Chapter 3
Over the next few days, Julie didn’t bother me again.
It felt like the calm before the storm, and although I was uneasy, I managed to attend my brother’s wedding without further interruptions.
On Monday morning, I returned to the office carrying a few bags of local treats for my colleagues.
But something felt off. People who were usually warm and friendly with me now greeted me with strained smiles and avoided eye contact.
One of my former classmates, now a colleague, pulled me aside into the stairwell. Once she made sure no one else was around, she leaned in and whispered, “Emma, I heard HR is planning to let you go after your probation ends. What’s going on?”
Her concern was genuine, but her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“What? Why? I’ve been performing well—my metrics are some of the best on the team,” I said, bewildered.
She sighed. “I don’t know the details, but word is spreading. You might want to brace yourself for the meeting.”
I thanked her and returned to my desk, pretending like nothing had happened.
It didn’t take long for my suspicions to be confirmed.
As soon as our morning team meeting wrapped up, Julie called me out in front of everyone.
“Emma,” she began, her tone sharp and authoritative, “you took two days off without my approval, which is a blatant violation of company policy.”
I stood my ground, trying to keep my voice steady. “Julie, my leave was approved through the proper channels. It’s all documented in the system.”
Her face darkened. “I don’t care what the system says. If I didn’t approve it, it doesn’t count! I’M your supervisor. My word is final.”
“And since you’ve shown no remorse for your actions, there’s no need to discuss your permanent position anymore. Pack your things and leave.”
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Julie, if the system bypassed your approval, that’s an issue HR and IT need to address. It’s not something within my control.”
The tension in the room was palpable. My coworkers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react. One of the younger women tugged at my sleeve, silently pleading with me to back down.
But I was done staying quiet.
If Julie wasn’t going to show me respect, I had no reason to give her any either.
Her anger boiled over as she slammed her hand on the table. “Don’t try to argue with me. If you have a problem, take it up with HR!”
Before leaving, she turned to the rest of the team and delivered a pointed warning: “Let this be a lesson to all of you. Follow the rules, and don’t defy your superiors. Work hard now, and you’ll all get your promotions and raises next year.”
Her words were empty promises—just more lies to keep people in line. She’d used the same tactic on me when I first joined the team, promising recognition that never came.
Not long after, I got a message from HR’s representative, Lisa Wu, asking me to meet her in the conference room.
When I walked in, Lisa started with some polite small talk before cutting to the chase.
“Emma, I’ll be honest. You’ve done a decent job these past six months, but you’ve made some serious mistakes.”
“Work isn’t just about hitting your targets. Building good relationships with your superiors is critical—especially with your direct manager.”
“By taking leave without Julie’s approval, you’ve shown a lack of respect for her authority. And then, to make matters worse, you took her car for a personal event, forcing her to take public transportation.”
For a moment, I was too stunned to respond.
“Julie’s car?” I repeated, incredulous.
She nodded, her tone turning accusatory. “Yes, Julie told us you’ve been borrowing her car for months. And then you even used it as a wedding car. That’s highly inappropriate, Emma.”
It all clicked.
Julie was spreading lies, claiming my new BMW was hers. No wonder she always made a show of calling me to fetch the car in front of our colleagues. She’d been laying the groundwork for this narrative all along.
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