The smile on Julian's face dimmed.
"Come on, Marcus, don't be like that. I know you're upset about leaving, but this report affects the entire department's performance review. If Gretchen finds out, she'll say you didn't handle the handover properly, right?"
"The handover checklist was signed and confirmed."
My tone was flat. My eyes swept over several glaring errors in the PowerPoint.
"Besides, these are the most basic mistakes imaginable. They have nothing to do with the handover."
My bluntness wiped the fake smile clean off Julian's face.
"Marcus! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Sure, I don't have as much experience as you." His voice climbed higher with every word. "But Gretchen trusts me with the important work now, not you!"
He jabbed a finger in my direction, practically shaking.
"Don't like it? Too bad. I'm the one sitting in the project manager's chair. I'm the one who'll be by Gretchen's side going forward. No matter how capable you think you are, you were nothing but a stepping stone for me! You don't get to judge my abilities!"
Colleagues nearby turned to stare.
I didn't bother watching his performance. I kept packing my things.
"Your abilities will speak for themselves in time. You don't need my evaluation."
"You—!"
He sputtered, finger jabbing toward my face, ready to launch into another tirade.
"What are you two arguing about?"
Gretchen's voice cut in, dripping with impatience.
Her brows were drawn tight. Her gaze landed first on Julian, visibly agitated, and her tone softened by half a degree.
"Julian, what happened? Who's giving you trouble?"
"Gretchen..."
Julian latched onto her like a drowning man finding a life raft, breathless with indignation.
"I just asked Marcus to look over my report, and he—he mocked me, said I was incompetent, called my work garbage... He even said I stole his position..." His words tumbled out in a mess. "I was just trying to do a good job. I didn't want to let you down..."
He stammered and stuttered as though he'd suffered some unspeakable injustice at my hands.
"Gretchen, am I really that useless? Should I not have taken this position? I've put you in a difficult spot..."
I had to hand it to him—the man could twist the truth like no one else.
After hearing him out, Gretchen's frown deepened. She patted Julian's back reassuringly.
"Don't be ridiculous. You've been doing great. This position is yours, and nobody has the right to say otherwise."
Then she turned to me. Her expression hardened, eyes sharp with reproach.
"Marcus, what is wrong with you? You're on your way out and you still can't keep the peace? Julian came to you for guidance. Even if you weren't going to help, there was no reason to tear him apart. Look at the state you've put him in! Apologize. Now."
Her voice rang clear through the quiet office floor. Every head turned. Every pair of eyes locked onto me, waiting.
I looked at the two of them—one a masterful actor playing the victim, the other blindly taking his side without a shred of fairness.
For three years, scenes like this had ended with me swallowing my pride. Not today.
"Ms. Barnes, I'm not the one who owes anyone an apology."
My voice was steady. I held her gaze without flinching.
Gretchen seemed caught off guard. She studied me for a long moment, then lowered her voice.
"Marcus. My office. Now."
She shut the door, sealing off the prying eyes outside.
Leaning against the edge of her desk, she tried to soften her tone.
"Alright, Marcus. It's just us. Stop throwing a tantrum."
"That dinner tomorrow—I was just talking. Giving you an easy out. You think I'd actually make you pay that kind of money?"
"I know you're upset because Julian got the promotion. That's why you're threatening to leave. Look, how about I bump your salary by two thousand a month? Will that do it?"
