I was fired for plagiarizing a project I had spent nearly a year working on alone. It turns out my husband was behind it, and he did it for a woman who meant far more to him than I ever knew. So, my revenge started immediately.
As I walked down the corridor toward my boss’s office, my heart raced with anticipation.
This is it, the moment all my hard work will finally be recognized.
For nearly a year, I had thrown myself into this project, perfecting every detail, securing investors, and crafting something I knew would be a game-changer.
I could already imagine the praise, the promotion, and maybe even the chance to lead a bigger team. A small smile crept onto my face as I knocked on the door.“
Come in,” my boss’s gruff voice called out.
My boss, Mr. Thornton, wasn’t alone. Callie was sitting beside him, with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her eyes met mine with an unsettling calmness.
“Alice, sit down,” Mr. Thornton said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
Confused, I sat.
What’s Callie doing here?
The smile I had worn moments ago faded as I glanced between them.
“I don’t want to drag this out,” Mr. Thornton started, flipping through some papers on his desk. “We have an issue. Callie here brought to my attention that the project you submitted last week… wasn’t entirely yours.”
I blinked, not understanding.
“What do you mean? Of course, it’s mine. I’ve been working on it for nearly a year.”
I turned to look at Callie, disbelief swirling in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Alice,” she began, her voice dripping with insincerity.
“But this idea was mine. I submitted the proposal two weeks ago. The concept, the details… they’re all mine. I don’t know how you got a hold of it, but I can’t let this slide.”
Mr. Thornton leaned forward, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Alice, I’ve reviewed the submissions. Callie’s project came in first, with all the detailed information. I’m sorry, but it looks like you’ve taken her work.”
“I didn’t steal anything. This is my project. I’ve worked on it from the beginning. You know that.”
Callie tilted her head, feigning sympathy. “I didn’t want it to come to this, but… well, I had no choice.”
“Mr. Thornton, this is a mistake. Please, let me explain…”
“I’m afraid there’s nothing to explain,” he interrupted, standing up. “Given the situation, we have no choice but to let you go.”
Fired? Just like that?
“Callie, you can leave now,” Mr. Thornton said, giving her a nod.
She stood gracefully, offering me a sad smile before exiting the office. The door closed softly behind her, but the sound echoed in my ears.
I turned back to Mr. Thornton.
“You can’t seriously believe this. You’ve seen my work. You know what I’m capable of.”
“I’m sorry, Alice. The evidence is stacked against you.”
Without another word, I stood up, my legs shaky as I walked out of the office. My head was spinning.
How could this be happening? How had she pulled this off?
Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me. Harris. My husband. He was the only one who had access to the project.
Could he… betray me?
I grabbed my bag and rushed straight home. The need for answers was burning inside me.
***
Harris had always been so attentive, so thoughtful. He would surprise me with flowers and little notes, even bringing my favorite coffee home after work.
It was these small acts of kindness that made me feel guilty for even doubting him at first. But now, with everything going on at work, I couldn’t ignore the nagging suspicion growing inside me.
“Just busy, you know how it is.”
Harris was in the shower. I immediately started searching for proof. I combed through his things—his jacket pockets, his briefcase, and eventually, his phone.
That’s when I found it. A restaurant receipt from a night he’d told me he was working late. Wine, lobsters for two, desserts for two. He hadn’t been with colleagues. It’s obvious.
I kept digging into his phone. He was careful, but not careful enough. My worst fears were confirmed. Harris helped Callie to steal my project. She was his mistress!
It hurt, but I refused to fall apart. Harris and Callie thought they could destroy me, both personally and professionally. But I wasn’t going to let them. I had other plans.
***
My last day at the office felt surreal. I had spent years walking through these halls, pouring my heart into every project, but today was different. Today, I had a plan.
My boss, Mr. Thornton, had been a tougher sell, but I knew exactly how to get him on board.
“Look, Mr. Thornton,” I had said with a calm smile, “there are some things I’m going to reveal that could seriously affect your reputation if you’re not present.”
“I don’t know what you’ve cooked up this time, Alice, but I’ll be there.”
