The $25 Bonus: My Promotion to the Client's Director Chapter 1

Right after the holidays, my phone rang. I answered, and my ex-boss immediately started screaming at me:

"Do you have any idea what time it is? Why aren't you here yet? The project is due immediately. If this deal falls through, can you afford to take the fall? Get your ass over here right now!"

His tone was entirely entitled, acting as if I were still his dependable corporate workhorse, at his beck and call.

Before I could even get a word in, he hung up.

Seconds later, the HR Director called:

"Why aren't you at the office? Mr. Vance is furious! You're usually our most reliable employee. Even if you have complaints about your year-end bonus, you can't just abandon your post!"

I smiled and explained calmly:

"It's not that I'm abandoning my post. I quit before the holidays!"

Today was my first day officially onboarding with our biggest client.

* * *

Hearing me bring up my resignation, Brenda, the HR Director, brushed it off lightly.

"Oh, that. Yes, I saw your resignation letter, and Mr. Vance saw it too. But you know how crazy it gets before the holidays. We just didn't have time to sit down and discuss it. Now that the holidays are over, let's sit down and have a proper chat, okay?"

"Chat about what?" I asked flatly.

I had successfully resigned. As far as I was concerned, there was nothing left to discuss.

"About your terms, of course!" Brenda replied instantly. "Mr. Vance said he's willing to give you a $100 monthly raise. The economy is tough right now. Good luck finding a raise like that anywhere else. Think about it—that's an extra $1,200 a year!"

I couldn't help but do the math in my head.

The employees in my department who clocked out precisely at 5:00 PM every day and never saw a project through to the end? Rumor had it they each walked away with a $2,000 year-end bonus.

Last year, I single-handedly generated millions in revenue for the company. That massive project I managed from pitch to delivery had a contract value of $2 million.

I did the work of three people. I had the highest overtime hours in the entire department. I didn't take a single sick day.

Yet, at the annual company gala, when the "Employee of the Year" awards were handed out, all the projects I signed were credited to my subordinate, Amber.

She received a $5,000 cash bonus and the newest iPhone.

My year-end bonus? A $25 Amazon gift card.

Just thinking about it felt absurd.

I just wanted a straight answer. "Brenda, why was my bonus exactly $25?"

Silence hung on the line for a few seconds.

"Chloe, you have to understand. The company has its policies," she said, carefully choosing her words.

"You do a lot of work, yes. But sometimes you're too rigid. You don't focus enough on being a team player. You skipped almost all the team-building events, and you barely socialize with your coworkers. The year-end bonus takes your overall performance and company culture fit into account."

I let out a bitter laugh.

I remembered the company team-building weekend hike last year. I didn't go because I had to work mandatory overtime.

Friday night happy hour? I didn't go because I had to finalize a pitch deck.

That time the department went out to a karaoke bar? I declined because I had a massive client meeting the next morning and couldn't afford to be exhausted.

Every single reason I had for missing a department party was to do my job better. And now, they were using that to negate everything I had accomplished?

And what were the others doing while I was covering for them?

Drinking, singing, taking group selfies, and posting them on Instagram.

Their captions always read: "We are family!" or "Best team ever!"

So that was what "overall performance" meant.

"Is there any other reason?" I asked.

Brenda thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. "Also, Mr. Vance mentioned that a few of your projects last year... well, the client feedback wasn't great, so..."

"Which client? What was the issue? When did they give this feedback? Why have I never heard a single word about this until today?" I fired back immediately.

"Well... I'm not entirely sure on the specifics. It's just what I heard."

Heard I did a bad job. Heard there were complaints. Heard I wasn't a team player.

So my bonus was a $25 gift card. Not a penny more, not a penny less. Just a pure, calculated insult.

My last shred of hope for them died. My voice was deadpan. "I understand, Brenda."

"Anyway, I formally resigned before the holidays, and my paperwork went through the standard channels."

"Oh, Chloe, why are you being so stubborn? Just listen to me—"

"Brenda."

I cut her off.

"For seven years, I never skipped a single day of work. I never took a sick day. I never refused a weekend shift. I believe I have done right by this company. If there are formal handover requirements, I will cooperate. Other than that, do not call this number again."

"Chloe Evans!"

She panicked, her voice turning shrill. "What kind of attitude is this? I am trying to help you out, and you're being completely ungrateful!"

I hung up the phone.

I wasn't about to let my former toxic workplace ruin my good mood on my first day at my new job.