I had worked overtime for an entire month
and finally finished the business proposal bearing both my girlfriend’s and my name.
I was full of hope that this would be our chance to get promoted and earn a raise together.
But the next day, I suddenly saw in the company’s internal system that she had submitted it ahead of me:
“Jason said this project is critical for his promotion, so I changed your name to his.”
“Maybe you can talk to the manager about finding another opportunity. It’s not like you’re pressed for time.”
I stared at the screen, at the names Jason Lee and Claire Adams sitting side by side.
After a moment of silence, I picked up my phone.
“Mom, how fast can we complete a corporate acquisition of my company?”
“What happened?”
On the other end of the line, Margaret Moore’s voice grew serious.
“Nothing major. I just want a different way to work.”
Mom knew me too well. She knew it was pointless to push when I didn’t want to explain.
She paused. “If we accelerate the process, we can finish preliminary acquisition negotiations within a week.”
“I’ll have Mr. Thompson contact you in the morning. I’ll handle everything else.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
A week. Just one week...
“Ethan!”
I turned and saw Claire walking toward my desk.
“Where were you just now? I tried calling and you didn’t pick up.”
“Are you still sulking about the proposal? The promotion review is next week — don’t cause trouble at a critical moment like this, okay?”
“Sulking?”
I repeated the word, my tone calm. “Claire, I spent an entire month of overtime building that proposal.”
“You erased my name without even telling me, replaced it with Jason’s, and now you’re telling me I’m being childish?”
“Yes, I know the proposal was originally yours. But don’t you understand the idea of expediency?”
Claire frowned, as if I was the unreasonable one.
“Jason just needs one strong project to nail this promotion. He needs this more than you do.”
“You’re always more capable than him. Can’t you just find another project and whip up a new proposal? The review meeting isn’t until next week — maybe you still have time!”
I almost laughed at the casual way she said it.
“Claire, do you think creating a proposal good enough for a promotion review is like going to the grocery store to pick out vegetables? A month of my work — and you just take it, and tell me to magically make another one?”
Her tone carried a hint of impatience.
“Fine, fine, I know you worked the hardest. But we’re all colleagues — isn’t helping each other what teamwork is about? You’re being way too petty! You have no sense of team spirit!”
Petty. Small-minded. No team spirit.
Each word made my heart sink lower.
“Claire.”
“So you’re saying Jason’s success is more important to you than mine?”
Claire froze. “That’s not what I meant! Why do you always twist my words? I’m saying we should think about the bigger picture. Jason—”
“That’s enough.”
I didn’t want to hear another word.
All my desire to argue evaporated instantly.
“If you like that proposal so much, keep it. I’ll deal with the promotion review myself.”
Claire completely misread my tone, relief flashing in her eyes.
“Ethan, you finally came around...”
“That’s more like it. I knew you weren’t unreasonable. Don’t worry, Jason will remember how much you helped him this time.”
