On My Seventh Day at Work, My Boss Forced Me to Give a $9,999 Gift

1: 1

On my seventh day at the company, my thirty-six-year-old female boss, who called herself baby, posted a payment QR code in the company group chat.

Baby's birthday. New employees, your welcome gift to the family is $9,999. Remember to send it before six tonight.

I looked at my $3,800 intern's salary and couldn't believe it.

"Ma'am, typo, right? Ninety-nine bucks sounds more like it?"

The whole office went silent.

Right then and there, the boss's eyes went red, and she started a livestream to complain that I was bullying baby, that I didn't know gratitude.

HR hung the payment code around my neck and made me stand by the camera: I could step down whenever I sent the money.

A coworker suggested I use a payment-plan app to borrow the cash, and one of the connected hires kindly offered to teach me how to set up installments.

I took off the sign and stabbed it straight into the nine-tier birthday cake, then yanked the plug on the livestream big-screen I'd stayed up three nights building.

The pink castle went dark in an instant.

The boss shook with rage and fired me on the spot.

I took off my badge and slapped it on the desk.

"Fine, I'll go. But settle my seven days of pay first."

Ten minutes later, HR sent me a pay statement.

Seven days of wages: $886. Baby's birthday fee: $9,999. Damages to the birthday party: $3,200.

The last line read:

"Employee still owes the company 0-02,313."

"Cecilia Fox, have you not sent the gift money yet?"

HR, Constance Donaldson, held her phone up in my face. On the screen was a pink payment code, four nines printed underneath it.

I stared at it for a full two minutes before I could speak, still not believing it.

"Ma'am, that's a typo, right? Why would I pay for the boss's birthday? And even if I had to pay, ninety-nine bucks would be more like it, wouldn't it?"

The clatter of keyboards in the office stopped all at once.

Abigail Perry, a coworker, looked up.

"When a new employee celebrates baby's birthday for the first time, the welcome gift to the family has always been $9,999. You just graduated, you don't know the rules, so quit the attitude."

I glanced at my pay chart.

The intern's salary was only $3,800. After rent and deposit, I had 0-0,200 left in my bank account, and now she wanted $9,999. How was that any different from asking for my life?

"I've been here seven days. I've said fewer than ten words to the boss total. I'm not sending this money, and I don't want to go to the birthday party either."

The smile faded from Constance's face. She shot me a scornful look.

"A gift is about the thought behind it. Why are you always fixated on your salary? Baby gave you this job, and just yesterday she treated you to afternoon tea. A person has to know how to be grateful."

That box of afternoon tea was near-expired cake donated by a brand. After the boss picked through it, she dumped all the misshapen leftovers in the break room, and I was supposed to be grateful for that.

Another message popped up in the work chat.

"Baby turns thirty-six today! New family members, remember to complete your welcome gift before six! If you love baby, don't make baby ask twice."

Abigail sent a screenshot of her transfer.

"$9,999. May baby stay eighteen forever."

A string of flattery followed underneath.

"Abby gets baby best. No wonder baby loves you most."

She flaunted it in front of me, smug.

"If you're broke, use a payment-plan app. If you don't know how, I can teach you the installment thing. But not one cent less goes to baby!"

I just thought there was something wrong with her head.

"I know how to use a payment app. But why would I borrow money to pay for the boss's birthday? How much do you even make in a day? Is it worth it?"

Before I could finish, high heels clicked at the doorway.

The boss, Rachel Hughes, walked in wearing a pink princess dress. She was thirty-six this year, and she still thought she was an aging baby-girl the whole company had to coddle.

She stopped in front of my desk, eyes rimmed red like she'd suffered some enormous wrong.

"Baby heard you two arguing. How can you be so cruel? You won't even chip in a little bit of money for baby's birthday!"

Constance quickly steadied her.

"Don't be upset, baby. The new girl doesn't know our family's rules yet."

Rachel pouted at me.

"Cecilia, what did baby do wrong? On your first day, baby personally sent you a $5.20 welcome gift, and you didn't miss out on the afternoon tea yesterday either. Today is baby's once-a-year birthday. You won't even give a little bit of your heart?"

The coworkers all turned to look at me, the pressure plain on their faces.

"Right, Cecilia, don't sour things this early on."

"It's a little money. Send it first and pay it back slowly. Twelve installments, it's not much a month."

I turned my head in silence and looked around. Almost everyone in the office was staring at me, either with pity or with the look of watching a good show. Not one of them tried to say a word for me.

The whole office was full of idiots.

I turned to Rachel.

"You collect a $9,999 gift for your birthday. So how much do you give an employee on theirs?"

She paused.

Abigail jumped in immediately.

"A gift can't be about the amount. Baby wishes everyone a happy birthday."

"But I just checked the group history. The biggest gift baby sent was $5.20. Trading $5.20 for $9,999? What is this, a robbery?"

The words were barely out before Rachel's tears fell.

"Is baby's blessing only worth $5.20?"

I nodded, like I understood.

"Oh, so your blessing is worth more than $5.20. Then my blessing is worth $9,999 too. Go ahead and take it."

At that, Rachel clutched her chest, crying so hard the powder shook loose off her face.

"Constance, start the livestream! Baby's going to let everyone be the judge today. A new employee, seven days in, eating what the company provides, using what the company provides, and now she doesn't even have gratitude. She's bullying baby in front of everyone."

The livestream gear went up fast.

The pink castle lit up on the big screen. That was the animation I'd stayed up three nights making.

Constance printed out the payment code and flipped it over my neck.

"Since you think you did nothing wrong, then stand in front of the camera and explain yourself. When baby's satisfied, that's when you get to step down!"

Excuse me?

Was I some lowlife they got to humiliate like this?

I stood there without moving, the camera aimed at my face.

Rachel sat beside the nine-tier cake and spoke, eyes red.

"Family, baby really got hurt today."

2: 2

The live chat filled up with sympathy in seconds.

"Which intern is this rude? The boss is crying and she still won't apologize."

Abigail stepped in front of the camera and held up a screenshot of her transfer.

"I'm just a regular employee and even I paid $9,999 to make our baby happy. Cecilia's only been here seven days. She eats the company's afternoon snacks, uses the company's computer, and she can't show even this much gratitude. She doesn't deserve to work here at all!"

I looked at her, still unable to believe it.

"So you know you're just a regular employee. Then you should also know the computer is here for company work. Was I supposed to bring my own?"

The chat froze for a second at that, and Rachel cried even harder.

"Baby sent you a gift on your very first day, and even had Constance train you personally, and now you humiliate baby in front of all these people. You're just jealous of baby!"

On my first day, Constance only sent me an account and password and told me to finish editing six videos by end of day.

For a full seven days after that she didn't say another word to me, just hounded me about my progress or blamed me for being too slow.

I lifted my head and stared straight into the camera.

"I make $3,800 a month, and for my boss's birthday she wants me to gift $9,999. But when it's an employee's birthday, she sends $0.52. You tell me who's humiliating who?"

Different voices started showing up in the chat.

"$3,800 salary and a $9,999 gift? Is she even human?"

"Great company. You don't earn a dime, you walk in already owing the boss money!"

The crying froze on Rachel's face, replaced by a spite that matched her age all too well.

Constance quickly blocked the camera.

"Cecilia, don't twist things around. A gift is just goodwill. A salary is a salary."

"Fine, let's call it goodwill."

I pointed at Rachel and stripped away her act.

"She gave me $0.52, so I gave her $0.52. If she's not happy, she can give my $0.52 back. Either way my birthday wishes were delivered. Whether she accepts them is her business!"

Abigail shot me a furious glare, every inch the lackey.

"Is that any way to talk to your boss? It's baby's birthday, and you have to make a scene so nobody can save face?"

She reached out and shoved my shoulder.

I stepped back half a pace, and the cord Constance was holding behind me cut into my neck until it ached.

Constance smiled sweetly, acting like nothing had happened, and warned me under her breath.

"Stand still. You come down when baby's satisfied, not before."

Rachel wiped her tears and made a show of being gracious.

"Cecilia, baby will give you one more chance. Transfer the money now, say happy birthday to the camera, and baby can forgive you."

"And if I don't transfer it?"

She glanced at the viewer count and her eyes lit up.

"Then let the family vote on whether someone this ungrateful still deserves to stay. Baby couldn't be more fair. As long as the family in the chat wants you to stay, then I don't mind taking a little hurt!"

A poll box popped up on the screen.

"Let her stay" "Fire her now"

I looked around.

The same people who'd dumped their work on me a few days ago, making me fix their graphics, were all keeping their heads down and tapping the poll.

Rachel watched the fire-her count climb higher and higher, and finally couldn't hold the corner of her mouth in place.

"See, Cecilia? It's not that baby can't tolerate you. Everyone thinks you don't fit in."

What was I still expecting from this pack of ungrateful animals!

I ripped the payment code off my chest, walked up to the nine-tier cake, and jammed the sign straight into the top layer.

The frosting caved in under it, and the pink sugar plaque tilted to one side.

Rachel shrieked and shot to her feet.

"What are you doing! That's baby's birthday cake!"

"Perfect fit, isn't it!"

I patted the payment code and gave a cold laugh.

"The thing you want most today should go where everyone can see it."

Abigail rushed over to grab me. I threw her off, walked to the big screen's control console, and yanked the main power cord out.

That pink castle I'd stayed up three nights straight to build flickered twice, then went completely dark.

All that was left of the livestream backdrop was a wrinkled white wall.

Rachel was so furious her voice cracked.

"Cecilia, you're fired! Get out right now!"

I took off my badge and slapped it down on the desk.

"Happy to go. Settle my seven days' pay first. I don't work for you for free!"

3: 3

My pay?

Rachel raised a hand, signaling Constance to kill the stream.

The screen went black, and just like that, the hurt drained off her face.

You ruined Baby's birthday party, and you've still got the nerve to ask me for your pay?

Abigail pointed at the cake.

That was a custom nine-tier cake Baby ordered specially. Can you even afford to replace it?

I glanced at it.

One layer of frosting got messed up. Fine, I'll pay for that. And the screen isn't broken. Plug the cord back in and it works.

Rachel was so furious she slammed the table, looking like she wanted to slap me across the face.

And Baby's feelings? The viewers who left the stream?

I wrote the livestream script. I edited the video. I built the whole screen setup. You had me pull three all-nighters in a row, never mentioned a cent of overtime, and now you want me to pay you?

Constance slid a sheet of paper across to me.

Cake, sixty-eight eighty-eight. Screen repair, three thousand. Livestream losses, twenty thousand. Baby's emotional repair fee, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine.

I stared at that last line and reached a whole new understanding of just how shameless they were.

So emotional repair costs money now? You won't rest until you've squeezed this $9,999 out of me, is that it?

Rachel clutched her chest.

Baby was humiliated in front of over a hundred thousand people. I'll definitely be up all night, I'll need counseling. Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine is already going easy on you.

Abigail jumped right in.

Exactly! We're only not charging you for the rest because you're just an intern. Do you have any idea how much Baby's account makes in a single day? Tens of thousands! Twenty thousand in damages is letting you off cheap.

Letting me off cheap?

This was straight-up robbery.

I picked up the sheet and tore it in half right there.

You want damages? Give me every receipt. You just make up a number on the spot, and I'm not paying a cent of it.

Constance's face darkened.

You haven't been out in the working world yet, so you don't know to leave yourself an exit. Sign today, and the company will still give you a clean separation letter. Keep making trouble, and we can't promise what your background check ends up saying.

Threatening me with my background check?

I tapped open a recording.

Back when the argument first started, when Rachel put my firing to a vote in the live chat, I'd already had the presence of mind to quietly hit record on my phone.

Every word of Constance clamping down on the payment code, refusing to let me leave, was in there.

Abigail moved like she was going to lunge for my phone. I backed against the wall, held it up, and kept my face dead serious.

Touch me one more time and I'm calling the police right now. Every recording and video I have is synced to the cloud. Grabbing my phone won't do you any good.

Rachel let her real face show, staring me down.

You secretly filmed and leaked a company event. Baby can sue you for that!

You're the one who started the livestream. I saved evidence of being humiliated. What's the problem with that?

Constance shifted her tone, putting on a face like she had my best interests at heart.

Cecilia, why blow this up so big? You're only an intern. Delete the recording now, sign the voluntary resignation, and the company can knock a little off what you owe in damages.

Are you out of your damn mind?

I couldn't hold back anymore and cut off her nonsense.

I didn't resign voluntarily. You people forced this on me!

Then we'll process it as failing the probation period.

Seeing I wouldn't budge an inch, Constance dropped the act and just printed out a termination notice, which said I'd disrespected my supervisor and deliberately damaged company property.

If I actually accepted a termination report like that, my job hunt would be over before it started.

I pushed the paper back.

Cut the nonsense. Settle my pay first.

Rachel said coldly,

Give Baby an explanation, or don't dream of seeing a single cent.

Fine.

She didn't actually think being the boss meant she could do whatever she wanted, did she?

I turned around and dialed the labor board.

Constance's eyes went wide in an instant, and she reached out to hold down my phone.

What are you doing?

Asking the labor board how to handle an employee who's gone seven days without pay and got pressured by her boss into a $9,999 gift.

Rachel gritted her teeth and waved a hand.

Forget it. Baby won't stoop to fighting with some kid fresh out of school. Settle her pay and tell her to get out.

Ten minutes later, the settlement statement landed on my phone.

Seven days' pay, $886. Baby's birthday fee, $9,999. Birthday party damages, $3,200.

The last line read:

Employee still owes the company 0-02,313.

I looked up and laughed out loud.

I worked seven days, and I owe you twelve grand?

Rachel smiled again, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Well, whose fault is it for hurting Baby?

4: 4

Rachel pushed the settlement statement across the desk toward me.

"Pay the full twelve thousand before eight tonight, and sign an apology statement. Then Baby won't come after you."

I took out my phone and snapped a few shots of the statement.

Constance slapped her hand down over the paper.

"Internal company documents can't leave this building!"

"This is my pay statement. I'll photograph it if I want."

I uploaded the photos to the cloud and turned to leave, but Abigail was blocking the doorway.

"You owe money and think you can just walk out? No transfer today, and you're not getting through this door."

Fine. If they wouldn't play nice, they couldn't blame me for not playing fair.

I reached back and dialed the police.

"Go ahead, keep standing there. Let's see who the cops arrest when they show up, you or me."

Her face changed and she stepped aside, but Constance chased me all the way to the elevator, still throwing out warnings.

"You just graduated. You really want the whole world to know about this? Baby knows plenty of people in the industry. If she wants, you won't even make it into another interview."

I looked at her without a flicker of fear.

"Go ahead and try."

Half an hour later, the company account posted a video.

It was nothing but a clip of Rachel crying about being bullied by an intern, and the title used my full name and my school.

"Cecilia Fox, seven days on the job, destroyed company equipment, then threatened her boss after failing to extort her wages."

The paid trolls flooded in.

"College kids these days are impossible. The company trained her for seven days and she wouldn't even say happy birthday. Who would ever hire someone like that?"

Right after, a message came from the company I'd already lined up an interview with.

"Sorry, our position isn't a fit for you at the moment."

Before I could reply, my mother called, her voice shaking.

"Cece, your boss just called me. She said you smashed something and now you owe the company twelve thousand. Are you in trouble?"

Rachel had actually dug up my mom's number.

"Mom, stay out of it. She's lying to you."

"But she sent me the whole statement. She said it'll hurt your job search later. We've got some money at home. Why don't I just pay it for you first?"

"Don't pay a cent!"

My voice came out too loud, and it startled my mother into silence.

I steadied my breath.

"I don't owe a single dollar of this. Block her number. I'll handle the rest."

The moment I hung up, Constance sent another image, a Voluntary Resignation and Damage Compensation Confirmation, with a note attached beneath it.

"If it isn't signed before eight, the company will report you to the industry group, your university career office, and the relevant platforms. Baby is happy to give young people a chance, but she won't coddle bad kids."

I stared at those two words, bad kids, and the fire in my chest shot straight up.

Baby, baby. Her mother's baby.

The whole company was happy to kiss her feet, and she'd actually started believing she was a baby.

I decided to strike first. I posted my pay statement online with the company's full name right there.

"Seven days on the job. Pay: 886 dollars. My boss wanted me to fork over 9,999 for her birthday. When I refused, she pushed me out, and demanded I cover the losses from her birthday party. After I quit, I somehow owe the company 12,313 dollars."

The second it went up, private messages started popping in one after another.

"You got fired on your birthday too?"

"Rachel scammed a new hire again this year?"

Soon a person named Nancy Pruitt pulled me into a group.

The group was called Adults Fired by Baby.

Twenty-seven people in it.

One had been nine days in before getting hit for 6,666 in lunar-calendar birthday money. One had worked half a month and put three thousand toward a gift for Rachel's dog. Another had just handed over 9,999 as a welcome gift to the team, and the very next day was let go for "not adapting to the company culture."

The group owner sent over a hiring timeline, and the further down I read, the colder my palms went.

Rachel always picked a certain point to have Constance run a batch of intern hires, and once the new people had settled into the work, she'd start collecting money on one pretext or another.

Those willing to pay got a reason to be fired after the event was over. Those unwilling had their entire wages withheld, then got handed a settlement statement showing they owed the company instead.

Over five years, they'd taken more than four hundred thousand from former employees.

A livestream alert suddenly popped up at the top of my screen.

"Baby extorted by a vicious intern. Live clarification tonight at eight."

Rachel sat in front of the camera, crying as she held up a photo of me.

"Family, Baby is really so scared. She's still spreading lies about me online right now."

The group owner asked me,

"You dare to hop on the call?"

I looked at that woman still calling herself Baby, gave a cold laugh, and hit apply.