Part 3Not One Penny Less

A week later, Vanessa Hall’s call came in right on time.

“Amy, please come in tomorrow at ten a.m. We have a resolution regarding your expenses.”

When I arrived at the conference room, it was Rick, Brenda, and Vanessa again.

But there was one extra person: Trevor Kim, from the Legal department. He wore glasses and looked fairly young.

“Amy, please sit down,” Rick said. His tone was noticeably more polite than before. “This is Trevor from Legal. He’s here to discuss the matter.”

I sat down.

“We’ve verified the materials you provided last time,” Rick looked at me. “The numbers are accurate. The company’s processes failed you, and for that, I apologize.”

I didn’t respond.

“The company’s proposal is this,” he continued. “The $68,000 you fronted, we will pay it to you in installments. The first installment of fifteen thousand will arrive next week. The remaining balance of $53,000 will be paid over the next twelve months, in monthly payments—”

“No.”

I cut him off.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t accept installments,” I said. “Sixty-eight thousand dollars. Paid in full, immediately.”

Rick’s face looked strained.

“Amy, the company’s cash flow is tight right now, as you know. We just had a large round of layoffs—”

“Rick,” I looked at him. “I don’t know if the company’s cash flow is tight. But that $68,000 is three years of my saved income. My monthly take-home is five thousand. Four thousand for the mortgage, a thousand for living expenses. Everything else went into this. I trusted the company, so every trip, I paid first, waiting for reimbursement.”

I paused.

“Now the company is saying it needs twelve months to pay me back. Does that sound fair to you?”

Rick said nothing.

Trevor Kim, the lawyer, suddenly spoke up. “Ms. Johnson, from a legal standpoint, the company is obligated to pay the full reimbursement. However, if the company is facing financial difficulty, a payment plan is considered a reasonable solution. You should consider—”

“I have considered it,” I interrupted him. “I don’t accept it.”

“Then what is your proposed solution?” Trevor asked.

“I have two options for you.”

I pulled two documents from my bag.

“Option one: The company pays the $68,352 in expenses in a single lump sum, plus the N+1 severance package. I sign the agreement, complete the handover, and we part on good terms.”

I pushed the first document onto the table.

“Option two: I file a claim with the Labor Relations Board, demanding the $68,352 in expenses, the N+1 severance, plus interest for the delayed payment period.”

I pushed the second document across as well.

“This is my drafted arbitration request. The evidence is ready, and I can submit it at any time.”

The conference room was silent for five seconds.

Rick’s face was beet red.

“Amy, what is the meaning of this? Are you threatening the company?”

“It’s not a threat,” I said. “It’s a choice.”

I stood up.

“Today is Monday. I’ll give you until Friday. Before the close of business on Friday, you can tell me your decision. If I don’t hear from you by then, I’ll file with the Labor Board first thing Monday morning.”

I picked up my bag.

“And by the way, I have backups of all three years of project files, client archives, and internal correspondence. If you don’t want to resolve this properly, I don’t mind letting a few more people know how the company treats its employees.”

“You—”

I didn’t wait for Rick to finish, pushed the door open, and left.