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!
Leaving Hollywood for her starry-eyed megastar, she finds that love is all you need
Barbara Bach, famously known for her role as Bond girl Triple X, wasn’t waiting for James Bond to come to her rescue; instead, she was on a quest for her own prince charming—rock legend Ringo Starr, also known as Sir Richard Starkey.
Now at the age of 77, Bach reached the zenith of her career when she starred in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, where she portrayed Anya Amasova, a complex character who was both the love interest and a rival to the charming yet womanizing 007, played by Roger Moore.
In a candid 1983 interview with People, Bach didn’t hold back her opinion about her character’s relationship with Bond, referring to him as “a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets”. Moore himself agreed, stating in a 1973 People interview: “Bond, like myself, is a male chauvinist pig. All my life I’ve been trying to get women out of brassieres and pants”.
Before landing her iconic role in the Bond franchise, Bach had appeared in several Italian films, including Black Belly of the Tarantula, where she shared the screen with fellow Bond actresses Claudine Auger and Barbara Bouchet.
Bach’s portrayal of the KGB agent Anya Amasova not only solidified her status as a beloved Bond girl but also opened doors to numerous opportunities in her acting career. Following her Bond debut, she starred in Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy (1980) and Caveman (1981), where she worked alongside Ringo Starr, who played a Neanderthal vying for her affections. Interestingly, the movie’s script contrasted sharply with their actual relationship, as they only became romantically involved towards the end of filming.
In a revealing Playboy feature from 1981, Bach noted: “A lot of garbage has been written about us, none of it interesting. The truth is, we weren’t together until the very end of Caveman. Working, we got along fine, but we each had other people, our respective friends. Then, all of a sudden, within a week—the last week of shooting—it just happened. We changed from friendly love to being in love”.
In a 2021 interview with the Irish Examiner, Starr reminisced about their first encounter at Los Angeles International Airport in 1980. “I love the woman. I loved her from when I first saw her at LAX”, he shared. “I’m blessed she’s in my life, that’s all I can ever say.”
Starr, renowned as the drummer for the legendary band The Beatles, was once part of a performance at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1965, where Bach was present. However, she revealed that she wasn’t an ardent Beatles fan, attending the concert with her sister Marjorie, a passionate follower of the band. “I liked [Bob] Dylan, Ray Charles, and the Rolling Stones”, Bach remarked in a People interview from 1981.
Bach’s sister eventually married Joe Walsh, the Eagles guitarist, who later performed with Starr in the All-Starr Band. Just months after John Lennon’s tragic death, Bach and Starr tied the knot on April 27, 1981, with notable guests including Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Their journey together hasn’t been without challenges. Just before their wedding, the couple survived a near-fatal car accident, which prompted them to vow to stay together. Starr remarked: “We decided we wouldn’t spend any time apart. So far the longest break was five days, and that was too long. I want to live every minute with Barbara”.
The couple also took a significant step together in 1988 by entering rehab, emerging sober since then. Celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in 2021, Starr shared a nostalgic wedding photo with the caption:, “It was 40 years ago today The love of my life said yes yes yes”.
Starr and Bach’s love extends beyond their personal lives; they also have a blended family, with Starr having three children from his late wife Maureen Cox and Bach two from her former marriage to Augusto Gregorini. Together, they run the Lotus Foundation, which supports various causes, including animal welfare, substance abuse, homelessness, and cancer research. Starr donates all proceeds from his art sales to the foundation.
There’s no denying the deep affection shared between Barbara Bach and Ringo Starr, a bond that remains as strong as ever. As Bach expressed: “I love the man, and that’s it”. Starr echoed her sentiments, saying: “There’s no escape… I think I love Barbara as much (today) as I did (when we met), and I’m beyond blessed that she loves me and we’re still together”. Their inspiring love story continues to resonate, and fans eagerly anticipate what they will accomplish together in their charitable endeavors and personal lives.
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