It was the usual workday. Brooke, a janitor was cleaning the ground level of the office building when she saw an elderly woman collapse nearby. She panicked, but instantly rushed over. She looked around desperately, but there was no one to help. "Oh my," she muttered under her breath. "I can't leave my post, but I have to get her to the hospital." Without a second thought, Brooke hailed a taxi, carried the elderly lady in and the taxi drove off. Meanwhile, Grady, the boss had been observing quietly. Later, he called Zach, Brooke's supervisor, into his office and praised her.
"That janitor downstairs, I saw what she did today. Such people represent our values as a company," Grady said before handing out a large stash of money to Zach.
"There," he continued. "Give her this. It is a reward from me." Zach took it and walked away, but once he left the office, his facial expression changed.
"Values?" he scoffed. "I worked hard, and yet I didn't get any increment. Why should I?" But in reality, Zach reported to work late almost every day, sometimes calling in sick at the eleventh hour. Not only that, he would push his responsibilities to his subordinates but take credit for their work. Without any ounce of shame, he pocketed the money meant for Brooke.
4 days later, Grady was leaving the office when he overheard Brooke at a corner, crying over the phone.
"Darling, I don't know how much longer you'll stay in the hospital. My salary is really small. Should I get a loan?" Brooke said in between tears. Grady walked up to her and asked, "Lady, how much is your salary?" She bowed nervously and said, "$1000, sir."
"What?" Grady asked, appalled. "I sign off $2000 monthly for your post. Did you receive the reward from me?"
"What reward are you talking about, Sir? I didn't receive anything," Brooke replied, confused. Hearing this, Grady called Zach.
"How much do you pay this lady?" he threw the question.
"Uhm, Sir. She receives her salary on time," Zach stammered, avoiding eye contact.
"That's not my question," Grady snapped.
"Sir, please, let me explain. She abandoned her post," Zach lied without batting an eyelid. Before he could finish, the elderly lady, whom Brooke had saved days ago, appeared.
"Sir," she said. "That's the lady who saved me. I wouldn't have been alive if not for her." When the elderly lady left, Grady turned to Zach angrily.
"You did what? Spit it out," he thundered.
"I...I deducted something," Zach stammered. Grady was furious.
"You're a disgrace to this company," he said angrily. "I have received numerous complaints about you. You either reported to work late or called in sick last minute. Not only that, you pushed your responsibilities to your subordinates and took credit for their work. And now you have the nerve to pocket money that doesn't belong to you. You're fired, and I'll be pressing charges agaisnt you for theft." With his head hung low, Zach left the office building. Grady turned to Brooke, and compensated whatever money that was owed to her. Not only that, he promoted her to supervisor. With Zach gone and Brooke replacing him, the staff heaved a sigh of relief. The reign of toxicity had finally ended.
