I turned to Willow. "Ms. Pruitt, thank you for the 'opportunity' these past seven years. Shame I lack the fortune to enjoy it any longer."
I didn't wait for a response. Turned. Walked out.
That afternoon, I submitted my formal resignation to HR and copied the entire company on a single email:
From today onward, I will strictly perform duties within the scope of my job description. Please do not disturb me with unrelated matters. Thank you.
Less than a minute after I hit send, the office began to buzz. Whispers vibrated through the room like a disturbed hornet's nest.
I sat at my workstation, eyes fixed on my screen, but Madison made no effort to hide her disdain.
"Look at him," she muttered. "Acting like some kind of big shot all of a sudden."
William scoffed, hammering his keyboard with aggressive, performative force. "Let him put on his little show. Let's see how long this spine of his lasts."
"Exactly." Madison sneered. "He calls himself a 'person in charge,' but what has he actually managed? Pouring tea, ordering takeout, printing handouts. That's his ceiling."
"Once he walks out those doors, he's nothing," William added.