I was let go because of my age. As a farewell, I gave roses to all my colleagues and left my boss a folder with the results of my secret audit.
Lena, we have to part ways.
Gennadiy said this with the same paternal softness in his voice he used whenever he was about to pull off another sleazy move.
He leaned back in his massive chair, fingers laced over his stomach.
We decided the company needs fresh perspective. New energy. You understand.
I looked at himhis well-groomed face, the expensive tie I had helped him pick for last years corporate party.
Understand? Oh yes. I understood perfectly that the investors had started talking about an independent audit, and he urgently needed to get rid of the one person who saw the whole picture. Me.
I understand, I replied calmly. New energythats Katya from reception, who mixes up debit and credit but is twenty-two and laughs at all your jokes?
He winced.
Its not about age, Lena. Just… your approach is a little outdated. Were stuck. We need a breakthrough.
Breakthrough. That word had been his mantra for the past six months. I built this firm with him from nothing, back when we squeezed into a cramped office with peeling walls.
Now that the office was glossy, it seemed I no longer fit the decor.
Fine, I stood up smoothly, my insides turning to stone. When should I clear my desk?
My calm threw him off. He expected tears, begging, a sceneanything that would let him play the magnanimous victor.
Today, if you can. Take your time. HR will handle the paperwork. Compensation, all proper.
I nodded and headed for the door. Hand on the knob, I glanced back.
You know, Gen, you’re right. The company does need a breakthrough. And I might just deliver it.
He didnt get it. Just gave me a patronizing smile.
The open office, where about fifteen people worked, was thick with tension. Everyone knew.
The girls guiltily avoided my eyes. I reached my desk. A cardboard box was already waiting. Efficient.
Silently, I packed my thingsphotos of my kids, my favorite mug, a stack of trade journals. At the bottom, I placed the little bouquet of lilies of the valley from my sonhed brought them yesterday, just because.
Then I pulled out what Id prepared in advance. Twelve red rosesone for each colleague whod been with me all these years. And a thick black binder tied with string.
I walked through the office, handing each person a flower.
I spoke quiet words of thanks. Some hugged me. Some cried. It felt like saying goodbye to family.
When I returned to my desk, only the binder remained. I picked it up, walked past my bewildered coworkers, and headed back to Gennadiys office.
The door was open. He was on the phone, laughing.
Yeah, the old guards stepping aside Time to move forward
I didnt knock. Just walked in, placed the binder on top of his paperwork.
He looked up, startled, and covered the receiver.
Whats this?
A parting gift, Gen. Instead of flowers. Inside are all your breakthroughs from the last two years.
Numbers, invoices, dates. Thought you might want to review them. Especially the section on flexible methodologies for moving funds.
I turned and left. I could feel his starefirst on the binder, then on my back.
He barked something into the phone and hung up. But I didnt look back.
I walked through the office with an empty box in hand. Now, everyone was watching.
Their expressions mixed fear and secret admiration. On every desk, my red rose stood like a poppy on a battlefield.
At the exit, the lead IT guy, Sergey, caught up with me. A quiet man Gennadiy considered just a function.
A year ago, when Gen tried to pin a server crashhis own doingon Sergey, Id brought proof and defended him. He remembered.
Elena Petrovna, he whispered, if you ever need anything data cloud backups You know how to find me.
I nodded gratefully. The first voice of resistance.
At home, my husband and college-student son were waiting. They saw the box in my hands and understood.
So, it worked? my husband asked, taking the box.
The first steps done, I said, kicking off my heels. Now we wait.
My son, a future lawyer, hugged me.
Mom, youre incredible. I double-checked all the documents you gathered. Theyre airtight. No auditor could dispute them.
Hed helped me organize the chaos of double-entry accounting Id secretly compiled over the past year.
That evening, I waited for a call. It never came. I pictured him in his office, flipping through page after page, his groomed face turning ashen.
The call came at 11 PM. I put it on speaker.
Lena? His voice held no trace of softness now. Just thinly veiled panic. I reviewed your documents. Is this a joke? Blackmail?
No need to be crude, Gennadiy, I replied. Its not blackmail. Its an audit. And a gift.
You realize I can destroy you? For slander! For stealing documents!
And you realize the originals arent with me anymore? That if anything happens to me or my family, these files automatically go to certain interesting addresses? Like the tax office. Or your biggest investors.
Silence. Then labored breathing.
What do you want, Lena? Money? Your job back?
Justice, Gen. You return every cent you stole from the company. And you resign. Quietly.
Youre insane! he shrieked. This is MY company!
It was OUR company, I said firmly. Until you decided your wallet mattered more. You have until tomorrow morning.
By 9 AM, I expect news of your resignation. If not, the folder goes on a trip. Goodnight.
I hung up before his choked curses finished.
The next morning, no news came. At 9:15, an email from Gennadiy appeared.
Emergency all-hands meeting at 10. A note just for me: **”Come. Well see who wins.”** He was going all-in.
What will you do? my husband asked.
Of course Ill go. Cant miss the premiere of my own movie.
I wore my best suit. At 9:55, I entered the office. Everyone was already in the conference room.
Gennadiy stood by the big screen. When he saw me, he smiled like a predator.
Ah, our star. Please, Lena, sit. Were all eager to hear how a finance directoraccused of incompetencetries to blackmail management.
He launched into his speech. Theatrically, he spoke of trust Id supposedly betrayed. Waved my binder like a flag.
Here it is! A collection of fiction from someone who cant accept her time is up!
The team stayed silent. Eyes downcast. Ashamed, but afraid.
I waited until he paused to sip water, then texted Sergey one word: **”Go.”**
Instantly, the screen behind Gennadiy went darkthen lit up with a scanned payment slip.
Payment for fake “consulting services” to a shell company registered to his mother-in-law.
Gennadiy froze. More documents flashed onscreen: receipts for his personal trips, invoices for his dacha renovation, screenshots of kickback negotiations.
What what is this? he mumbled.
This, Gennadiy, is called ‘data visualization,’ I said clearly, standing. You wanted a breakthrough?
Here it is. A breakthrough toward cleaning up theft. You said my approach was outdated? Maybe. Im old-fashionedI think stealing is wrong.
I turned to the team.
Im not asking you to pick sides. Just showing you facts. Draw your own conclusions.
I laid my phone on the table.
By the way, Gen, this is streaming in real time to our investors inboxes. So resigning is the gentlest option you have left.
Gennadiy stared at the screen, then at me. His face grayed. The act fell away, leaving just a small, frightened man.
I turned and walked out.
Sergey was the first to stand. Then Olga, our best sales manager, whom Gennadiy constantly belittled. Then Andriy, the analyst whose reports Gennadiy claimed as his own.
Even quiet Marina from accountingwhod cried over Gennadiys nitpickingstood. They werent following me. They were walking away from him.
Two days later, a stranger called. An interim CEO hired by the investors.
Dryly, he informed me: Gennadiy was suspended. The company was under review. HeThe call ended with an invitation to rebuild, but this timeon my own terms.
