Mother of the Groom Hires an Unknown Actress to Sabotage the Wedding, but Plans Spiral Out of Control – Story of the Day

A struggling actress takes an unusual job after being hired by a wealthy man’s mother to pose as his girlfriend and sabotage his upcoming wedding. But as she spends more time with him and his fiancée, she questions her actions and the price of her desperation. What will she choose?

Miranda stepped out of the dim audition room, her chest heavy with frustration. The casting director’s parting words, “You’re not interesting enough,” stung more than she wanted to admit.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

With her wallet almost empty, taking a taxi home wasn’t an option, so she trudged along the busy sidewalk, her thoughts clouded with doubt and discouragement.

As she neared a small corner store, a bulletin board tacked outside caught her eye. Among the cluttered ads and flyers, one stood out.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She stepped closer to read the hastily written note: “Looking for a woman to pretend to be my son’s girlfriend. Will pay well.” Beneath the bold letters was a single phone number. No name, no explanation.

Miranda shook her head and chuckled to herself. “People are wild,” she muttered, brushing it off as she entered the store.

At the register, reality hit her hard. The little she could afford—pasta, cheese, and toilet paper—barely filled a small bag.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The notice snagged her attention again as she was heading back. Staring at her meager groceries, she sighed, pulled out her phone, and dialed the number.

“Hello, I saw your ad—” Miranda began, gripping her phone tightly.

A sharp voice cut her off. “Meet me at 7:00 p.m. at Bella Luna. Dinner’s on me.”

Miranda blinked in surprise. “Wait, what—”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The line went dead. She stared at her phone. No name. No details. Just instructions. It felt strange, but with her bills piling up, she didn’t have the luxury to ignore it.

At 7:00 p.m., Miranda entered the restaurant, her stomach fluttering. She scanned the room, unsure who she was meeting.

A middle-aged woman in a tailored suit approached her, her steps confident.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Are you the one who called about the ad?” the woman asked, her tone brisk.

“Yes, I’m Miranda,” she replied, offering a polite smile.

“Leslie,” the woman said, gesturing toward a nearby table. “Follow me.”

Once seated, Leslie leaned forward. “Do you have experience with this sort of thing?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Miranda hesitated. “Not exactly. I’ve never pretended to be someone’s girlfriend before,” she admitted. “But I’m an actress. I think I can do it.”

Leslie nodded, her expression unreadable. “Good enough,” she said. “Here’s the deal. My son is getting married in a month. I need you to make him fall for you and ruin the wedding.”

Miranda’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Your ad said to pretend to be his girlfriend. It didn’t say anything about ruining relationships.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m not stupid enough to write that in an ad,” Leslie said, her voice sharp. “His fiancée isn’t good enough for him. She’s only after his money. You’d be helping him, really.”

Miranda pushed her chair back. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry,” she said, preparing to leave.

“Ten thousand,” Leslie said suddenly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What?” Miranda froze.

“Ten thousand dollars if you break up the wedding. Two thousand if you try but fail. That should motivate you,” Leslie explained, her eyes fixed on Miranda.

Miranda’s breath caught. Ten thousand dollars. Two thousand, even. Her landlord’s threats echoed in her head. She needed the money.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Honey, I don’t have all day,” Leslie snapped.

Miranda swallowed hard. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Good. But don’t slack off. If you do, you get nothing,” Leslie warned, extending her hand.

With a deep sigh, Miranda shook it.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Leslie had it all mapped out, and Miranda followed the plan step by step. Leslie’s son, Jack, was hiring an assistant for his company, so Leslie helped Miranda put together an impressive résumé.

It was polished to perfection, making Miranda seem like the ideal candidate. Jack didn’t hesitate—she got the job almost immediately.

But getting the job was the easy part. The hard part was getting Jack to notice her.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Miranda tried everything Leslie suggested. She wore short skirts and fitted blouses, hoping to catch his eye.

Yet, Jack seemed uninterested. His focus was always on work.

Frustrated, Miranda decided to try something different. She began staying late at the office, waiting for moments when it was just the two of them.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One evening, Jack looked up from his desk and frowned. “You don’t have to stay just because I’m still here,” he said, his tone gentle but firm.

Miranda forced a smile. “I enjoy your company,” she replied, sitting across from him and pretending to organize files.

Over the next two weeks, something shifted. Jack began having longer conversations with Miranda, talking about his life, his goals, and even his favorite movies.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Yet, the more time Miranda spent with Jack, the harder her task became. She had met Katie, his fiancée, the woman Leslie despised.

Katie wasn’t what Miranda expected. She was kind, thoughtful, and genuinely sweet.

She brought homemade cookies to the office, reminded Jack to eat, and calmed him with a soothing word when he was stressed.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One day, Miranda watched as Katie laughed over an origami crane Jack had made for her.

The love between them was undeniable. Leslie’s claims about Katie being a gold-digger felt harder to believe.

Still, Miranda couldn’t back out. Her landlord had already warned her about overdue rent, and the clock was ticking. Desperation outweighed her growing guilt.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One evening, as Miranda stayed late at the office with Jack, her phone buzzed. She sighed, seeing Leslie’s name on the screen. Reluctantly, she answered.

“What’s taking so long?” Leslie demanded. “The wedding is in a week, and he’s still with Katie!”

“I’m working on it,” Miranda replied quietly, glancing at Jack, who was seated nearby, engrossed in his laptop.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“There’s no time left. You need to sleep with him,” Leslie snapped.

“What?! We never agreed to that!” Miranda exclaimed, her voice rising slightly.

“Then fake it,” Leslie said coldly. “Make it look like you did and send me photos. I’m done waiting.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Before Miranda could respond, the line went dead. She stared at the phone, her stomach twisting.

Slowly, she walked back to Jack and sat next to him on the couch, closer than she ever had before.

“Tired?” she asked, her voice softer than usual.

Jack glanced up briefly. “Yeah, a little,” he admitted.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Miranda hesitated, then placed her hand on his arm. “Maybe we could go to a bar. Unwind a little?”

Jack shook his head. “I can’t. Katie made dinner. She’ll already be upset that I’m late.”

“Does it really matter?” Miranda asked, leaning in slightly. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Before Jack could respond, the elevator doors opened. Startled, Miranda pulled back. The sound of heels echoed as Katie appeared carrying two lunchboxes.

“I thought I’d bring dinner since you’re working late,” Katie said, smiling. She handed one box to Jack and turned to Miranda. “I brought some for you, too. You shouldn’t go hungry.”

Miranda stared at Katie, her heart sinking. Without thinking, she blurted, “I can’t do this anymore!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What are you talking about?” Jack asked, confused.

Miranda took a deep breath. “I’m an actress. I was hired to ruin your wedding. Leslie wanted me to make you fall for me. I needed the money, so I said yes. I’m sorry.”

Jack and Katie listened in stunned silence.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m so sorry,” Miranda said again, her voice breaking. “I’m a horrible person.”

“No, you’re just someone in a desperate situation,” Katie said, taking Miranda’s hand.

Miranda shook her head. “Who are you? I just admitted I was trying to steal your fiancé, and you’re comforting me?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Katie smiled gently. “I know Jack loves me. You wouldn’t have succeeded.”

Jack frowned with a hard expression. “I don’t want my mom to get away with this. Will you help us?”

“It’s the least I can do,” Miranda agreed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

They carried out Jack’s plan with careful precision. Fake photos of Miranda and Jack in intimate moments were sent to Leslie.

Her response came quickly—she was excited and praised Miranda, convinced the wedding was ruined.

Meanwhile, Miranda saved screenshots of Leslie’s incriminating messages, knowing they would be crucial.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

At Jack and Katie’s rehearsal dinner, Miranda stood before the gathered guests, her heart pounding.

One by one, the photos, the messages, and even the ad that had first brought her into their lives appeared on the screen.

The room fell silent, then erupted in hushed whispers. Guests exchanged shocked glances, their disbelief palpable.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“This is all lies! I can explain!” Leslie shouted, her face red with anger.

Jack’s expression remained cold as he stepped forward. “Thanks, Mom, but Miranda already explained everything. We know the truth.”

Leslie’s voice rose in desperation. “I only wanted better for you! That woman doesn’t deserve you! She’s not good enough!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Jack said firmly. “I’ll never forgive you for trying to ruin that. Now leave. Don’t come back into our lives.”

Leslie’s mouth opened to protest. “But—”

“Leave now,” Jack interrupted, his tone sharp. “Or I’ll call security.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Leslie’s face twisted in frustration. She grabbed her bag, muttering under her breath, and stormed out, her heels clicking loudly against the floor.

As the room settled, Miranda quietly gathered her things, preparing to slip out unnoticed. Jack noticed and stopped her. “Wait,” he said.

Miranda looked up, hesitant. “What is it?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I spoke to a friend of mine. He has a role in a theater production. You’d be perfect for it,” Jack said.

Her face lit up briefly but quickly fell. “I can’t. I owe you too much already.”

“Stop,” Jack said firmly. “Actors like you are hard to find. You did spend a whole month pretending you enjoyed staying late at the office with me. And you’ll still get your paycheck for this month as my assistant.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Miranda shook her head. “I don’t deserve it. I nearly destroyed your lives.”

Katie stepped forward, her voice calm and kind. “If not for you, Leslie would still be trying to ruin our wedding.”

Miranda hesitated. Katie smiled and added, “Stay for dinner. You’re already here. I’ll be upset if you leave.”

Miranda’s eyes filled with gratitude as she hugged Katie tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Sarah’s life has always revolved around her family, but a devastating call from the hospital forced her to confront everything she had put on hold. As she rediscovers herself and begins living on her terms, a surprising twist changes everything, leading her to see life completely differently.

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50-Year-Old’s Epic Comeback to Workplace Mockery Will Inspire You!

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…”

Source: Midjourney

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.

Source: Midjourney

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.

Source: Midjourney

“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.

Source: Midjourney

“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.”

Source: Midjourney

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.

Source: Midjourney

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.”

Source: Midjourney

“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.

Source: Midjourney

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.”

Source: Midjourney

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.”

Source: Midjourney

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!

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