The next morning, my stomach felt like it had a million butterflies fluttering around inside. This was the day I had to stand in front of everyone, not just Damian, and tell the whole, true story about what happened. It was a very important and scary moment. The meeting room was packed full of news reporters from all different TV channels and newspapers, their cameras flashing like tiny lightning bolts going off everywhere. Microphones were stuck up everywhere, all pointed right at my face, ready to catch every single word I said. Liam, my smart computer helper, stood close by my side, looking very serious and ready to help me if I needed him.
I took a deep breath, a really, really big one, just like I had done the day before I called Damian. "Good morning, everyone," I said, my voice a little shaky at first, like a leaf in the wind, but then it grew stronger and more steady as I kept talking. "I'm Celeste Hilly, and I'm here today to talk about a big mistake my company made. A very, big and serious mistake."
I told them everything, slowly and clearly, making sure to use simple words so everyone could understand. I explained how we had shared a video that seemed to show Damian, and how we had said bad things about him on TV because of it. I explained how we truly thought it was true at first, but then Liam, our smart computer helper, worked hard and found out the real truth. I talked about how the picture in the video was blurry, how there was a clever trick with the computer timing, and how the person in that video was definitely not Damian.
"Damian was actually on a beautiful beach in Bali, a place very, very far away, when that video was made," I told all the reporters. "He was on his first real holiday in many years, enjoying his time. We were wrong to accuse him. We were tricked by someone else, a very sneaky person."
I looked straight into all the bright cameras, making sure to meet their gaze. "I want to say sorry to Damian from the bottom of my heart. I am truly, truly sorry for hurting his good name, for making his family very sad, and for ruining his wonderful holiday. My company and I take full responsibility for this big mistake. We have already sent out a public apology for everyone to see, and we promise to do everything we can, no matter what it takes, to help Damian get his good name back."
Suddenly, all the reporters started shouting questions all at once, like a big storm of words. "Who tricked you, Ms. Hilly?" "Was it Bianca?" "Are you changing your story now because you got caught doing something wrong?"
I held up my hand, asking them to be quiet. "We believe this was a trick planned by Bianca, who used a temporary worker to secretly get into our computer system and make the fake video. We are still looking very closely into who that temporary worker was, and who else helped Bianca with her mean plan. We will find out the truth. And we will make sure those responsible face consequences for what they did."
I knew deep down that some people would still doubt me, and that was okay. It wasn't easy for them to believe someone who made such a huge mistake. But I had to be honest. I had to keep trying my very best to make things right. When the meeting was finally over, I felt very tired, like I had run a long race, but also a little bit proud of myself. I had told the truth, even though it was one of the hardest things I had ever done.