\n\n\n\n\nA businessman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n
Still, what happened last week was unexpected. I was walking through the lobby of our office building, having just returned from an important meeting at another place, when I saw our new employee. She\u2019d been here just a month.\n\n\n\n
I remembered her name, Brooklyn, because she was eager and ambitious. I wasn\u2019t her direct boss, but she still managed to introduce herself to me. She also said she was open to more opportunities, overtime, and to learn about new projects.\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong. That\u2019s a good attitude in this business, but I got the sense that she was too much. Something about her demeanor didn\u2019t sit quite right with me. I didn\u2019t mean inappropriately or like she was coming on to me, but I still decided to stir clear as much as possible.\n\n\n\n A smiling businesswoman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Yet, I heard her voice, and it was nothing like how she\u2019d talk to me.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the heck have you done?! I\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re fired from here,\u201d Brooklyn snapped at a nice cleaning lady with the sharpest, most cutting voice.\n\n\n\n The older woman stood there in her uniform, clutching her supplies, while her head bowed low as she nodded. She looked like she wanted to disappear.\n\n\n\n Despite my instinct to stay out of other people\u2019s business, I couldn\u2019t ignore that helplessness.\n\n\n\n A businessman thinking | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I stepped closer and asked calmly, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d\n\n\n\n Brooklyn froze and her face lost all color as she turned to me. \u201cOh, nothing, just a small mistake, Mr. Aviv,\u201d she stammered, plastering on a fake smile. \u201cWe settled it, don\u2019t worry.\u201d\n\n\n\n Before I could press her further, she practically forced me toward the elevators with gentle shoves.\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Aviv, let me show you the draft I worked on,\u201d she said in a syrupy tone that reminded me of nails on a chalkboard.\n\n\n\n A smiling businesswoman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I wasn\u2019t appeased. I didn\u2019t like when others were treated disrespectfully, and while this employee babbled in the elevator, I couldn\u2019t shake the image of the cleaning lady standing there, shoulders hunched, trying to hold herself together.\n\n\n\n But it wasn\u2019t like I could do anything about it, so I tried to take it off my mind while Brooklyn talked my ear off on the ride up.\n\n\n\n As soon as the elevator opened to the office, I walked out and practically ran from her. She huffed behind me, and I rolled my eyes.\n\n\n\n A businessman in front of an elevator | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Later that day, as I was heading home, I saw the cleaning lady again. She was leaving the building, and although she wasn\u2019t as hunched as earlier, her posture was still weary. Her eyes were also red and puffy like she\u2019d been crying.\n\n\n\n Once again, I should\u2019ve minded my business, but by now I felt invested.\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me, ma\u2019am,\u201d I said gently as I approached her. \u201cCan I ask if everything\u2019s alright?\u201d\n\n\n\n A businessman with a warm smile | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n She turned to me, startled, and quickly wiped her face with trembling fingers. \u201cOh, it\u2019s nothing,\u201d she said softly, but the way her voice cracked told a different story.\n\n\n\n \u201cI was in the lobby earlier,\u201d I explained. \u201cI saw what happened. Are you sure everything is alright?\u201d\n\n\n\n She hesitated, her eyes darting around as if she didn\u2019t know whether to trust me. Then, finally, she let out a shaky breath. \u201cYes, sir. That woman, Brooklyn, is my daughter,\u201d she admitted, nodding slowly.\n\n\n\n An older woman in a janitor\u2019s uniform | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I blinked, sure I\u2019d misheard. \u201cWait. Really?\u201d\n\n\n\n She nodded and sighed. \u201cYes. I\u2019ve been working here for three years now, mostly nights. When she graduated, I recommended she apply here. Someone in HR owed me a favor. So they looked at her CV, and they were impressed. But, she has always been a little\u2026 hot-headed.\u201d\n\n\n\n I barked a laugh and coughed to compose myself. The woman smiled through her tears for a second, but her face quickly went back to morose.\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd now she\u2019s ashamed of me,\u201d she continued. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t want anyone to know I\u2019m her mother. She says it\u2019ll ruin her reputation here, and while trying to talk to her earlier, I accidentally spilled something on the floor. That only made her angrier.\u201d\n\n\n\n A female janitor looking sad | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n My stomach churned. Here was a woman who had likely worked herself to the bone, who had probably done everything she could to give her daughter a better life and hell, even helped her daughter find this job, only to be treated like this.\n\n\n\n My family didn\u2019t have much when I was growing up either, but we valued each other. Hearing this made me feel a sadness I couldn\u2019t quite put into words.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry you\u2019re going through this,\u201d I said tightly. \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve that kind of treatment, especially not from your own daughter.\u201d\n\n\n\n A businessman looking worried | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n She gave me a faint smile, more out of politeness than anything else, and started to walk away. I stood there, watching her disappear into the crowd, feeling like I needed to do something.\n\n\n\n Her daughter needed a reality check.\n\n\n\n The next morning, I couldn\u2019t focus. My mind kept going back to that conversation. Then, during lunch, I overheard Brooklyn in the break room.\n\n\n\n A businessman peeking into a room | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n She was gushing about the company\u2019s annual charity ball, talking about how it was \u201cthe perfect opportunity to network with the right people.\u201d\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when an idea struck me. If Brooklyn was so obsessed with appearances, maybe it was time to remind her what really mattered.\n\n\n\n I pulled a few strings to set my plan into motion. First, I discreetly removed Brooklyn\u2019s name from the guestlist, so she would only find out about it at the event.\n\n\n\n A list with names | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Then, I reached out to her mother. She was hesitant at first, but I explained what I had in mind.\n\n\n\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t about embarrassing her,\u201d I assured her. \u201cIt\u2019s about showing her what\u2019s important. You deserve this night. Trust me.\u201d\n\n\n\n She eventually agreed, though I could tell she was nervous. To make sure she felt comfortable and that my plan went perfectly, I arranged for her to visit a salon and pick out a beautiful dress.\n\n\n\n An elegant woman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n When I picked her up the evening of the ball, she looked stunning. Her hair was styled elegantly, and her dress, simple but tasteful, was perfect for the evening.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure about this,\u201d she admitted as we drove to the venue. \u201cI don\u2019t belong in places like this.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cYou belong here just as much as anyone else. After all, you work for the company,\u201d I quipped.\n\n\n\n The car arrived right at the front, and it looked like a red carpet Hollywood event. We always went all out for these things because our clients respected luxury and taste over other things.\n\n\n\n People gathered outside a venue | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n As we stepped out, several heads turned as I expected. Brooklyn\u2019s mother hesitated, but I gave her a reassuring nod and she linked her hand to my arm.\n\n\n\n Then we spotted Brooklyn. The moment she saw us, her smile vanished. Her jaw dropped, and she nearly tripped in her heels as she stormed over.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d she hissed and looked around worried. \u201cMom! Why are you here?\u201d\n\n\n\n Brooklyn\u2019s mother looked down, ashamed again, but I spoke before Brooklyn could say more.\n\n\n\n An elegant woman looking sad | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cI invited your mother,\u201d I answered with a big smile.\u201dOh, and I used your spot for it. She deserves to be here more than you.\u201d\n\n\n\n Brooklyn\u2019s face turned red. \u201cWhat? You can\u2019t do that. I worked hard to be here. I need this event for MY CAREER! She doesn\u2019t!\u201d she yelled and pointed her hand rudely at her mother.\n\n\n\n \u201cHey! Stop it. Who do you think you\u2019re talking to? I\u2019m your boss. Even worse, your boss\u2019s boss,\u201d I said firmly, \u201cand I think your behavior here today and towards your mother is unacceptable. You can\u2019t treat people like that, especially not the woman who raised you and helped you get this job. This company values respect, and that includes respect for your family.\u201d\n\n\n\n A man looking angry | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand,\u201d she finally spat. \u201cIt\u2019s been so hard to be a janitor\u2019s daughter and I \u2014\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cEnough,\u201d I interrupted going fully cold. \u201cI was the son of a farmer and candy seller, and thanks to my parents, I succeeded. I honored them until they died. I don\u2019t think our company should keep employing someone who doesn\u2019t understand the value of their parents\u2019 sacrifice.\u201d\n\n\n\n Brooklyn\u2019s face got even redder and it looked like she was holding back more insults for her own mother.\n\n\n\n An elegant woman looking angry | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n So I just squeezed the older woman\u2019s arm tightly and ushered us forward. \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse us,\u201d I said as we passed Brooklyn. \u201cEnjoy the sidewalk.\u201d\n\n\n\n Inside the venue, Brooklyn\u2019s mother, who finally asked me to call her Esther, relaxed after a while. Even more, she came out of her shell, mingling with other guests and dancing a little.\n\n\n\n By the end of the night, she was laughing with a group of people from work, many of whom actually already knew she was the cleaning lady at our building and saw her simply as another employee.\n\n\n\n An elegant woman smiling at a party | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Yes, that\u2019s what I wanted from my people. It didn\u2019t matter what title you held. All that mattered was your hard work and values.\n\n\n\n When I took Esther home, she begged me not to fire her daughter. A mother\u2019s love knew no bounds. But I had a hard conversation with Brooklyn\u2019s direct superior the next day, and let\u2019s just say, she wasn\u2019t anyone\u2019s favorite.\n\n\n\n Her fate in the company isn\u2019t in my hands, though. But I could do something about a Christmas bonus for the janitorial staff and a slight raise for the kind woman who came with me to the party.\n\n\n\n A businessman writing on his desk | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n
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