I’d been at Meriton Systems for five years, and I truly believed I’d already seen every brand of workplace nonsense the corporate world could invent. I thought I was seasoned. Immunized. Unshakable.Then one Tuesday, my manager walked into our team area holding a letter like it was a prize certificate and announced, far too brightly, “Good news! We’re promoting Hollis.”

I blinked, waiting for the rest.

He didn’t add it.

So I asked, even though something heavy in my gut already knew the answer. “To what role?”

He smiled like he was delivering a gift. “To your role. Same title. Same responsibilities.”For a second, my brain didn’t compute. It did that thing grief does when it hits you—goes blank, then hot.

I managed, “I’m sorry—what?”

And he kept talking. Of course he did.She just has it, you know? That spark. That instinct.” He tilted his head, like he was analyzing fine art. “You’ve been great, but she’s got this natural leadership quality.”

Hollis had been here six months.

Six.