She Ate My Lunch for Free Every Day—Until Six Tins of Luxury Caviar Arrived Chapter 07

Derek was still holding out the coffee.

I stepped around it, returned to my desk, and sent Renee a point–by–point summary of the conversation.

For three months, everyone had told me that coworkers should show one another grace.

Yet no one had ever wondered whether I deserved any while working overtime on an empty stomach.

The client’s written loss statement arrived the next day.

It listed six inventory numbers at $1,250 each, for a total of $7,500.

The statement included the purchase invoice, payment record, and disposal report for the contaminated

products.

Vivian did not try to add the revenue from the entire campaign. Her email ended with a single request.

[Please have Everwell Creative handle the loss under our storage agreement and provide the findings of your internal review.]

After reading it, Derek gathered several people from our department.

“We can’t alienate the client. We’ll cover the amount now and balance it out of everyone’s year–end bonuses.”

Kelsey sat beside him with swollen eyes and nodded eagerly.

“I promise I’ll make it up to everyone.”

Emma counted on her fingers.

“You want me to pay too?”

“We’re one team,” Derek said. “You’re an intern, so your share will be smaller.”

I pushed my chair back.

“Who agreed to split the cost?”

He looked at me. “You were the production coordinator. Are you claiming you have no responsibility at all?”

“I accepted the shipment, documented it, sealed it, and locked it according to policy. If any of those steps

were wrong, investigate them. But Kelsey taking something without permission does not become the entire team’s bill because you say so.”

Carol set down her pen.

“I don’t agree to this either.”

Emma spoke next.

“She still hasn’t paid me back for my cheese, and now I’m supposed to pay for what she did?”

Kelsey bit her lip, looking wounded.

“You all make more than I do.”

Emma looked up. “I don’t.”

Kelsey fell silent.

Derek was still trying to push a contribution sheet toward us when Renee opened the conference–room door.

She had received my message and brought the general manager with her.

The general manager picked up the sheet.

“Did the company approve this, or was it your idea?”

Derek pulled his hand back.

“I was trying to help everyone solve the problem.”

“Then start by explaining why you took out the backup key.”

The meeting ended there.

As we left, Kelsey grabbed my sleeve.

Her voice was barely more than breath.

“Maya, please withdraw your original complaint. Don’t say this had been happening for months. Say it was

only the caviar.”

“Why?”

She glanced toward Renee at the door.

“HR said they have to review the earlier incidents too. I can’t lose this job. My rent is due next week.”

I pulled my sleeve free.

“All the food you took came out of what I had left after paying my rent.”

She froze.

Maybe that was the first time she had admitted that I also needed my paycheck to live.

I returned to the conference table and signed my statement.

The facts about the past would remain unchanged.

The client could pursue reimbursement for its property.

My complaint would continue too.