Harper, my supervisor, believed she had all the authority when she made me babysit her kids or lose my job. The haughty ultimatum proved to be her worst professional error and a life-changing event. She want control.
She granted me freedom and a front-row ticket to her breakdown.
Start from the beginning.
Career has pushed me forever. While my undergraduate buddies were on spring break and slept in until noon, I had two internships and a weekend barista job. After graduating, I was eager to ascend the ladder.
That initial step was becoming a marketing assistant at an Austin mid-size architectural business.
Though not spectacular, I enjoyed the team and the potential to develop. Until Harper became my manager six months ago.
Painting Harper for you.
She was bright, confident, and entered our building like she owned it, despite having recently relocated from a more prominent New York business. Success radiated from her clothes.
Her self-assurance was seductive. She arrived in her navy blue Audi with sunglasses and used buzzwords like “synergy” and “personal brand” within minutes of entering any meeting.
I first admired her.
She said, “Naomi, you’re incredibly detail-oriented,” during a brainstorming session. “Exactly the kind of person I need beside me.”
It was good to be acknowledged after being ignored by prior management.
Harper’s charm was a facade that rapidly fell apart.
Her first oversharing was little.
Complains about Lucas, her ex-husband. Discusses the difficulties of co-parenting Audrey and Grace. Stories about Lucas cheating on her with his paralegal and wanting more visits.
Harper observed, “They’re better off without him,” while leaning against my workstation to study campaign stats one day.
“He never understood fatherhood.”
Audrey and Grace raced into her home office mid-Zoom team check-in, screaming about who got the last cookie. Harper shouted about Lucas.
“This is why I distrust him!” She shouted as we looked in fear, wondering where to look.
From then on, things intensified.
She sent me divorce documents screenshots. I saw custody battles and lakehouse disputes.
I first felt sorry for her.
She ate protein bars between meetings and massaged her temples when no one was watching, looking weary. She was probably anxious and leant in to help.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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