Lowballed and Lied To

My boss, Kyle Brown, had just processed payroll when Sam Jefferson, the trainee I had been mentoring, tossed me his phone. He said, "Can you hold this for me while I use the bathroom?"

I took it without thinking, then froze when I saw the screen. That was because a notification had just popped up: [This month's salary has been deposited. Total: $4,692.00.]

I had been with this company for eight years, and I only made one thousand dollars a month.

When I was hired, Kyle had told me that we were a startup. As long as I worked hard, I would make big money eventually. But over the years, Kyle had traded in one Mercedes after another while my salary kept shrinking.

At present, my savings were less than four thousand dollars. I was close to not being able to afford the medical bills for my younger sister, Eva Rivers, who was very sick and bedridden.

Meanwhile, the trainee I was mentoring made close to four thousand seven hundred dollars a month.

I stayed quiet for a moment, then turned and asked the employee beside me how much he made.

He stammered for a long time and would not answer.

I understood it then.

I picked up my phone and opened the recruitment message a competitor had sent me a few days earlier.

When Bob Brown heard me ask about his salary, he put on a shameless expression and said, "Stop asking, alright? You know how Mr. Brown doesn't let us talk about that. You've survived all these years, so just keep taking it! Don't drag us into this."

My heart went cold when I heard that.

Whenever they made mistakes at work over the years, I was the one who stepped in to help them more than once. But now, they would not even tell me a word of truth because they were afraid I would get them into trouble.

"I've treated you well for the past eight years. I just want to know how much you make. Even a rough number is fine," I said, forcing the words out.

"Do I have to answer just because you asked? Besides, I never begged you to help. You were the one who butted in. Why should I owe you anything? Stop acting like you're everyone's senior all the time," Bob rolled his eyes with a sour expression, as if I was the one who owed him.

"Have I really never done anything for you?" I gave him a mocking smile.

Five days ago, he had almost fallen to his knees on the floor in a panic, begging me to handle a difficult customer for him. That customer had kicked me hard right in the chest, and I had passed out on the spot. The losses caused by that customer had also been added to my record.

Bob had not shown a shred of gratitude whatsoever. Instead, he was even blaming me for meddling now.

Bob gave me an awkward smile. "You've been here for years, Dean. Don't be so petty. Our team handling the hotel side of things is like a family. You can't ruin that over something so small."

"This team's peace is only possible because I'm the one putting up with everything? Is that what you're saying? And the second I raise a question, I'm the one being problematic?" I laughed in anger and pressed him even more.

"So, all of you worked with Kyle to exploit me. You wanted to keep me trapped here, is that right?" I snapped at Bob, but he only smiled.

"If saying that makes you feel better, go ahead and curse me. But insulting a coworker for no reason means you'll get docked a hundred dollars. Think about your sister lying in that hospital bed," Bob said, and his words stopped me cold.

Looking at his face, I could only grit my teeth and force down the urge to hit him.

Just as I was about to leave, he called after me again, "Stop always thinking about what you've done for everyone. I'm going to karaoke tomorrow, so remember to cover my shift. Don't forget, the pay still goes to me, same as always."

I stopped walking immediately.

Four years ago, I had covered their shifts and worked nonstop until I passed out from exhaustion. But when I woke up, Kyle had informed me that all my salary was wiped out because I had skipped work for three days.