Left to Work While They Partied in the Maldives

Stella, you'll be sitting out the company retreat.
Mona's voice drifted from the conference room, light and airy, as if she were commenting on the weather.
I put down the file in my hand and turned my head.
Excuse me?
The Maldives trip. Spots are limited, and someone has to stay behind to hold down the fort. She offered a thin, plastic smile. "Besides, your husband's the VP. You're not really going to make a fuss about this, are you?"
The twenty-odd people in the room fell silent. Every eye was on me.
I just stared at her.
Five years.
For five years, my sales numbers had been number one, every single year. And for five years, my name had never appeared on any recognition list.
I knew why.
But I never said a word.
"Fine," I said, nodding slowly. "I'll stay."
Mona blinked, clearly taken aback. She hadn't expected me to agree so easily.
I let a small, knowing smile touch my lips. "But are you sure about this, Mona?"
1
The conference room was dead silent for three long seconds.
Mona's smile faltered. "What's that supposed to mean, Stella?"
"Nothing at all," I said, pushing my chair back and rising to my feet. "I'll go cover the office."
I turned and walked out without a backward glance, the sound of hushed whispers following me down the hall.
The elevator doors at the end of the corridor slid open, and I stepped inside. Just as they were closing, I caught a glimpse of Mona standing in the doorway of the conference room, her face a mask of thunder.
I pressed the button for the ground floor.
My phone vibrated. A text from Kevin.
Honey, don't be mad. Mona is just thinking about what's best for the company.
I stared at the words, my thumb hovering over the screen, but I didn't reply.
Another message popped up. I'll make it up to you when we get back. How about a trip to Miami?
Miami.
They were all going to the Maldives, a five-thousand-dollar-a-head luxury trip.
His way of making it up to me was Miami.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
The elevator doors opened, and I walked into the lobby. The young woman at the front desk looked at me, her expression hesitant. "Stella? Are you really not going?"
"I'm not going."
"But" she lowered her voice to a whisper, "you're the only one from the whole company who's staying behind."
I forced a smile. "Someone's got to keep the lights on."
She looked like she wanted to say more, but she held her tongue.
I knew what she was thinking. Out of thirty-two employees, twenty-eight were going to the Maldives. The only ones left behind were me and the three new interns.
Three interns.
I was in my fifth year with the company. A sales manager who brought in over four million dollars in annual sales.
And I was staying behind with the interns.
I went to the breakroom and poured myself a glass of water.
My phone buzzed again. This time it was Linda.
Are you an idiot, Stella? Your husband is the VP, why didn't you just have him say something?
I ignored it.
A second text followed. Then again, what does it matter how good your sales are? Everyone knows you only got the job because your husband pulled strings for you.
I stared at the screen for five seconds, the words burning into my eyes.
Because of my husband.
My four and a half million in sales were because of my husband?
I set the phone down and picked up my water.
Outside, the sky was a grim, overcast gray.
At three o'clock, the official trip announcement went out in the company-wide group chat.
"Hi team, a reminder that our Maldives retreat is from December 20th to the 26th. All flights (first-class) and accommodations (five-star resort) have been arranged by the company. Please be ready for an amazing seven days!"
A flood of "Got it!" and "Can't wait!" messages followed.
I didn't respond.
Another message appeared. "Personnel staying behind for office coverage: Stella Ross, Mike (Intern), Wendy (Intern), Alex (Intern)."
The chat went quiet for a moment.
Then, a single laughing emoji popped up.
I knew exactly who sent it.
Linda. Mona's little lapdog.
I closed the app and opened my work files. The Apex Corporation contract was up for renewal next week. A 1.5-million-dollar deal.
I had landed that client three years ago. Their CEO, Mr. Peterson, was a university alum. For three years, the renewal had been a seamless formality. Never a single issue.
I glanced at the calendar.
The renewal date fell squarely in the middle of the company retreat.
A humorless smile touched my lips.
Mona really knew how to pick her moments.
At five-thirty, people started packing up and leaving, a current of excited energy filling the office. I remained at my desk.
Kevin emerged from his office and walked over. "Hey, honey. Ready to head home?"
I looked up at him. "You knew about the retreat." It wasn't a question.
He hesitated for a second. "I did."
"And you didn't say anything for me?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Stella, Mona's the Director of Sales. I might be the VP, but that department is her territory. It's not my place to interfere."
I just looked at him.
"For three years, I've been the top performer."
"I know that."
"Half of Mona's reported sales come from my clients."
"I... I know."
"You know?" I stood up, my voice rising slightly. "You know she steals my credit, and you say nothing. You know she's pushing me out, and you say nothing. Now she's making me the sole employee left behind, and you still say nothing?"
"Stella..."
"I'm your wife, Kevin."
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
I grabbed my bag. "I'm going home by myself."
"Stella, wait!"
I didn't stop.
Just as the elevator doors closed, I saw him standing there, his face a portrait of conflicted helplessness.
Helpless.
Right.
I pressed the button for the parking garage. It was quiet, the air cool and still. I got into my car and started the engine.
My phone lit up. Kevin.
Honey, please don't be angry. I'll explain everything when I get home.
I didn't answer.
The car emerged from the garage into a sea of red taillights. Rush hour traffic was at a standstill.
A red light.
I stared out the window.
I'd been married to Kevin for three years. He was the VP; I was a junior manager. Everyone thought I'd married up.
Including Mona.
The first day she met me, she'd said, "Oh, so you're the VP's wife. Well, you better work hard for me. Don't embarrass your husband."
Back then, I was a new hire with zero sales to my name.
Now, I brought in over four million dollars a year, and she still looked at me with that same dismissive gaze.
The light turned green.
I pressed the accelerator.
When I got home, Kevin wasn't there yet. I changed my clothes and sat on the sofa, my mind a blank.
The doorbell rang.
I opened it.
It was my mother-in-law.
"Carol? What are you doing here?"
She swept past me into the living room, wearing that familiar, condescending smile. "Kevin told me you were in a bit of a mood."
"I'm fine."
"What's all this fuss about some company trip? You just do odd jobs at the office anyway, what difference does it make if you go or not?"
I stared at her. "Carol, I'm a sales manager, I don't do 'odd jobs'."
"Manager, assistant, it's all the same. You work for someone else," she said with a wave of her hand. "You should stop worrying about these silly things and focus on what's important. Taking care of Kevin, and giving me a grandchild."
I took a deep breath. "I'm going to start dinner."
"Yes, you do that."
I turned and walked into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator. It was completely empty.
I froze.
It was full of groceries yesterday.
"Carol, where did all the food go?"
"Oh, I took it," her voice called out from the living room. "Your sister-in-law is pregnant, you know. She needs the nutrition."
My hand tightened on the refrigerator door.
Three years. For three years, she had never once looked at me as an equal. I was just the girl who got lucky, the one who wasn't good enough for her perfect son.
I closed the fridge.
My phone rang. An unknown number.
I answered. "Hello?"
"May I speak with Stella Ross?"
"This is she."
"Hello, my name is Laura, I'm a recruiter with Edge Talent. I have a Sales Director position I'd like to discuss with you. The base salary is one hundred and fifty thousand. Would you be interested in hearing more?"
I was stunned into silence for a moment.
"Would it be alright if I sent you the details?"
"...Yes," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "That would be fine."
I saved her number.
After hanging up, I stared out the window into the darkening sky.
And I made a decision.
2
The next day, I went to work as usual. The atmosphere in the office was thick with unspoken tension. As I passed the breakroom, I heard voices.
"Did you hear? Stella isn't going on the retreat."
"It's not that she isn't going. Mona isn't letting her go."
"Why?"
"What do you think? Her husband's the VP. Mona's probably worried she'll steal the spotlight."
"Please. With her numbers? What spotlight is there to steal?"
"You don't know? Her numbers are actually"
The voices cut off abruptly.
I pushed the door open and walked in. The two women exchanged a panicked look, grabbed their mugs, and scurried out.
I poured myself a coffee.
My phone buzzed. A text from Mona.
Stella, my office. Now.
I set my mug down and walked over.
Mona was sitting behind her large desk, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
"Sit."
I sat.
"About the retreat. No hard feelings, I hope?"
"None at all."
She nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, about the Apex Corporation contract. It's up for renewal next week. Get all the materials ready for me. I'll be handling the negotiation personally."
I looked at her, my expression unreadable.
"Apex is my client."
"They're the company's client," she corrected me smoothly. "You're just the point of contact."
"Mr. Peterson only deals with me."
"Mr. Peterson deals with whoever brings him the best deal," she countered with a dismissive laugh. "Stella, you've been here for five years. You should understand by now: the clients belong to the company, not to you."
I said nothing.
"You just focus on holding down the fort," she continued. "I'll take care of Apex."
I stood up. "Are you sure, Mona?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"
"Not at all." I turned to leave, pausing at the door.
"You know, Mona, the Apex account is worth one and a half million dollars annually. That's thirty-five percent of this company's total revenue."
"I'm aware."
"Just making sure."
I opened the door and walked out.
Behind me, I heard her call out, "Don't you dare try to pull anything, Stella."
I didn't look back.
Back at my desk, I opened my laptop. I had already backed up every file related to Apex Corporation. Three years of email correspondence, order histories, and negotiation notes. All of it was sitting safely in my personal cloud drive.
I checked the time.
The retreat started in five days.
I picked up my phone and sent a quick text to Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson, regarding the renewal next week, there's a possibility the company may assign a new representative to your account.
A few minutes later, he replied. A new rep? Who?
Our Director of Sales, Mona Vance.
Never heard of her.
A small smile played on my lips.
Mr. Peterson, would you have time for a quick call about the contract?
Sure. I'll call you tonight at seven.
I put my phone down. From the next desk over, Linda leaned in. "Stella, you were just in Mona's office?"
"I was."
"What did she want?"
"Nothing important."
She scoffed. "Don't be ungrateful. Mona's giving you a big responsibility by letting you watch the office."
I turned to face her. "Linda, what were your sales numbers last year?"
She froze. "What's it to you?"
"If I recall, it was around three hundred and eighty thousand, right?"
Her face flushed.
"My sales were four and a half million," I said, turning back to my computer. "That's nearly twelve times yours."
Her face turned beet red. "You You think you're so great! You only have those numbers because of your husband!"
I ignored her. She huffed and spun back around in her chair.
At lunchtime, Kevin appeared at my desk.
"Honey, want to grab a bite?"
"Can't. I'm busy."
"With what?"
"Work," I said, grabbing my purse. "You go ahead."
"Stella..."
I didn't stop, stepping straight into the elevator.
Downstairs, I found a quiet caf and sat down. I opened my phone and pulled up the recruiter's information. Her name was Laura, and the job description she'd sent was detailed:
Company: Sterling Enterprises
Position: Regional Sales Director, East Coast
Compensation: 0-050,000 base + commission
Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, 401k match, annual company trip.
Sterling Enterprises.
I knew the name. They were Apex Corporation's biggest competitor.
I thought for a moment, then typed out a reply. Laura, I'd be interested in learning more. Are you available to chat?
Of course. When works for you?
How about tomorrow evening?
Perfect. I'll send you the address.
I put down my phone and took a sip of my latte.
Outside the window, the city bustled with life.
Five years.
I'd given five years to this company. I'd climbed from an associate to a manager, my sales growing from zero to over four million dollars.
But in Mona's eyes, I would always be "Kevin's wife."
In my mother-in-law's eyes, I was "that girl who married up."
And in my colleagues' eyes, I was "the one who got her job through connections."
I let out a soft, humorless laugh.
Maybe it was time to show them who I really was.
When I got back to the office, Mona summoned me to a meeting room.
"All of the Apex files. I want them transferred to me."
I just looked at her.
"By the end of the day," she added.
"Mona, the contract isn't up for renewal until next week."
"I need to prepare."
"Prepare what, exactly?"
Her expression hardened. "Stella, I am your superior. When I tell you to do something, you do it."
I nodded slowly. "Alright."
I walked out and went back to my desk.
Linda shot me a look dripping with schadenfreude. "What's wrong? Did you get chewed out?"
I ignored her.
I opened my computer, compiled all of Apex Corporation's publicly available information into a single document, and emailed it to Mona.
Then, I opened another folder. The one with three years of critical intelligence. Client preferences, decision-making hierarchies, key contacts, detailed notes from every negotiation we'd ever had.
I didn't send her a single word of it.
My phone vibrated. It was Mr. Peterson.
Stella, don't forget. Seven o'clock tonight.
I'll be ready, sir.
I checked the time. Four o'clock. Three more hours.
At five-thirty, I packed up and left on the dot. Kevin was still in his office. I didn't bother stopping by.
When I got home, I changed and started cooking.
At precisely seven o'clock, my phone rang.
"Stella," Mr. Peterson's voice was calm and measured. "I've been thinking about what you said, about your company switching my point of contact."
"Yes, sir?"
"You and I have worked together for three years, and it's always been a smooth process. A new person" he paused. "I'm not comfortable with that."
"What are you suggesting, sir?"
"If you were to leave your current company, then we can talk about renewing the contract."
I gripped the phone, my heart pounding in my chest. I was silent for a few seconds.
"I understand, Mr. Peterson."
"You're a talented woman, Stella. Don't let them undervalue you."
"Thank you, sir."
I hung up and stood by the window, the city lights blurring before my eyes.
A one-and-a-half-million-dollar account.
And it was mine. Not because I was "Kevin's wife."
But because I was Stella Ross.
The doorbell rang.
I opened it. It was Kevin.
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"I had things to do."
He walked in, and the tension seemed to leave his shoulders when he saw the food on the table. "Good, you cooked. I'm starving."
He sat down and started eating.
I sat across from him, watching him.
"Kevin."
"Hmm?"
"If I left the company, would you support me?"
His chopsticks froze mid-air.
"What do you mean, leave the company?"
"Find a new job."
He put his chopsticks down. "Stella, what are you talking about? Why would you do that?"
"I have another offer. A hundred and fifty thousand a year."
He stared at me, stunned.
"0-050,000?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
"Sterling Enterprises."
The color drained from his face. "Sterling? They're Apex's biggest rival! If you go there, what happens to the Apex contract?"
I met his gaze. "Kevin, this is my career."
"This is the company's biggest account!" he shot back, standing up. "Stella, do you have any idea how important that deal is?"
"I do."
"And you'd still leave?"
"Yes."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Can you please not be so impulsive? I'll talk to Mona for you, I'll sort out this whole retreat thing"
"Don't bother," I cut him off. "I've already made my decision."
"Stella!"
I stood up and walked into the bedroom. Just as the door clicked shut, I heard the clatter of chopsticks hitting the floor in the living room.
I didn't care anymore.
3
The third day, I arrived at the office right on time.
As soon as I sat down, Mona called me into her office.
"Stella, I just got off the phone with Mr. Peterson from Apex."
"Oh?"
"He said he'll only discuss the contract with you. Not with me." Her face was a storm cloud. "What did you say to him?"
"I didn't say anything."
"You better not have." She glared at me. "Stella, I'm telling you for the last time. The clients belong to the company, not to you."
"I know."
"Good." She waved a dismissive hand. "Get out."
I turned and walked out.
Back at my desk, Linda sidled over. "Did you piss Mona off? She looks like she's about to kill someone."
"Nope."
"You better watch your back," she whispered conspiratorially. "She's not someone you want to cross."
I ignored her and got back to work.
At noon, I skipped the cafeteria and went out for lunch by myself.
As I was walking out of the building, my phone rang.
It was my mother-in-law.
"Hello?"
"Stella, come to the house for dinner tonight. Your father-in-law wants to talk to you."
"About what?"
"You'll find out when you get here."
She hung up.
I stared at my phone and sighed.
At six o'clock, I arrived at my in-laws' house. Kevin was already there.
"You're here. Have a seat," my father-in-law said, his tone polite but firm.
I sat. My mother-in-law, Carol, brought a dish out from the kitchen, shooting me a cold look as she passed.
"Stella, I hear you're thinking of leaving your job," my father-in-law began.
I glanced at Kevin. He avoided my eyes.
"I've been considering it," I said.
"Why?"
"A better opportunity came up."
"What opportunity could possibly be better than staying where you are?" Carol interjected. "Your husband is the VP. It's not like you have it hard there."
I looked directly at her. "My career has nothing to do with my husband."
"What career?" she sneered. "If it wasn't for Kevin, you never would have gotten your foot in the door at that company."
I didn't say a word.
The truth was, I was hired two years before I even met Kevin.
But I was done explaining myself.
"Stella, let me be frank," my father-in-law said, his voice taking on a serious tone. "This idea of you leaving... can you put it on hold?"
"Why?"
"The Apex Corporation contract is critical. If you leave now, it could put the whole deal in jeopardy. It would be a huge blow to the company."
I looked from him to Kevin, then back again.
"Dad, I'm the one who brought Apex in as a client."
"They are the company's client," he corrected me, echoing Mona's words.
I couldn't help but laugh. A short, bitter sound.
"Is that so?"
"Stella!" Carol slammed her hand on the table. "What kind of attitude is that?"
"I'm just stating a fact."
"You"
"Alright, that's enough," my father-in-law cut in. "Stella, I need to talk to you about something else."
"Go ahead."
"This company retreat. You'll stay home. Just let it go."
I blinked. "Dad, it was Mona who told me I couldn't go."
"I know," he nodded. "And she was right to do so."
I stared at him, speechless.
"Think about it," he continued, his voice calm and patronizing. "Twenty-eight people go on a trip, and you're the only one left behind. It looks bad. It's much better for everyone if you just pretend you chose not to go. It saves face."
Saves face.
Whose face?
"I understand," I said, standing up. "I should get going."
"You haven't even eaten!" Carol called after me.
"I'm not hungry."
I grabbed my bag and walked out the door.
Kevin ran out after me. "Stella!"
I kept walking.
"Stella! Can you stop being so difficult? My parents are just trying to help you!"
I spun around to face him.
"Help me? When have they ever tried to help me, Kevin?"
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
"Your mother says my job is worthless, and your father says being publicly humiliated is for my own good." I stared at him, my voice dangerously calm. "Is that what you call helping?"
"They... that's just how they talk. You can't take it personally."
"Not take it personally?" I laughed again, but there was no humor in it. "Kevin, I have been a part of your family for three years. In all that time, when have you ever, not once, stood up for me?"
He fell silent.
"Forget it," I said, turning to leave again.
"Stella! What do you want from me?" he yelled, his voice cracking with frustration.
I stopped and looked back at him over my shoulder.
"What do I want?"
"I want to be treated fairly."
"I want to be respected."
"And I want every single one of you to understand that I am Stella Ross. Not just someone's wife, not just someone's daughter-in-law, and certainly not just someone's subordinate."
He stared at me, completely stunned.
"You can't give me that, Kevin. So I'm going to get it for myself."
I walked away.
This time, he didn't follow.
Back home, I opened my laptop. The recruiter, Laura, had sent me a message. Stella, just confirming our meeting for tomorrow evening?
I stared at it for a long moment, then typed my reply. Yes. I'll be there.
Great. I've sent you the address.
I closed the laptop and looked out the window. The night was dark and deep.
I had made my decision.
No matter what, I was leaving.

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