My wife and I both work at the same company: I\u2019m the driver and she\u2019s the boss\u2019s personal assistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, he sent her to negotiate a big contract with subcontractors, but things didn\u2019t go well and the boss lost a key partner. My wife told me it wasn\u2019t her fault; the boss had insisted on ridiculous conditions that associates just couldn\u2019t accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But instead of admitting it, he humiliated her in front of the entire office the next day. \u2018NO SURPRISE OUR PARTNERS GAVE UP \u2013 SHE LOOKS LIKE A HORRIBLE! ALICE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WORK SHOULDN\u2019T LOOK LIKE! ALICE IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A HIRING MISTAKE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a taste of what he said. I defended her and we both got fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Colin and his wife, Alice, end up working for the same company for corporate tyrant Mr. Taylor, they think they\u2019ve gotten a good deal while pursuing their passions. But after a mistake at work, Alice is ridiculed in front of everyone, leading Colin to seek revenge. When the couple loses their jobs, Colin must fight for revenge\u2026
Working as a driver for the owner of a medium-sized company was never a dream, but it paid the bills. If I were to be honest, I\u2019d tell you that what I always wanted to do was own my own construction company, but life often has strange consequences.
The good thing about being a driver was that I got to go to fancy places and work alongside my wife, Alice. We met years ago, long before either of us ended up working at the same place. But when Alice got the job as Mr. Taylor\u2019s personal assistant, she sent him my resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEverything will be fine, Colin,\u201d she told me one night as we made pasta for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe needs a personal driver, and you can do that. Neither of us has to stay here forever, but the pay is adequate for now. So until something better comes along for us, we\u2019ll have to make do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know,\u201d I agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s just that it\u2019s so far from my dream that I feel like I\u2019m going to get stuck in this. But that\u2019s okay, I\u2019ll only get stuck if I stop. And I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our boss, Mr. Taylor, was quite the performer. On the surface, he seemed like a typical entrepreneur. You know, the crisp suits, always glued to his phone, and he had a way of talking that made you think he knew something you didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the truth was simple: Mr. Taylor was a man who liked to control, and the more he tightened his grip on the company and all its employees, the worse things became for all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alice had been struggling with his moods for months. Recently, he was preparing for a big business meeting that would invite new investors into the company, publicizing his security empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re stressed, Alice,\u201d I said simply when she told me how tense her shoulders were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s under a lot of pressure, honey,\u201d she said. \u201cWhich means I\u2019m under a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She tried to shrug, but I could see the toll it was taking on her. Alice was constantly on edge, double-checking everything, afraid of making the slightest mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then last week came along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, Mr. Taylor had grown close to Alice and trusted her completely. So when it came time to negotiate a new contract with a few new contractors, he sent Alice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got you set up, Alice,\u201d he said in a booming voice. \u201cIt\u2019s simple, and it\u2019s all in the presentation and the booklets we made for them. All you have to do is show up and see if they have any questions. Then give them a smile and get them to sign. Easy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alice was beaming. I knew she was enjoying the added responsibility and wanted to prove her worth to him. She was tired of being a personal assistant and wanted more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when she came home that night, her face was pale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe meeting didn\u2019t go well,\u201d she admitted softly. \u201cThey all backed out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? Why?\u201d I asked, feeling the pit of my stomach tighten. I knew there would be fallout. Mr. Taylor was bound to let everyone know how disappointed he was in Alice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After putting the kettle on, I sat down next to Alice, encouraging her to tell me everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe insisted on some ridiculous terms,\u201d she explained. \u201cI tried to tell him they wouldn\u2019t accept it, but he wouldn\u2019t listen. I mean, Colin, there were clauses up to fifteen million dollars. Like if someone backed out, they had to pay them that amount of money, and it would have been viable once the contract was signed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd let me guess, he blames you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded sadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took my wife\u2019s hand and squeezed it tightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, my love. Mr. Taylor tries to be a calculating man, but he always cuts corners. He should have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the next day, as I headed to the office to tell Mr. Taylor that I was taking the car in for a service, things took a different turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Taylor called a meeting, dragging everyone from their desks into the open office area<\/p>\n\n\n\n
stood in the back, unsure whether to stay or just drive away. But then I saw my wife, her eyes sunken and her shoulders hunched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEverybody!\u201d Mr. Taylor barked. Immediately, the chatter stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want you all to look at Alice. Take a good, long look at her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alice shifted uncomfortably, her face turning red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is what failure looks like! No wonder our potential new partners backed out. She looks all hunched over and scary. Like a scarecrow! Alice is a perfect example of what not to look like. Alice is a perfect example of a hiring mistake!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few nervous laughs erupted from the crowd, but most people looked away. I could feel the blood boiling beneath my skin. I had never seen it go this far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before I could stop myself, I was moving forward, pushing through the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, that\u2019s enough!\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Taylor turned, his eyes narrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, and here comes the knight in shining armor,\u201d he sneered. \u201cComing to defend your damsel in distress?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the failure here. You have no right to talk to Alice like that. It\u2019s not her fault the deal fell through. You\u2019re the one who insisted on those terms!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d he barked. \u201cDo you think you know better than me how to run a business? You\u2019re just a driver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, and you\u2019re just a brute,\u201d I retorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The office was dead silent, both of us staring back and forth between the two of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re fired!\u201d he spat, his face contorted with anger. \u201cBoth of you. Get out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alice let out a small gasp, but I took her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s go,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We left the office, the door closing behind us with a thud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d she whispered. \u201cI really didn\u2019t want you to lose your job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault,\u201d I reassured her. \u201cWe\u2019ll figure it out. We always do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as we drove home, the weight of what had happened began to weigh on me. And I knew I couldn\u2019t let it go. Not this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later that evening, Alice was busy in the kitchen. She was making homemade ravioli, something she only did when she wanted to keep her mind and hands busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cColin, I did the best I could. And now\u2026 Now we\u2019re both out of a job because of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I moved closer to her, wrapping my arms around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not over yet,\u201d I said. \u201cI know where he\u2019ll be tonight. He has one more meeting with those partners. It was on my schedule this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re going to disrupt his meeting?\u201d she asked, wiping her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrust me, it\u2019ll be fine,\u201d I said, grabbing my keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I drove to the hotel where Mr. Taylor\u2019s meeting was taking place, and as I pulled up outside, I spotted his luxury car parked in the parking lot. I started to get overwhelmed and wanted to turn away, but I couldn\u2019t just leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I entered, I headed toward the area of \u200b\u200bthe restaurant where he always had his meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then I saw him. Mr. Taylor, sitting at a secluded table in the back. But he wasn\u2019t with a business partner. No, he was with a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were sitting too close together, his hand on her knee, with glasses of wine on the table in front of them. Before I did anything else, I fumbled for my phone, snapping a few quick pictures before slipping out into the lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I went to Mr. Taylor; Mrs. Taylor was going to check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cColin! How nice to see you!\u201d she said as she opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello, Mrs. Taylor,\u201d I said, trying to keep my voice calm. \u201cI need to show you something.\u201d \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She frowned, but nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I pulled out my phone and handed it to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs this\u2026 is this my husband?\u201d she said incredulously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, I thought you should know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I quickly told her what had happened at the office and how Alice and I had lost our jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. Send them to me. I\u2019ll round up the investors and put an end to this whole thing. I\u2019d like to see what he does with no money. Besides, it was my father\u2019s company; there\u2019s a clause in my prenup that says if he\u2019s proven to be unfaithful, the company will go to me in its entirety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I couldn\u2019t believe what I was hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGive me a week, Colin,\u201d she said. \u201cYou and Alice will be reinstated. You\u2019ll both work for me.\u201d Enjoy this week off, and I will see you on the other side. There will be compensation for the constraint my husband has imposed on you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when you join the company, you\u2019ll get a raise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I went home in a frenzy. I couldn\u2019t wait to tell Alice that we were rid of the man who had treated us like garbage. And now there were a whole new set of opportunities available to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who knows, I might even quit my job as a driver and follow my passion again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My wife and I both work at the same company: I\u2019m the driver and she\u2019s the boss\u2019s personal assistant. Recently, he sent her to negotiate a big contract with subcontractors, but things didn\u2019t go well and the boss lost a key partner. My wife told me it wasn\u2019t her fault; the boss had insisted on…<\/p>\n