I had worked overtime for an entire month

and finally finished the business proposal bearing both my girlfriend’s and my name.

I was full of hope that this would be our chance to get promoted and earn a raise together.

But the next day, I suddenly saw in the company’s internal system that she had submitted it ahead of me:

“Jason said this project is critical for his promotion, so I changed your name to his.”

“Maybe you can talk to the manager about finding another opportunity. It’s not like you’re pressed for time.”

I stared at the screen, at the names Jason Lee and Claire Adams sitting side by side.

After a moment of silence, I picked up my phone.

“Mom, how fast can we complete a corporate acquisition of my company?”

“What happened?”

On the other end of the line, Margaret Moore’s voice grew serious.

“Nothing major. I just want a different way to work.”

Mom knew me too well. She knew it was pointless to push when I didn’t want to explain.

She paused. “If we accelerate the process, we can finish preliminary acquisition negotiations within a week.”

“I’ll have Mr. Thompson contact you in the morning. I’ll handle everything else.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

A week. Just one week...

“Ethan!”

I turned and saw Claire walking toward my desk.

“Where were you just now? I tried calling and you didn’t pick up.”

“Are you still sulking about the proposal? The promotion review is next week — don’t cause trouble at a critical moment like this, okay?”

“Sulking?”

I repeated the word, my tone calm. “Claire, I spent an entire month of overtime building that proposal.”

“You erased my name without even telling me, replaced it with Jason’s, and now you’re telling me I’m being childish?”

“Yes, I know the proposal was originally yours. But don’t you understand the idea of expediency?”

Claire frowned, as if I was the unreasonable one.

“Jason just needs one strong project to nail this promotion. He needs this more than you do.”

“You’re always more capable than him. Can’t you just find another project and whip up a new proposal? The review meeting isn’t until next week — maybe you still have time!”

I almost laughed at the casual way she said it.

“Claire, do you think creating a proposal good enough for a promotion review is like going to the grocery store to pick out vegetables? A month of my work — and you just take it, and tell me to magically make another one?”

Her tone carried a hint of impatience.

“Fine, fine, I know you worked the hardest. But we’re all colleagues — isn’t helping each other what teamwork is about? You’re being way too petty! You have no sense of team spirit!”

Petty. Small-minded. No team spirit.

Each word made my heart sink lower.

“Claire.”

“So you’re saying Jason’s success is more important to you than mine?”

Claire froze. “That’s not what I meant! Why do you always twist my words? I’m saying we should think about the bigger picture. Jason—”

“That’s enough.”

I didn’t want to hear another word.

All my desire to argue evaporated instantly.

“If you like that proposal so much, keep it. I’ll deal with the promotion review myself.”

Claire completely misread my tone, relief flashing in her eyes.

“Ethan, you finally came around...”

“That’s more like it. I knew you weren’t unreasonable. Don’t worry, Jason will remember how much you helped him this time.”

“Okay, okay, I’m going to check how Jason’s part of the project is going. You should hurry and see if there’s another project you can grab...”

She seemed afraid I’d change my mind and didn’t dare linger for another second.

I took a deep breath. The cold screen in front of me still showed my carefully crafted business proposal — and those blinding signatures: Claire and Jason.

My phone rang again. Claire’s name flashed across the screen.

I picked up, keeping my voice as even as possible. “Hello.”

“Ethan...”

Her voice came softly through the receiver. “How’s the new proposal coming along? Any ideas yet?”

“Drop the fake concern, Claire. I’ve been sitting for less than ten minutes.”

“Oh, right.”

She paused, completely ignoring my sarcasm. “That’s perfect then — hold off on that and help Jason and me with something first.”

A cold laugh rose in my chest, though my face stayed expressionless. “What is it?”

“You know, the project from before.”

She spoke naturally, as if it really had become “their” project.

“Even though we’ve submitted the proposal, we still need five printed, bound copies for the review meeting.”

“Jason and I are swamped and can’t spare a minute. You haven’t found a new project yet, so can you go downstairs to the print shop and get them done for us?”

Printing. Binding. Running errands.

The proposal I spent three sleepless nights finishing — taken, signed by someone else — and now I was supposed to be their unpaid errand boy.

When I didn’t immediately respond, Claire’s tone turned urgent.

“Ethan? Did you hear me? It’s just a small thing — don’t tell me you’re going to refuse again? We’re colleagues, we should help each other out, right? Jason really can’t get away right now...”

My fingers felt icy around the phone.

I could faintly hear Jason’s voice in the background before Claire replied to him sweetly, “I’ll be right there.”

“Oh, and make sure the cover is printed on premium cardstock so it looks professional. Don’t use regular paper. Pay first — we’ll settle up later.”

Her instructions were meticulous, like she was talking to her assistant.

“Thanks! Once I’m done, I’ll take you out for something nice to eat and make it up to you. Gotta go!”

She hung up without waiting for an answer.

Almost immediately, my phone lit up again — Jason’s latest social media post.

No caption. Just two movie ticket stubs and a red heart emoji.

Location: Downtown Luxury Cinema.

Seconds later, Claire’s like and comment appeared beneath it:

“So nice to take a break from work together. Feeling so happy!”

My finger hovered over the screen for a moment.

Too busy? Couldn’t spare a moment?

So this was what they were busy with — going to the movies together, posting heart emojis, while expecting me, the one they stole from, to clean up after them?

I stared at the post, then typed my comment:

“So your ‘too busy to breathe’ schedule is just snuggling in a movie theater? Impressive.”

Moments later, my phone buzzed violently — another call from Claire.

Her panicked voice burst through the speaker. “Ethan! What is that supposed to mean? Why did you comment like that?”

“What did I comment?” I asked flatly.

“I only stated what I saw. Didn’t you tell me yourself you didn’t even have time to print materials?”

“You—!”

Claire faltered, then snapped back, more unreasonable than before.

“Ethan, why are you being so petty?”

“Jason worked so hard for this project — he’s exhausted, under so much pressure. I just went to see a movie with him to help him relax. What’s wrong with that? Do you have to be so passive-aggressive?”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

“Claire, say that again — with a clear conscience.”

“What exactly did he work hard on? Was it the all-nighters we pulled together, or stealing someone else’s work with a straight face?”

“Ethan! Don’t talk like that!”

Her voice was full of accusation.

“So what if I asked you to print some materials? Was that enough to justify you posting that on social media and embarrassing us?”

“What will Jason think when he sees that? Why do you have to make a scene and ruin the mood?”

I stayed silent, listening to her quickening breath on the other end.

A few seconds later, her tone softened, almost coaxing.

“Okay, okay, it’s not a big deal. Look, once I’m done, I’ll go to a movie with you — just the two of us, alright? Don’t be mad...”

“Got it.”

I spat out the words coldly and hung up first.

Talking to her any longer made me sick.

The day before the promotion review, everyone in the office was tense — except me.

“Hey, man.”

A falsely familiar voice called out.

Jason’s face carried an exaggerated look of concern, though his eyes glimmered with barely hidden glee.

“Ethan, are you ready for tomorrow? Your new proposal... do you want me and Claire to take a look?”

“Even though we’re busy, we can make time to help.”

Claire chimed in:

“Yeah, Ethan, how can you be so calm at a time like this? Where’s your proposal? Did you make the slides? Open them — we’ll help you polish them.”

I leaned back in my chair slightly.

“Proposal? I don’t have one.”

Jason’s fake sympathy turned to theatrical shock.

“What? How is that possible? You didn’t prepare anything? Then tomorrow—”

Claire’s face changed instantly.

“Ethan! What are you talking about? No proposal? What have you been doing these last two days?”

“I told you to hurry and work on a new project! Were you just ignoring me?”

Her voice grew louder and louder, drawing curious glances from nearby colleagues.

I spun my chair lazily.

“And how exactly is it any of your business whether I have a proposal or not?”

Claire flushed with anger.

“How is it my business? Weren’t we supposed to get promoted and buy a house together? Did you forget everything we planned? If you walk into that review tomorrow with nothing, what are you going to do?”

“If you can’t get promoted, if your salary stays the same, are you just planning to live off me? Eat my food, spend my money, let me carry all the pressure alone?”

“Ethan, how can you be so selfish — not even thinking about our future?”