I had always been a dedicated employee who took pride in my work, believing I had a solid relationship with my boss, Greg. He was strict but fair, and I worked tirelessly to prove my worth over the years. So, when he called me into his office one day, I expected just another routine meeting. Instead, his words turned my world upside down. “Lena, we have to let you go,” he said, avoiding my gaze. My heart pounded as I struggled to process what was happening. “What? Why?” I asked, my voice shaking with disbelief. Greg claimed it was due to budget cuts, assuring me it was nothing personal. But something felt off. There had been no warnings, no signs, and I had just completed a major project with positive feedback. It didn’t add up.
The next morning, I woke up to a message that sent a chill down my spine: “Meet me. I need to tell you the truth. – Sara.” Greg’s wife. I hadn’t spoken to her in years and didn’t even know she had my number. My mind raced. Why was she reaching out now? What did she know? I hesitated before agreeing to meet her at a small café downtown. When I arrived, Sara was already seated, nervously clasping her hands. “Thank you for coming,” she said, her voice low and serious. I could sense her urgency. “I know this must seem strange, but you need to hear the truth.” I leaned in, my pulse quickening. “What’s going on?”
Sara took a deep breath before dropping a bombshell. “Greg didn’t fire you because of budget cuts. That was a lie,” she admitted, her voice trembling. I felt my stomach drop. “What do you mean?” I asked. “He fired you because of me,” she confessed. My confusion deepened. Sara explained that her marriage had been falling apart for months. Greg had been acting distant, distracted, and when she finally confronted him, she discovered why. He had developed feelings for me. He had convinced himself that his obsession was my fault and decided that firing me was the only way to “fix” his marriage.
