A hardworking woman turns into an aggressive and impatient boss after her most recent promotion at a store. She gets away with it until she insults and fires an old janitor.
Nia had recently been promoted to general manager of a major fashion retail outlet. Just a week into her new role, she was already implementing major changes, guided by a binder of ideas she had accumulated over the years.
One morning, Nia addressed her staff.
“Alright, guys. Is everyone clear on the new protocols we’re going to follow?” she asked.
The team responded with nods and gentle affirmations.
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“I don’t want anyone deviating from my guidelines, so here’s what we are going to do,” she continued. “Anybody who fails to follow the new rules — whether it is about uniform, customer greetings, display arrangements, punctuality — will lose their incentive for that month,” Nia declared, her face beaming with pride.
The staff exchanged worried glances. Nia’s drastic measures made them fear for their livelihoods, as even minor mistakes could cost them dearly.
But despite her recent changes, the team respected Nia. They knew her journey from an intern to the top position and admired her dedication to the fashion industry.
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However, with time, Nia’s approach became increasingly problematic. She set unrealistic goals and responded harshly to small errors. Her decisions, like extending shifts and imposing strict rules, were met with silent frustration from the staff. Their only respite, weekends, was now occupied with work. But that wasn’t all.
Nia’s strategies, like reducing loading costs by involving sales staff and limiting employee breaks, pushed the team to their limits. She even banned sitting during shifts and restricted sick leaves, all in the name of creating a good impression for customers.
“We’ll have to show them we are never tired of serving them. And always serve them with a smile. Am I clear?” Nia instructed sternly. She was overly pleased with the way she was conducting things.
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Raised by a single mother, Nia had faced numerous rejections before landing an internship at the fashion outlet. Her dedication to her job and hard work quickly led to her promotion.
From her office, she looked out at the street where she once sought opportunities, determined never to return to those hard days. Under her leadership, the store buzzed with activity, though the staff struggled with the overwhelming workload and strict deadlines she set. Nia was happy until… the work really started taking its toll on the employees.
Over time, her strict management led to a drastic drop in sales, contradicting her ambitious plans. Furious, she confronted her exhausted staff. “Our ratings are dipping. We’ll be ruined at this rate,” she yelled. “Extend your shifts, cut down on breaks… do whatever it takes! We have to boost sales!”
Nia couldn’t understand the sudden decline and increased the workload even more. One day, after a tense client meeting, she found Maya, a saleswoman, asleep on the counter.
“How dare you sleep during work??” Nia yelled.
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Maya, startled and panicked, apologized, but Nia was unforgiving. “Meet me in my office,” she demanded. Gathering the staff, Nia, already upset about the sales, decided to demonstrate her authority.
She fired Maya on the spot, tossing her paycheck at her. The team was shocked but remained silent. They knew Maya was exhausted from overworking, but who would dare to go against Nia? They wanted to keep their jobs.
But as Maya was leaving, Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up. “Nia, child, I’ve got something to say,” he said calmly, despite Nia’s obvious irritation.
“We’re all happy to help with your vision, Nia,” Victor began, trying to reason with her. “But maybe we could let go of the small mistakes…”
Nia, angered by his audacity to speak up, cut him off. “That’s enough, Victor! Do you think I haven’t noticed your tardiness and long lunch breaks?” she retorted. “And let’s not forget how you arrive late daily!”
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“Nia, there’s a reason why I’ve been coming later than the others…”
Nia couldn’t believe that the older man had interrupted her again. Looking at the other employees stare at her, anticipating her reaction, she decided to put her foot down and set an example once and for all.
“I don’t care about the reason! Let this be an example, folks,” Nia said. “Anyone who makes excuses on my watch will be fired. Hey, you’re fired, old man! Now you can accompany Maya and get lost!”
Maya and Victor left quietly while the rest of the staff watched in dismay, tears in their eyes. Nia’s ruthlessness had reached a new level, leaving everyone in shock.
Though it was the end of Victor’s job at the store, an unexpected turn of events awaited him the next day.
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Mr. Gordon, the owner of the multi-million-dollar store chain,unexpectedly visited his store to address the sudden revenue decline.
“Good morning, everyone! How are things going?” Mr. Gordon asked all the employees.
“It could’ve been much better,” a worker replied, with others nodding.
“What’s up? Aren’t you guys excited for the Christmas holidays?” Mr. Gordon inquired.
“Some of us wanted an extended Christmas break, but Miss Ferguson only allowed two days off,” another employee explained.
Mr. Gordon partially understood what was happening and called Nia to his office.
“Miss Ferguson, our revenue has dropped drastically. What happened? Do you need help?” he asked while they sat across from each other.
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Nia blamed the staff, claiming they were lazy and needed close monitoring.
“I see…We had the same ‘lazy’ staff with us the last month, didn’t we? But everything was much better. We didn’t hire anyone recently, so I don’t understand why they are suddenly acting lazy.”
Mr. Gordon gave Nia a month to improve the situation. As he was leaving, he asked about Victor, the custodian.
“Where’s Victor? I didn’t see him today,” he said.
“He was fired for being late and too old to work,” Nia hesitantly revealed.
Mr. Gordon was shocked. “WHAT? Do you know you fired the co-owner of this store?”
Nia was stunned. “The co-owner? But he’s just a janitor!”
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Mr. Gordon shared a story from his childhood. “I still don’t remember what happened that day…but my father told me I ran after an ice cream van and almost got hit by a car. Victor had seen me while emptying the trash and rushed to my rescue. He pushed me away and saved my life, but he ended up in intensive care after being hit by the car.
“My father, the original owner of this store, offered him a share in the business. Do you know what Victor said when my dad wanted to reward him? ‘I just did what any normal human was supposed to do.’ Victor accepted the offer to become a co-owner because my father kept persuading him, but on one condition. That he would work as a janitor.”
He continued, “Victor lost his wife and child during childbirth and considered the staff here his family.”
Mr. Gordon then dropped a bombshell. “You must apologize to Victor. He’s taking over this unit tomorrow. I’ll come again, and it’s up to Victor to decide whether or not I should fire you.”
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Panicked and fearing for her job, Nia drove to meet Victor, worried about facing him and the challenges ahead. “How will I boost sales in a month? How will I face Victor? It’s his fault, too. Why did he just walk away without telling me who he was? Now, everything is against me. What will I do?” she fretted.
Nia arrived at Victor’s modest home, surprised by its simplicity despite his co-ownership of a lucrative business. She knocked, and Victor greeted her warmly, inviting her in for apple pie.
“Mr. Gordon told me you’d come. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Victor said, unaffected by her previous actions.
Nia felt awkward in the humble setting. Victor, sensing her unease, began to talk about Mr. Gordon’s father’s business philosophy.
“Unlike others, he valued his staff first. He provided nap rooms, bonuses, corporate events, and weekends off and ensured customers didn’t mistreat them. He treated employees like family,” Victor explained.
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Nia shyly nodded, partially realizing what had gone wrong. “But how does that help with the growth of the business? If employees get such perks, how will they work without distractions? Won’t they take it for granted?” she said.
Victor smiled. “When employees love their work, they provide top-notch service, satisfying customers and growing the business. A smart boss finds ways to make employees devoted. He doesn’t fire them.”
As Victor hungrily devoured his pie, he requested Nia to call Maya back to work. “You may never know how fate works for others, Nia. You joined as an intern, but you became the general manager. You may never know what potential a simple salesgirl like Maya can have. Never underestimate and judge others by their appearance or job!”
Nia grinned, and just as she was about to leave, Victor stopped her. “Don’t worry, Nia. I will not fire you. But we will decide later together with all the employees and Mr. Gordon by a vote, alright?”
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Assured she still had a second chance, Nia returned to the store and gathered all the employees in her office. They were afraid about what more rules she was going to impose on them. But none of them had expected to see what was about to happen next.
“Good day, everyone!” Nia began with a smile. Everyone thought it was unusual because she had never greeted them with a smile since day one of her promotion.
“I would like to tell everyone that Victor, the company’s co-owner, will be heading us from tomorrow!”
The employees were shocked at the revelation. Some of them didn’t have a clue that the custodian of their store was their boss.
“Don’t be shocked, guys! I am young and new to this trade, and I made mistakes. I hope you’ll all forgive me for what happened in the last few days. Maya and Victor will be back tomorrow, and we will work as a team. Is that clear?”
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From the next day onward, Nia followed Victor’s advice and implemented Mr. Gordon’s dad’s principles. She treated her employees respectfully and did not show authority over them. She thought more about them and made sure each and every employee loved their job.
As days passed, Nia’s efforts worked in her favor. The employees started giving their best, and as Nia had wanted, the sales for the next quarter surged with impeccable results.
Mr. Gordon was impressed with Nia’s efforts, and with Victor, he decided not to fire her. Five years later, Nia was promoted to the position of CEO of all the outlets.
As for Victor, he chose to keep working as a janitor because he loved his job.
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All the Women in My Family Showed Up to My Wedding Wearing White — What My Fiancée Did Shocked Me
When my fiancée Jen met my tight-knit, prank-loving family, I warned them not to “test” her like they do with every new woman. But on my wedding day, the women arrived grinning in white dresses, defying my ultimatum! Furious, I moved to kick them out — but Jen grabbed the mic and stunned us all.
I never thought my wedding day would turn into a battlefield, but that’s what happens when you come from a family like mine.
A man sitting with his head in his hands | Source: Midjourney
Don’t get me wrong, I love them. But the women in my family? They’re something else entirely.
Picture this: a swarm of aunts, cousins, my mom, stepmom, stepsister, and my grandmother, all bound together by their shared love of what they called “playful teasing.”
The rest of us called it what it was: bullying wrapped in a family tradition bow.
Growing up, I watched them tear through relationships like tissue paper. My cousin Mike’s first girlfriend lasted exactly one family dinner before she excused himself to the bathroom and climbed out the window.
A window in a bathroom | Source: Pexels
My sister-in-law Kelly spent three months crying after every family gathering before she finally “earned her place.”
Even my dad’s second wife, now my stepmom, had to weather six months of subtle jabs and not-so-subtle critiques before they accepted her.
“It builds character,” my mom always said whenever I complained about their antics. “Besides, everyone goes through it. It’s how we know they’re really family.”
A woman speaking during dinner | Source: Midjourney
“More like how you know they’re broken enough to join the club,” I muttered once, earning myself a month of silent treatment.
Their favorite sport? “Testing” any new woman who dared to enter our family circle. They’d pick apart everything from her clothes to her career choices until she either broke down or proved herself worthy.
Then, like some twisted initiation ritual, the victim would usually join their ranks, ready to torment the next newcomer.
Women hugging at a family gathering | Source: Pexels
When I met Jen, I knew she was different. Smart, confident, and kind in a way that made you feel seen.
I also knew my family would eat her alive if given the chance. So when I introduced her, I laid down the law.
“No harassment,” I told them firmly at our first family dinner together. “I mean it. Jen’s off limits.”
They smiled and nodded, all innocent faces and promises. I should have known better.
Women seated at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
Two weeks later, my cousin Ben showed me the comments they’d left on Jen’s Facebook page. They’d been roasting Jen behind my back, picking apart everything from her “basic” career in marketing to her “try-hard” volunteer work at the animal shelter.
I saw red.
“Delete every last one of those comments on Jen’s Facebook!” I demanded in our family group chat. “Apologize to Jen or none of you are coming to the wedding. Not even Mom! I’m not kidding.”
An angry man typing on his phone | Source: Midjourney
The messages flooded in immediately.
“Oh, come on! We’re just having fun!”
“Don’t be so sensitive.”
“She needs to learn to take a joke.”
“This is how we welcome people into the family. You know that!”
I stood my ground. Eventually, they gave in and apologized, though their words dripped with insincerity. I thought that would be the end of it.
I was wrong.
A thoughtful man staring out a window | Source: Midjourney
Three days before the wedding, my brother Jake called me.
“Listen,” he said, his voice tense. “You need to know something. They’re planning to all wear white to the wedding. They’re calling it a ‘harmless prank’ to test if Jen’s ‘worthy’ of being part of the family.”
My stomach dropped. “Are you serious?”
A concerned-looking man speaking on his cell phone | Source: Midjourney
“Dead serious. Mom’s leading the charge. They’ve got a group chat going and everything. They’ve been shopping together, coordinating their outfits. It’s like some kind of military operation.”
“Of course it is,” I said, rubbing my temples. “Because why would they let my actual wedding get in the way of their power games?”
I immediately sent out a mass text: “Anyone who shows up in white will be turned away at the door. I don’t care if it’s my own mother. This isn’t a joke or a test. It’s my wedding day.”
A man sending an angry text | Source: Midjourney
The responses were immediate and defensive.
“We’d never do that!”
“How can you accuse us of planning to upstage the bride? Shame on you!”
I didn’t believe them for a minute. The night before the wedding, I barely slept, wondering if they’d actually go through with it. Jen noticed my worry but seemed surprisingly calm about the situation.
“Whatever happens tomorrow,” she said, kissing me goodnight, “we’ve got this.”
A woman in bed smiling confidently | Source: Midjourney
On our wedding day, I stationed myself near the entrance, determined to follow through on my threat. When they arrived as a group, my heart nearly stopped.
Every single one of them, from my 70-year-old grandmother to my teenage cousin, was dressed in white. They walked in like they owned the place, smirking and nudging each other.
“You can’t be serious,” I said, stepping in front of them. “I warned you.”
A stern man standing in a building entrance | Source: Midjourney
My sister-in-law, Kelly, laughed. “It’s just a test! If she can’t handle this, she’s not worthy of being part of our family.”
I felt my face growing hot. “Get out. All of you.”
“Now, honey,” my mom started, but I cut her off.
“I mean it. Leave.”
Before I could say another word, I heard feedback from the microphone.
Close up of a microphone | Source: Pexels
My heart stopped as I turned to see Jen standing there, microphone in hand, looking absolutely radiant in her white wedding dress. The room fell silent.
“Before we get started, I’d like to say a few words. As you can see,” she began, her voice steady and clear, “the entire female side of my new family dressed in white today.”
She paused, letting her words hang in the air as the women continued to smirk. None of us were prepared for what she said next.
A bride speaking into a microphone | Source: Midjourney
“I wanted to thank them for supporting my idea to come in white and standing by me during this joyful, but definitely challenging, moment of entering their family,” Jen continued with a smile. “They said they would consider it an honor to back me up, and for that, I am truly grateful.”
The smirks melted off their faces so fast you’d think they’d been slapped. My mom’s jaw actually dropped. Aunt Susan started sputtering, trying to form words. Cousin Rachel turned an interesting shade of pink.
But Jen wasn’t finished with them yet.
A bride smiling while giving a speech | Source: Midjourney
With a graceful movement, she reached for the outer layer of her dress and removed it, revealing a stunning golden gown underneath that seemed to capture every bit of light in the room.
The gasps were audible. In that moment, she was radiant, powerful, and absolutely in control.
Jen smiled impishly as she beckoned to the women. “Come in, ladies, and take your seats so we can get this show on the road!”
I watched as my family members shifted uncomfortably, looking at each other with uncertainty for the first time in my memory. They’d finally met their match, and they knew it.
A group of women wearing white | Source: Midjourney
The mighty had fallen, and they’d fallen hard.
The rest of the wedding was surprisingly peaceful. My family members kept to themselves, speaking in whispers and throwing occasional glances at Jen.
It was like watching a pride of lionesses that had suddenly encountered something they couldn’t intimidate. They were rattled, and more than a little afraid.
Looking back, I realize that moment changed everything.
A smiling man seated at a table | Source: Midjourney
Jen didn’t just outsmart them; she showed them a different way to be strong. She took their power play and turned it into something elegant and kind. No screaming, no threats, just pure class and intelligence.
I’d always known Jen was remarkable, but watching her handle my family with such grace made me fall in love with her all over again.
I’d been ready to fight my entire family for her, something I never thought I’d be capable of doing. But she showed me there were better ways to handle conflict.
A smug woman wearing a gold gown | Source: Midjourney
These days, family gatherings are different. The women still tease, but the cruel edge is gone. They treat Jen with a respect that borders on reverence, and I’ve noticed they’ve stopped “testing” newcomers altogether.
Sometimes I catch them watching her at family events as if trying to figure out how she did it.
As for me? I couldn’t be prouder of my wife. That day, she didn’t just handle a toxic situation; she transformed it.
A couple dancing at their wedding reception | Source: Midjourney
She showed me that sometimes the best way to fight fire isn’t with more fire, but with something unexpected entirely.
“You know,” Jen told me later that night, “I almost wore the gold dress from the start. But then I thought about how they might feel, all dressed up in their white dresses, thinking they had the upper hand.”
I pulled her close. “You’re something else, you know that?”
A couple slow-dancing at their wedding reception | Source: Midjourney
She smiled that brilliant smile that first made me fall for her. “I know. That’s why you married me.”
And she was right. That’s exactly why I married her.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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