Resigning After Finding Out My Intern's Real Salary

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Same old rule. Keep the sales department's collective pay raise a secret from Jocelyn. Make sure nobody slips up.

At three in the afternoon, a message popped up in the company's main group chat.

Only two seconds later, it was deleted by the supervisor.

Jocelyn, there's a problem with the last project proposal. The client specifically asked for you to handle it, so you'll have to work some overtime.

The intern I was mentoring happened to walk by. As she turned to grab some files, her phone, sitting on my desk, lit up.

"Deposit received. Monthly salary: 0-02,000."

At that exact moment, my own phone vibrated.

Salary received: $5,500.

Staring at those two numbers, my heart sank into an icy abyss.

I pulled out the resignation letter I'd kept buried at the bottom of my drawer for six months, stood up, and walked toward the supervisor's office.

1.

I reached Donovan Lowe's office door and heard the upbeat music of a suggestive TikTok video playing inside.

I knocked three times, and the music cut off abruptly.

"Come in."

Donovan was sitting behind his desk, a folder spread out in front of him.

He looked up and raised an eyebrow when he saw me.

"Jocelyn? This is a surprise."

"Instead of chasing leads during work hours, you've come to see me"

He gave a half-smile. "Is this about that raise again?"

Six months ago, I had approached Donovan about my salary.

I'd been with this company for ten years and had been the top salesperson for every single one of them. Yet, the savings I'd scraped together weren't even enough to buy a tiny, sixty-square-meter fixer-upper in a decent school district.

Every month, I was drowning in high-interest mortgage payments.

That particular month, my mother had fallen ill, my child was hospitalized with a fever, and my husband had been laid off.

With the mortgage hanging over my head like a guillotine, I had no choice but to swallow my pride and ask Donovan for a raise.

He had acted so sympathetic back then, but his words were a fortress.

"Jocelyn, we're all just working for a paycheck. I truly understand your situation."

"But the company has its own struggles. The economy has been soft, and cash flow is tight. The CEO actually took out a loan just to cover payroll If there's an opening for a raise, you'll be the first in line!"

"Still, since you asked, I won't leave you hanging. Here, take this $50. Consider it a personal loan from me. Pay me back when you're back on your feet."

Back then, looking at Donovan's seemingly honest face, I didn't take the money, but I felt grateful. I thought he was a leader who cared about his subordinates.

I hadn't submitted my resignation then.

I never imagined it was all a pathetic charade.

Everyone in the sales department had been getting secret raises except for me. Even the new intern was making double what I earned.

I was the only fool kept in the dark!

Seeing that I didn't respond, Donovan assumed I was agreeing and kept talking.

"The market has recovered slightly these past six months, but profit is a long-term game. We can't just look at the immediate gains."

"You're a veteran here. You should be standing in solidarity with the company and setting an example for the others."

"As for the raise, let's wait aD"

I cut him off, my voice low and steady.

"Supervisor Lowe, what is your monthly salary?"

Donovan froze, his lip curling in a flicker of discomfort.

"What kind of question is that? I'm your boss. I have years of seniority over you. You think you can compare yourself to me?"

I smiled, though my eyes burned with bitterness.

"If we're talking about seniority, I've been the top salesperson here for ten years longer than that intern. So why is her monthly salary double mine?"

Since joining the company, I'd always been the reliable, easy-going one. I never picked fights.

Faced with my sudden aggression, Donovan's first reaction wasn't shameDit was rage.

"Who do you think you're talking to? Jocelyn, watch your attitude!"

"Eliana Sterling might be an intern, but she's a Master's graduate from a top-tier university with international experience. She speaks three languages. She's a rare talent!"

"Besides, sales is a young person's game for women. Eliana is young and beautifulDshe's a rose wherever she goes. You're thirty-five, you barely put effort into your appearance, and you think you can be the top seller forever?"

Ten years of killing myself for this company, and I thought I'd at least earned their respect.

Instead, in their eyes, I was just a disposable tool. I wasn't even a person to them.

At that point, the last shred of hesitation vanished. I slammed the resignation letter onto his desk.

"Since I'm so worthless to this company, I quit."

"From now on, we have nothing to do with each other!"

2.

Donovan's smirk froze. He clearly hadn't expected me to actually quit.

Two seconds later, his shock morphed into fury.

"Jocelyn, are you throwing a tantrum?"

He stood up, his face reddening.

"The company spent ten years grooming you. We gave you the platform and the resources. Is this how you repay us?"

I didn't answer. I knew his playbook by heart.

First, he'd guilt-trip me with the company's 'kindness,' then he'd preach about the 'big picture,' and finally, he'd blame everything on me.

Sure enough, his anger escalated when I stayed silent.

"Just because you didn't get a raise? You're a senior employee. Can't you show some class? Can't you be professional?"

"Whether I'm professional or not isn't your concern, Supervisor Lowe."

I looked him in the eye.

"I've handed in my notice. Whether you like it or not, thirty days from now, my contract with this company is over."

Donovan blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing.

He sank back into his chair, crossing his hands. The man who had cried poverty to me six months ago was gone.

"Jocelyn, Jocelyn. I thought you'd actually gained some spine, but you're still as brainless as ever."

He sneered. "Do you think I don't know how much your mother's medical bills cost every month?"

"That mortgage of yours isn't going anywhere. Your husband is still unemployed. Your entire family is literally eating off the salary I give you."

"You think you can just walk away? How are you going to pay for those meds next month? How are you going to pay the bank?"

"You're going to let your whole family starve just to prove a point?"

I had laid these vulnerabilities bare to him six months ago, hoping for help.

Back then, he played dumb and tried to pay me off with fifty bucks. Now, he was using my life as leverage to choke me!

"That's not your concern. I'll handle my own family."

Donovan's eyes turned cold as ice.

"Jocelyn, let's talk business. You're currently holding three major accounts. The commissions haven't been calculated yet. If you walk out now, you won't see a dime of those hundreds of thousands in bonuses."

"Also, if you don't cooperate with the handover, I won't sign your release papers. What reputable company would hire you without a reference?"

"Let's be real. You've done this for ten years. What else can you do? One word from me to my colleagues in the industry, and you'll never work in sales again."

Six months ago, I might have panicked. I might have bowed my head for the sake of those commissions.

But now, looking at his smug face, I only found him pathetic.

In ten years, I'd mastered this industry. Leaving wasn't losing a jobDit was breaking my chains.

"Supervisor Lowe, I will complete a full, legal handover over the next thirty days as per labor laws. All company documents will be returned."

"But every penny of the compensation I've earned will be paid to me. I won't lose a cent."

Donovan let out a disparaging snort.

He clearly thought I was just barking because I was backed into a corner. He thought I'd be crawling back soon.

"Fine. I'll be waiting."

He picked up my resignation and tossed it onto a pile of scrap paper.

"Let's see how long that pride lasts. Don't come crying to me when you hit rock bottom."

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked out.

I'd barely sat down at my desk when Eliana Sterling strutted over, looking like she owned the place.

"Jocelyn, Supervisor Lowe said all your clients are being transferred to me starting today."

"Get all the files organized and sent to me by the end of the day."

"Don't miss anything. If the company's business suffers because of you, you won't be able to handle the consequences."

She paused, looking me up and down with a judgmental gaze.

"Honestly, you're getting up there in age. Running around for clients must be exhausting for someone your age."

"Maybe it's better you go home and play housewife. It's better than staying here and dragging the company's performance down."

3.

When Eliana first started as my intern, she called me her mentor and acted sweet enough to give me a toothache.

Now, I was just an old woman she could insult in front of the whole office.

The other colleagues lowered their heads, pretending to be busy.

I looked at her and started organizing the public project files.

"The company policy for handovers only includes public project documents and progress reports for ongoing tasks."

I didn't even look at her.

"Private client relationships I've nurtured are not part of the mandatory handover."

Eliana's face darkened instantly. She glared at me and stomped back toward Donovan's office.

I knew she was going to tattle, but I didn't care. I clicked on a hidden, encrypted partition on my computer.

It contained my entire work history from the last ten years.

Every contract, every annual sales report, every email communication.

I didn't become the top salesperson for ten years by luck.

I had a habit of keeping a paper trail for everything.

I used to do it for project reviews and client follow-ups. Now, it was the evidence I needed to protect myself.

Donovan's harassment only intensified.

Within hours, my biggest projectDa ten-million-dollar core account I'd spent six months nurturingDwas forcibly transferred to Eliana.

The official reason was that I was leaving and wouldn't be focused.

When I got the news, I simply backed up every version of the proposal and every demand the client had ever made.

Two hours later, the client's CEO, Mr. Whittaker, called me.

"Jocelyn, what the hell is going on over there? Some young girl called me saying you're quitting and that the price is going up by three percent."

Mr. Whittaker sounded confused. "I've worked with you for years because I trust your professionalism. This sudden change is making me very uneasy."

A surge of warmth hit my chest. I quickly explained the situation.

"Mr. Whittaker, it's true I've resigned. But the transfer and the price hike were the company's decision, not mine."

"I knew something was off," Whittaker grumbled.

"I only trust you with this project. If you aren't handling it, I'm putting the contract on hold. We'll talk again once you've figured out your next move."

"I trust your work, Jocelyn."

After I hung up, my eyes felt a bit misty.

But it didn't last long. Eliana and Donovan came charging over, looking ready for a fight.

"Jocelyn, did you do this on purpose? Why did Mr. Whittaker cancel? What lies did you tell him?"

Donovan was practically vibrating with rage.

"You're leaving, so you want to burn the place down? You're intentionally sabotaging a ten-million-dollar deal!"

I looked at them, my voice calm.

"I didn't say anything bad. He canceled because you swapped his contact person without warning and tried to hike the price."

"Liar!" Eliana screamed, stomping her foot. "The price hike is market standard! The transfer is company policy! It has nothing to do with you!"

"You're just jealous that I'm taking over, so you're sabotaging me!"

I gave a short, dry laugh.

"I've worked with him for six months. He trusts my expertise and my vision. You can't just plug in a new face and expect the same result."

4.

"Enough!"

Donovan slammed my desk, cutting me off.

"It's obvious you failed to communicate properly, and now the client is complaining! And you have the nerve to blame your colleagues?"

"Jocelyn, given your disgusting attitude, you can forget about your performance bonus this month. You're getting nothing!"

I looked at him, realizing he was just trying to find a scapegoat.

But I had recorded every word of that conversation.

After they left, rumors began to spread like wildfire through the office.

Some said I was being fired because my performance had tanked.

Others said I was planning to steal company secrets for a competitor.

Some even claimed I'd been caught doing something illegal with the projects.

Colleagues who used to be my friends now avoided me like the plague.

That's the corporate world for you. When you're up, everyone's your friend. When you're down, they're the ones pushing you into the dirt.

I spent all my time organizing my evidence.

Finally, the last day of my notice period arrived.

First thing in the morning, I bound all my documents into a thick folder.

I walked into Donovan's office for the last time.

Eliana was there too. They exchanged a look when they saw me.

"Supervisor Lowe, today is my last day."

I placed the folder on his desk. "All equipment and documents have been organized. HR has already signed off on the inventory."

"Please sign the final handover sheet and issue my formal letter of recommendation and my unpaid commissions."

Donovan barely glanced at the folder. He swiped it off the desk and let it hit the floor.

"A handover? You call this a handover?"

He sneered at me. "I told you to hand over your core client list. You didn't. You bring me this pile of useless scrap paper and expect me to sign off?"

"Not a chance in hell!"

"Supervisor Lowe, my handover is strictly by the book."

I stared at him. "The clients you're asking for are not company assets according to my original contract. I have no obligation to give them to you."

"No obligation?"

Eliana chimed in, throwing fuel on the fire. "The company gave you the platform to meet those people! Everything you learned here belongs to the company!"

"You're just hiding them so you can poach them for a competitor, aren't you?"

"The company could sue you for damages for this kind of betrayal!"

Donovan laughed.

"Hear that, Jocelyn? I'll tell you straightDyou aren't getting a single cent of your commissions from the last six months."

"And that recommendation letter? Maybe I'll think about it when you give me what I want."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed.

"Also, I've made sure no one in this town will hire you."

"You're a thirty-five-year-old woman with no future. Let's see how long you can act tough before you come back here begging for a job."

Looking at their arrogant faces, the last bit of warmth I felt for my ten-year career died.

I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Mr. Sterling, you can come in now."

A second later, the door swung open, and a sharp-looking man in a suit walked in.

"Mr. Lowe, I am the legal counsel for Jocelyn Vance."

"My client has fulfilled all legal handover requirements. Your own HR department has already signed the verification."

"We are demanding that the company issue her recommendation letter and pay all outstanding commissions and severance within three business days."

"If you fail to do so, we will immediately file for arbitration and initiate a civil lawsuit for breach of contract."

Donovan was stunned. Before he could speak, the door opened again.

This time, four uniformed officials walked in. Two showed badges from the Department of Labor, and two were from the IRS.

"Donovan Lowe? We've received a credible report regarding tax evasion and fraudulent invoicing within this firm. We are here to conduct a formal audit. Please cooperate."