Chapter 2

On my way home, my phone buzzed endlessly.

Opening the main office group chat, a tidal wave of notifications flooded my screen.

Scrolling up, I saw Catherine serving a heavy dose of corporate delusion to the team with an arrogant pitch.

“I firmly believe a new era requires fresh thinking. We are young, dynamic, and full of potential. The old ways are obsolete and rigid!

“Starting today, we strictly leave on time! Under my leadership, things are only going to get bigger and better for everyone!”

Below her pitch, a chorus of praise poured in, punctuated by cheap, thinly veiled digs aimed at me.

Seconds later, a notification popped up. I had been added to a new chat group.

The ringleader was Brandon, the office’s resident brown-noser.

“Our new director is a hundred times better than Gina! At least she doesn't slave-drive us with overtime!”

Others immediately jumped on the bandwagon.

“Finally! She’s gone. Besides squeezing the life out of us, what did Gina ever actually contribute?”

“Agreed. Gina was an old witch. Overtime, overtime, constant overtime.”

“With a boss like Catherine, I would gladly work here forever.”

“Right? She never loses her temper. She’s always so sweet!”

Neighboring texts flew in hot and heavy, backstabbing me at every turn.

Then, my finger slipped and I accidentally tapped a sticker.

The very next second, a notification read, “You have been removed from the group chat.”

Seeing all of that, it would be a lie to say it didn't sting.

I never loved overtime.

Having walked in their shoes, I knew how exhausting it was.

But when your skills fall short, you make up for it with time.

Clients wouldn't pay for incompetence.

Every extra hour I ever assigned was solely to fix unfinished work, and I was always the last one to leave the building.

On top of standard overtime pay, I always fought upper management to secure extra bonuses for them.

Who knew that helping them earn more money made me a tyrant?

I opened my social media feed, and one particular post caught my eye.

“No one knows what it feels like to constantly be kept in the shadows, or how suffocating it is to deal with someone who thinks they know better than everyone else.”

Below it, a coworker commented, “Stella, your day has finally come! She's out.”

Stella replied, “Yes! Finally, No one knows how much I've had to endure.”

I almost laughed out loud from sheer frustration.

Stella was the very first junior associate I took under my wing. I poured endless effort into training her.

When she messed up, I took the fall with executive management.

When she needed to close deals, I put my own reputation on the line to back her up.

When Catherine was appointed director, Stella was the first to offer her congratulations.

And when I packed my desk and walked out, she didn't even glance my way.

I had assumed she was just laying low to protect her job.

Turns out it was this all along.

Well, at least now, when we inevitably run into each other in the business world, sentimentality won't hold me back.

From this moment on, none of their mess was my problem.

---

Once I got home, I left every single company group chat and set my phone to Do Not Disturb.

For ten years, I had eaten cold meals at odd hours and slept just enough to stay alive, all for the sake of the company’s bottom line.

I never made time for myself.

My friends begged me to take a break, and my family told me not to be so stubbornly loyal.

Right now, I was ready to give myself the permission to let go.

Over the next few days, no work messages bothered me, and I was in no rush to jump into a new job.

After being strung tight for a decade, I just wanted to rest and actually enjoy life.

Work had consumed almost everything I was for far too long.

Occasionally, I would still catch glimpses of company updates on my feed, though it was mostly bootlicking.

Posts about Catherine buying coffee for the entire department, Catherine taking everyone out for dinner, and so on.

Every day at six sharp, these kiss-ass posts hit my timeline like clockwork, as if they were tailored specifically for my viewing pleasure.

I couldn't care less.

That was, until Friday rolled around...

And my timeline went completely silent.

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