The 15-Year-Obsolete Patent

For a mandatory company retreat, I took the day off to be with my husband for his surgery.
When I came back, my manager fined me five thousand dollars in front of the entire office.
Company policy is crystal clear: group morale takes precedence over everything! she declared. Kate, as a department head, you led the charge in defying company rules. Your penalty is doubled!
The next day, I saw her new assistant, a fresh college grad, sporting a brand-new five-thousand-dollar watch. And just like that, it all clicked.
So that's how we're playing it. Fine. I'm done.

1
The news that I'd been fined five thousand dollars for skipping the company retreat spread through the office like wildfire.
In the breakroom, my old rival, Jenna, gave me a look dripping with pity. "Honestly, Kate, you should've just played along. You have to request time off in advance, you know."
"I submitted the request a week ago," I countered, pouring myself a coffee. "She sat on it. She never intended to approve it."
Jenna looked shocked. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Her niece just got back from overseas, graduated from some fancy university. Rumor is, she's looking to 'get some experience' here."
It hit me like a ton of bricks. This wasn't about "making an example" of me. It was about creating an excuse to push me out and bring in her own family.
I got the message. I'd move aside for her.
But when I got back to my desk, her new assistant, a young man named Sam, was waiting for me. He tapped on my desk with a smug look. "Kate, you're moving. Out to the main floor."
I glanced at the open-plan workspace. The design department was all cubicles. As the department head, I had a private officeessential for confidential client meetings. Being forced to move out there wasn't just a relocation; it was a demotion.
"Sam, you can't just move me without a formal notice," I said, keeping my voice even.
"A notice? Sure, here's your notice," he sneered. "You're demoted. You're a junior designer now. Got it?"
As if on cue, my manager, Diana, stepped out of her office. Seeing me still in mine, she frowned. "What's going on? Kate, why haven't you moved yet?"
"Sam here tells me I've been demoted," I said calmly. "All because I missed the retreat?"
"That's right," Diana confirmed, her voice sharp. "I've already informed the CEO. You've shown a complete lack of team spirit, actively working against company culture. We're putting you on probation."
"If you don't like it," she added with a smirk, "you can file a complaint."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Fine. Then I'll require a formal, written notice of this change. Otherwise, I'm not moving."
Diana pointed a trembling finger at me. "You just wait, Kate! Sam, get that notice out to her now!"
"She wants to play hardball? We won't indulge her."
Less than two minutes later, Sam posted a formal document in the company-wide group chat, officially demoting me. I saved a copy and began packing my things.
Immediately after, Sam added a new member to the chat.
"Everyone, please welcome our new Head of Design, a top graduate from an Ivy League school. She'll be leading the department from today. Let's give her a warm welcome!"
My team looked at me, confused. I said nothing, just pulled out my phone and started a game. A few people slowly posted celebratory emojis in the chat, welcoming the newcomer. The message was clear. I had been replaced.
My team was furious on my behalf.
"Kate, they can't just kick you out like that! It's not right," one of my designers whispered.
"Yeah, and we just submitted the new design proposal. What are we supposed to tell the client when they ask for you?" another added.
I shrugged. "The company has its reasons. We just follow orders."
My calm response left them baffled. But I knew what was happening. They were using my work, my success, to prop up their new hire.
But they had made one critical mistake. They had acted too soon.
Half an hour later, Diana's niece, a young woman named Chloe, arrived. New boss, new rules. And her first order of business was to target me.
"This department has thirty designers," she announced, her voice full of unearned authority. "Some of you are not pulling your weight, just collecting a paycheck. That ends today."
"From now on, each designer will submit one new design every day. If you can't finish, you work overtime. If you can't handle it, the door is open."
Then, she pointed at me. "You! Kate, right? I've heard about you. I don't care what you've achieved in the past. From now on, you follow the rules. Understood?"
She looked at me, her face a mask of arrogance.
I nodded, my voice flat. "Understood."

2
My compliance only seemed to fuel Chloe's ego. She added two more rules: a strict attendance policy and a mandatory client feedback log. The team groaned in protest. Client meetings often ran late, or were in different cities, making it impossible to clock in and out on time.
But Diana quickly shut them down.
"Rules are rules," she snapped. "We just had to fine someone five thousand dollars. Have you all forgotten already?"
"Let me be clear," she continued, "we brought Chloe in to whip this department into shape!"
The room fell silent. I didn't say a word. Clock in? Fine. Submit a design every day? No problem. I wasn't worried. In a week, maybe even five days, they would regret this.
That day, Chloe settled into my old office, barking orders. I, on the other hand, worked calmly. I used an AI generator to create a design, submitted it, clocked out, and left on the dot.
Jenna caught me on my way out. "The workaholic is leaving on time? What's going on?"
"Just following the new company policy," I said with a wave.
Jenna had always been after my job. Now, not only was she not promoted, but she was stuck with a new, overbearing boss. Seeing me leave, she shut down her computer and left too.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd left work at a reasonable hour. It was always endless revisions, late-night client calls, only to end up using the first draft after all. This was a new, and not unwelcome, feeling.
On my way home, I picked up groceries. My husband was surprised to see me home so early. When I told him I'd been demoted, he was worried. "Is it because of me?"
"It has nothing to do with you," I reassured him. "Honestly, the company needed a shake-up. Why should the Gen Z kids have all the fun?"
He seemed relieved. That evening, for the first time in ages, I relaxed. I set up the projector and watched a movie, even posted about it online.
Jenna commented: "Look at you, living the life!"
I replied with a smiley face. A moment later, the company group chat blew up.
Diana was subtweeting me. "Some people just know how to relax. I wonder if their work is done. I wonder if they're earning enough to afford such a lifestyle!"
I laughed at her petty jab and tagged her in the chat. "Diana, it's important to have a work-life balance. I'm all for enjoying life when I can, but I've never slacked off on my work."
Then, I posted all my recent project reports and proposals in the chat. The senior executives were in that group too. I had nothing to hide.
A second later, Diana sent me a private message, demanding I delete the posts. I ignored her and muted the chat.
The next morning, I was summoned to her office. "Let's cut to the chase, Kate," she said. "You need to hand over your projects. And pay the fine."
"The handover is no problem," I replied. "But I don't have the money for the fine. You can deduct it from my salary."
"My husband's surgery was expensive. I'm broke."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't play games with me, Kate."
"I'm not. I requested the time off a week in advance. I told you three months ago that my husband was having surgery and that money was tight. That's why I took on those extra high-profile clients, which you approved."
"I desperately need the money," I continued. "I don't have five thousand dollars to spare right now. But my commission and bonus this month should cover it. Just take it from there."

3
Her brow furrowed. I just looked at her, my expression unreadable. "I don't have the money. It's up to you."
I turned and walked out. She followed me, her face livid. "Kate, don't think you can get away with this just because you've been here a while!"
The whole office was staring. I turned back to her. "I'm not trying to get away with anything, Diana. I'm following company policy. Go ahead and deduct it."
She thought I was bluffing. She immediately had finance alter my paycheck, deducting the entire five thousand from my commission, leaving me with only my base salary.
I remained unfazed. I came to work on time, left on time, and submitted my AI-generated designs every day. They couldn't find a single thing to fault me for.
Until Mr. Harrison from Apex Corp came in. I had handled the initial design phase for their project. Now that the project was handed over, Chloe was in charge.
Apex was our biggest client. We'd worked with them for three years without a single issue. This new project alone was worth ten million dollars.
That morning, Diana and Chloe were a bundle of nerves, waiting by the entrance. I strolled in right on time, earning a glare from Diana. I just slipped into the breakroom for breakfast.
When Mr. Harrison arrived, he was ushered into the conference room with great fanfare.
That's when Sam came over to my desk.
"Kate, take these blueprints to the new development in Green Valley."
Green Valley was on the west side of the city. We were on the east. A four-hour round trip.
"Isn't there a digital copy?" I asked.
"The client wants a hard copy. Now go, don't waste time."
Fine. I'll go.
The moment I arrived in Green Valley, Diana called.
"Kate, where are you? Get back here now!"
"Diana, Sam sent me to deliver blueprints. I just got here. What's up?"
"Send me the design concept and creative brief for the Apex project!"
I smiled. "It's all in the handover files. Sorry, have to meet the client now!"
I hung up. A moment later, Chloe called.
"Kate, stop playing games. Those are company files, you can't take them with you! If this project falls through, you'll be held responsible!"
I didn't even bother to answer. I just blocked her number.
Jenna messaged me. Apparently, Mr. Harrison had noticed right away that I wasn't in the meeting. He asked Chloe a few simple questions about the project, and she couldn't answer any of them. He was not pleased. Finally, he asked about the patent for the smart home technology integrated into the design.
Diana and Chloe had no idea what he was talking about.
Now, he was demanding to see the patent certificate, and they were scrambling.
"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" Jenna typed. "You set them up!"
"No wonder you've been so relaxed these past few days! You were waiting for this!"
Without that patent, the design was useless. A ten-million-dollar project, down the drain. And when the higher-ups found out, Diana and Chloe would be in deep trouble.
I could hear Jenna's gleeful laughter through the phone. Then, Chloe's voice. "Is that Kate? Give me the phone!"
"Kate, get back here now! What's this about a patent?"
"Sorry, Chloe, I can't help you. That project isn't my responsibility anymore."
"You'll have to find someone else."
She was getting desperate. "Kate, I know you're upset. Just come back, and we can talk about this."
Diana's voice came on the line. "Just come back, Kate. At least help us get through this meeting."
I refused. "I can't do that. This is Chloe's first big client meeting. I wouldn't want to overstep."
I could hear her screaming on the other end. "Don't get cocky, Kate! We don't need you!"
I laughed. "Let me be honest with you. Give me three hours, and I'll have you on your knees, begging me. Want to bet?"

4
I hung up, put my phone on silent, and after delivering the blueprints, I spent the rest of the morning chatting with the client in Green Valley. He invited me to take a walk on the nearby mountain trails. The signal was spotty up there, but I couldn't refuse a client.
Back at the office, things had descended into chaos. Mr. Harrison had canceled the contract and returned the designs. Without the patent, they were worthless. He was furious that they knew nothing about the project's core concept, a concept I had yet to fully reveal. I had planned to present the final, perfected version to him in person. But of course, they had pushed me out.
Not only did they not have the patent, but they couldn't even execute the design. Mr. Harrison was livid.
"If you can't produce the patent, we're done," he had declared. "There are plenty of other design firms in this country." He had walked out, ignoring Diana's desperate pleas.
With me still gone, Diana had turned on Chloe. "You're from an Ivy League school, right? Call your fancy friends, figure this patent thing out!"
"Kate is a nobody, and she impressed him. You should be able to do better."
Chloe, spurred on, started making frantic calls.
Jenna just watched, a smirk on her face. Diana noticed. "What are you smiling at? Go find a solution!"
Jenna threw her hands up. "I can't help you. That was all Kate. If I had her connections, I'd be the one in charge."
The comment hit its mark. Diana flew into a rage, throwing things around her office.
When a colleague relayed the story to me later, I just laughed. It wasn't my problem. They had brought this on themselves. A company retreat wasn't a big deal. But they had made it one. Besides, who wants to spend their free time on forced fun? Not me. Even if my husband hadn't been sick, I wouldn't have gone.
As for the patent, it was for a smart home system I had developed myself. It was a personal project, something I'd worked on for three years. Mr. Harrison had loved the idea. And now, they had cut me out of my own creation.
The client in Green Valley and I had a wonderful afternoon. We picked wild mushrooms and ate a delicious free-range chicken stew.
I told him about my situation at work. He just smiled. "Don't worry, Kate. You're destined for bigger things. You won't be unemployed for long."
"In fact," he continued, "I'm planning to develop this mountain into a resort. The scenery, the ecosystem... it's perfect. I'll need a good designer to plan it out."
I accepted on the spot.

5
If the resort was built, it would be the perfect place to bring my husband to relax and breathe the fresh air.
After reaching a preliminary agreement with the client, I drove back to the city. I didn't go to the office. Instead, I went to the hospital, got a doctor's note, and submitted a request for sick leave through the company's online portal.
Diana was furious. She called me immediately. "Kate, you're doing this on purpose! The whole company is scrambling, and you're taking sick leave?"
"Don't push your luck!"
I laughed. "Diana, you're overreacting. I'm not that important. I'm just exhausted. I've been taking care of my husband through his surgery, and now I need to rest. I'm not a machine."
"If you don't approve it, I'm taking the time off anyway. Just mark me as absent."
She hung up, but eventually approved the request. She sent me a text: "Don't think the company can't function without you. The world would keep spinning even if you disappeared."

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