At 50, I thought my career was behind me. But when I joined a fast-paced startup, I quickly became the target of a young colleague’s jealousy. What unfolded was more than a battle for respect. It led to a shocking twist that changed everything.
Losing my husband left me feeling like a ship adrift. The days blurred together, and it seemed impossible to find purpose again.
The psychology degree I’d tucked away years ago suddenly seemed like my last lifeline. So, I dusted it off and decided it was time to use it in my 50s.
When I landed an internship at an IT startup, I could hardly believe it. Technology wasn’t exactly my field.
But I thought, “Why not? Maybe this is the fresh start I need.”
My new boss, Liam, was 28. Sharp, ambitious, and a bit too focused on one thing. Success. Profits, growth, numbers.
People? Not so much.
During our first meeting, Liam barely looked at me. I could feel the skepticism rolling off him.
“So, I was thinking,” I began cautiously. “It might help if we focus on building stronger connections within the tea…”
Liam interrupted me, “We’re growing fast. I need results. What exactly 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’s over. I left the office feeling deflated.
Maybe I am too old for this.
I needed a fresh perspective, so I called Jake my best friend.
Jake had always been the one to pull me through, even in my darkest moments. After my husband passed away, there were days when I couldn’t even get out of bed. But Jake was there, encouraging me when I couldn’t see past the grief.
We agreed to meet at our usual spot, a quiet café around the corner from my place. It was one of those cozy spots 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. “I don’t know, Jake. This new job… It’s harder than I thought. Liam’s young, and he’s all about numbers and profits.”
“Liam, huh? The 28-year-old boss you told me about?”
I sighed. “Yeah. He’s not focused on people. I suggested some ideas, but he brushed them off.”
“Sounds like he’s missing the bigger picture,” Jake replied. “You’ve been through a lot. You know how to bring people together, how to help them connect. Why not use that?”
I looked at him, confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Remember that emotional support program you wrote as your thesis? Why not offer that 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 given me back my strength after losing my husband.
“Maybe you’re onto something,” I said, a bit more hopeful. “I’ll pitch the idea to Liam.”
Jake grinned. “Now you’re talking. And remember, if anyone can get through to 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 some spark of interest.
“Alright, Mary. Let’s give it a shot,” Liam said, though his voice lacked the enthusiasm I’d hoped for.
“Thanks, Liam. I’ll make sure the team will benefit from it.”
Suddenly, my eyes caught Lora, who’d been standing just outside the office, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation. She stepped into my path before I could walk by.
“Team-building, huh? Sounds like a big project,” she said, her eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite place.
“It should be a good way to get everyone more connected,” I said, trying to stay upbeat despite the uncomfortable tension I felt with her.
“Liam agreed to this? Surprising, he’s not really into this soft stuff.”
I shrugged lightly. “He’s willing to try, so that’s something.”
She paused for a moment, then smiled again, a little too brightly.
“Hey, since you’ll be busy organizing all the activities, why don’t I handle the logistics? I’m good at that kind of thing.”
There was something about the way she said it that made me hesitate. Still, I didn’t want to come across as untrusting, especially since I was new.
“That will be helpful,” I said. “Thanks, Lora.”
“No problem! I’ll take care of everything.”
I had no idea at the time that she had her own agenda. I was just grateful for the help.
The day of the team-building event was supposed to be my chance to prove myself. But when I arrived at the venue, there was nothing. No decorations, no people, and no sign that an event was planned.
Something was wrong. As I stood there, staring at the empty space, 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 surged through me. “What!? Liam, I’m here at the location I arranged. No one’s here.”
“What location?” His voice hardened. “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 dialed Jake. “Jake, I need your help. Fast.”
“What happened?”
“Lora changed the location for the team-building without telling me. I can make it work. But it has to be my territory, not Lora’s one. I need you to bring everybody to my house.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there soon,” he said without hesitation.
I rushed home. I had just enough time to pull things together.
I set up tables on the terrace, lit lanterns, and made the garden feel as welcoming as possible. My nerves were on edge, but I wasn’t about to let that situation get the best of me. Not yet.
Jake arrived with the entire team packed into his van. The employees spilled out, looking confused but intrigued by the cozy setting.
The event was going better than I could have imagined. People paired up, laughing and chatting, their usual office facades dropping away. The atmosphere in my garden seemed to work its magic.
Liam, who had always been so serious and closed off, was finally loosening up. He moved from group to group, engaging in conversations, and even smiled.
At one point, I noticed Lora and Liam paired up. I edged a little closer, curious about their conversation.
“This place is really nice,” Lora said, glancing around the garden.
“Yeah, I have to admit, it’s… different from the usual corporate events.”
Lora laughed lightly. “Different is good, right? Sometimes, I think we all get stuck in our little bubbles at the office.”
Liam leaned back in his chair. “You’re right. I didn’t realize how much the team needed this. We’re always pushing for results, overlooking something important.”
I saw them both letting their guards down. For a moment, I felt a pang of satisfaction.
Maybe this event will bring them closer together in more ways than one.
I caught Lora watching me from across the garden. Even with the evening going smoothly, I had a feeling this wasn’t the end of her games.
***
As the evening wound down and people began to leave, I noticed Lora with Liam near my wardrobe. Lora glanced around casually and then reached for a stack of papers. She picked them up, flipping through the pages briefly.
“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 the documents.
“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 give me a chance.
“Don’t pretend to be the innocent intern. It’s obvious now. You’re here working for the competition, aren’t you? I trusted you!”
“No, Liam, I…” I tried, but he cut me off with a dismissive wave.
“We’ll talk later. Stay out of my way for now.”
With that, he turned and left the room. 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 utterly defeated. Jake came over, resting a hand on my shoulder.
“Everything happens for a reason, Mary. Don’t give up just yet.”
When I received a message from Liam asking me to meet him the next day at the office, I didn’t know what to expect, but I decided to go there with my head held high.
The next afternoon, I arrived at the office with a heavy heart, and when I walked in, I saw both Liam and Lora there.
“Mary, I… I need to apologize,” Lora began, her voice shaking slightly. “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 able to believe what I was hearing.
Lora sighed, dropping her gaze to the floor.
“I was jealous. I thought you were drawing Liam’s attention away from me, and I let that cloud my judgment. But after the team-building event and after hearing what you said… I realized how wrong I was.”
Liam, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.
“She’s telling the truth, Mary. And honestly, I’m thankful for what you did.” He turned to me, his tone softer. “That evening in your garden, I didn’t just feel like the boss anymore. 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 and giggle nervously. I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed that the casual, relaxed atmosphere of that evening had done more than I could have hoped for.
Liam then turned back to me. “Mary, your methods really worked. So, from today, I’d like to make it official. You’ll be the company’s emotional recovery coach.”
I was stunned for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. “Really? I… 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. From now on, 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 helping others do the same.
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19 Tips That Can Help You Spot a Fake Item
In 2013, counterfeit goods worldwide accounted for $461 billion. Nike is the most counterfeited brand globally, and Ray-Ban, Rolex, Supreme, and Louis Vuitton are the most copied brands worldwide. And while some copies look almost identical to the originals, there are slight differences we think you should know about.
At Bright Side, we want you to know how to recognize a fake product and the differences between originals and counterfeits in some of the most popular brands.
1. Nike shoes
- Nike Air sneakers have a texture that counterfeit manufacturers cannot imitate. This is because their materials are different, and so are their devices. Thus, in authentic Nike shoes, you will notice a hardness in the leather that will be missing in the counterfeit ones.
- You will also need to examine the symmetry of the sneakers. If something looks asymmetrical, then it may be a counterfeit product.
2. Ray-Bans
- Authentic Ray-Ban lenses with plastic frames are made in one whole piece. If it’s a metal frame, then the central part must look neat and can have small details but no protruding points.
- Most often, the lenses are made of real glass, but some can be made of plastic. To know if yours is one of them, go to the manufacturer’s official website.
- In the upper right corner of the right lens, you can find the inscription of the Ray-Ban logo. It is engraved on the surface of the lens, so it is impossible to erase it.
- On the outside of the temples, there should also be an inscription detailing the manufacturer. In addition, the item’s serial number is usually on the left side and the country of manufacture on the right side.
3. Fila shoes
- If you look at the letter “F” on your Fila shoes, you will notice that there is some irregularity in the stitching. This is perfectly normal on all original Fila shoes. What is not normal is for the letter “F” to be really sharp on the top two edges. On the fake shoes, these edges almost touch the square surrounding the logo, which should not be the case.
- Next, look at the details of the toe cap, especially the holes in the front. There should be the same distance between each hole, but if not, you probably bought a fake pair of sneakers.
- In addition, the heel logo may be completely different. On the original sneakers, that logo is the same as the one on the tongue.
4. Burberry scarf
- The authentic scarf always has well-defined lines and a dense texture.
- The fringe yarns in a scarf should be well rolled and spaced apart, they do not fall apart when touched.
- The brand name on the label attached to the article must be written in capital letters. Also, the label must contain information about the country of manufacture and the composition of the scarf.
5. Gucci handbags
- First, you should examine the two “G’s” on the front of your bag. The serifs of the G’s should be long and sleek looking and not thick. Also, the rounded part of the G should be a perfect oval and not pointed. If the logo looks blurry, it is probably fake.
- Look closely at the stitching, as a genuine Gucci bag will have even stitching. If the stitching on your bag looks uneven in places or is a different color than the bag itself, then you should assume it is a counterfeit.
6. Supreme sweatshirt
- On the collar of this brand’s hooded and non-hooded sweatshirts, there are two dark red labels. On the first, larger, is written the name of the brand with the letter R in a circle. On the second, you’ll find the country of manufacture: Canada. There should be a recommendation not to iron the item on the inner label, where you can find the care instructions. Manufacturers of replicas often forget this detail.
- On sweatshirts with embroidered logos, the location of the letters on the red part should be uniform, and the distance between the two should be adequate. If you turn the authentic sweatshirt inside out, you will see a fine mesh of white threads on the back of the logo.
- Supreme complements the hoods of its sweatshirts only with flat laces, which are carefully tied at the ends. Round laces, burned at the ends, or laces with different types of terminations are a sign of counterfeiting.
7. Adidas Yeezy tennis shoes
- First, you have to check the wave pattern on the original Yeezy, which should be sideways with irregular wave prints.
- Next, you can check the tongue of the sneakers. The original Yeezy’s tongues are more curved, while the fake ones look much straighter.
- Check the inside of the shoes and see if the Adidas icon is the same size on each shoe. On some occasions, you may notice that their size differs.
- The stitching on the inside should also be checked, as it may look suspiciously amateurish.
8. New Balance sneakers
- New Balance sneakers have brand symbols on the back, tongue, the side of the sneaker, and the side of the sole, on the sole itself, and the insoles. The logo in the shape of the letter N on the side of the sneaker is made in the form of a patch.
- The original slippers have a soft sole, made of foam material, easily compresses and quickly returns to their original state. The sole protector is made of rubber. The insoles of authentic New Balance shoes have a perforation, logo, size, and information about the model.
9. Toms espadrilles
- The first thing to check is the insoles of your espadrilles. If they can be removed, your footwear is likely fake, as the original insoles are sewn to the bottom.
- Next, you can check the back of the espadrille to look at the logo. The letters of the original brand are perfectly balanced and square. However, the letters of the fake brand are pointed and unbalanced (note the odd shape of the letter “O”). Also, the stitching around the label appears thicker on the fake ones.
- You can also check the sides of the shoes to see if any glue is discernible. A reputable brand would never allow something like this, but a copy would probably have glue all over it.
10. Michael Kors Handbag
- For its bags, the brand uses only cream-colored labels containing the primary information about the product: serial number, shade, material, parameters, the price in USD, and a unique bar code.
- All parts of the original bags are engraved with the brand name. It is applied to magnetic clips, handle rings, clasps, carabiners, and fasteners.
- The brand’s authentic bags are made from a dense material that does not deform even during shipping when the item is packed.
11. Guess handbags
- First of all, fake Guess handbags are not made of leather but are cheaper synthetic material. You can check this by pressing the fabric with your finger. If the wrinkles stay there and do not disappear, it is not genuine leather.
- Next, you need to check the lining of the bag. Original Guess bags have an apparent soft lining, while fake ones sometimes have no lining. And if they do, it is very thin, like a sheet of paper.
- Finally, you can check the metal of the bag. The metal applications of a genuine Guess bag are sturdy and shiny, with a smooth surface. Counterfeiters, on the other hand, use a cheaper material that may appear dull and even have surface marks.
12. Guess watches
- Straps for Guess watches are made of metal, silicone, or natural leather. A lousy product smell, uneven color, cracks, scratches, and wear on the strap indicate that we are dealing with an imitation.
- The back should contain basic information about the watch: a logo with the brand name, the material of the watch body (as a rule, it is steel), and data about the watch mechanism with the engraving Japan Movt (as Guess uses only high-quality Japanese mechanisms).
13. Hermès handbags
- First, check the inside printing of the leather and see how the letters have been printed. The French accent of the letter E should be very elegant and not chopped up, as in the fakes. Also, the letters F and R in the word “France” appear to be glued together, something that would never happen on a genuine Hermès bag.
- Next, you can check the leather strap of the bag and inspect the stitching. On a genuine bag, the stitching looks much more elegant and flawless. In contrast, the stitching on the fake bag is not as elegant and, in some areas, looks thicker than that of the original bag.
14. Lacoste polo
- The Lacoste crocodile is always made with clearly defined details. Its eyes, teeth, legs, and red mouth are clearly visible. The crocodile’s body is bright green, and the tail runs parallel to the back.
- At the base of the polo neck, there is a white label with the logo and a red number indicating the size. In men’s models, it is one number, while in women’s models, it is two.
- An imitation Lacoste polo shirt can be spotted because of a small detail: its buttons. Original Lacoste garments have mother-of-pearl buttons with two holes. They have no inscriptions. Replica manufacturers often forget that, so they use buttons with four holes.
- In the men’s models, at the bottom, on the sides of the polo shirt, there are small openings approximately 1/2 inches deep. In women’s versions, the manufacturer does not make any cuts.
15. Balenciaga shoes
- Balenciaga sneakers have a very recognizable protrusion on the heels. This feature is often missing in counterfeits, as their structure is much weaker.
- Not only that, but the front of the shoe has a much more prominent curve than the originals.
- Also, if you check the back of the shoe, you will notice that the brand name is not well centered. Also, not all the letters are the same size and height, and some appear more significant than others.
16. Pandora bracelet
- The color of the original silver bracelet is a bit dull, not very light or bright. In manufacturing, Pandora uses a blackening technique that gives them this unique tone.
- The new original bracelet keeps its perfect shape and virtually no bending, showing well-defined edges of its striated silver cord.
- The size of the clasp on the original Pandora bracelets is comparable to that of the charms. On the front of the clasp, you can see the engraving of the brand: the word Pandora with a crown above the letter “o.”
- There is a brand-specific fastening in the clasp: a clover in the form of a small screw with four heads that serves to fasten the bracelet securely. In addition, the clasp must bear the quality seal of the metal (indicating its purity) with a mark of origin, the initials ALE.
- Pandora charms have an inscription with the name of the brand and the acronym of the metal they are made of. Since 2011, S means silver, and G is gold. Murano glass charms are free of cracks, broken parts, and air bubbles inside.
17. Levi’s
- The arched design on the back pockets of Levi’s jeans might be the brand’s most recognizable feature. It is either a simple bow or a diamond-shaped arch in the center of the pocket. This feature is often copied remarkably incorrectly on counterfeit jeans.
- In addition, the color of the stitching is traditionally orange on original jeans, while many fakes use white thread.
- The third sign of a fake pair of Levi’s jeans is the red tag on the back pocket. An original pair has “Levi’s” written on the red label, while a fake pair has a plain red tag with the letter “R.”
18. Timberland boots
- The sole has a caramel color, but if you look at it closely, it seems slightly transparent. The company logo and the brand name are printed on them, and the sole is uniform. The heel part does not protrude, but forms a continuous line.
- The logo is located on the outside, at the bottom of the boot above the heel. Its print is uniform and well-defined, located strictly vertically.
- The eyelets on the boots are perfect hexagons, which are ideally rounded on the outside. In men’s models, there are 7, in women’s models, 6.
- All seams on the boots are made with white thread. If there are several seams close, they are clearly parallel to each other.
19. Nike t-shirts
- The first thing to examine is the Nike logo. In most cases, it does not have exactly the same proportions as the original. Its angle and inclination may be different.
- Next, the label inside the T-shirt should be checked for misspellings. The original brand would never misspell words, but counterfeit products may have one or more errors.
- You will also need to look at the labels inside the shirt, near the bottom. Nike’s usually have two or more labels sewn in, while the fake ones usually have only one.
Have you ever unknowingly bought a counterfeit product? How did you recognize that it was not a genuine brand? Could you tell the difference, or did you have to ask an expert?
Preview photo credit Albo73/ Depositphotos.com
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