HR Director's Incompetent Daughter

After I was promoted to Design Lead, the HR Director forced her daughter into my team. She claimed the girl was there to learn from me.

But I knew the truth. She just wanted a scapegoat for her daughter's inevitable failures.

Three days in, she used a copyrighted font from the wrong database. It cost me three thousand dollars in legal settlements.

A week later, she deleted the final approved draft for a major client. I lost my entire annual bonus because of it.

Then, I saw her pitch for the Father's Day campaign. The headline read: "My Dad Has Two Wives."

I finally snapped and told HR to move her out of my department. Instead, the HR Director turned it all back on me.

"If there's a problem in the team, it's because you're a failure as a leader," she sneered.

"My daughter is a genius. Who are you to reject her creative vision?"

"The company is looking to downsize this year. If you tell the CEO, your name will be at the top of the layoff list!"

I almost laughed at the sheer audacity. Without a word, I forwarded her daughter's draft directly to the client.

After I hit send, an automated reply popped up in my inbox.

"Thank you for your email. Our office is currently closed for a five-day corporate retreat. We will respond shortly."

Looking at the screen, I realized I hadn't taken a day off in months. I had been working overtime for sixty days straight just to fix her messes.

"Nadia, you're still here? That's great!"

Liana walked over, holding a cup of coffee. She wore that innocent, harmless smile that used to fool everyone.

"I brought you an Americano. Extra sugar, just the way you like it," she chirped.

I didn't touch it. The last time she handed me a coffee, the copyright lawsuit landed on my desk the next morning.

She set the cup on my desk and sat down beside me, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Nadia... did you have a chance to look at my Father's Day copy?" she asked softly.

I had. I couldn't forget it if I tried.

"My Dad Has Two Wives."

I stared at those words. Every bit of frustration I had swallowed over the last three months began to boil over.

"Liana, are you actually serious about this?" I asked.

She bit her lip. "I know it's a bit edgy, but I really wanted to be creative..."

"It's Father's Day. The brand wants wholesome, positive engagement. If we post this, the company will be trending for all the wrong reasons by tomorrow."

I closed my eyes, feeling a migraine coming on.

She started sobbing, her shoulders shaking. "Nadia, I know I've been a burden lately..."

"The font issue, the deleted files... I know I messed up. I'm really trying to get better!"

She looked up with tear-filled eyes. "I'm part of your team. If my work succeeds, we all look good. I'm doing this for all of us!"

The rest of the office started to gather around.

"Liana, why are you crying?"

Cynthia, a lead from the neighboring department, walked over and shot me a glare.

"It's nothing, Cynthia. It's my fault. Nadia was just giving me some feedback," Liana whispered, wiping her eyes.

She looked like a kicked puppy.

"Feedback is one thing, but making her cry? That's a bit much," Cynthia snapped at me.

"Are you so insecure that you have to bully the new girl to feel powerful?"

Just then, Lydia, the HR Director, came running over. She looked like she wanted to hug Liana but forced herself to stay professional.

"What's going on here? Liana, did someone hurt you?"

The office went silent. Cynthia pointed a finger at me.

Lydia's eyes turned cold as she looked my way.

"Nadia, Liana is young. If she makes a mistake, teach her. Don't take your temper out on her."

"I didn't lose my temper," I said firmly.

"Then why is she hysterical? Stop making excuses. You're a senior employee; stop holding the youth to your outdated standards."

I leaned back in my chair, watching the mother-daughter duo. I couldn't help but smile.

"Fine. You're right. I did criticize Liana."

"But isn't this really your fault, Lydia?"

"You used the back door to hire your daughter when she clearly wasn't qualified. That's why we're in this mess."

Lydia's face darkened. "What did you just say?"

I let out a sharp laugh. "Liana is your daughter. You bypassed the entire interview process to get her this job."

"You've been playing favorites since day one!"

The colleagues around us gasped, whispering to each other as they looked at Lydia.

"I've stayed quiet about her mistakes for three months. Not anymore."

"Lydia, your daughter is an adult. She needs to clean up her own messes. I'm done being her shield."

Lydia's face turned bright red. "You're a toxic employee. Watch yourself, or you'll be the first one out the door!"

I sneered at her. "Don't threaten me with layoffs. The CEO hired me personally when this company was just three people in a garage."

"We've had seven rounds of layoffs, and I've never been on a single list. You don't have the authority to touch me."

Lydia's lip trembled as she finally pulled her daughter into a hug.

"Nadia, you've gone too far!"

"The CEO is semi-retired now. He left Manager Ward in charge. You think your old glory will save you forever?"

"Whether my past matters isn't for you to decide," I said.

I stood up and walked straight toward the manager's office.

"Manager Ward, I need to talk to you."

He looked up from his desk and smiled. "Nadia! Come in, have a seat. What's on your mind?"

I told him everything. I laid out how Lydia had used her position to plant her daughter in my group.

I told him about the mistakes, the cover-ups, and the threats.

"If we don't address this, the company's policies are a joke," I concluded.

Manager Ward set his tea down. He stayed silent for a moment, then he chuckled.

That laugh made my stomach drop.

"Nadia, let's stay calm here," he said, leaning back.

"I hear your concerns. But the company is a family. We need to stay united, not get worked up over small things."

Small things?

He continued, "Father's Day is right around the corner. It's our biggest project this quarter."

"What you should be doing is polishing the creative. Don't let the client think we're unprofessional. We can deal with internal drama later."

"But sir, the content isD"

"That's enough," he waved me off. "I know you're frustrated, but you're a veteran. Act like one. Think of the big picture."

I clenched my fists. Just as I was about to argue, my eyes caught something on his desk.

It was a sleek, dark green gift box with a luxury brand logo on the corner.

I had seen that box before.

Three days ago, Lydia tried to give me that exact same gift to "thank me" for looking after her daughter. I had rejected it.

The company had a strict no-gift policy since its founding.

I realized then that everything had changed while I wasn't looking.

The air in the room felt heavy. Manager Ward noticed my gaze and quietly slid the box behind a stack of papers.

"Nadia, don't be so stubborn. Liana is a bright girl with a Master's degree from a top university. Her credentials are solid."

He paused, looking at me with a patronizing pity. "I know you feel pressured. You have the experience, but your lack of a formal degree is a weakness in this new market."

"The company needs fresh, highly-educated blood. You and Liana are supposed to complement each other."

He sounded so sincere, as if he were actually looking out for me.

"So, just mentor her. Let her take the lead on the client-facing side. Let her shine."

"It's a win for you, a win for her, and a win for the company."

I almost laughed in his face. He wanted me, a woman with eight years of industry success, to be a ghostwriter for a girl who couldn't even identify a free-use font?

"So, you want me to be her stepping stone?" I asked.

Ward frowned. "That's a cynical way to put it. It's a partnership."

I took a deep breath and pulled out Liana's draft. I slid it across his desk.

"This is Liana's first draft for the Father's Day campaign. You should read it."

Ward glanced at it and immediately pushed it away with an annoyed huff.

"Nadia, why are you showing me this? I told you to help her, not tattle on her."

He assumed I was just being petty. He couldn't imagine that his "star recruit" could produce something so disastrous.

"As her lead, you should be fixing it, not bringing it to me."

I looked him dead in the eye and felt a strange sense of relief.

"Then I quit."

"You're quitting?"

Ward froze. Then he leaned back and let out a mocking laugh.

"Nadia, don't be a child. You're in your thirties. Where are you going to go if you leave this place?"

"I'm not being a child."

I pointed at the luxury gift box hidden behind his papers. "You can take Lydia's bribes and cover for her. That's your business."

"But asking me to wipe the floor for a 'genius' who doesn't know basic copyright law? That's where I draw the line."

The smile finally slid off Ward's face.

"Nadia, don't push your luck. So what if you're a founding member? You've been here eight years and you're still just a group lead."

"You think the CEO still cares about you? If he did, you wouldn't have been stuck in the same position for five years."

My hands shook. I remembered the early days.

Eight years ago, I sat in a tiny office with no air conditioning during my interview.

The CEO had handed me a cold bottle of water and told me the company was small, but the future was bright.

He told me I had talent. He begged me to stay and build something with him.

I had better offers back then.

But he messaged me every day, sharing his vision. He won me over with his passion.

I watched this company grow from three people to three hundred. I was always on the front lines.

I thought my name was never on a layoff list because I was valued.

Now I realized that to people like Ward, I was just "easy to use."

I thought about the high-paying offer I had received from a headhunter last week.

I smiled.

"Fine."

"Since you and Lydia think so highly of Liana, let her handle the Father's Day project alone."

"The copy is already written. I'm sure the client will be thrilled."

Ward scowled, clearly not understanding the subtext of my words.

I didn't bother explaining. I turned around and walked out.

When I got back to my desk, everyone was staring. News travels fast in a small office.

I started packing my things. Liana appeared out of nowhere.

"Nadia... I heard. Are you really leaving?"

I didn't look up. I just kept folding my spare sweater.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have fought with Manager Ward..."

She looked down, tears ready to fall again.

"But Nadia... Manager Ward just told me I'm taking over your position. I'm the new Lead."

She looked up at me, and for a split second, I saw the triumph in her eyes.

The anger inside me suddenly vanished. I just felt pity for her.

"Congratulations," I said.

I zipped up my bag and prepared to walk out.

As I moved, she stepped back and conveniently bumped into me.

My bag hit the floor, and my belongings spilled everywhere.

Liana gasped, covering her mouth. "Nadia, I'm so sorry! It was an accident, I swear!"

I didn't even bother arguing. I knelt to pick up my things.

Another shadow appeared beside me.

It was Maya, my design assistant. She was usually quiet and kept to herself.

She gave Liana a sharp look, helped me pack my bag, and walked me to the elevator.

"Nadia, where will you go?"

"I already have a new job. Twice the salary."

I looked at her. "You should start looking for a new place too, Maya."

Maya blinked. "What?"

The elevator doors opened.

I just smiled. I didn't need to say more.

When Liana's campaign went live, this company was going to burn.

There were only five days left until Father's Day.

I wondered if Ward and Lydia would still be smiling then.

A few days later, I started my new job.

It was a top-tier firm in the city. On my first day, they gave me the title of Creative Director.

It was a level of respect I hadn't received in a decade at my old firm.

My new colleagues were professional and welcoming.

I finally realized that life outside that toxic bubble was actually full of sunshine.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Lydia.

"Nadia, if you're willing to come back and help Liana, I can talk to Ward about reinstating you. A woman in her thirties doesn't have many options. Don't let your ego ruin your life."

I stared at the message for two seconds, then blocked the number.

Just as I put my phone down, a new colleague named Leo leaned over.

"Nadia, isn't this your old company? They're doing a live stream for their Father's Day launch!"

I looked at his screen.

Liana was on a stage, wearing a sharp white suit. Her makeup was flawless.

She held the microphone with a confident, beaming smile.

"Hi everyone! I'm Liana, the new Design Lead at Creative Edge."

The applause from the small crowd was thin.

She lifted her chin. "This year's Father's Day campaign was my independent creation. Our client trusted us deeply, and I wanted to use a fresh perspective to express..."

She paused for dramatic effect, her smile widening.

"'My Dad Has Two Wives.'"

The room went dead silent.

People in the audience began whispering to each other.

Liana's smile grew even more smug. "I know this might be shocking, but that's the point. It's about impact."

I turned my phone away, a slow smirk spreading across my face.

I couldn't wait to see who Lydia was going to blame for this one.

The screen showed the full campaign copy.

"My Dad Has Two Wives. One is my mom, who cooks and cleans. The other is Auntie Sarah, who handles his business and keeps him happy. A successful man needs more than just one woman's love."