One of my coworkers had a notorious habit of freeloading. Whether it was something as small as a ballpoint pen or as expensive as a pair of headphones or a phone, she would sneakily take whatever wasn’t hers when no one was looking. “We’re all coworkers, aren’t we? What’s the big deal if I use your stuff?” she’d say, completely unapologetic. “If anything, you should be thanking me! The cheap junk you’re using practically destroyed my hands. I haven’t even charged you for the medical bills yet!” Word around the office was that her family owned the company, so nobody dared confront her, no matter how angry they were. Until I joined. When I hosted a birthday party for the team, she managed to swipe an iPad off the cruise ship we’d rented for the event and then faked a heart attack to cover it up. Big mistake. I used to work as a professional in search and rescue. CPR was my specialty. “Sandra! Why did you take my phone again? I need it to call a client!” Laura’s voice trembled as she spoke, her face pale with frustration. “Why the shouting? Your phone was just sitting there on your desk. If you’re not using it, isn’t it a waste? I’m doing you a favor by putting it to use. You should be grateful,” Sandra replied lazily. She lounged at her desk, a sheet mask plastered to her face, watching a drama on her phone. The occasional giggle escaped her lips, the sound only adding fuel to Laura’s frustration. Laura clenched her fists but didn’t dare fully express her anger. Instead, she muttered under her breath, “Just make sure you give it back when you’re done. I need it too, you know.” Sandra ignored her completely, pretending not to hear. It wasn’t until another coworker couldn’t take it anymore that someone spoke up. “Sandra, Laura needs her phone. Give it back.” Sandra shot them an annoyed glance. “What are you yelling about? Her phone isn’t even with me.” Laura froze. “Then where’s my phone?” “It’s at the repair shop. Your phone broke, so I sent it in for you. Be a dear and reimburse me for the delivery fee. That would be 100 bucks.” Sandra reached out toward Laura, completely unfazed. Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes. “Sandra, that’s my brand-new phone! How could it just break like that?” “Come on, people drop dead all day. Why can’t a phone suddenly break?” Sandra said with a shrug, then leaned in with a smug smirk. “Or are you just trying to avoid paying the fee? Laura, think carefully. My family owns this company. If you want to ruin your career, be my guest.” Her veiled threat shut Laura up instantly. She wiped her tears and, shaking, handed 100 dollars to Sandra. I had just finished my onboarding paperwork when I walked into the scene. Curious, I asked the coworker next to me what was going on. They rolled their eyes so hard I thought they might disappear into their skull. Leaning closer, they whispered, “You’re new, so you don’t know yet, but Sandra loves freeloading. “Anything that’s not hers is fair game, pens, headphones, phones, you name it.” They sighed and continued, “Once she gets her hands on something, it’s as good as gone. This time, she took Laura’s phone. Poor girl just graduated and saved up for months to buy that phone. She guarded it like her life depended on it, but Sandra still found a way to take it. “I guess she has to save some money again to buy a new one.” Looking over at Laura’s desk, I saw her sitting there, her head bowed, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Sandra, oblivious or uncaring, continued watching her show. But the sound of Laura’s sniffles seemed to irritate her. “What are you crying about? If you keep this up, I’ll have the manager fire you!” she snapped. Laura immediately fell silent, her face pale with fear. I frowned, my frustration bubbling. “Is this what the work environment here is like?” I wondered. I was about to say something when my phone buzzed. It was my dad calling. Stepping out to take the call, I returned a few minutes later to find Laura had already left the office.
Afternoon snacks at the office came with a little extra flair: birthday perks. Whenever someone had a birthday, the company would prepare a special gift. Even the afternoon snacks would include an extra slice of cake for the lucky employee. It was my first week on the job, and I received the same treatment. But as I unwrapped the chestnut cake, I couldn’t help frowning at the flavor. A male colleague at the next desk noticed and offered, “Not a fan of chestnut cake? “I’ve got mousse cake. Want to trade?” “Thanks,” I replied with a smile, swapping cakes with him. Before I could take a bite, Sandra’s head popped up from her desk like a prairie dog. “Ugh, juice again? I’m so sick of it,” she said, wrinkling her nose. Her eyes darted to Pablo’s cake. “Oh, Pablo, you’ve got cake! Let me have a bite.” Without waiting for an answer, she reached out, but Pablo swiftly moved the plate out of her reach. Sandra’s hand grabbed at thin air, and her smile froze. “Wow, stingy much? It’s just a bite of cake. Why so selfish?” Someone nearby couldn’t help but tease, “Sandra, don’t act innocent. You’ve been eating Pablo’s cakes for ages. No wonder he doesn’t want to share anymore.” “Me? Please. He only has cake once a year on his birthday! How many chances do I even get to eat it?” Sandra scoffed, trying to sound indignant. “Besides, my family owns this company. What’s the big deal if I take a bite?” “Then why not buy Pablo a big one? We could all share!” someone joked, prompting a ripple of laughter. Sandra’s hand instinctively clutched her pocket. “This is the company’s way of showing care to employees. No need for me to overshadow that.” But her eyes lingered on Pablo’s coffee, and she wasn’t done yet. “Pablo, is that coffee from the hand-brewed shop downstairs? I hate juice. How about we trade?” Pablo didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he picked up the cup and took a deliberate sip right in front of her. Moments later, the supervisor called Pablo over to hand in some documents, and he left his desk. Sandra’s eyes darted around, and when she saw no one was paying attention, she swooped in, grabbing Pablo’s cake and all his birthday gifts. Back at her desk, she devoured the cake in a matter of seconds, washing it down with her juice before leisurely unwrapping the rest of his gifts to “test” them out. When Pablo returned and found his desk empty, he marched straight to Sandra, his face red with anger. “What’s your problem? Why did you take my stuff again?” Sandra didn’t even blink. “Watch your tone. What do you mean, ‘take’? I was just borrowing them.” “Then give them back!” Sandra smirked, tossing some ground coffee into her mug and taking a sip before handing it to him. “Here, your ground coffee.” Pablo’s frustration boiled over. He slapped the mug away, coffee spilling everywhere. “Sandra, can you stop? Can’t you go a day without freeloading?” Sandra’s smile turned icy. “Why are you so uptight? We’re coworkers. What’s the big deal about sharing a bit of coffee?” Her tone grew sharper. “Cheap people like you really are pathetic. This skirt I’m wearing cost 100 grand. Remember to pay for it if you damage it!” “You—” Pablo spluttered, too angry to speak. Sandra cut him off, smirking as she played her favorite card. “Don’t forget, my family owns this company. If I want you gone, it’s just one word from me.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. Everyone has their limits, and Sandra had crossed mine. My gaze flicked to her skirt, and I remarked casually, “Your skirt’s a knockoff.” Sandra’s head snapped toward me. “What did you just say? This is a designer piece I ordered from an overseas boutique!” I pointed to the fabric and stitching. “The material is wrong, the stitching is sloppy, and there are loose threads everywhere. “Are we supposed to believe a 100-thousand-dollar skirt would leave the factory looking like that?” Her voice rose. “What do you know? High fashion is all about craftsmanship. Hand-sewn details are what makes it authentic!” Sandra stormed toward me, tugging on her skirt indignantly. I took a step back and smirked. “Oh, I get it now. You must’ve swiped that skirt from a coworker too.” Sandra’s face turned crimson. “Are you insane? How would I even ‘swipe’ a skirt? Rip it off someone’s body?” “Why not? You’ve stolen phones out of people’s pockets before. This wouldn’t be much of a stretch.” The office erupted in muffled laughter, and Sandra’s blush deepened. Unable to out-argue me, she leaned on her usual defense. “Don’t forget, this company belongs to my family. If I want you fired, no one can stop me.” Ignoring her, I took a deliberate step back, pinched my nose, and said, “Stay away from me. “I’ve got a sensitive nose, and the stench of freeloading reeks of cheapness.” The office exploded with laughter. People doubled over, their chuckles echoing through the room like waves. Sandra stomped back to her desk, clearly rattled. In her haste, she knocked over her juice, spilling it all over her precious skirt. She let out a piercing shriek before darting out of the office, presumably to the dry cleaner. Pablo, barely containing his grin, brought over a small gift as thanks. But Laura approached me cautiously, her brows furrowed with worry. “Hey, Sandra’s so flashy and bossy. What if the company really is her family’s? Aren’t you afraid she’ll have her dad fire you?” I twirled my car keys in my hand, smirking. “Doesn’t matter. My family isn’t exactly struggling either.” Laura’s eyes lit up. “You’re amazing!”
It was the weekend, and coincidentally, my birthday. Hoping to bond more with my coworkers, I invited everyone to celebrate. “I have a friend whose family runs a yacht business. They’re letting me use one for free, so I’m inviting everyone to join me for a party at sea.” “That’s so generous of you! Are you sure? Maybe we can chip in to cover some costs?” My coworkers were kind and considerate, offering to help pay for the event. I smiled and waved them off. “It’s my birthday, and it only happens once a year. Let’s just have fun.” “Just bring yourselves,” I added with a grin. “Then we’ll make sure to prepare a fantastic gift for you!” someone chimed in, and the room burst into excited chatter. I called the yacht crew to request their most luxurious setup. Just as I hung up, Sandra slinked over, her expression eager but calculating. “I’ve never been on a yacht before, Feona,” she said. “Mind if I tag along?” I didn’t bother looking at her, replying bluntly, “I’m inviting friends, not freeloaders who steal from others.” Her face froze, but she quickly forced a smile. “Oh, come on. I’ll get you a big gift. Trust me, it’ll be something really nice,” she promised with exaggerated enthusiasm. Reluctantly, I agreed. Sandra practically skipped away in delight. The moment she was gone, the other coworkers swarmed me. “Why did you invite her? She’s going to ruin everything!” “Yeah, the last time I had a birthday party, she stole my favorite Lego set. I still have no idea how she managed to smuggle something that big out of my house!” “Feona, you’ve got to be careful. Don’t let her ruin your party or get away with anything.” I looked at their worried faces and smiled reassuringly. Deep down, I knew they all feared Sandra’s threat, so they never dared to defy her. “Don’t worry. She won’t get away with anything this time.” I glanced over at Sandra, who was eagerly stuffing plastic bags into her oversized purse, clearly planning to haul away whatever she could. “Not only will she not profit, but I’ll make sure she coughs up everything she’s ever taken from all of you,” I added with a wide grin. If she loved taking advantage, I’d show her what it really meant to pay for her greed.
The yacht was massive, and I suggested everyone start by enjoying the pool while we set up the other activities. My coworkers brought out their carefully prepared gifts: designer bags, headphones, perfume, and other high-end items. Even a few colleagues who had pooled their money managed to bring something thoughtful and elegant. Sandra, of course, showed up empty-handed. When everyone’s eyes turned to her, she crossed her arms, looking unbothered. “What? I brought a gift, but I forgot to bring it with me, that’s all.” “Sure, you did,” someone muttered. “You always say that!” “Sandra, can’t you at least come up with a better excuse?” “You didn’t prepare anything, did you?” Sandra huffed, feigning annoyance. “Fine, if it’s such a big deal, I’ll go back and get it.” She started climbing out of the pool, taking her sweet time and dragging the moment out for nearly ten minutes before I finally stepped in. “Forget it,” I said, shaking my head. “I believe Sandra. She’ll make it up to me later.” Everyone fell silent, though their expressions made it clear they weren’t happy. Out of respect for me, the birthday girl, they let it go. Later, when a staff member brought out an iPad for us to use to order services, it mysteriously disappeared after making its rounds. The staff was frantic, and all eyes turned to Sandra. “It’s her! She must’ve hidden it!” “She’s the only one here who’d pull something like this!” “She even brought her bag to the pool. I bet the iPad’s in there!” Everyone demanded to search Sandra’s bag, but she clutched it tightly to her chest. “Don’t you dare accuse me without proof! I brought my bag because it’s expensive, and I didn’t want anything stolen from it!” she protested, her voice shrill. “And for the record, it’s just an iPad. Like I’d care about something so basic.” Sensing the growing tension, I stepped in again. “Let it go. I’m sure it’s not difficult to find it,” I said, giving a resigned sigh. “If the iPad can’t be found, I’ll cover the cost.” Sandra beamed. “Feona, you’re so generous!” she said, stuffing her face with food from the buffet. She even slyly emptied dishes into the plastic bags she’d brought. When someone called her out, Sandra snapped back. “Aren’t we here to eat? That’s what parties are for! And Feona doesn’t mind, so why are you making a fuss?” She wasn’t content with just the food either. She even swiped game controllers from the lounge. After filling her bags with all kinds of items, she claimed she was feeling unwell and needed to rest. Someone tried to stop her. “Sandra, you promised not to freeload today.” She snapped, “How is this freeloading? Feona spent so much money. I’m just helping her get her money’s worth. “Besides, this is a yacht. How I’m supposed to escape? “Suppose you want my bag, fine. You can have one of them. I need the other to wash up.” Then, she covered her head and ran away. As soon as she disappeared, Pablo opened the bag she’d left behind, only to find used tissues. “That’s it! I knew she’d run!” Pablo exclaimed, his anger boiling over. “She’s stolen so much! Feona, you can’t let her get away with this!” I casually lined up my pool shot, the cue ball cracking sharply against the others as I sunk another ball. “Don’t worry,” I said with a smile. “She’s not going anywhere.”
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