At 50, I was ridiculed by a young colleague, but I ended up teaching her a valuable lesson

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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Growing up as a gay child, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper thought he would never be able to have his own children

Nearing sixty, Anderson Cooper had already ended his relationship with Benjamin Maisani, his longtime partner, when he became a father. The two ex-couples did, however, reunite, but not in a romantic setting.

It took years before Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani’s relationship was made public because they were so secretive about it. The couple’s dating history dates back to 2009.

The pair was revealed to be residing together at Anderson’s firehouse home by Daily Mail in March 2018. He later made renovations to the $4 million Manhattan, Greenwich Village home he purchased.

Anderson Cooper on an episode of "Watch What Happens Live" on November 30, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

It wasn’t until May 2015 that Anderson and Benjamin disclosed their relationship. The CNN news presenter posted a picture of him and Benjamin on Instagram at the time, writing:

“I suppose you start to pose the same when you’re with someone for a long time.”

Following that, Anderson began to share more details about his connection. So much so that he and his boyfriend co-starred in an Architectural Digest edition in August of 2016.

The couple was displaying their remote co-owned house in a region of Brazil at the time. Benjamin discussed the attention his relationship with Anderson was receiving in 2014 when he spoke with French Morning.

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani at the Windward School Benefit on March 10, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

In March 2018, after a decade of dating, Anderson’s spokesperson confirmed that the journalist and Benjamin had separated. According to reports, the CNN anchor explained the split by saying:

“Benjamin and I separated as boyfriends some time ago. We are still family to each other, and love each other very much.”

Anderson explained that he and his ex-boyfriend remained best friends and would continue sharing their lives. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the television personality revealed one of the reasons that caused them to break up.

He shared how Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to have children. However, Anderson didn’t wait to have another partner before working on his dream of becoming a father and fulfilling it at age 53.

In 2020, when reaching the end of his segment on CNN, Anderson revealed that his first child and son, Wyatt Morgan, had been born. He also opened up about why the milestone was especially significant for him, stating:

“As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child.”

The star shared his gratitude for the people who paved the way for him to realize his dream. He also shared his appreciation of the nurses and doctors who took part in helping welcome his son.

Following ten years of dating, Anderson’s representative said that the journalist and Benjamin had split up in March 2018. The CNN host reportedly stated the following to explain the split:

“A while back, Benjamin and I called it quits on our relationship. We still love and care for one another as if we were family.

Anderson clarified that he would continue to share their lives and that he and his ex-boyfriend were close friends. One of the reasons behind their breakup was disclosed by the television personality in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

He revealed that Benjamin wasn’t certain he wanted to start a family. But Anderson didn’t wait to find a new partner to work toward and realize his 53-year-old dream of becoming a father.

At the conclusion of his CNN segment in 2020, Anderson disclosed the birth of Wyatt Morgan, his first kid. He also revealed the reason the achievement held particular significance for him, saying:

“As a gay child, I never imagined that having a child would be possible.”

The celebrity expressed his appreciation to everyone who helped him achieve his dream. He also expressed his gratitude to the medical professionals that assisted in the birth of his son.

In addition, the TV celebrity shared four photos of his infant son on Instagram. The first picture shows him tenderly nursing Wyatt. He disclosed that the boy was just three days old in the caption of the photo.

He gave an explanation of how the child’s first name matched that of his own father, who died when he was only 10 years old. The second name belonged to his mother’s side of the family, Gloria Vanderbilt, and was also favored by his parents.

Anderson claimed at the time that he had discovered a list his parents had created 52 years prior while choosing his name. At birth, Wyatt reportedly weighed 7.2 pounds and was hailed as “sweet, soft, and healthy.”

The journalist also expressed gratitude to the surrogate mother for bearing him, providing him with a loving and sensitive watch, and giving birth to the boy. He also expressed gratitude to the surrogate’s family for their help both before and after the procedure.

In closing, Anderson expressed his hope that his brother Carter, mother, and father could have seen his son grow up. But he made the decision to think they could see his child, and he saw them cuddling up to each other while grinning and laughing.

He was content that their family line will live on and that their love was still present in both Wyatt and him. Anderson learned in August 2020 that Wyatt was sleeping on an unusual schedule for a youngster who was just about four months old at the time.

The newborn was getting twelve hours of sleep every night! The CNN anchor clarified that he was receiving help from a nurse and made a joke about not knowing what she did—but she didn’t use booze or Ambien—to put the youngster to sleep so much!

Anderson had one requirement, despite having help from someone else in caring for the child. The celebrity declared that he opposed having a single parent raise his child.

In May 2020, Anderson gave an explanation for his decision to not raise his child by himself on “The Howard Stern Show.” The celebrity talked about how his mother raised him and his brother as a single parent after losing his father and how she wasn’t very paternal.

He wished there had been another adult in his life to cover that absence. Someone who occasionally offered to take him out to lunch or a ball game, or who suggested having a conversation with him; the journalist added:

“Therefore, I reasoned that I would be in favor of more people loving my son and being in his life, even if nothing bad happened to me.”

He mentioned how, if it were possible, he would want to have two parents. Ironically, because of their good relationship, he and Benjamin continued to live together in their house after their breakup.

Anderson said that things were “weird” between him and the nightclub owner. Despite his early reluctance, Benjamin eventually changed his mind and is today a wonderful co-parent to young Wyatt.

The former couple resided in the Greenwich Village firehouse that Anderson purchased and remodeled in 2009. According to the celebrity, Wyatt would likely refer to Benjamin as “Papa” whereas he would be called “Dad” or “Daddy” because he was French.

Anderson quipped that the businessman was speaking to the young child in his own tongue and that he might be manipulating Wyatt by not understanding what he was saying! But the journalist denied that the ex-couple might reconcile when asked if it would be possible.

In August 2020, Anderson talked to WSJ magazine about how becoming a father had made him realize how much life had changed. Despite being 53 at the time, he talked about how he felt like he was waiting for his real life to start.

The actor claimed that he had been concentrating on moving forward or telling a tale, but that concentrating on Wyatt brought order to the situation. The anchor for the news said, “It’s changed everything.”

Due to his night shift employment, Anderson used to wake up late as well, but after Wyatt’s arrival, he now wakes up at seven in the morning. Since his son’s awakening marked the highest point of his day, it was his objective to rise before him.

Benjamin [Maisani] and the infant [Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper], who weighed 6.8 lbs. at birth, would also share co-parenting duties.
When the young boy saw him, he delighted to see him stretch and smile. From the third floor, Anderson went to his son’s room on the fourth, where he waited for him to make noises to let the star know he was awake before entering to see how he was doing.

The TV celebrity stated to People magazine in June 2020 that he would be willing to grow his family in the future. But first, he needed time to get a better night’s sleep and clear his thoughts!

It would be wonderful, he thought, to have a brother or sister for Wyatt. Then, on “Anderson Cooper 360°,” in February 2022, Anderson revealed that he had welcomed Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, his second son, via surrogacy!

Benjamin and the infant, who weighed 6.8 pounds at birth, would also share co-parenting duties. The celebrity also disclosed at that time that Wyatt’s last name would be changed to Maisani-Cooper and that his former partner was in the process of adopting the child.

But in December 2020, following Wyatt’s birth, Anderson acknowledged that he was “tired more than I’ve ever been.” He did, however, adore being a father and “wouldn’t change it for the world,” and he frequently broke down in tears when he saw his kid.

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