Jake
The conference room was bustling with activity, the PR team huddling over last-minute adjustments to the setup, and there, at the center, was the interviewer, young, poised, and effortlessly professional. I had seen her a few times in videos but I never really took a good look at her. Seeing her now, I realized what the hype about her is, she's pretty and seemed so professional.
Her smile was warm but precise, the kind that communicated both empathy and the expectation of answers. It was a small comfort, in a way, the last thing I wanted was to face an adversarial interview. Not today, when so much was already riding on this.
I stole a glance at Laura, who was standing quietly off to the side, her face a mask of calm encouragement. She caught my gaze and nodded, as if to say, 'You've got this.'
The interviewer approached me and extended a hand. "Mr. Robbins, it's a pleasure," she said smoothly. "My name's Fiona, and I'll be guiding the conversation today. I'll go over the structure briefly, just so there are no surprises."
Her tone was professional, but there was an undeniable edge of curiosity in her eyes. I forced a smile, determined to stay calm.
"Thank you, Fiona," I replied, shaking her hand. "Let's get to it."
She smiled and launched into her overview of the interview: the questions she'd cover, the general direction she wanted to take. "Our goal here is to be fair and transparent, Mr. Robbins. There will be questions about the allegations Kurt raised, naturally, but we want to give you a platform to share your side of the story as well."
The PR team was waiting to display recommended answers on a discreet monitor to my right, and I would read from there. I felt a pang of discomfort at the thought of rehearsed responses. Laura must have sensed my hesitation because she quickly came over and whispered, "Just speak from the heart, Jake. They need to hear the truth, not a PR statement. Tell your truth and leave the everything else to play out naturally."
She was right. I straightened up, letting her words sink in. This was my story to tell, and only I could convey the complexity of it all. The damage was real, and I needed the public to know it, no filters, no rehearsals. Just the truth.
The countdown began, and Fiona gave a gentle nod, signaling that we were about to start. I took a deep breath, let the room fade into the background, and waited for her first question.
The interview began with Fiona covering some basics, the standard lead-in to warm up the audience. Then came the questions I'd been dreading, the ones aimed directly at my connection with Kurt and the controversial business decisions we'd made. Fiona's eyes searched my face as she posed each question, as if assessing whether I'd try to dodge or deflect.
"So, Mr Robbins what do you have to say about everything that's been going on at the moment? The media has been going crazy and I think the public deserves to know your own side of the story." She let out with her sleek smile.
I cleared my throat and started slowly. "I'll be honest," I began, casting a quick glance toward Laura. "Mistakes were made, and I'm not here to downplay them. I went into business with someone I trusted, Kurt. He was my good friend but I guess I didn't know him well enough or shouldn't have done business with him. That single business decision has had serious consequences for the company and our stakeholders."
As I spoke, the PR team's notes popped up on the screen, suggesting ways to phrase my next point. But I ignored them. I knew what I needed to say, and Laura's words echoed in my mind.
"Kurt and I had a longstanding partnership, but over time, I began to see red flags," I continued, my voice steady. "The promises he made, the way he handled our finances, none of it was adding up. I tried to make amends quietly, to walk away from the partnership, but it became clear that wasn't an option without facing serious repercussions."
Fiona nodded, listening intently. Her gaze didn't waver, and I took that as encouragement to continue. "I know some people might say, 'Why didn't you walk away sooner?' The truth is, I was afraid. I worried about what it would mean for the people who depended on this company. And for that, I take full responsibility."
Fiona leaned in, clearly intrigued by my candor. "Mr. Robbins, there have been rumors that Kurt has gone public with accusations that you were complicit in illegal activities. What do you say to that?"
I didn't flinch. "That's simply not true. Kurt chose to manipulate the truth to fit his narrative, and while I can't change what he's said, I can set the record straight. Yes, I went into business with him, and yes, I trusted him, but I had no part in any illegal activity." I thought of telling the truth about Kurt's illegal involvement but I didn't want it to seem like I was throwing him under the bus. Also, it would only fuel the enmity between us the more and I didn't want that.
Laura's words kept me grounded as I looked into the camera, addressing the public. "I owe my team, my investors, and my community an apology for not seeing it sooner. But I promise, from this point forward, we're going to make things right."
By the time the interview wrapped up, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Fiona gave me a small, reassuring smile as she thanked me for my time, but I could tell she was impressed… impressed that I hadn't tried to twist the story or point fingers. I simply told the truth.
The PR team burst into applause as the interview ended, and I felt my shoulders relax for the first time in days. The adrenaline of it all started to fade, and I looked over at Laura, who was standing off to the side, her eyes brimming with pride. I walked over, intending to thank her, but she surprised me by pulling me into a hug, her arms tight around me.
"You did it, Jake," she murmured. "You did it exactly the way it needed to be done."
I pulled back slightly, looking down at her with newfound admiration. "I couldn't have done it without you, Laura. You kept me steady through all of this. You believed in me when I was ready to give up."
She smiled, and for a moment, the entire room seemed to fade into the background. "Come on," she said softly. "Let's get out of here."
We left the office and drove back together, while the driver took her car home.
"What's wrong? Why are you stopping here?" Laura asked when I suddenly parked beside the road.
I didn't say a word and just hopped out and went to her side to get the door for her.
"You asked me to trust you and I did. Now is your turn to trust me too." I let out and then took her hand and helped her out.
Her hand rested on mine as I guided us through the quiet city streets. The evening was calm, a gentle breeze rippling through the trees as I parked near the edge of a nearby park. The moon hung low, casting a silvery glow over the path in front of us.
Laura looked at me, a questioning smile on her face. "What's on your mind, Jake?"
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I wanted to thank you properly. Not just for today but for everything. You've been my rock, Laura. Without you, I'm not sure I'd have had the strength to do any of this."
She shook her head, her gaze softening. "Jake, you don't have to thank me. You stood up and did what was right. I just helped you see it."
"Besides you would have done more. In fact, you did more when I needed help too. How could I then sit by and watch you get eaten by the false narratives." She retorted.
We walked a little further, the world around us quiet and serene. I stopped, turning to face her. "I don't know where this journey is going to lead us, but I do know one thing. I want you in my life, Laura. For as long as you'll stay." I let out slowly while she looked up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight with a sweet smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Jake," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Without thinking, I leaned in, closing the distance between us. Our lips met, soft and slow, and for that brief moment, everything else faded away. It was just us, wrapped in each other's arms, under the moonlight…