The Betrayal
When I first started working at the company, Nuel was the first person that spoke to me and he became the only person I trusted.
It was Nuel who showed me the locations of the company files and their correct order of arrangement. He guilded me through the many forms we had to complete and even shared some of the office stories so I wouldn't feel left out whenever they were having a laugh. During lunch breaks, he and I ate together almost every day, during meetings he saved me seats, and said encouraging things to me whenever I'm nervous before a presentation. His presence made the office warmer. A place that often felt cold and competitive.
So, he was the one I confided in when the stress began to pile up on me, because there was no one else.
"Things are suddenly getting too much for me, Nuel", I said to him one evening as we stayed back to finish the reports. My hands hovered over the keyboard, my chest tight "Sometimes I lose track of the figures. I'm afraid I'll make mistakes"
He smiled at me with a comforting expression "Don't worry, everyone makes mistakes sometimes and I'm here to help, I've got your back" I believed him completely and, that is why, when the manager called me into his office weeks later, I felt my chest tightened at his words.
"We've received a report about financial misconduct. Funds mismanaged under your watch" The manager slid a document across the desk. My name was on it, my signature and approval of transfers and money rerouted, making it look like I'd covered something up. His voice was sharp "You will need to explain"
The manager sent me out of his office and even if I was still dizzy with fear, I managed to walk out. My career was on the line. I spent nights combing through my spreadsheet, heart pounding with every error I uncovered. Yes, there were mistakes, but not like in the document the manager handed to me. Mine were human mistakes, misplaced figures, overlooked decimals. Nothing malicious nor worth an accusation of misconduct but they were there.
Still, the shadow of suspicion had already been cast.
The morning after submitting my own report to clear mysef, I found out who reported me. Nuel. I stared at the manager as he casually mentioned his name. My friend. My confidant. The one who told me he "had my back".
At lunch, I confronted him. "Why?" My tray shook as I set it down and my voice trembled with more hurt than anger "You know I was struggling. I told you those things in confidence"
Nuel leaned back in his chair. His expression unreadable "Look, this is work. It's nothing personal, believe me. If the company sees I can handle responsibilities better, maybe I'll finally get that promotion", He smirked faintly "We're friends, let's help each other here"
His words were actually unbelievable, at least to me. Nuel had taken my trust, my honesty, and used it as fuel to go higher. "You betrayed me" I whispered.
He didn't even try to deny it, instead he just shrugged "It's every man for himself"
That day something inside me hardened. I did not say anything more to him. I wanted to cry but I didn't either. I just threw myself into every detail of my work after that day. I kept checking, and re-checking my reports until they were perfect. I worked longer hours, studied every document before submitting it. I refused to let even the smallest mistake slip through. Slowly, my mistakes stopped and the manager began to notice. He praised me in meetings, assigned me bigger projects and even asked for my opinion on issues he once reserved for senior staff.
All this while, Nuel watched. I saw him in the corner of the meeting rooms, his smile thinning as mine grew steadier. I saw the way his confidence faltered each time my name was called, not his.
Months later, when a new team leader was announced, it wasn't Nuel. It was indeed me. The grimace on Nuel face was almost satisfying but it could never overrule or make me forget what he did. He wanted to take himself up by dragging me down, but all that he did was make me a stronger person. I realised that Nuel's betrayal only made me more focused and determined than ever on my job.
I walk with my head high whenever I walk pass his desk. And I no longer feel like the girl who once needed someone to have her back. I had my own.
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