It had been a month since the routine had become a silent battlefield. Every day, Sarah continued to take control, without anyone really stopping her. And Ethan, somehow, still stayed by her side. He seemed distant, oblivious to what was happening with the team, with the work that, in my view, was slowly disintegrating.
Every morning, I arrived earlier, as always, feeling exhausted before I even began. But since Sarah had taken a higher position, everything had become heavier. During that month, she spared no effort to humiliate me, whether behind the scenes or in front of the whole team.
In most meetings, she would appropriate my ideas, repeating them as if they were her own. The worst part was that nobody said anything. And Ethan, sitting there, in his superior position, didn't even make a comment. His gaze would shift, as if he were avoiding seeing what was happening right before his eyes.
One day
It was a rainy Friday. Everyone was gathered in the conference room to discuss new projects. I had already prepared notes on the new game we were developing, but when I started to explain, Sarah interrupted, took my idea, and delivered it in such a superficial, empty way.
"Let's do this in a more interesting way. Let's change the narrative, why not focus on something more intriguing, like a more complex plot?" she said, already presenting the idea as if it were her own.
I took a deep breath and said nothing. The anger was there, right inside me, but I knew that any further word would only harm me. I looked at Ethan, waiting for some sign that he would intervene, but he was focused on his papers, as if the conversation didn't involve him.
"Sarah, you... you didn't...?" I tried to speak, but she interrupted me.
"I'm the new boss here, Eleanor. You don't need to worry about anything, right?" Sarah said, her voice as sweet as poison.
The silence that followed was heavy, laden with tension. But it was Ethan who finally spoke, still without looking directly at me.
"Sarah's right. The narrative needs to be more engaging. You've worked enough on this project, Eleanor, maybe it's time to delegate."
I felt crushed. "Delegate? Delegate to whom? To her, who doesn't even know the basics of what we're doing?" But the words got stuck in my throat.
On another occasion, at lunch, I kept my distance, as usual. Camily was with me, trying to cheer me up, but even she began to realize that what was happening wasn't just a passing episode.
"Did you see what she did in the meeting?" Camily said, her expression irritated. "She's doing everything she can to steal your work. It's becoming increasingly clear that Ethan is on her side."
I sighed, stirring my spoon in my plate of food. "I don't know what happened to him. He used to listen to me. I... I'm not invisible, right?"
"Of course not, Eleanor. You're one of the best programmers here; we can't let her steal all that from you. But I also know it's not easy; she has the power, and Ethan is... I don't know, on her side."
I looked at the cafeteria door and saw Sarah approaching, an expression of victory stamped on her face. "Hi, girls," she said, with a sweet voice, but with a look that made it clear she wasn't just there to greet us.
"Hi, Sarah," I replied listlessly.
She smirked, looking directly at me. "Ethan and I are making big plans for the company. I think it will be very interesting when you see the changes, Eleanor. Maybe you have something more to teach me, right?"
Her tone didn't go unnoticed. I knew exactly what she was doing: shifting the blame onto me, making it seem like I was the one failing.
Another day...
That night, after another meeting where Sarah took over another one of my projects, I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. I went to Ethan's office, where he was reviewing some game proposals. The room was lit only by the soft light of a desk lamp.
"Ethan—" my voice sounded tense. He looked up, surprised by my abrupt entrance.
"Eleanor? What is it?" He looked tired, more distant than ever.
"You know what's happening, don't you? Sarah is stealing my ideas, and you're watching it happen, and you do nothing!" The words tumbled out, my voice trembling with anger.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, as if preparing for a battle, but I was already so tired of fighting that my energy was running out.
"You need to understand, Eleanor—" he said, his voice cold. "I need things to be done a certain way, and Sarah is doing that. I can't just stop the workflow because of this."
"So, that's it? You're going to let her destroy what I created?"
"I'm not saying you don't have merit, Eleanor. I'm just saying you need to be more... flexible."
I felt as if I'd been punched in the stomach.
"Flexible? Ethan, she's stealing my work, and you're on her side."
He looked at me for a moment, and then looked away. "I can't do anything right now. Let's talk about this later."
Those words came out of me like an enormous weight, something I had been carrying for days but had never had the courage to express.
"We're not talking about this later... I quit. Good luck making the game without me."
I saw Ethan's expression change instantly, his eyes widening in surprise, but also with a touch of desperation. He stood up from his chair hastily, as if trying to stop what I had just said, but I was no longer willing to listen to excuses or empty justifications.
"You can't quit... The company owner is coming... We need to show him we're on the right track, and if something goes wrong... you can't leave now," he said, his voice low, more nervous than ever. He seemed worried, but not for me; it was more about the impact of my departure on the company's grand plan.
I stared at him without blinking, my patience already at its limit.
"You have Sarah," I replied, my voice firm. There was nothing more to say. I knew he was trying to save the situation, but the truth was I was tired of being treated as disposable. Sarah always had more power, more voice, and for some reason, Ethan was more interested in maintaining the company's facade than in truly recognizing my work.
With one last quick glance at him, I turned and walked to my desk. I gathered my things in silence. My computer, some papers, and the water bottle that always accompanied me. Each movement was like a relief. I knew I was doing the right thing, even though my mind was still full of doubts.
When I finished packing my things, I looked back one last time, where Ethan stood, hand on his forehead, visibly uncomfortable. But I couldn't wait any longer. He didn't respect me enough to stop Sarah from stealing my ideas, and he didn't even care when I talked about it. I wasn't willing to be an invisible part of something I had no control over, nor value in.
The office door closed behind me with a soft click, as if the sound was the end of a chapter I was leaving behind. My breathing was rapid, but I felt a lightness in my chest. I didn't know what the future held for me, but one thing was certain: I would no longer live to please someone who didn't value my work and my ideas.
As I walked towards the exit, Camily's words came back to my mind:
"You're one of the best programmers here."
Maybe I wasn't seeing it clearly while I was trapped in that place, but now I knew it was time to look for an environment where I would be recognized for who I really am.
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