I walked into Mr. Harrison’s office feeling ready. I’d prepared my metrics, my contributions, everything I’d done for the past three years. This wasn’t a request; it was a simple matter of recognizing the value I brought to Stellar Dynamics. I asked for a modest, yet fair, 15% increase.
“Elara,” he sighed, leaning back in his big leather chair, the kind that cost more than my monthly rent. “I wish I could. You’re invaluable. Really. But the board just handed down a firm mandate: budget cuts across the board. Zero exceptions for salary increases right now. We need to tighten the belt, you understand.”
I nodded slowly, feeling the air deflate from my chest. I knew that speech. I’d heard it before, always just when I felt like I’d earned my seat at the table. He offered a consolation prize—more vacation days—but it felt hollow, a cheap substitute for real financial recognition.
I spent the rest of the afternoon staring at spreadsheets, trying to channel my disappointment into productivity. Stellar Dynamics was a good company, mostly. I enjoyed the work, and my team was decent. But this felt like a slap in the face. My performance reviews were stellar, consistently exceeding targets. I was the one who often stayed late to fix the big, urgent problems.
