{"id":24921,"date":"2026-11-09T02:49:30","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/?p=24921"},"modified":"2026-11-09T02:49:30","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:49:30","slug":"my-colleague-asked-me-out-on-a-date-i-should-have-said-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/?p=24921","title":{"rendered":"My Colleague Asked Me Out on a Date\u2014I Should Have Said No"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019d had a crush on Daniel for years, so when he asked me to dinner, I couldn\u2019t say no. But at the restaurant, he never showed. Instead, a waiter handed me a note from him asking to meet in the bathroom. What I found changed everything.<\/p>\n

I never thought I\u2019d become visible to Daniel, the handsome and charming head of my department.<\/div>\n
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For three years, I\u2019d watched him from behind my computer screen, admiring how he commanded every room he walked into.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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His confident stride, his easy smile, and the way everyone gravitated toward him during office parties.\u201cEarth to Cindy,\u201d my friend Margo would say, snapping her fingers in front of my face whenever she caught me staring. \u201cYou know he\u2019s way out of your league, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman frowning slightly | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n

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I\u2019d just sigh because, of course, I knew it. Men like Daniel didn\u2019t notice women like me. On the few occasions he\u2019d brought dates to our work functions, they\u2019d all been built like catwalk models.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Meanwhile, I was more Rubenesque. I worked out regularly and played sports, but all it did was build my strength. I tried all the popular diets, too, but the weight wouldn\u2019t shift.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At 32, I tried not to worry about my weight anymore, but it wasn\u2019t easy. Life is hard when you\u2019re stuck in a body that draws judgmental gazes wherever you go.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman sitting glumly at a desk | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But, one Tuesday afternoon, everything changed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I was hunched over quarterly reports, the office nearly empty as the clock ticked past six. The sudden presence at my desk made me jump.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWorking late again?\u201d Daniel asked, leaning casually against my cubicle wall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A man with a charming smile | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I nodded, unable to form words as his cologne (something expensive and woodsy) filled my small workspace.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou know, Cindy, I\u2019ve noticed how dedicated you are.\u201d His smile revealed perfect teeth. \u201cWant to grab dinner after work tomorrow? You deserve a break.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My heart stuttered. \u201cDinner? With you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cUnless you\u2019d rather eat with someone else?\u201d His eyebrow quirked playfully.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A smiling man in an office | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNo! I mean, yes. Dinner sounds great.\u201d The words tumbled out before my brain could process what was happening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cPerfect. Luigi\u2019s at seven? It\u2019s that Italian place on Maple Street. I\u2019ll meet you there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I nodded again, watching him walk away with that confident stride. Only when he disappeared around the corner did I allow myself to breathe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman gasping | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I called Margo immediately. \u201cYou won\u2019t believe what just happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhat? Did you finally figure out that spreadsheet error?\u201d Margo asked, the sounds of her kids screaming in the background.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cDaniel asked me out. On a date. Tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The line went silent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman holding a cell phone in an office | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Then Margo squealed so loudly I had to pull the phone from my ear. \u201cAre you serious? Department head Daniel with the butt that won\u2019t quit?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe very same,\u201d I confirmed, still in disbelief.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThis is huge! I\u2019m coming over right now with my blue dress. The one that makes even my post-twins body look good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou can\u2019t! I\u2019m still at work. Meet me at my place in an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman in an office speaking on her cell phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The next day crawled by. Daniel acted normal in our morning meeting, but his small smile when our eyes met confirmed I hadn\u2019t imagined the invitation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early, wearing Margo\u2019s blue dress. The maitre\u2019d escorted me to a corner table where I ordered a glass of water and waited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And waited and waited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman seated at a table in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cMore water?\u201d the waiter asked for the third time, pity evident in his eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s just running late,\u201d I said, more to myself than to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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By half-past seven, I\u2019d shredded my napkin into confetti. That\u2019s when the waiter returned, this time with a folded note.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThis was left for you at the front desk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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My hands trembled as I unfolded it, hoping for an explanation \u2014 a work emergency, a flat tire, anything.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Instead, I read: \u201cStand up and go to the bathroom. And when you open the door, you have to lock it behind you ;)\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman pulling a face while holding a piece of paper | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This wasn\u2019t the Daniel I thought I knew. This was crude, suggesting something I would never do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Was this what he thought of me? That I was so desperate I\u2019d agree to bathroom hookups on a first date?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Anger replaced disappointment as I marched toward the bathroom. I\u2019d tell him exactly what I thought of his \u201coffer\u201d and walk out with my dignity intact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"An<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

An angry and determined woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I pushed open the door and froze.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Daniel stood inside with two men I recognized from the marketing department. One held up his phone, camera pointed directly at me. All three were laughing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s it, the bet\u2019s over. I did it,\u201d Daniel announced, looking not at me but at his friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A man bragging in a bathroom | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cA bet?\u201d The words barely made it past the lump in my throat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Daniel shrugged, already pushing past me. \u201cNothing personal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His friends followed, still filming, still laughing. I stood rooted to the spot, their laughter echoing in my ears long after they\u2019d gone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A sad woman in a restroom | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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As awful as it was to think he\u2019d asked me out so we could hook up in a bathroom, being the butt of some juvenile prank was even worse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I went home and curled into bed, still reeling from the shocking turn the evening had taken.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But when I got up for work the next morning, I discovered that Daniel had taken things a step further.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman sitting on a bed | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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My phone started buzzing nonstop while I was brushing my teeth. When I saw the messages were coming through on a work chat group, I opened it immediately.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My jaw dropped. Daniel had shared the video of me entering the bathroom with a brief caption: \u201cDidn\u2019t take much convincing\ud83d\ude0f\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As if winning his stupid bet wasn\u2019t bad enough, he was now making me look desperate for him!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Neither of us could\u2019ve known how deeply he\u2019d regret his actions in two days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A sad woman in her bathroom | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I couldn\u2019t face my coworkers after that so I called in sick. I couldn\u2019t believe how badly I\u2019d misjudged Daniel\u2026 had I been so blinded by his good looks that I hadn\u2019t realized who he really was?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I called in sick the next day, too. When my phone rang on the third day, I almost didn\u2019t answer. But the caller ID showed Mr. Reynolds \u2014 the company owner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My stomach lurched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman answering a phone call | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHello?\u201d My voice sounded small, even to my own ears.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCindy,\u201d Mr. Reynolds said, his tone unreadable. \u201cI expect to see you in the office within the hour. Or clean out your desk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I swallowed hard. \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cReport to my secretary when you get here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A serious woman on a phone call | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ninety minutes later, I walked into the main conference room, where Mr. Reynolds\u2019 secretary had told me he was waiting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Confusion mingled with dread when I saw the entire company assembled. Daniel sat near the front, a smug smile playing on his lips.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr. Reynolds stood at the head of the room, next to a projector screen. When he saw me, he nodded slightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNow that we\u2019re all here,\u201d he said, \u201cI want to address something.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Office<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Office workers seated at a conference table | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The screen flickered to life, and there I was again, entering that bathroom. My face burned as whispers rippled through the room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then Mr. Reynolds laughed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cAlright,\u201d he said between chuckles. \u201cWho thinks this video is funny? Be honest. Raise your hand.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Seven hands went up, including Daniel\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A man raising his hand | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I couldn\u2019t believe what I was seeing. Unshed tears burned my eyes as I turned back to Mr. Reynolds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I wanted to scream at him, or put all my years in the gym to good use and flip the conference table, but then I noticed something.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr. Reynolds wasn\u2019t smiling anymore. He was staring at Daniel coldly and his jaw had clenched tight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A stern businessman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cAnd who,\u201d Mr. Reynolds continued, \u201cthinks this is disgusting, unprofessional behavior that has no place in our company?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Slowly, hands began to rise. Five, then ten, then 15. I couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cEveryone who found this funny,\u201d Mr. Reynolds said, his voice suddenly cold, \u201cplease collect your things and leave. You no longer work here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The room went silent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Office<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Office workers seated at a conference table | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Daniel\u2019s face drained of color. \u201cWhat? You can\u2019t be serious. It was just a joke!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWorkplace harassment isn\u2019t a joke,\u201d Mr. Reynolds replied. \u201cNeither is recording someone without consent or spreading videos meant to humiliate them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cSecurity will escort you out,\u201d Mr. Reynolds cut him off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A furious businessman in a conference room | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr. Reynolds then turned to the rest of the employees. \u201cThose who supported Ms. Wilson will find a bonus in their next paycheck.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stood frozen, unable to process what was happening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As security led Daniel and the others out, Mr. Reynolds approached me. \u201cMs. Wilson, I owe you an apology. This should never have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A serious man wearing a suit | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThank you,\u201d I managed, still stunned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s one more thing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe now have a vacant department head position. Based on your performance reviews and the respect you clearly command from your colleagues, I\u2019d like to offer it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cMe?\u201d I blinked rapidly. \u201cYou want me to replace Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI want the most qualified person for the job,\u201d he corrected. \u201cYour quarterly reports have been exceptional, and unlike your predecessor, you understand that leadership requires character, not just charisma.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The room blurred as tears filled my eyes. From invisible to department head in three days \u2014 it didn\u2019t seem real.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cDo you accept?\u201d Mr. Reynolds asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019d had a crush on Daniel for years, so when he asked me to dinner, I couldn\u2019t say no. But at the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24921"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24922,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24921\/revisions\/24922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}