Page 63 of It Happened Again

I hesitated. Years from now, would I regret not saying my piece? Next thing I knew, I stepped up to the podium, trying to recall my speech. I cleared my throat.

"Good evening. Thank you for being here tonight to celebrate the advancement of Orion’s innovative idea initiative..."

I faltered. The lights were hot. The room stifled. Panic tickled the back of my neck. My hands trembled. I tried to keep on but nothing came out.

Except two words, finally. “Fuck it."

The words echoed through the mic like a slap and even surprised me.

A gasp rippled through the room. I blinked. Then took a deep breath and whooshed it out into the microphone.

"Wow, that felt good,” I said, to a smattering of nervous laughter in the crowd.

I rolled my shoulders to wing it. “So here’s the thing. My research project focused on designing an environment to reduce stress—lights, sounds, scents, even the texture of the chair and the walls. And I did it. With the help of the Bellamy Brothers, I created that space. I have fifty pages of data and analysis about that space. And if you’re interested, I’d be happy to email it to you."

I looked out over the audience, catching Patterson’s pinched expression and frozen smile.

"But here’s what the data doesn’t show. I failed. Not the science. The science works. But I failed for the first time in my life. I’d been a straight A student, never failing, but this? Big time fail. I tried to control my whole life the way I controlled the experiences in that room. And the reality ended up quite messy."

A lump rose in my throat.

"The room works. Don’t get me wrong. You step into it and you’ll zone out. It calms you better than anything. But it doesn’t erase backstabbing colleagues. It doesn’t stop power-hungry CEOs—" I smiled coolly at Patterson, who looked like he swallowed a lemon. “It doesn’t stop the coffee machine from breaking or getting a flat tire or having to do your taxes.”

My eyes finally spotted Brooks, standing to the right of the stage, dressed in a tux and holding a bouquet of red roses in his hands.

"It doesn’t fix heartbreak,” my voice softened. I swallowed hard.

“So what did I learn through this journey over the past several weeks? It’s this: None of it matters if you don’t have the right people around you. The people who make you feel safe, seen, supported, and loved.”

I paused for dramatic effect, because dammit I was the holding the mic.

"I’m finally learning to prioritize the people I love most in my life above all else. And that, friends, is the big takeaway. But you won’t find that in a fifty page research report. That’s a freebie, from me.”

I stepped back, heart pounding. Then I dropped the mic.

The crowd reacted with more gasps.

Then Mom stood and clapped. Chelsea, too. All of my family did. And slowly the rest of the room joined, erupting finally into cheers.

Brooks met me at the steps. I ran into his arms, burying my face in his neck.

"That was perfect, baby. So brave. I love you so much,” he cried. “Now what?”

I looked up, tears slipping down my cheeks. "I don’t know. Patterson’s going to be pissed."

He grinned. "I think the crowd liked your brutal honesty though.”

Rex stepped up beside us, clapping me on the shoulder. "You just single-handedly cost Orion our investment. Patterson’s an ass. But if you’re looking for a new job, Maisy, I know plenty of other people and companies in this field.”

Brooks interrupted, voice warm and sure. "Thanks, Rex. But I think if Maisy agrees, we’re going to disappear for a while. Maybe to a private island. Just the two of us."

I nodded, eyes on his. "That’s what I want."

He kissed me then. Slow. Deep. Right there in front of everyone.

And the crowd? They cheered louder.

Turns out, honesty with yourself and others is the best course of action.

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