A hardworking woman turns into an aggressive and impatient boss after her most recent promotion at a store. She gets away with it until she insults and fires an old janitor.
Nia had recently been promoted to general manager of a major fashion retail outlet. Just a week into her new role, she was already implementing major changes, guided by a binder of ideas she had accumulated over the years.
One morning, Nia addressed her staff.
“Alright, guys. Is everyone clear on the new protocols we’re going to follow?” she asked.
The team responded with nods and gentle affirmations.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
“I don’t want anyone deviating from my guidelines, so here’s what we are going to do,” she continued. “Anybody who fails to follow the new rules — whether it is about uniform, customer greetings, display arrangements, punctuality — will lose their incentive for that month,” Nia declared, her face beaming with pride.
The staff exchanged worried glances. Nia’s drastic measures made them fear for their livelihoods, as even minor mistakes could cost them dearly.
But despite her recent changes, the team respected Nia. They knew her journey from an intern to the top position and admired her dedication to the fashion industry.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
However, with time, Nia’s approach became increasingly problematic. She set unrealistic goals and responded harshly to small errors. Her decisions, like extending shifts and imposing strict rules, were met with silent frustration from the staff. Their only respite, weekends, was now occupied with work. But that wasn’t all.
Nia’s strategies, like reducing loading costs by involving sales staff and limiting employee breaks, pushed the team to their limits. She even banned sitting during shifts and restricted sick leaves, all in the name of creating a good impression for customers.
“We’ll have to show them we are never tired of serving them. And always serve them with a smile. Am I clear?” Nia instructed sternly. She was overly pleased with the way she was conducting things.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Raised by a single mother, Nia had faced numerous rejections before landing an internship at the fashion outlet. Her dedication to her job and hard work quickly led to her promotion.
From her office, she looked out at the street where she once sought opportunities, determined never to return to those hard days. Under her leadership, the store buzzed with activity, though the staff struggled with the overwhelming workload and strict deadlines she set. Nia was happy until… the work really started taking its toll on the employees.
Over time, her strict management led to a drastic drop in sales, contradicting her ambitious plans. Furious, she confronted her exhausted staff. “Our ratings are dipping. We’ll be ruined at this rate,” she yelled. “Extend your shifts, cut down on breaks… do whatever it takes! We have to boost sales!”
Nia couldn’t understand the sudden decline and increased the workload even more. One day, after a tense client meeting, she found Maya, a saleswoman, asleep on the counter.
“How dare you sleep during work??” Nia yelled.
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Maya, startled and panicked, apologized, but Nia was unforgiving. “Meet me in my office,” she demanded. Gathering the staff, Nia, already upset about the sales, decided to demonstrate her authority.
She fired Maya on the spot, tossing her paycheck at her. The team was shocked but remained silent. They knew Maya was exhausted from overworking, but who would dare to go against Nia? They wanted to keep their jobs.
But as Maya was leaving, Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up. “Nia, child, I’ve got something to say,” he said calmly, despite Nia’s obvious irritation.
“We’re all happy to help with your vision, Nia,” Victor began, trying to reason with her. “But maybe we could let go of the small mistakes…”
Nia, angered by his audacity to speak up, cut him off. “That’s enough, Victor! Do you think I haven’t noticed your tardiness and long lunch breaks?” she retorted. “And let’s not forget how you arrive late daily!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Nia, there’s a reason why I’ve been coming later than the others…”
Nia couldn’t believe that the older man had interrupted her again. Looking at the other employees stare at her, anticipating her reaction, she decided to put her foot down and set an example once and for all.
“I don’t care about the reason! Let this be an example, folks,” Nia said. “Anyone who makes excuses on my watch will be fired. Hey, you’re fired, old man! Now you can accompany Maya and get lost!”
Maya and Victor left quietly while the rest of the staff watched in dismay, tears in their eyes. Nia’s ruthlessness had reached a new level, leaving everyone in shock.
Though it was the end of Victor’s job at the store, an unexpected turn of events awaited him the next day.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Mr. Gordon, the owner of the multi-million-dollar store chain,unexpectedly visited his store to address the sudden revenue decline.
“Good morning, everyone! How are things going?” Mr. Gordon asked all the employees.
“It could’ve been much better,” a worker replied, with others nodding.
“What’s up? Aren’t you guys excited for the Christmas holidays?” Mr. Gordon inquired.
“Some of us wanted an extended Christmas break, but Miss Ferguson only allowed two days off,” another employee explained.
Mr. Gordon partially understood what was happening and called Nia to his office.
“Miss Ferguson, our revenue has dropped drastically. What happened? Do you need help?” he asked while they sat across from each other.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Nia blamed the staff, claiming they were lazy and needed close monitoring.
“I see…We had the same ‘lazy’ staff with us the last month, didn’t we? But everything was much better. We didn’t hire anyone recently, so I don’t understand why they are suddenly acting lazy.”
Mr. Gordon gave Nia a month to improve the situation. As he was leaving, he asked about Victor, the custodian.
“Where’s Victor? I didn’t see him today,” he said.
“He was fired for being late and too old to work,” Nia hesitantly revealed.
Mr. Gordon was shocked. “WHAT? Do you know you fired the co-owner of this store?”
Nia was stunned. “The co-owner? But he’s just a janitor!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Mr. Gordon shared a story from his childhood. “I still don’t remember what happened that day…but my father told me I ran after an ice cream van and almost got hit by a car. Victor had seen me while emptying the trash and rushed to my rescue. He pushed me away and saved my life, but he ended up in intensive care after being hit by the car.
“My father, the original owner of this store, offered him a share in the business. Do you know what Victor said when my dad wanted to reward him? ‘I just did what any normal human was supposed to do.’ Victor accepted the offer to become a co-owner because my father kept persuading him, but on one condition. That he would work as a janitor.”
He continued, “Victor lost his wife and child during childbirth and considered the staff here his family.”
Mr. Gordon then dropped a bombshell. “You must apologize to Victor. He’s taking over this unit tomorrow. I’ll come again, and it’s up to Victor to decide whether or not I should fire you.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Panicked and fearing for her job, Nia drove to meet Victor, worried about facing him and the challenges ahead. “How will I boost sales in a month? How will I face Victor? It’s his fault, too. Why did he just walk away without telling me who he was? Now, everything is against me. What will I do?” she fretted.
Nia arrived at Victor’s modest home, surprised by its simplicity despite his co-ownership of a lucrative business. She knocked, and Victor greeted her warmly, inviting her in for apple pie.
“Mr. Gordon told me you’d come. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Victor said, unaffected by her previous actions.
Nia felt awkward in the humble setting. Victor, sensing her unease, began to talk about Mr. Gordon’s father’s business philosophy.
“Unlike others, he valued his staff first. He provided nap rooms, bonuses, corporate events, and weekends off and ensured customers didn’t mistreat them. He treated employees like family,” Victor explained.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Nia shyly nodded, partially realizing what had gone wrong. “But how does that help with the growth of the business? If employees get such perks, how will they work without distractions? Won’t they take it for granted?” she said.
Victor smiled. “When employees love their work, they provide top-notch service, satisfying customers and growing the business. A smart boss finds ways to make employees devoted. He doesn’t fire them.”
As Victor hungrily devoured his pie, he requested Nia to call Maya back to work. “You may never know how fate works for others, Nia. You joined as an intern, but you became the general manager. You may never know what potential a simple salesgirl like Maya can have. Never underestimate and judge others by their appearance or job!”
Nia grinned, and just as she was about to leave, Victor stopped her. “Don’t worry, Nia. I will not fire you. But we will decide later together with all the employees and Mr. Gordon by a vote, alright?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Assured she still had a second chance, Nia returned to the store and gathered all the employees in her office. They were afraid about what more rules she was going to impose on them. But none of them had expected to see what was about to happen next.
“Good day, everyone!” Nia began with a smile. Everyone thought it was unusual because she had never greeted them with a smile since day one of her promotion.
“I would like to tell everyone that Victor, the company’s co-owner, will be heading us from tomorrow!”
The employees were shocked at the revelation. Some of them didn’t have a clue that the custodian of their store was their boss.
“Don’t be shocked, guys! I am young and new to this trade, and I made mistakes. I hope you’ll all forgive me for what happened in the last few days. Maya and Victor will be back tomorrow, and we will work as a team. Is that clear?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
From the next day onward, Nia followed Victor’s advice and implemented Mr. Gordon’s dad’s principles. She treated her employees respectfully and did not show authority over them. She thought more about them and made sure each and every employee loved their job.
As days passed, Nia’s efforts worked in her favor. The employees started giving their best, and as Nia had wanted, the sales for the next quarter surged with impeccable results.
Mr. Gordon was impressed with Nia’s efforts, and with Victor, he decided not to fire her. Five years later, Nia was promoted to the position of CEO of all the outlets.
As for Victor, he chose to keep working as a janitor because he loved his job.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
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My MIL Demanded to Share a Hotel Room with My Husband During Our Anniversary Trip
Our 10th wedding anniversary trip was supposed to be about reconnecting and romance. Instead, it turned into a bizarre nightmare when my mother-in-law decided she couldn’t let her “precious son” out of her sight. And that wasn’t even the worst part.
You see, Patrick’s mom has always had a knack for inserting herself where she doesn’t belong. But when she barged into our anniversary suite and claimed it for herself, I knew I couldn’t let this slide.
I just had to figure out how to make her pay for her antics without ruining my marriage.
A woman looking at her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney
So, my husband and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.
We planned a weeklong trip to a luxury resort, and it was our first real getaway since our son was born five years ago. The idea was simple. Unwind, reconnect, and maybe reignite a little romance. I’d been looking forward to it for months.
That is, until my mother-in-law, Victoria, inserted herself into our plans.
A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney
From the start, it was clear she saw herself as the third partner in our marriage.
At our wedding, she hijacked our first dance, taking Patrick’s hand before I had the chance. Since then, she’s made a habit of sidelining me at every opportunity. She made sure she was the center of attention on every occasion whether it was a birthday or a holiday.
When Patrick and I mentioned our anniversary trip, she immediately chimed in with her suggestion.
“Why don’t I come along?” she asked. “I could watch the little one while you two have some alone time.”
A woman talking to her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Alone time? With her hovering? No thanks.
Patrick, ever the peacemaker, tried to frame it as a win-win.
“Think about it, Anna. She’ll take care of our son during the day, and we’ll still have the evenings to ourselves.”
Reluctantly, I agreed. “Fine. But she’s staying in her own room. I’m not sharing my suite.”
“Oh, of course!” she assured me, her smile a little too wide. “I wouldn’t dream of imposing.”
A woman in her son’s house | Source: Midjourney
Fast forward to the day we arrived at the resort.
As we checked in, Victoria eyed the staff with that judgmental air she always carried. Her nose wrinkled slightly when she saw her room key. It had the shower icon on it, while ours had the bath icon.
“What’s wrong?” Patrick asked.
She sighed dramatically.
“Oh, nothing…” she began. “It’s just that I really dislike showers. My bones need a good soak in a tub.”
My eyes narrowed.
The suite Patrick and I had booked, complete with a king-sized bed and a luxurious bathtub, was clearly the target of her complaint.
A ceramic bathtub | Source: Unsplash
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, she marched toward the bellhop, snatched our suite key, and headed straight for the elevator.
“Mom, wait!” Patrick called, but she didn’t stop.
The poor bellhop barely had time to keep up with her as she barreled down the hallway.
We followed her to the suite, and by the time we arrived, she was already unpacking her things. She tossed her bag onto the bed, fluffed the pillows, and smiled at me like a cat that had just caught a mouse.
A woman standing in a hotel room | Source: Midjourney
“This will do nicely,” she announced. Then, turning to me, she added with a saccharine tone, “You can stay in the other room with the child, and I’ll stay here with my son.”
Wait, what? Did I hear that right?
I looked at Patrick, expecting him to say something. But he just stood there, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. “Mom, come on…”
“Oh, don’t be difficult, dear,” she said, brushing him off. “We’re family. This is what families do.”
A woman smiling in a hotel room | Source: Midjourney
Her message was loud and clear. I was the outsider. The third wheel.
And the “I need a bath” excuse? It was just a smokescreen to take my anniversary suite right out from under me.
I stared at Patrick, waiting for him to tell his mom she was being completely out of line. I mean, who demands to share a hotel room with their grown son on his anniversary trip?
But instead of standing up to her, Patrick just shrugged.
A man standing near a window | Source: Midjourney
“It’s just for sleeping,” he mumbled. “We’ll still do the rest of the trip together. Let’s not make it a big deal.”
Not make it a big deal? I wanted to scream. But I plastered on my best fake smile instead.
“Of course. Whatever makes you comfortable,” I said sweetly, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Victoria, oblivious to my tone, beamed. “I knew you’d understand, Anna. You’re such a good wife.”
A woman talking to her daughter-in-law in a hotel room | Source: Midjourney
Inside, I was fuming.
This was supposed to be our anniversary trip, a chance for us to reconnect after years of juggling work, parenthood, and everything in between. I wasn’t about to let her turn me into the third wheel on my own vacation.
If she wanted to act like the queen of the resort, fine. I had a plan brewing, and I knew she wouldn’t see it coming.
The next morning, I acted like I was completely fine with the new sleeping arrangements.
A young woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
Over breakfast, I smiled, nodded, and let Victoria ramble on about how “thoughtful” Patrick was for including her on the trip.
“I just love spending time with my son,” she said, patting his hand. “It’s so rare these days.”
Patrick gave me an apologetic glance, but I waved it off.
“No worries,” I said. “Actually, I’ve got a surprise for you both.”
Victoria’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “A surprise?”
A woman sitting for breakfast in a hotel | Source: Midjourney
“Yep,” I nodded. “I’ve booked a romantic couples’ photoshoot at the resort this morning. I thought it would be a great way to capture some memories.”
Patrick frowned. “A couples’ photoshoot?”
“You’ll love it,” I said, keeping my expression innocent. “I talked to the resort staff last night, and they made all the arrangements. You and Mom are going to look great together.”
Victoria clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, how lovely! Patrick, isn’t this sweet of Anna?”
A woman smiling while talking to her son | Source: Midjourney
Patrick didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t protest. He was still in that awkward middle ground where he didn’t want to upset his mom or me. Poor guy had no idea what he was in for.
When they arrived at the photoshoot, the photographer greeted them with a big, cheerful smile. “Ah, here you are! We’re ready for your session.”
Patrick’s eyes widened. “Wait, no—”
“Oh, don’t be modest!” the photographer interrupted. “You two look like such a lovely couple.”
A person holding a camera | Source: Unsplash
I watched from a distance as the photographer posed them by the fountain, gushing over their “chemistry” and “love story.” Patrick looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole, while Victoria basked in the attention.
I could barely hold back my laughter. This was just the beginning.
The next morning, Patrick and Victoria headed to what they thought would be a casual resort activity. Little did they know, I’d signed them up for an exclusive couples’ tango class.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
The instructor, Marco, greeted them with dramatic flair. “Welcome to the dance of love!”
“Wait, what?” Patrick asked as his eyes widened in horror.
Victoria clasped her hands in delight. “Oh, Patrick, this is so nice! I’ve always wanted to learn tango.”
I lounged nearby, pretending not to notice as Patrick gave me a desperate look. I just sipped my coffee and waved.
A woman holding a cup of coffee | Source: Pexels
“Now,” Marco began, “tango is about connection! Mr. Patrick, place your hand on your wife’s waist and gaze into her eyes. The soul must speak through the dance.”
Patrick looked ready to bolt. “She’s not my—”
“No excuses! Dance is truth!” Marco declared, clapping his hands.
Victoria leaned in, practically giddy. “Come on, Patrick. Let’s show them what we’ve got!”
Reluctantly, Patrick placed his hand on her waist and shuffled through the steps as Marco barked instructions. Every few seconds, Patrick tripped or stepped on Victoria’s foot.
I couldn’t hold back my laughter as I watched his misery unfold.
A close-up shot of a woman’s face | Source: Unsplash
“More passion!” Marco exclaimed. “The woman must feel the fire in her partner’s gaze!”
I saw Patrick muttered something under his breath that I’m sure wasn’t appropriate.
By the end of the class, Victoria was beaming.
“That was wonderful!” she exclaimed. “We should take dance lessons back home.”
Patrick groaned. “I think I’ve had enough tango for a lifetime.”
But the day wasn’t over yet.
That evening, I sent them off to the resort’s signature sunset dinner cruise. The staff pulled out all the stops, complete with a violinist, rose petals, and a candlelit table on the deck.
A close-up shot of cutlery on a table | Source: Unsplash
As they boarded, the captain greeted them warmly. “Welcome aboard! We’ve prepared the most romantic table for you two lovebirds.”
Patrick looked like he wanted to jump overboard. “Uh, we’re not—”
Victoria waved regally, basking in the attention. “Thank you! This is simply delightful.”
I waved at them from the dock.
“Bon voyage!” I called out with a grin.
Patrick’s face turned beet red. He glanced back at me, clearly catching on that I was behind all of this.
The cruise lasted two hours, and by the time they returned, Patrick was done.
A man standing in a hotel lobby | Source: Midjourney
He marched over to me the second Victoria disappeared into her room.
“What the hell is going on?” he hissed, his face red with embarrassment. “Why does everyone think we’re a couple?”
I blinked innocently. “Oh, I have no idea. I guess the staff must’ve misunderstood when I said it was our anniversary trip. I just wanted to make sure your mom had a good time, since she insisted on coming.”
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Anna… I messed up, didn’t I?”
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “You think?”
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
“I should’ve told her no,” he admitted, shaking his head. “I thought it would be easier to let her come along. I didn’t realize how ridiculous it would get.”
“Well,” I said, taking a sip of my champagne, “now you know.”
The next morning, as we packed to leave, Patrick was tripping over himself to apologize. “I’ll never let her interfere like this again. Next time, we’re hiring a nanny.”
“Sounds perfect,” I replied with a satisfied smile.
A woman smiling while looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
Victoria, oblivious to the chaos she’d caused, declared it the best vacation ever.
So, what did I learn from this? It’s that sometimes, you don’t need to raise your voice to make a point. You just need a little creativity to teach a lesson that won’t be forgotten.
Do you agree?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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