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!
Сlаudiа Саrdinаlе: Неrе’s whаt thе Itаliаn film iсоn lооks likе аt 85
Claudia Cardinale is Italy’s counterpart to France’s Brigitte Bardot. She quickly rose to stardom to almost just as quickly disappear from the scene later on. Now, Claudia Cardinale celebrates her 85th birthday.
The Italian star was originally discovered at a beauty contest held in 1957 by the Unitalia film company. The “most beautiful Italian woman of Tunis” subsequently won a trip to the Venice Film Festival that was to become a decisive turning point in her life. The sultry young woman was born on April 15, 1938, in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Her mother was French, and her father Italian.
In 1958, Cardinale, known as CC, played her first role in “Goha” opposite Omar Sharif before being trained as an actress at the Italian Film Academy in Rome. Her talents as an actress renowned for her dauntless rambunctiousness gained her fame, and her gaze into the camera became legendary.
Famous director Luchino Visconti gave her minor roles in “Rocco and his Brothers” (1960), as well as in the historical drama “The Leopard” (1962) with Alain Delon. As she later recounted in a biographical interview, she rebuffed all of her famous film partners, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marcello Mastroianni, Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster.
A beauty queen turned into a film diva
Cardinale is Italy’s counterpart of Brigitte Bardot. But in contrast to Bardot, Cardinale never appeared nude in a film: “I always thought it was more erotic to leave some room to imagination, hinting at things rather than showing everything,” she told the German magazine Stern in 2014.
CC achieved her breakthrough with her performance in the highly popular Italo western “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1969). The classical western directed by Sergio Leone and starring Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson was shot in Rome’s Cinecittà studios and in Spain with some scenes set in Utah’s Monument Valley. The film that flopped in the US only acquired cult status in Europe.
CC’s career already saw a downswing in the 1970s. She then turned to television films, especially entertainment films where she showed some talent as a comedian. She got her last main role in a movie in 1971 when she starred opposite her main rival, Brigitte Bardot, in the Italo western comedy “Frenchie King.”
Spending time in a jungle with Werner Herzog
Ten years later, CC starred in German director Werner Herzog’s historical film “Fitzcarraldo” (1981). Although Claudia Cardinale had a difficult time enduring the bouts of anger of her eccentric film partner Klaus Kinski, she greatly enjoyed shooting and working with director Werner Herzog: “Being in the middle of the jungle with insects all around me and nothing to eat was one of my most wonderful adventures,” she later stated.
Claudia Cardinale and other heroines of European film
Claudia Cardinale is seen as Italy’s counterpart to France’s Brigitte Bardot. The actress who became a star in the 1950s and 60s now celebrates her 85th birthday.
Claudia Cardinale
She’s the youngest of Italy’s three major female stars. Claudia Cardinale worked with outstanding directors like Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. She fascinated audiences with her charming smile and acting skills in westerns, among them “Once Upon a Time in the West” and “The Professionals” (pictured).
Gina Lollobrigida
One of the most highly acclaimed European stars of the 1950s and 60s was Gina Lollobrigida who was born in the East of Rome in 1927. “Lollo” even made it to Hollywood where she was equally showered with praise. In the 1970s, however, she withdrew from showbiz.
Sophia Loren
Another Italian actress, Sophia Loren, who was a few years younger than Lollo, became her fiercest rival. The mutual hatred and jealousy of the two stars was a frequent topic in tabloids. In contrast to Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren continued to perform in movies even as an older woman.
Brigitte Bardot
During the same time, another sexpot rose to stardom in France with movies like “And God Created Woman” and “Love is my Profession.” Brigitte Bardot, the superstar of the Grande Nation, withdrew from film production in the 1970s to devote herself to animal rights causes.
Catherine Deneuve
A decade later, Bardot’s compatriot Catherine Deneuve broke onto the film scene. Deneuve differed much from both Loren and Lollo by playing roles as aloof and myterious women early in her career. Deneueve’s talent as an actress guaranteed her success throughout her life.
Romy Schneider
The two decades between 1960 and 1980 were also the golden era of German-French actress Romy Schneider. Born in Vienna, she made her breakthrough in the German-speaking world as “Sissi” before moving to France. In Paris, she became one of the most charismatic and impressive actresses of European film scene. But in her private life, she was anything but lucky. She died in 1982.
Penélope Cruz
One of the most famous Europen actresses in recent decades is Spanish actress Penélope Cruz. Cruz started her career in her home country before achieving fame in other European countries and, finally, Hollywood. Her performances received a lot of acclaim, especially in films by director Pedro Almodóvar, among them “Volver” (pictured).
Irene Papas
After 1945, actresses from smaller European nations were able to conquer the hearts of audiences across Europe. One of them was Irene Papas who is also renowned as a singer in her home country, Greece. She celebrated her biggest success in “Zorba the Greek” (1964) before also working in other European countries, and in Hollywood.
Tatjana Samoilova
While films from Italy, France, Germany and England dominated the film scene during the postwar era, it should not be forgotten that eastern Europe had much to offer too. One of the biggest female stars of Russian film was certainly Tatjana Samoilova who achieved world fame with the movie “The Cranes are Flying” (1957).
Krystyna Janda
Polish actress Krystyna Janda became known in the 1970s for her performances in films by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. She then performed in international co-productions with stars like Lino Ventura. In her home country, Krystyna Janda is also known as a singer and an an author.
In 1993, CC received a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival to be followed in 2002 by an “honorary bear” at the Berlinale. The spirited actress performed in more than 100 films.
In 2017, CC once again drew attention at an international film festival. A photo depicting her as a young actress embellished a placard in Cannes where she had often been invited as an honorary guest. On April 15, Claudia Cardinale will turn 80. Happy birthday!
This article was originally published April 15, 2018 and updated.
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