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Company retreat. I was nice enough to give my coworkers a lift on the way.
They sat in my car like it was owed to them for a whole year.
Then one day my car was in the shop and I couldn't pick them up, so they all showed up late and got docked pay.
And in return, they reported me for using a company car for personal use.
When the administrative director heard, he called me into his office alone for a talk.
"Miranda Gilbert, several employees have filed complaints against you lately."
"Write me a formal apology, and be more careful from now on."
I asked who it was. He said that had to stay confidential.
So I quietly pulled out the vehicle registration and set it down on his desk.
"I bought this car outright, myself, in full. Driving them every day was just because it was on my way."
"Do me a favor and pass this along to them."
"Starting today, it's not on my way anymore."
……
A year ago, right after I'd been hired, the company organized a retreat.
I drove there, and it happened to be on my way.
So I gave a few coworkers from my team a ride.
They laughed and chatted in the back seat the whole way while I sat up front like a hired driver.
We got there, and they climbed straight out.
Not even a thank-you.
Slammed the door and walked off, like it was their due.
I didn't say anything at the time.
What I didn't expect was that this was only the beginning.
The next day, Lucia Chavez, the one who led the pack, came to find me.
"Miranda, since it's on your way anyway, just give us a ride to and from work from now on, yeah?"
I froze for a second.
Before I could even answer.
She went on, "It's settled then. Eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
And with that she turned and walked off.
I figured, it was only the cheapest little runabout in my garage anyway.
A bit more on gas, at most. Call it building good relations.
But that one ride turned into a whole year.
Every morning I was at the corner by eight, right on time.
Every evening I picked them up outside the office at six.
Rain or shine.
They rode along without a shred of guilt and never once mentioned gas money.
The odd time I was five minutes late, they still had complaints.
"What took you so long? We've been waiting forever."
I'd explain there was traffic, and they'd roll their eyes.
"Just leave earlier next time, problem solved."
Until last Saturday.
They made plans in the group chat to go out over the weekend.
Lucia tagged me.
*Same place tomorrow, meet at eight.*
I told them I couldn't go tomorrow, my car was in the shop.
The chat went dead quiet.
Five minutes passed.
Lucia sent back a single word. Oh.
Just the one word. I didn't think anything of it.
At work, the second I walked in I could tell something was off.
Coworkers were giving me strange looks.
People were whispering behind my back.
I hadn't even sat down.
When the administrative director's secretary came and pulled me away.
"The director wants to see you."
I pushed the office door open. The director didn't look pleased.
He gestured for me to sit. "Miranda, several employees have filed complaints against you lately."
I'd never done anything wrong, so I didn't understand why anyone would complain.
The director tapped the file on his desk.
"Personal use of a company car. That's a serious matter."
I blanked for a couple of seconds, sure I'd misheard.
Personal use of a company car?
That beat-up Volkswagen of mine?
"Write me a formal apology, and be more careful going forward."
His tone was flat.
Like he was talking about something that didn't matter at all.
I asked, "Who filed the complaint?"
The director shook his head and told me these things had to stay confidential.
Honestly, even without him saying, I had a pretty good idea.
"Director, may I ask, this company car they say I used for personal use..."
"Which company car exactly is it?"
The director frowned. "Don't you know that perfectly well yourself?"
"The one you drive your coworkers to and from work in every day."
Without hesitation, I pulled the vehicle registration out of my bag and set it on the desk.
When he flipped it open, his expression shifted a little.
In the box for the owner's name, my name was written, plain as day.
Purchased outright, in full, by me.
Not a single cent of it had anything to do with the company.
He was quiet for a moment, then said, offhand.
"Well, a company this size, the odd thing like this is bound to happen now and then."
"Sometimes taking the short end is a blessing. Don't be so hung up on it."
The short end is a blessing?
Those four words genuinely made me laugh.
The director added, "We'll drop the apology, but..."
His tone changed direction.
"There's also a report that you've been coming in late and leaving early. This month's bonus will have to be docked."
"Be more careful from now on."
I thought, well, if we're already at personal use of a company car, one more won't make a difference.
So I asked the director, "Would that be the 6th of last month? I was on approved leave that day."
That was the day I went to headquarters to hand over some work.
The director's face darkened. "More excuses?"
"You didn't explain the situation to me, so it doesn't count as leave."
"Fine. If there's nothing else, get back to work."
I just looked at him, quietly, and didn't explain any further.
My staring started to unnerve him.
"Is there something else?"
I shook my head. "No."
With that, I turned and walked out of the office.
Lucia was already waiting outside the door, and the moment it opened she came right over.
Wearing a look of pure concern, too.
"Miranda, what did the director want to talk to you about?"
"You don't look so good."
It was her. She was the one who'd led the pack in mooching rides off me.
And I knew better than anyone that she was the one who'd quietly reported me.
I didn't lose my temper. I just answered mildly.
"Nothing much."
"Just some staffing changes."
Lucia paused, then let out a sigh.
"Such a shame."
"After all this time together, finding out all of a sudden that you're leaving."
"I really am going to miss you."
There was a smugness hiding at the bottom of her eyes. She thought I was about to be fired.
I curled my lips into a smile, but I dropped my voice very low.
"Lucia, aren't you forgetting to ask me one question?"
She took half a step back without meaning to.
"What question?"
I smiled. "Who told you the one being transferred out was me?"
