Jade stepped out of the office building, still in a daze. Her thoughts swirled with disbelief and excitement. I got the job, she thought, a smile tugging at her lips. She clutched her bag tighter, almost as if it held the key to her new future.
But as she walked down the busy street, a sudden realization hit her like a slap. “Oh my God,” she whispered to herself, stopping in her tracks. “I forgot to ask about the pay!”
She groaned, covering her face with her hands. Seriously, Jade? You’ve been worrying about money for months, and now, when you finally land a job, you don’t even ask how much they’re going to pay you?
Her mind spiraled. What if it’s not enough? What if— She shook her head, trying to calm herself down. “Stop it,” she muttered under her breath. “You got the job. That’s the important thing.”
Determined to share the good news with her grandmother, Jade decided to stop at a bakery. She scanned the display, her eyes landing on a small chocolate cake with “Congratulations” piped in white icing.
“This one, please,” she told the cashier, her chest swelling with pride. It was rare for her to splurge on anything, but this was worth it. Grandma will be so happy, she thought, clutching the box tightly as she walked out.
But before she could head home, she needed to stop by work. Her shift at the hotel had started half an hour ago, and she was already late. The familiar anxiety crept up as she approached the glass doors of the building, the thought of facing her boss making her stomach churn.
As soon as she stepped inside, the harsh voice of Mr. Carlson, her boss, boomed across the lobby. “Nguyen! Where the hell have you been?”
Jade winced. She turned to see him marching toward her, his face red and his finger pointing accusingly.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Carlson,” she began, clutching the cake box to her chest. “I had an appointment—”
“I don’t care about your excuses!” he snapped, cutting her off. “You’re late, and we’re already short-staffed. Do you think you can just stroll in whenever you feel like it?”
Jade opened her mouth to respond, but he didn’t give her a chance.
“And while you’re at it, the laundry room needs sorting,” he barked.
“Laundry?” Jade asked, confused. “But I’m assigned to the front desk—”
“And now you’re assigned to the laundry room,” he interrupted, glaring at her. “Unless you’d prefer to find another job.”
Her patience, already stretched thin from the day’s events, finally snapped.
“Mr. Carlson, I’ve been working here for years, doing everything you’ve asked, even when it wasn’t my job,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration. “I’ve stayed late, covered extra shifts, and dealt with rude guests without complaint. But I’m done. I’m done being treated like this.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you saying you’re too good for this job?”
Jade took a deep breath, standing her ground. “No. I’m saying I quit.”
For a moment, Mr. Carlson looked stunned, as if he couldn’t believe she’d actually said it. Then his expression twisted into anger. “Fine! Go! We’ll see how far you get without this job.”
Jade didn’t respond. She simply turned on her heel and walked out of the lobby, her heart pounding.