Chapter 8: The Mistake

The office was unusually quiet that late afternoon, the hum of the air conditioning blending with the occasional tapping of keyboards and distant murmurs in the hallways. Lexi sat at her desk, the faint glow of her tablet illuminating her face, which was a mixture of fatigue and fierce determination. She had been working on the Blackwood Gala proposal for days now, refining every detail to perfection. This was her chance — the moment to prove she belonged here, to rise above the chaos of her past freelance gigs and finally claim her place at Blackwood Signature Events.

The theme she'd chosen, Legacy Reimagined, was her vision of a gala that would balance tradition with innovation. A gala that wouldn't just celebrate wealth but would inspire hope, progress, and unity in a city craving change. Maya had told her she was "killing it," and that small boost of confidence was the only thing keeping her from doubting herself completely.

Her fingers hovered nervously over the "Send" button.

Is this really good enough?

Do I belong here?

Lexi glanced around the office. Camille was talking quietly to Ava, glancing in her direction with a smirk that made her stomach twist. Maya caught her eye and gave her an encouraging smile. Lexi took a deep breath and tapped "Send." The email zipped off into the ether, her heart pounding.

Then her stomach dropped.

A sudden, horrifying realization hit her.

She had attached the wrong file.

Instead of the polished, carefully crafted final proposal, she'd accidentally sent Ethan a draft filled with half-written notes, awkward placeholders, and embarrassing comments.

She stared at the screen in disbelief.

One bullet point read: Insert poetic crap here.

Her cheeks burned red as panic began to rise in her chest.

Before she could even think of a way to undo it, her phone chimed. An email reply.

 From: Ethan Blackwood

Subject: Received.

No other words.

Lexi's fingers trembled as she stared at the terse message. Was that a good sign? Or the worst? She wanted to curl up and disappear.

Maya, who had been quietly observing her sudden pallor, leaned over.

"Lexi? Are you okay?"

"I... I sent the wrong file," Lexi whispered, voice cracking. "Not the final one."

Maya's brow furrowed but she didn't push. "That sucks. But you'll figure it out."

The hours dragged painfully. Lexi tried to focus on her other tasks but every glance toward Camille was met with a sharp, judgmental stare. Lexi caught Camille whispering to Ava, who just raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. The silence felt heavy, suffocating. Lexi's confidence slipped further as she replayed the mistake over and over in her head.

Is this how it ends?

When the clock finally struck 4 p.m., Lexi couldn't bear it anymore. She needed answers.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she stood and walked down the nearly empty hallway toward Ethan's office. The sound of her heels echoed against the marble floor, the quiet amplifying her pounding heartbeat.

Her reflection in the glass walls revealed a woman caught between dread and determination.

She knocked lightly.

"Come in," came Ethan's calm voice.

The door opened before she could ask again.

Ethan was seated behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, eyes locked on his tablet.

He looked up slowly, his expression unreadable.

"Ms. Thompson."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I sent the wrong file. It was a draft. Not the final proposal."

His eyes didn't flicker with surprise.

"I know."

"How?"

He tapped on his tablet, scrolling deliberately.

"I read through it."

Lexi glanced at the screen. Her messy notes sprawled across it — awkward ideas, half-formed sentences, and painfully honest placeholders.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to send it like that."

Ethan's voice softened, surprisingly.

"You're lucky I took the time."

She looked up sharply.

His gaze was sharp but thoughtful — not scolding.

"You want to change the narrative," he said, "to make this gala more than just a party for the elite."

Lexi nodded, feeling a lump in her throat.

"You said, 'The city needs to remember what hope looks like when it's dressed in light.'"

"That line... it was a placeholder," she confessed, laughing nervously. "But I guess it stuck."

He stood and took a few steps closer, the faint scent of cedarwood and leather surrounding him.

"Next time, be careful with your attachments."

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood."

"But don't apologize for your vision."

Her heart hammered wildly.

She nodded firmly. "I won't."

He gave the faintest hint of a smile before turning back to his tablet.

"Close the door on your way out."

Back at her desk, Maya practically tackled her in a hug.

"What did he say? What did he say?"

Lexi laughed softly.

"He read the messy draft."

Maya gasped. "And?"

"He liked it. Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"He said it was honest."

Maya's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"That's huge, Lexi! Huge!"

Lexi smiled, the knot in her chest loosening for the first time that day.

Maybe I can do this after all.

Later that night, when the office was nearly deserted and the city lights flickered outside the windows, Ethan sat alone in his study. His tablet glowed in the dim light as he scrolled through Lexi's draft again.

The words she'd accidentally sent echoed in his mind. Bold. Raw. Unpolished — but real.

He thought about the polished, predictable proposals his board expected. The ones that promised safety but no spark.

Lexi's vision was reckless but it was the spark Blackwood needed.

For the first time in a long while, Ethan felt something stir inside him.

Curiosity. Maybe even hope.

He placed the tablet down and stared out at the city skyline, his mind already racing ahead.

The next morning, Camille stormed into the office, her heels clicking aggressively on the floor. She cornered Ava, whispering furiously about Lexi's "amateur hour" mistake.

Ava raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, eyes flicking toward Lexi's desk.

Camille's tone was venomous. "This is a disaster waiting to happen. If Ethan finds out she's this careless, she'll be out before the gala even begins."

But Ava's lips tightened.

"We'll see."

At lunch, Maya pulled Lexi aside.

"You okay? You're quiet today."

Lexi shrugged. "It's just... a lot. Camille's not exactly helping."

Maya smiled warmly.

"You're stronger than you think. And hey, Ethan likes you. That's something Camille will never have."

Lexi laughed, grateful for the reminder.

That evening, Lexi sat cross-legged on her couch, phone in hand. A video call connected her to her mother's smiling face.

"How's my star?"

Lexi smiled, fighting back tears. "Exhausted but hanging in there."

Her mother's voice was soft but firm.

"You've always had this fire, baby. Don't let anyone dim it."

Lexi nodded, feeling a surge of determination.

I won't.

As Lexi returned to her proposal with fresh eyes, reworking slides late into the night, a new feeling settled in her chest: this mistake, terrifying as it was, might be the beginning of something bigger.

Something worth fighting for.

Something that could finally make her unforgettable.