She Gave My Success to Another Man

Just as I finalized the three-hundred-million-dollar M&A deal, I heard Charlotte tell her assistant, Sarah, from outside my office:

“Tomorrow’s presentation? Change the lead for the M&A project to Michael.”

My hand, poised to open the door, froze.

Sarah hesitated, “But Richard has been crunching data all night for the past two weeks, and clients are specifically coming for him…”

Charlotte didn’t miss a beat, her tone dismissive:

“Michael just graduated; he needs to build his network and establish himself in the industry. Richard is already the boss; what’s the use of these empty titles?”