Part 2The Cost of Arrogance

Amy looked surprised, then annoyed, that I was still standing there. "Oh, Leah, you're here? Adrian said you were out sick today. I only prepared materials for the core team. Maybe you should… just go back to your desk?"

Before she could finish, an intern sidled up, looking at Amy with hero-worship in his eyes. "Amy, you're amazing! This proposal is brilliant. The clients are going to love it!"

All I felt was a deep, pathetic sadness. My blood, sweat, and tears, all credited to someone else's name.

"Amy," I said, my voice steady, "can you explain the data sources for the second section?"

"Leah! Watch your tone!" Adrian barked. He walked over, his brow furrowed in displeasure.

My fingers trembled. That heart of mine, already frozen solid, felt a flicker of absurd hope. Maybe… maybe Adrian was just trying to maintain a professional front…

But his next words plunged me into an icy despair.

"Alright, that's enough. Don't make a scene in front of the clients."

"Your work is done. This is Amy's show now. She's the face of our team. You're making things awkward for everyone."

"It's better if you stay out here anyway. In case we need someone to run errands."

Amy scoffed. "Some people just don't know their place. I told you, team image is crucial. Bringing a dowdy assistant along just lowers our standards."

Another colleague, a team lead, gave me a disdainful look. "You've been acting very strange lately. Do you think just because the project is done, you're some kind of hero? You're getting a big head. Write up a formal explanation and have it on my desk by the end of the day."

A fire ignited inside me, surging through my limbs, to my brain.

The next thing I knew, the scalding hot coffee in my hand was splashing across that team lead's face.

"Write this!" I screamed.

I went wild, swinging my binder like a weapon, hitting the colleagues who were watching the show with amusement.

I hit Amy's panicked face.

I hit the glass door of the conference room that I polished countless times a day.

It didn't stop until Adrian's hand cracked across my face.

"You're insane!" he roared. "You're fired!"

"Get the hell out of here, now!"

In that moment, I felt a strange, unprecedented sense of relief.

I dropped the binder. "Fine," I said calmly.

I looked around at the chaos. A few colleagues were huddled in a corner, protectively shielding a screaming Amy.

I smiled, pulled the resignation letter from my bag, and handed it to Adrian.

"Sign it."

"Saves me the cost of postage."