My AI Twin Stole My Commission

The week my phone nearly vibrated itself into oblivion, I was at a competitor's office, getting up to speed on their operations.

This whole mess started with my companys absurd new policy.

They took six years of my work dataevery client interaction, every successful pitch, every closed dealand fed it to an AI to create my "digital twin."

From that day on, my digital twin handled all online tasks. I, the original, was relegated to offline schmoozing, wining and dining clients.

Last month, I closed a massive seven-figure deal. Under the old system, my commission should have been at least ten thousand dollars.

But when I got my pay stub, the number made my head spin: $960.

I stormed into the finance department, convinced there had been a mistake.

The finance director didn't even bother to look up. She glanced at the paper, tossed it back at me, and said in a voice as cold as ice, "There's no mistake. New company policy. Your digital twin closed the deal online. It gets ninety percent of the commission. You get ten."

She then added, with a syrupy, condescending smile, "You just have a few drinks with clients every now and then. Pulling in almost a grand a month for that? What's there to be unhappy about?"

I was the one who had brought in over seventy percent of the company's revenue. And she had the audacity to call me lazy.

I quit on the spot. And I took the two-million-dollar deal that was on the verge of being signed with me. My next stop was their biggest competitor.

...

I'd been chasing that million-dollar contract with Apex Corp. for half a year. I remembered sitting at the dinner table with their CEO, Mr. Carter, when he clapped me on the shoulder and said, "Sophie, if it were anyone else handling this, I wouldn't sign."

But just because the final contract link was sent by my digital twin, it got ninety percent of the credit?

My 0-00,000 commission shrank to a pathetic $960?

"What, you think that's too little?"

Seeing my dissatisfaction, Vivian, the finance director, scowled.

"I just explained it to you, didn't I?" she snapped. "From the initial contact and needs assessment to the final contract negotiation, your digital twin handled everything. All you did was meet Mr. Carter a few times and treat him to a few meals on the company's dime. You should be grateful you're getting nine hundred bucks at all!"

Vivian was the CEO Mark's sister-in-law, parachuted into the company as CFO three months ago. Her first order of business was a brutal cost-cutting and efficiency initiative, which led to the rollout of the AI digital twins.

It started small. They fed all the code written by a few of their programmers into an AI, creating digital versions of them. Then, they "optimized" the human programmersby firing themand had the AI write the code. When that proved successful, saving them a few salaries, the floodgates opened.

Now, most of the company's backend developers and customer service reps were gone. All that remained were a few fresh-faced college grads to handle basic maintenance. The once-bustling office floor was now a ghost town of empty desks. My former colleagues were gone, but their digital twins remained, tirelessly working for the company.

As a frontline sales rep, I was feeling the pain most acutely. I had spent years building a rapport with our tech team. I could give them a vague description, and they'd instantly grasp what I needed. Now, I was dealing with AI counterparts that couldn't understand plain English. The demos they produced for clients weren't just a little off; they were completely irrelevant.

My workload skyrocketed. I was spending every waking moment micromanaging these digital morons, constantly correcting their work.

I complained to Mark.

He just smiled his usual placid smile. "Sophie, AI is the future. As a tech company, we have to be on the cutting edge. There are always going to be some growing pains. You'll get used to it."

He even tried to reassure me. "Don't worry, we're monitoring the situation. The issues you've raised will be resolved soon."

I never imagined his solution would be to distill me into a digital twin and have it interface with the tech twins.

Now the problem started at the source.

On top of my usual client management, I spent every remaining second of my day chasing down project updates and cleaning up the messes made by the digital twins.

But in Vivian's eyes, I was just slacking off, enjoying lavish meals on the company's dime and still expecting a $960 cut. As if I'd won the lottery.

"What, am I wrong?!" she sneered. "The company invested money and resources to build you this digital twin to handle client communication. Do you have any idea how much work that saves you? And instead of being grateful for the company's investment, you have the nerve to complain that we're not paying you enough! You think we owe you something?"

She was warming up now. "Go on, ask around. Find me one other salesperson who makes nearly a grand a month just for having a few dinners. You're just pulling rank because you've been here a while."

Her voice rose with every word. "Honestly, clients sign with us because of the strength of our products. You really think it's all because of you? Anyone could do what you do now. I could hire a fresh college gradprettier, younger, more obedient, and a hell of a lot cheaper. Take the money or get out!"

Six years. I had given six years of my life to CloudForge. I was the top seller for four consecutive years. Many of my clients were people I had cultivated since my very first day.

If Vivian had ever spent a single day in sales, she would never have said something so ignorant. She thought our products were so good that clients would just line up to sign? She never stopped to consider why, among dozens of similar companies, they chose CloudForge.

My clients weren't loyal to the product; they were loyal to me, Sophie.

She had no idea the lengths I went to for them. It wasn't just about being on call 24/7 for project updates. It was about helping them when their parents were sick, picking up their kids from school, giving them advice on home renovations, even feeding their pets when they were out of town. If they called, I was there, no questions asked. Holidays, birthdays, weddings, funeralsI showed up for all of it. My clients were my friends. Our relationship went far beyond a simple business transaction.

But in Vivian's world, none of that mattered.

Honestly, I had been thinking about leaving ever since they "optimized" the tech team. I only stayed out of a sense of loyalty. But if she really thought anyone could do my job, then fine. Let her try.

"So, the company is firing me?"

Seeing that I understood, Vivian nodded without hesitation. "That's right. We have no place for ungrateful employees who have no sense of discipline and can't even be bothered to clock in."

I laughed to myself. I'm in sales. If I sat in the office clocking in and out every day, where the hell did she think all their contracts came from?

"Fine. Then please provide me with a written termination notice. According to labor laws, since the company is terminating my employment, you're required to pay N+1 severance. I've been here for six years. I'll leave as soon as the payment is processed."

"Severance?" Vivian took a long, noisy sip of her bubble tea and looked at me as if I were a joke. "Why should you get severance? You're the one who wants to quit. What does that have to do with the company? We did you a favor by reducing your workload with a digital twin, and now you have the gall to ask me for money?"

She waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it. You're not getting a single cent. And if you push this, I'll make sure everyone in this industry knows what kind of person you are. Let's see who'll be brave enough to hire you then."

With that, she shooed me away.

I was about to argue further when my phone rang. It was Mr. Carter. He said communicating with "me" online was confusing and he wanted to meet in person.

No doubt, my digital twin was screwing things up again.

Even though I was quitting, I couldn't just walk away from Mr. Carter after he'd just signed the deal. It wasn't right.

I arranged a time to meet him and went back to my desk to pack my things. As I did, I heard Vivian's venomous voice behind me.

"A real thankless snake. All she cares about is money."

I ignored her and walked back to my desk. My apprentice, Emily, looked at me with worried eyes.

"Sophie, what did Vivian say? Was the pay stub a mistake?"

I shook my head and told her everything Vivian had said. Not just Emily, but several other salespeople overheard and gathered around my desk, their faces a mixture of shock and outrage.

"What? That's insane! A ninety-ten split with no warning? You can't run a business like that!"

"Are they going to make a digital twin of me next? If so, I'm out of here."

"Seriously. Our base salary is nothing. We live on commission. Who's going to be motivated to close deals with a policy like this?"

As they were talking, the sharp click-clack of high heels approached from behind. It was Vivian.

The faces of my colleagues instantly paled. They scrambled back to their desks, heads down.

Vivian barked at them, "What do you all think you're doing? It's work hours! Stop gossiping and get back to it!" Then her glare landed on me.

"Sophie, let me warn you. Don't think you're hot stuff just because you've closed a few deals. I can't stand old dogs like you who think they own the place. I'm docking five hundred from your salary this month. And if I catch you spreading rumors in this office again, you're fired!"

I looked at her, my face a mask of calm.

"What did I say that wasn't true? The company did it, but I'm not allowed to talk about it? What right do you have to dock my pay? If you can't stand the sight of me, just pay my severance, and I'll be gone in a heartbeat."

"You really think I can't touch you!" she shrieked, slamming her hand on my desk.

I was done arguing. I grabbed my bag and walked out.

I wasn't afraid of her. But facing Mr. Carter, I felt a pang of guilt. I had promised him I would personally oversee his project, and now, I was leaving.

"Mr. Carter, I'm afraid I won't be able to continue managing your project," I began. "But don't worry, I'll entrust it to my most capable colleague. And if you run into any communication issues, you can still contact me anytime." I added, "The contract also clearly states that if you're not satisfied with the first version the company delivers, you can cancel the contract at any time."

To my surprise, Mr. Carter was less interested in the project and more interested in my resignation.

"Sophie, you're really quitting?" His voice was filled with excitement. "Then come work for me! Be my sales director. You know how many times I've tried to poach you."

I laughed, feeling a little overwhelmed. I told him I'd think about it and headed back to the office.

When I walked in, I found my desk completely empty.

"Where are my things?" I asked Emily.

She pointed, her face flushed with indignation. "Vivian said your presence was bad for team morale. She moved all your stuff... over there."

I turned. A new desk had been set up right next to the restrooms. All my belongings were haphazardly thrown into a cardboard box on top of it.

Vivian emerged from her office, arms crossed, leaning against a partition with a smug look on her face. "So, how does our sales champion like her new office? You're the one who said salespeople have flexible hours and are rarely in the office. I figured you wouldn't mind where you sat."

I gave the desk a single glance and walked straight to Mark's office.

Mark was an alum from my university. When he was starting his company, he begged me to join him. Out of loyalty to our shared alma mater, I turned down several better offers to join his tiny startup, operating out of a cramped residential apartment.

For six long years, I helped him build the company to where it was today: a full floor in a prime commercial skyscraper.

I needed to know if this was all Vivian's doing, or if she was acting with his approval.

After I explained the situation, Mark leaned back in his plush leather chair, his expression a mask of friendly concern.

"Sophie, it hasn't been easy getting the company to this point. You know how tough the market is this year. When Vivian proposed the cost-cutting measures, I'll admit, I thought it was a good idea."

He continued, his tone patient and patronizing. "You're a veteran employee. You should be setting an example, supporting the company's decisions. This is just a temporary difficulty. The change in commission structure is mainly for our long-term clients. If you work harder and bring in new clients, the commission rates will be the same as before."

Then he delivered the final blow. "To be frank, you've been slacking a bit lately. You haven't been aggressive enough in developing new business. You can't just rest on your laurels and live off the company's existing resources."

Vivian walked in and sat down next to him, rolling her eyes at me. "Exactly. These old clients are company assets. You got a commission when you first signed them; you can't expect to get paid every time they renew. You're just a parasite, sucking the company dry and acting like you're entitled to it."

I looked at Mark. He said nothing, but his expression was one of clear agreement.

I'm in sales. Reading people is my specialty. And in that moment, I knew.

This was all his idea. Vivian was just his hatchet man.

He wanted me gone, and the reason was simple. The company was stable now, with a steady client base. I was no longer the hungry go-getter bringing in new business. In his eyes, my usefulness had expired. It was time to put me out to pasture. My salary was the highest outside of the management team, which made me target number one.

But he was being incredibly naive.

"Sophie, let's not use such harsh words," Mark said, his smile never wavering. "Look, this is the company's policy now. If you really can't accept it and choose to resign, there's nothing I can do. For old times' sake, I can give you an extra two months' salary. A personal gesture from me. How does that sound?"

Vivian sneered from the side. "Tsk, tsk. Look at you, managing to squeeze even more out of him. The company invests so much in you, and all you think about is money. It's only because my brother-in-law is so soft-hearted. Any other company would have fired an old leech like you ages ago."

One played good cop, the other bad cop.

My heart had already turned to ice. For the past month, coordinating projects and cleaning up after those digital twins, I had been running on less than six hours of sleep a night.

Since they were so confident in their AI, fine. Let them try.

But as a final courtesy, I offered one last piece of advice.

"The work produced by the communication between those AI twins is completely different from what the clients actually want. When two AIs interface directly, the margin of error is huge. You need a human to constantly monitor and adjust."

Vivian burst out laughing. "Sophie, you're on your way out the door. Why are you still trying to make yourself seem important? So, the high-tech, big-data system we built is useless, but you running to the tech department and causing trouble is useful? The clients haven't complained. Stop trying to make yourself out to be some kind of hero."

Mark wasn't listening either. He just waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, Sophie. The company will take your concerns into consideration. Just sign the papers. Finance will process your payment. That's all. Just make sure you hand over your work properly."

Listen or not, my conscience was clear. I could already picture the clients' fury when they saw the final product. The Apex Corp. project would have already gone off the rails if I hadn't been watching it like a hawk.

Honestly, I was morbidly curious to see what kind of monstrosity the digital twins would create without my constant intervention.

The Apex contract had a specific clause: if the project was not delivered on time due to the contractor's fault, the penalty would be ten times the contract amount.

The contract was for one million dollars. The delivery date was less than half a month away.

If they failed, they would be facing a ten-million-dollar penalty.

I completed my resignation paperwork.

The moment I signed, a look of immense relief washed over Mark's face. He stood up and clapped me on the shoulder, a little too cheerfully.

"Great. No hard feelings. We'll still be friends. Feel free to stop by anytime."

I forced a smile and said, "Sure."

Knowing Mark and Vivian, I knew my warnings would be completely ignored.

After packing up my things, I left the office and bought myself a plane ticket to the Maldives. After years of grinding at CloudForge, I was exhausted. I deserved a real vacation.

I spent three glorious days soaking up the sun.

Then, Vivian's call came. She didn't even say hello, just launched into a tirade.

"Sophie! What the hell did you promise Mr. Gunn from Apex? Our tech team has been sending him drafts for days, and he's rejected every single one!" Her voice was a shrill shriek. "Where are you? Get back here right now! You signed this contract; you need to come back and fix this until he's satisfied!"

I lounged on my beach chair, pushing my sunglasses up onto my head.

"Sorry, Vivian. I've resigned. I'm on vacation in the Maldives. I don't think I can make it back."

Her voice was so sharp it could have shattered glass. "Vacation! You haven't even completed your handover! Who gave you permission to go on vacation? I'm telling you, if this contract defaults because of you, you will be held fully responsible!"

So noisy.

"I warned you that the project needed human oversight," I said coldly. "You chose not to listen. That's on you. I've already left. Your little manipulation tactics won't work on me anymore."

With that, I turned off my phone.

I enjoyed three more days of blissful silence.

When I finally turned it back on, the phone vibrated so violently it nearly jumped out of my hand.

999+ missed calls. My chat apps had exploded. Most were from Mark and Vivian.

There were also a few messages from Emily.

[Sophie, Mark and Vivian have been looking for you like crazy.]

[Mr. Gunn from Apex came to the office and went ballistic. He said if we can't deliver something satisfactory, he's suing us for the ten-million-dollar penalty.]

A second later, Mark's call came through.