fast-paced startup, I soon became the target of a jealous young colleague. What happened next was more than just a struggle for respect; it led to a surprising twist that changed everything.
After losing my husband, I felt lost, like a ship without a direction. Days blended together, and finding a new purpose seemed impossible.
The psychology degree I had put aside years ago suddenly felt like my last hope. So, I decided to pull it out and use it in my 50s.
Source: Midjourney
When I got an internship at an IT startup, I couldn’t believe it. Technology wasn’t really my thing
But I thought, “Why not? This might be the fresh start I need.”
My new boss, Liam, was 28 years old. He was smart, driven, and focused only on one thing: success. Profits, growth, numbers.
People? Not so much.
In our first meeting, Liam hardly looked at me. I could feel his doubt.
“So, I was thinking,” I started carefully. “It might be good to focus on building stronger connections within the team…”
Liam cut me off. “We’re growing fast. I need results. What do you suggest?”
“Well, it’s about finding balance.”
“You’re just an intern, right? Just listen and repeat,” he said, turning back to his laptop.
That was it. The conversation ended. I left the office feeling defeated.
Maybe I am too old for this.
I needed a fresh viewpoint, so I called my best friend Jake.
Jake had always been my rock, especially after my husband died. There were days I couldn’t even get out of bed, but Jake was always there, helping me through the grief.
We decided to meet at our usual café, a cozy place where time seemed to slow down.
Jake was there when I arrived.
“Hey, Mary. You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind,” he said, waving me over.
I sat down. “I don’t know, Jake. This new job is tougher than I thought. Liam’s young, and he only cares about numbers and profits.”
“Liam, huh? The young boss you mentioned?”
I sighed. “Yes. He doesn’t care about people. I shared some ideas, but he dismissed them.”
“Sounds like he’s missing the bigger picture,” Jake said. “You’ve been through a lot. You know how to help people connect. Why not use that?”
I looked at him, puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
“Remember that emotional support program you wrote as your thesis? Why not offer it as the team-building event? It’s what you know best, and it works.”
I thought for a moment. He was right. The program had helped me regain my strength after my husband passed.
“Maybe you’re onto something,” I said, feeling a bit hopeful. “I’ll pitch the idea to Liam.”
Jake smiled. “That’s the spirit! And remember, if anyone can reach a guy like him, it’s you.”
With renewed confidence, I approached Liam the next day. After explaining the team-building event, I watched his face, hoping for interest.
“Okay, Mary. Let’s give it a try,” Liam said, though his tone was flat.
“Thanks, Liam. I’ll make sure the team benefits.”
Suddenly, I saw Lora standing outside the office, clearly listening to us. She stepped into my way as I tried to leave.
“Team-building, huh? Sounds like a big project,” she said, her eyes sparkling with something I couldn’t quite place.
“It should help everyone connect better,” I said, trying to stay positive despite feeling uneasy around her.
“Liam agreed to this? Surprising, since he’s not really into this soft stuff.”
I shrugged. “He’s willing to try, so that’s something.”
She paused and smiled too brightly.
“Hey, since you’ll be busy organizing the activities, why don’t I handle the logistics? I’m good at that kind of thing.”
I hesitated; something felt off. Still, I didn’t want to seem untrusting, especially since I was new.
“That will be helpful,” I said. “Thanks, Lora.”
“No problem! I’ll take care of everything.”
At the time, I had no idea she had her own plans. I was just grateful for the assistance.
The day of the team-building event was supposed to be my chance to shine. But when I got to the venue, there was nothing. No decorations, no people, and no sign of an event.
Something was wrong. As I stood there, staring at the empty room, my phone rang. It was Liam.
“Mary, where are you? Everyone’s here waiting. You said you’d run this thing, and now you’re not even here!”
Panic hit me. “What!? Liam, I’m at the location I arranged. No one’s here.”
“What location?” His voice grew cold. “The whole team’s at the new place Lora said you picked.”
Lora. Of course.
It was a trap, and I had fallen for it. That was her way of making me look bad in front of Liam.
“I’m on my way,” I said before hanging up.
I called Jake. “Jake, I need your help. Fast.”
“What happened?”
“Lora changed the location for the team-building without telling me. I can fix it, but it needs to be at my place, not Lora’s. I need you to bring everyone to my house.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there soon,” he said immediately.
I hurried home, just in time to set things up.
I arranged tables on the terrace, lit lanterns, and made the garden feel warm and inviting. My nerves were high, but I wasn’t going to let this defeat me.
Jake arrived with the entire team in his van. They stepped out, looking confused but curious about the cozy setting.
The event was going better than I expected. People paired up, laughing and chatting, their usual office facades dropping away. The atmosphere in my garden worked its magic.
Liam, who had always seemed serious, was finally loosening up. He moved around, talking to everyone, even smiling.
I noticed Lora and Liam chatting together. I got a bit closer, curious about what they were saying.
“This place is really nice,” Lora said, looking around.
“Yeah, I have to admit, it’s different from the usual corporate events.”
Lora laughed lightly. “Different is good, right? We often get stuck in our little bubbles at work.”
Liam leaned back in his chair. “You’re right. I didn’t realize how much the team needed this. We focus so much on results, we forget something important.”
I saw them both relaxing. For a moment, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
Maybe this event would help them connect in more ways than one.
I caught Lora watching me from across the garden. Even though the evening went well, I sensed this wasn’t over.
As the night came to an end and people started leaving, I saw Lora with Liam near my wardrobe. Lora looked around and picked up a stack of papers, flipping through them quickly.
“Hey, Mary,” she called out. “What’s this? Something important?”
Liam’s face turned red with anger when he noticed the papers in Lora’s hands. He grabbed them.
“What the hell are these doing here?” he snapped, glaring at me. “I prepared these for a meeting with investors. I left them on my desk, Mary.”
I opened my mouth to explain, but he didn’t let me.
“Don’t act innocent. It’s obvious now. You’re working for the competition, aren’t you? I trusted you!”
“No, Liam, I…” I started, but he waved me off.
“We’ll talk later. Stay out of my way for now.”
With that, he stormed out. I turned to Lora.
She smirked. “I didn’t think those documents were that important. I just wanted to teach you a lesson.”
“A lesson? You’ve ruined everything!”
Still, I believed the real Lora, the one I’d seen laughing with Liam earlier, was still in there somewhere. But at that moment, she chose to be her worst self.
I sank into a chair, feeling completely defeated. Jake came over, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Everything happens for a reason, Mary. Don’t give up yet.”
When I got a message from Liam asking to meet the next day at the office, I felt nervous, but I decided to go in with my head held high.
The next afternoon, I walked into the office with a heavy heart. I saw both Liam and Lora there.
“Mary, I… I need to apologize,” Lora began, her voice shaky. “I was the one who moved the location for the team-building event. I wanted to make you look bad, and… I also planted those documents on your desk.”
“Why?” I asked, barely believing her.
Lora sighed, looking down.
“I was jealous. I thought you were stealing Liam’s attention from me, and I let that cloud my judgment. But after the team-building event and hearing what you said… I realized how wrong I was.”
Liam, who had been quiet, stepped forward.
“She’s telling the truth, Mary. Honestly, I’m grateful for what you did.” He looked at me, his tone softer. “That night in your garden, I felt like a normal person again. I started to notice things I hadn’t in years. It was a wake-up call.”
He glanced at Lora and winked, making her blush. I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed the relaxed atmosphere of that evening did more than I hoped.
Liam turned back to me. “Mary, your methods worked. From today, I’d like to make it official. You’ll be the company’s emotional recovery coach.”
I was stunned, then broke into a smile. “Really? Thank you, Liam.”
Liam added, “And we’ve got more to celebrate. The morning meeting with the investors went great. So, I’m inviting the whole team to stay after work tonight for pizza. Let’s make it a tradition!”
I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. The weight of uncertainty was gone. I had found my path and could focus on helpingWhen I got an internship at a tech startup, I couldn’t believe my luck. Technology wasn’t really my area of expertise, but I thought, “Why not? This might be the fresh start I need.”
My new boss, Liam, was 28 years old. He was smart, ambitious, and very focused on one thing: success. He cared a lot about profits, growth, and numbers, but not so much about people.
In our first meeting, Liam hardly looked at me. I could sense his doubt.
“So, I was thinking,” I started carefully. “Maybe we should focus on building stronger connections within the team…”
He cut me off, “We’re growing fast. I need results. What are you suggesting?”
“Well, it’s about creating a balance.”
“You’re an intern, right? Just listen and repeat,” he said, already turning back to his laptop.
That was it. The conversation was over. I left feeling deflated.
Maybe I’m too old for this.
I needed a new perspective, so I called my best friend, Jake.
Jake had always helped me, especially when times were tough. After my husband passed away, there were days I couldn’t even get out of bed. But Jake was there, cheering me on when I struggled with my grief.
We decided to meet at our favorite café, a cozy place nearby where time seemed to slow down.
Jake was already there when I arrived.
“Hey, Mary. You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind,” Jake said, waving me over.
I sat down and sighed. “I don’t know, Jake. This new job… It’s harder than I expected. Liam’s young, and he’s all about numbers and profits.”
“Liam, huh? The boss you mentioned?” Jake asked.
“Yeah. He doesn’t care about people. I shared some ideas, but he just brushed them off.”
“Sounds like he’s missing the bigger picture,” Jake replied. “You’ve been through so much. You know how to bring people together. Why not use that?”
I looked at him, puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
“Remember the emotional support program you created for your thesis? Why not offer that as a team-building event? You know it works.”
I thought for a moment. He was right. The program had helped me heal after losing my husband.
“Maybe you’re onto something,” I said, feeling a bit more hopeful. “I’ll pitch the idea to Liam.”
Jake smiled. “Now you’re thinking. And remember, if anyone can reach a guy like him, it’s you.”
With renewed confidence, I approached Liam the next day. After explaining the team-building idea, I watched his face, hoping for some interest.
“Alright, Mary. Let’s give it a shot,” Liam said, though he didn’t sound too excited.
“Thanks, Liam. I’ll make sure the team benefits from it.”
Suddenly, I noticed Lora, who had been standing outside the office, clearly eavesdropping. She stepped in front of me before I could walk by.
“Team-building, huh? Sounds like a big project,” she said, her eyes sparkling with something I couldn’t quite place.
“It should be a good way to connect everyone,” I said, trying to stay upbeat despite the uncomfortable tension I felt with her.
“Liam agreed to this? Surprising. He’s not into this soft stuff.”
I shrugged. “He’s willing to try, so that’s something.”
She paused and smiled a bit too brightly.
“Hey, since you’ll be busy organizing, why don’t I handle the logistics? I’m good at that kind of thing.”
Something about her offer made me hesitate. Still, I didn’t want to seem untrusting since I was new.
“That would be helpful,” I said. “Thanks, Lora.”
“No problem! I’ll take care of everything.”
I had no idea she had her own plans. I was just thankful for the help.
The day of the team-building event was my chance to prove myself. But when I arrived at the venue, there was nothing—no decorations, no people, and no sign of an event.
Something was wrong. As I stood there, my phone rang. It was Liam.
“Mary, where are you? Everyone’s here waiting. You said you’d be running this thing, and now you’re not even here!”
Panic hit me. “What!? Liam, I’m at the location I arranged. No one’s here.”
“What location?” His voice was sharp. “The whole team’s at the new place Lora said you picked.”
Lora. Of course.
It was a setup, and I had walked right into it. That was her way of making me look incompetent in front of Liam.
“I’m on my way,” I managed to say before hanging up.
I called Jake. “Jake, I need your help. Fast.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“Lora changed the location for the team-building without telling me. I can make it work, but it needs to be at my place, not Lora’s. I need you to bring everyone to my house.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there soon,” he said.
I rushed home with just enough time to prepare.
I set up tables on the terrace, lit lanterns, and made the garden inviting. I was nervous, but I wasn’t going to let that ruin everything.
Jake arrived with the entire team packed into his van. The employees spilled out, looking confused but intrigued by the cozy setting.
The event went better than I imagined. People paired up, laughing and chatting, their usual office masks dropping away. The atmosphere in my garden worked its magic.
Liam, who had always been so serious, was finally relaxing. He moved from group to group, engaging in conversations and even smiling.
At one point, I noticed Lora and Liam together. I edged closer, curious about what they were saying.
“This place is really nice,” Lora said, looking around the garden.
“Yeah, it’s different from the usual corporate events,” Liam replied.
Lora laughed. “Different is good, right? Sometimes we all get stuck in our office bubbles.”
Liam leaned back. “You’re right. I didn’t realize how much the team needed this. We’re always pushing for results and overlooking something important.”
I felt a sense of satisfaction watching them let their guards down. Maybe this event would bring them closer in more ways than one.
I caught Lora looking at me from across the garden. Even with the evening going smoothly, I sensed this wasn’t the end of her games.
As the night wound down and people began to leave, I noticed Lora with Liam near my wardrobe. Lora glanced around and reached for a stack of papers, flipping through them quickly.
“Hey, Mary,” she called out. “What’s this? Something important?”
Liam’s face turned red when he saw the papers in her hands. He snatched them away.
“What the hell are these doing here?” he snapped, glaring at me. “I prepared these for a meeting with investors. I left them on my desk, Mary.”
I opened my mouth to explain, but he cut me off.
“Don’t act innocent. It’s clear now. You’re working for the competition, aren’t you? I trusted you!”
“No, Liam, I…” I tried to explain, but he waved me off.
“We’ll talk later. Stay out of my way for now.”
He stormed out, leaving me with Lora.
She smirked. “I didn’t think those papers were that important. I just wanted to teach you a lesson.”
“A lesson? You’ve ruined everything!”
Still, I believed there was a better version of Lora, the one I’d seen laughing with Liam earlier, but she chose to be her worst self at that moment.
I sank into a chair, feeling defeated. Jake came over and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Everything happens for a reason, Mary. Don’t give up yet.”
When I received a message from Liam asking me to meet him the next day, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I decided to go in with my head held high.
The next afternoon, I arrived at the office feeling heavy-hearted. When I walked in, I saw both Liam and Lora there.
“Mary, I… I need to apologize,” Lora began, her voice shaky. “I was the one who moved the location for the event. I wanted to make you look bad, and… I also planted those documents on your desk.”
“Why?” I asked, hardly believing her.
Lora sighed and looked down.
“I was jealous. I thought you were stealing Liam’s attention from me, and I let that cloud my judgment. But after the event and hearing you speak, I realized how wrong I was.”
Liam, who had been quiet, stepped forward.
“She’s telling the truth, Mary. And honestly, I’m grateful for what you did.” He looked at me, his tone softer. “That evening in your garden, I didn’t just feel like the boss. I felt like a regular person again. I started noticing things I hadn’t in years. It was a wake-up call.”
He glanced at Lora and winked, making her blush. I couldn’t help but smile, realizing the relaxed atmosphere had done more than I hoped.
Liam turned back to me. “Mary, your methods worked. So, from now on, you’ll be the company’s emotional recovery coach.”
I was stunned for a moment and then broke into a big smile. “Really? Thank you, Liam!”
“And we have more to celebrate. The investor meeting went great. I’m inviting the whole team to stay after work tonight for pizza. Let’s make it a tradition!”
I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. The weight of uncertainty was gone. I had found my pathIt looks like you’re interested in a story about navigating workplace dynamics, personal challenges, and the journey of self-discovery. This narrative explores the protagonist, Mary, as she faces challenges in her internship at a tech startup. She encounters a young and ambitious boss, Liam, who prioritizes numbers over people, and a competitive colleague, Lora, who tries to undermine her.
The turning point comes when Mary decides to pitch a team-building event based on her emotional support program, which ultimately transforms the team’s dynamics. Despite obstacles, including Lora’s manipulations, Mary’s efforts lead to a more positive work environment and her own empowerment, as she eventually becomes the company’s emotional recovery coach.
If you’d like to delve deeper into themes like workplace relationships, personal growth, or strategies for effective team-building, feel free to ask!
Comissária de bordo veio até mim e disse: ‘Fique depois do pouso, por favor, o piloto quer falar com você pessoalmente’
Pensei que minha grande viagem de negócios para Los Angeles seria apenas mais um dia até que um pedido misterioso do piloto me fez questionar tudo o que eu sabia sobre meu passado. A verdade que ele compartilhou alteraria meu futuro de maneiras que eu nunca imaginei.
Meu voo para Los Angeles deveria ser tranquilo, mas o que aconteceu durante aquela viagem de duas horas mudou minha vida para sempre. Mas antes de contar a vocês, deixe-me compartilhar por que eu tinha que chegar a Los Angeles naquele dia.
Uma mulher em um avião | Fonte: Midjourney
Então, eu trabalho como arquiteto em uma empresa de construção bem conhecida, e esse é o meu emprego dos sonhos. Deixe-me dizer, não foi sorte que me trouxe aqui. Foi meu trabalho duro e todas aquelas noites sem dormir que passei na faculdade aprimorando minhas habilidades e aprendendo novos conceitos.
Recentemente, meu chefe me deu a oportunidade de apresentar um grande projeto para alguns dos nossos maiores investidores em Los Angeles.
Um homem em seu escritório | Fonte: Pexels
Foi algo MUITO IMPORTANTE porque poderia levar a uma promoção muito esperada, então aceitei a oportunidade com alegria.
Honestamente, eu me senti muito grata por isso porque também foi uma chance de deixar minha mãe, Melissa, orgulhosa. Ela é minha melhor amiga, e isso é principalmente porque ela me criou como mãe solteira. Ela me disse que meu pai faleceu antes de eu nascer, mas ela nunca me impediu de perseguir meus sonhos. Mamãe sempre esteve lá para me apoiar, e eu a amo por isso.
Uma mulher sorrindo para sua mãe | Fonte: Pexels
Então, quando contei a ela sobre a reunião em Los Angeles, ela me abraçou e disse: “Vai pegá-los, querida! Estarei rezando por você.”
O tempo voou no aeroporto, e logo me vi confortavelmente sentado no avião, pronto para decolar. Os comissários de bordo foram todos tão acolhedores, e eu tive sorte de ter um assento vazio ao meu lado!
Quando o avião começou a subir, não pude deixar de me sentir animado. Eu estava bem preparado para minha apresentação, esperando que os investidores gostassem.
Uma mulher em um avião | Fonte: Midjourney
Poucos minutos depois do voo, uma comissária de bordo simpática chamada Bethany se aproximou de mim com uma bandeja de bebidas.
“Posso pegar algo para você beber?” ela perguntou com um sorriso.
“Só suco de laranja, por favor”, respondi, levantando a mão para aceitar o copo. Enquanto eu fazia isso, Bethany olhou para a marca de nascença no meu pulso.
“Desculpe, você pode me dar seu passaporte, por favor?” ela perguntou de repente.
Um close-up de uma comissária de bordo | Fonte: Midjourney
Bem, isso é estranho, pensei.
Confuso, mas sem querer discutir, entreguei-o. Bethany olhou-o cuidadosamente antes de devolvê-lo com um aceno de cabeça.
“Só uma verificação de protocolo padrão. Obrigado!”
Parece legal.
Pouco tempo depois, Bethany retornou ao meu lugar.
“Com licença, você estará com pressa depois que pousarmos?” ela perguntou.
“Sim, tenho um voo de conexão para pegar e já estou atrasado”, expliquei enquanto inconscientemente juntava minhas mãos.
Um close-up de uma mulher em um avião, olhando para frente | Fonte: Midjourney
“Bem, o piloto quer falar com você depois que pousarmos.”
“O piloto?”, perguntei. “Por quê? Ele não pode simplesmente falar comigo agora?”
“Temo que não”, Bethany respondeu em um tom sério. “Ele quer falar com você pessoalmente. Sei que você está com pressa, mas acredite em mim, você vai querer ouvir isso. Você vai se arrepender se não ouvir.”
Uma comissária de bordo falando com um passageiro | Fonte: Midjourney
Fiquei ali sentado, completamente perplexo.
O que diabos o piloto poderia precisar me dizer? E por que teve que esperar até depois que pousássemos? Minha grande reunião estava em jogo, e eu não queria correr o risco de perder minha conexão. Mas a insistência de Bethany me fez sentir que isso era algo importante.
Quando o avião pousou e os outros passageiros começaram a sair, preparei-me e esperei pacientemente o piloto se aproximar.
Passageiros em um avião | Fonte: Pexels
Quando a cabine finalmente ficou vazia, um homem alto com cabelos grisalhos entrou e seus olhos imediatamente encontraram os meus.
Naquele momento, eu literalmente deixei cair minha bolsa e jaqueta. Meu queixo quase caiu no chão porque eu podia jurar que já tinha visto esse homem antes.
Eu o reconheci imediatamente de fotos antigas que minha mãe me mostrou. Este era Steve, seu amigo de infância.
Mas o homem não pareceu feliz em me ver.
Um piloto em um avião | Fonte: Midjourney
Na verdade, lágrimas escorriam pelo seu rosto enquanto ele jogava os braços ao meu redor em um abraço apertado. Fiquei ali, completamente perplexa, enquanto ele soluçava no meu ombro.
“O que está acontecendo?”, perguntei com a voz trêmula. “O que aconteceu?”
Ele se afastou, olhando para mim com olhos vermelhos. Então, ele gentilmente pegou minha mão e revelou uma marca de nascença em seu pulso. Era exatamente igual à que tinha no meu.
“Courtney”, ele engasgou, “eu sou seu pai”.
Um piloto falando com uma mulher | Fonte: Midjourney
“Espera, o quê?” Olhei para ele com os olhos bem abertos. “Meu pai? Mas a mamãe disse…”
Por que mamãe mentiu para mim? Eu pensei. Por que ela nunca me disse que Steve era meu pai?
“Não sei o que Melissa te disse, Courtney, mas esta é a verdade”, Steve continuou. “Ela desapareceu de repente da minha vida quando eu estava prestes a frequentar a escola de aviação.
Um jovem estressado sentado em um banco | Fonte: Pexels
“Ela nem me contou que estava grávida… Eu… Eu soube por meio de uma amiga, mas foi anos depois que você nasceu.”
Naquele momento, tudo o que eu queria fazer era confrontar a mamãe. Eu queria descobrir por que ela deixou Steve. Eu queria saber por que ela escondeu tudo de mim.
Peguei meu telefone imediatamente e liguei para ela.
Uma mulher segurando um telefone | Fonte: Pexels
“Mãe, por que você nunca me contou sobre Steve?”, exigi assim que ela respondeu. Coloquei-a no viva-voz para que Steve pudesse ouvir. “Por que você escondeu isso de mim?”
“Steve? O que você quer dizer, querido?” ela perguntou, ainda tentando esconder a verdade de mim.
“Mãe, por favor, pare!” Revirei os olhos. “Acabei de conhecer Steve no avião. Ele está aqui comigo. Agora, por favor, me conte tudo. Preciso de respostas. Ele precisa de respostas!”
Uma mulher olhando para o seu telefone | Fonte: Midjourney
Depois de alguns segundos de silêncio, mamãe finalmente falou. Sua voz estava carregada de emoção quando ela começou a explicar.
“Oh, Courtney, sinto muito”, ela chorou. “Quando éramos jovens, Steve queria ir para a escola de aviação e se tornar um piloto. Mas então eu engravidei de você… e… e eu sabia que se ele descobrisse, ele desistiria de seus sonhos para estar conosco…”
Uma mulher segurando um teste de gravidez positivo | Fonte: Pexels
“Eu não podia deixá-lo fazer isso”, ela continuou após uma pausa. “Então, eu fui embora sem contar a ele. Eu pensei que era a coisa certa a fazer na época, mas agora posso ver o quanto isso machucou todos nós.”
O rosto de Steve se contraiu enquanto ele ouvia.
“Melissa,” ele engasgou, “Eu… eu te amei tanto. Eu teria feito qualquer coisa por você e por nosso filho… Por que você não confiou em mim?”
Um homem olhando para um telefone em sua mão | Fonte: Midjourney
“Steve? Oh meu…” Mamãe arfou. “Eu… eu pensei que estava protegendo você. Eu estava com medo. Sinto muito, Steve. Sinto muito, muito mesmo.”
Eu senti como se minha cabeça estivesse girando. Todos esses anos, minha mãe mentiu para mim sobre o destino do meu pai, e agora aqui estava ele, um completo estranho, abrindo seu coração para nós dois. Eu não conseguia processar tudo.
“Mãe, isso é… isso é muita coisa para assimilar,” gaguejei. “Já estou atrasado para a grande reunião com os investidores… Não sei como vou chegar em LA agora.”
Um close-up do rosto de uma mulher | Fonte: Midjourney
Os olhos de Steve se arregalaram quando mencionei os investidores.
“Você vai para LA? Sobre o que é a reunião?”
Expliquei rapidamente os detalhes para Steve. Contei a ele como eu deveria apresentar um grande projeto para garantir uma grande promoção no trabalho.
Percebi que sua expressão mudou quando contei tudo sobre a empresa e os investidores.
“Bem, então não podemos deixar você perder essa reunião”, ele declarou, “porque eu conheço esses investidores muito bem, Courtney.”
Um homem conversando com sua filha | Fonte: Midjourney
“O quê? Como?” Eu perguntei.
“Eu costumava pilotar o jato particular deles alguns anos atrás, e eles foram muito gentis comigo”, Steve revelou enquanto deslizava seu telefone. “Deixe-me fazer algumas ligações, e eu coloco você na frente deles hoje.”
Fiel à sua palavra, ele entrou em ação, fazendo uma série de telefonemas abafados. Em uma hora, eu me vi sendo conduzido a uma sala de conferências chique. Eu não conseguia acreditar.
Pessoas em uma sala de conferências | Fonte: Pexels
A melhor parte foi que a reunião foi melhor do que eu poderia imaginar. Os investidores ficaram impressionados e concordaram em financiar minha ideia de projeto. Além disso, recebi uma ligação do meu chefe e ele me ofereceu a promoção que eu esperava. Fiquei super feliz!
Quando saí da sala, vi Steve me esperando de braços abertos.
“Você conseguiu!” ele exclamou, me puxando para um abraço apertado. “Estou tão orgulhoso de você, Courtney.”
Um homem sorrindo para sua filha | Fonte: Midjourney
Senti um nó na garganta quando o abracei de volta.
Este homem, que eu nunca tinha conhecido, era agora parte integrante da minha vida, e de alguma forma, parecia certo. Todos aqueles anos sentindo que algo estava faltando me levaram a este momento, e eu não pude deixar de me perguntar o que mais o futuro reservava.
Na semana seguinte, Steve visitou nossa casa para conhecer a mamãe.
Um homem parado do lado de fora de uma casa | Fonte: Midjourney
Foi uma reunião emocionante, cheia de lágrimas, risos e uma sensação de totalidade que estava faltando há tanto tempo. Naquele dia, eu entendi o que era ter uma família completa.
Enquanto eu estava deitado na cama naquela noite, não conseguia parar de pensar na incrível reviravolta dos eventos. Quem imaginaria que um voo de rotina para Los Angeles levaria à descoberta do meu pai há muito perdido? Era o tipo de reviravolta que você só vê nos filmes. Mas aqui estava eu, vivendo isso.
E embora fosse impressionante, não pude deixar de sentir uma sensação de gratidão e entusiasmo pelo que o futuro poderia reservar.
Se você gostou de ler esta história, aqui está outra que você pode gostar: Minha vida entrou em um pesadelo depois que eu acidentalmente vi uma foto do meu doador de esperma “anônimo”. O que deveria ter sido um passo alegre para começar uma família com meu marido se transformou em um dilema impossível. Por quanto tempo posso carregar esse segredo antes que ele destrua tudo?
Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.
O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.
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