"Trust me. All it takes is one word from me about you not being a team player, and the manager will make sure your performance bonus and your client list both take a hit this quarter. And when that happens, not a single person here will have your back."
Everyone within earshot heard what she said. Not a single person spoke up. They all pretended they hadn't heard a thing.
Their seamless solidarity made the whole scene feel pointless.
"Fine. Then let's see if you actually have the pull to back that up."
I turned back to my work and tried to focus.
But the stares coming from every direction never let up. Not for a second.
Someone muttered just loud enough to be heard:
"Must be nice earning so much. Even a cup of coffee is too precious to share."
I acted like I hadn't heard.
I barely survived until the end of the day. I was packing up to leave when my phone started buzzing nonstop.
Someone had dropped a screenshot into the company-wide group chat.
I tapped on it, and the blood rushed straight to my head.
It was my pay stub from last month. Base salary, bonus, project commission. Every single line item, laid bare.