“Thanks for explaining.”
As I walked back to my desk, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years.
Clarity.
I had spent six years assuming that my company didn’t have the money to pay me more.
Now I knew the truth.
They had the money.
They simply hadn’t considered spending it on me.
And that was a very different problem.
That evening, Karen came by my desk.
“Don’t forget,” she said, “we need you here until seven.”
I looked at the clock.
It was 5:03.
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“You’re such a team player.”
Again, I smiled.
“Happy to help.”
But this time, I wasn’t thinking about Emily.
I was thinking about myself.
That night, I opened my résumé.
Then I opened my professional network.
Then I started researching salaries for people with my experience.
By midnight, I had sent out three applications.
By Wednesday, I had sent eleven.
By Friday, I had seventeen.
Meanwhile, I continued training Emily.
And I trained her well.
I showed her every system.
Every process.
Every shortcut.
Every recurring problem.
I explained which clients preferred phone calls and which wanted email.
I showed her the mistakes that could cost the company thousands.
I gave her the notes I’d accumulated over six years.
