When Loyalty Turns to Greed

ew of the entire Seattle skyline, and a salary that made my eye

personal assist

n the tech world allowed me to afford help. She wasn't just an employee,

sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, ca

ns, I have

familiar, wa

s, I hope

d a significant promotion, a director-l

ile wi

erful! I knew yo

k a b

ters is in Seattle. I'll be

freeze, hardening into something else entirely. The

ce, then?" she ask

as much time as possible to find a new position. I'll write you a glowi

drifting around the expensive, minimalist decor of my condo. It

and severance won'

lin

sor

gaining a strange, formal weight. "I've managed your home, your sche

loyalty, Mrs. Jenkins. You're one of the hi

head, a smal

ication, for my years of service, ther

nease beginning to creep up my spine. This

ds clear and without a hint of doubt. "Or," she add

was so utterly absurd, so disconnected from reali

ing as I saw the dead-serious expressio

given you the best years of my life. You are moving on to bigg

Jenkins! That's more than thirty thousand dollars, on top of

inned into

It's about the principle. It's abo

pace, her mov

rtment. You don't know what it's like for people like me. I'm not youn

simple. Mrs. Jenkins was only in her ear

I stood up, crossing my arms. I would not be intimidated in my own

e are people in this community, important people, who listen to me. They trust me. What do you think they'll say when I tell

Rumors. In our affluent, tightly-knit

areer on being sharp, on not backing down

Let's ask them what they think is fair. Should I give my employee a lifetime pension? Or perhaps my mu

'rules' head-on,

ted me to be cowed, to value my social sta

you're just selfish. You have so much, and y

what isn't yours. This condo is my property. My asset. It's the result of my hard work, not y

he greed in them now

see abo

moment. "This is your final warning, Mrs. Jenkins. Drop

battle of wills passing b

She stepped closer, her voice

bout it. For my daughter, Em

irl I'd met a few times, was a low blo

oice like ice. "My offer of severance and a recommendation stands. Take

, staring at me with pure hatred

nt is terminated. Effective immediately. I'll have the severance

with a choked sound of pure rage, she spun around, grabbed her purse, threw the condo keys onto the

ving room, my heart pounding. The fight was over, but