After my mother’s death, When I sought to leave, my boss warned, “If you take leave, you’re fired.”

Rising Tensions and the President’s Daughter

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“I won’t approve any paid leave for you. You always challenge me. There’s no need for you to return”.

When I heard these words, it felt like I had hit my limit.

“Are you sure about that?”

I asked, surprised by my own boldness. My boss seemed caught off guard too, her eyes widening in shock. My name is Sarah, and I turned 31 recently. For a decade, I’ve been part of Yao Enterprises, making me one of the more seasoned employees.

Despite my relatively young age, I was a cherished only child growing up in a modest family. We weren’t rich, so new clothes were a rarity for me. I usually wore hand-me-downs from relatives or neighbors, yet I never felt lacking.

I was showered with affection and have fond memories of weekend picnics in the park with my parents. Close bonds with my cousins were formed, perhaps out of empathy, but we’ve remained in touch over the years. My childhood was filled with love.

In high school, I was the student council president and a top student. My teachers encouraged me to pursue higher education, and I even earned a scholarship offer. However, I chose a different path.

“I don’t want to go to college. I aim to become a public servant”.

I declared this despite my parents’ attempts to persuade me otherwise. I wanted to ease their financial burden as quickly as possible. Tragically, my father fell ill and passed away before I could fully express my gratitude for his sacrifices.

I then decided to support my mother, continuing to live with her as I navigated the complexities of adult life. Over six years, I earned respect at work, eventually taking on roles like training new hires and filling in for my boss.

My efforts were rewarded with good bonuses, enabling me to contribute about $800 monthly to my family. Outside of work, I enjoyed trips with friends, colleagues, and my boyfriend. Everything changed when our manager was replaced by the new president’s daughter.

Rumors flew that she had been coasting on her father’s wealth and that this job was her father’s attempt to instill some responsibility in her. Despite the challenges, I continued to dedicate myself to my work, hoping to make a positive impact.

Learning she was the president’s daughter set a certain tone within the company. Many colleagues were aware that her position was more a result of her family connections than her actual experience in the field. This knowledge led to a palpable, tense, and uncomfortable office atmosphere.

It seemed inevitable that this tension would eventually affect me directly. That moment came over something as simple as preparing a cup of coffee for her upon her request. I made her a hot coffee, but her reaction was far from grateful.

“What’s this? Are you trying to annoy me?”

She snapped, clearly displeased despite me following her instructions. She threw the coffee in my direction, causing me to dodge unsuccessfully. As I nursed my coffee-splashed arm, she criticized the drink’s temperature and composition.

She claimed it was supposed to be warm with a specific amount of milk and sugar, her expectations differing wildly from common practice. Apologizing, I offered to make another, but her response only added insult to injury.

She disparaged my educational background while oddly complimenting my reputation in the company. I owed that reputation to the collective support of my colleagues. Her words and actions only intensified the pain from the burn and my desire to escape and tend to my injury.

Her disappointment in me, voiced after hearing praises from her father, felt unjust and harsh. When a colleague tried to intervene, I assured them I was fine, not wanting them to become her next target.

It was known that those who crossed her often ended up leaving the company under duress. As I was contemplating how to handle the situation, she unexpectedly grabbed my burned arm, causing me further pain as a twisted form of reprimand.

Her satisfaction at my discomfort was evident when she finally let go, demanding I try making the coffee again. I excused myself, seizing the opportunity to escape to the pantry and soothe my burn. The entire ordeal was disheartening.

Reflecting after work, the unnecessary harshness and the realization that my efforts to maintain peace were met with such hostility was a clear reminder of workplace challenges. This is particularly true with those who wield their power irresponsibly.

Right after the incident, I made my way to a dermatologist and was given a special cream for the burn. Unfortunately, the burn didn’t heal completely and left a scar. To prevent worrying anyone, I chose outfits that would keep the mark out of sight.

However, this event seemed to only worsen her behavior towards me. One day, she criticized a document I had prepared, claiming it was riddled with errors and accusing me of not taking my work seriously.

When I inquired about the specific issues, she responded by tossing the document at me, marked up with pen. It was frustrating to deal with such pettiness from someone supposed to lead by example.

Despite her claims, the document was a standard practice one I had used before without issue. Yet, she demanded a complete redo, citing vague inadequacies. Her understanding of management responsibilities seemed lacking.

I had successfully guided other new employees in the past, but her response to constructive feedback was dismissive. She insisted that as the manager, she shouldn’t be bothered with such tasks, contrary to what we had been instructed directly by the president.

Her provocations escalated further when she made a personal attack, mentioning my family background out of the blue. I was taken aback, especially since I had never shared such details with her.

She mocked the hard work of my family and the unfortunate illness of my father, suggesting a lack of reward for our struggles. I tried to steer the conversation back to professional matters, but her taunts became more personal.

She questioned the respectability of my parents and my reaction to her insults. In the face of her mockery, I couldn’t help but defend my family’s honor. I asserted that she, knowing nothing of my life or my parents’ virtues, had no right to judge.

Her response was to threaten me with complaints to her father, implying that revealing my true nature would somehow jeopardize my position. Undeterred, I asked her to focus on correcting the document as required.

I reaffirmed my determination not to be intimidated or pushed out by her behavior. As I walked away, she muttered something intended only for me to hear—a last attempt to unsettle me.

Despite the challenges, I remained committed to performing my duties with integrity, unwilling to let her actions dictate my worth or dedication to my job. Ignoring her last remark, I returned to my workstation, her sarcastic comments echoing behind me.