The $38,000 Betrayal

I worked myself to the bone for three years, becoming the absolute pillar of the Engineering Department.

On the day I finally resigned, the CEO personally intercepted me.

"What will it take for you to stay?"

I gave a hollow smile and slid my pay stub across her desk.

$3,800. In this city, that wasn’t even enough to cover rent and the cheap cafeteria food downstairs.

She took it, glanced at it, and her hand immediately started to tremble.

She snatched up her phone, her voice shaking with rage: "Run a full audit right now. Whoever touched his salary, fire them immediately!"