Page 87 of Landing Liam

He studies me for a long moment before letting out a resigned sigh. “Then you should take it.”

His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I just stare at him. “You mean that?”

Janowicz shrugs. “You’ve outgrown this place, Maggie. If you’ve got an opportunity to do something better, something bigger, you’d be a fool not to take it.”

I don’t know whether to feel relieved or hurt by his bluntness. “Thanks, I guess?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” he continues, his tone gruff but not unkind. “You’re a damn good writer. But this paper… it’s not what it used to be. And you… you’re hungry for more. You should go after it.”

I nod slowly as his words sink in. He’s right. As much as it hurts to admit it, he’s right. This place isn’t where I’m meant to be anymore. And maybe it is time to step into the unknown. To take a chance on myself, on my future, on something new.

“Thanks, Janowicz,” I say as I stand. “For everything.”

He gives me a small smile, one that feels almost fatherly. “Good luck, Maggie.”

As I leave his office, I feel a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me—fear, excitement, and a flicker of hope. I don’t know what’s waiting for me in the next chapter of my life, but for the first time in a long time, I’m ready to find out.

I make my way over to my desk, the place I’ve called home for the past five years, and start clearing it out. The years flash before me as I sift through stacks of old notes and dog-eared notepads. Each one carries a memory—late nights chasing deadlines, early mornings fueled by bad coffee, and stories I poured my heart into. This desk, with its scratches and coffee stains, has seen me at my best and worst. It’s hard to believe I’m saying goodbye.

Odie wanders over, a perplexed look on his face. “What are you doing?” he asks, confused.

I click my tongue, throwing a worn notebook into a box. “Leaving.”

“What?” He sounds genuinely shocked. “You didn’t get the promotion to senior writer?”

I glance up at him, offering a faint smile. “I did.”

“But you’re leaving?”

I pause, my hands stilling as I face him. “Why did you tell Janowicz I slept with Liam?” The hurt seeps into my voice. I never thought Odie, someone I trusted, would betray me like that.

“I…” Odie frowns, his usual bravado faltering. “He wanted to know how you managed to get the real story out of him, so I jokingly said it must have been those late nights you spent with him.”

“Is that what everyone thinks of me?” I ask, each word tinged with pain. “That I only got a good story because I slept my way into it?”

Odie looks around nervously, ensuring no one else is listening. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

“You’ve been a great friend to me,” I say, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “But this… this was not cool.”

“I know.” He hesitates before adding softly, “What are you going to do?”

I exhale, my decision solidified. “Stop playing it safe.”

Odie nods, his expression a combination of regret and understanding. “You want me to help you take your things to your car?”

I shake my head, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. “No. I want to do this on my own.”

I pack the last of my belongings into my bag, tucking it under one arm. Before I leave, I take one final look around the newsroom. The hum of keyboards and ringing phones fills the air, the same noise that’s been my soundtrack for years. A few colleagues glance up and offer small smiles, but they’re too busy with their own underpaid grind to care that I’m leaving.

When I step outside, the brisk afternoon air hits me, and I breathe it in deeply. It feels like a new beginning, even though the weight of what I’m leaving behind presses on my chest. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a familiar form leaning against my battered car.

Liam.

He straightens when he sees me, pushing off the hood as he strolls toward me with that easy confidence that makes my heart race. His eyes lock with mine, and in them, I see everything I’ve been missing—warmth, comfort, and something that feels a lot like home.

“I was going to call,” he says, his voice low and full of emotion, “but I needed to see you.”

“Liam?” I whisper, surprised and a little breathless. “What are you doing here?”