All was set. Vicky and his team were ready to pitch their idea to Mirabel and the others in the boardroom. It was Vicky's first idea as an employee at Journals, so he needed to make it count. Everyone assembled in the boardroom, seated and awaiting the presentation. Lucy was once again present, this time sitting beside Vicky. The atmosphere was mixed with tension, anticipation, expectation, and anxiety. Vicky's face was pale with fear, and various thoughts ran across his mind: "What if she doesn't like it? What if she's not impressed? What if it's not perfect enough?" Each time these thoughts came, Lucy would try to calm him down by grabbing his arm and starting a conversation, but Vicky would either respond briefly or ignore her.
Mirabel arose from her seat and stood before her employees. She cleared her throat and said, "Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you all know why we're here today. We're eager to hear what the creative team has come up with. So, let's give them the stage." She sat back down, and Vicky and his team stood up, walking to the front of the room.
"Good morning," Jimmy said. "We're here to pitch you all the idea we've come up with... Here are our plans." Jessica handed out printed copies of their plan to the others. "So, we'll leave it to Vicky to present the idea we had," Jessica said, pulling Vicky forward.
"What? I told you guys I couldn't do this," Vicky whispered to Jessica. "It's your idea, you're the director, so do it," Jessica replied, pushing him forward.
Vicky took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Mirabel's curious gaze. He got lost for a moment but then regained his composure. "Well, as we all know, the app's name is 'Jot It.' Its function or use is to jot down events that you really enjoyed and would love to remember for the rest of your life or maybe share with others. We discussed and concluded that the ad should be centered on something exciting, common, popular, and sweet – and nothing is sweeter than love."
As the word "love" came out of Vicky's mouth, Mirabel's heart sank. Her memory traveled back to the fun moments she had shared with Charles, the laughs and heartwarming moments they had enjoyed together. Her hands trembled, her heartbeat fast, and her eyes teared up.
"We also thought of centering it on childhood and stuff, but we didn't," Vicky continued. "Inquisitiveness and flashback are the main themes in this ad. Kids will always want to know how their parents met and fell in love. So, in this ad, the character basically jots down the cherished moments they spent with their partner and then brings it back to the present, where they share the memories with their kids. The tagline is 'Save memories for the future.'"
As Vicky finished speaking, the whole room erupted in applause and cheers for the idea. Lucy was elated, clapping enthusiastically even after the others had stopped. Mirabel, however, was still lost in thought, her mind stuck in the past. Her eyes were teary, and her hands trembled.
The room fell silent, awaiting Mirabel's response. For three minutes, everyone stood still, watching her, but there was no reaction. Dianne, seated beside Mirabel, tapped her twice, and Mirabel finally responded, "Huh...?"
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Dianne inquired.
"Yes, I'm fine," Mirabel replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "The idea is nice. Go ahead with it." She hurriedly left the room, both hands covering her face.
"What just happened?" Ethan asked, confused.
"I'm as confused as you are," Tyrone replied.
"Guys, listen," Mason said. "She said the idea is okay. Let's get back to work. We have eight days left to show our ad to the clients, so let's get to it."
The team left the boardroom, but Vicky remained, still standing where he had pitched his idea. "Wasn't it good enough? Was it that bad?" he thought. "I should go and see her, maybe she's not feeling well... Wait, why should I go? Who am I to check up on her? I am her employee, so it's simply appropriate for me to check up on her."
Vicky left the boardroom and headed to Mirabel's office. He reached the entrance, hesitated for a moment, but then knocked on the door.
"Come in," Mirabel's shaky voice called out.
Vicky entered, walking up to her desk. "Can I sit?" he asked.
"Yes, sure," Mirabel replied.
Vicky sat down, his eyes locked on Mirabel's face. "
Vicky sat down, his eyes locked on Mirabel's face. "Are you okay?" he inquired.
Mirabel forced a smile. "Yes, I'm fine."
Vicky's gaze lingered on her face. "You don't look alright. I mean, your eyes are red. Were you crying?"
Mirabel's expression faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "No, I wasn't crying. Something just went into my eye. Anyway, why are you here?"
Vicky's concern didn't waver. "I just wanted to confirm if you were alright. For the few days I've been here, I've never seen you act the way you did. You're always composed and organized."
Mirabel's smile grew slightly more genuine. "Well, I'm sorry. Your idea was perfect. Tell the others to work on it. I'm sure the clients will love it."
Vicky nodded, standing up. "Okay then." As he turned to leave, he stopped and looked back at Mirabel. "Anything else?" Mirabel asked, her curiosity piqued.
Vicky's expression softened. "Yeah, stay happy and keep smiling. It really suits you."
Mirabel's face lightened up, and she took a deep breath. As Vicky left the office, she whispered to herself, "He's right. I must keep smiling. I must forget the past."
With newfound determination, Mirabel wiped away her tears and focused on the task at hand. She picked up her phone and dialed a number, her voice firm and professional as she spoke to whoever was on the other end.
Meanwhile, Vicky walked back to his workstation, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He had faced his fears and presented his idea, and it had been well-received. As he sat down at his desk, Lucy approached him, a smile on her face.
"Hey, great job back there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so proud of you."
Vicky smiled back at her, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her support. "Thanks, Lucy. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement."
As the two of them chatted, the office buzzed with activity. The team was already working on the ad, their excitement and creativity palpable. Mirabel watched from her office, a sense of pride and hope rising within her. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something special.