The story focuses on Harper, who works at a company where she experienced significant professional disrespect and unequal pay. She reveals that she trained her current boss when he first started. Despite this, her boss now earns $120,000, while Harper remains at $65,000 for performing roughly half of his workload.
Harper attempted to advance by applying for a senior role. However, the company hired an external candidate with less experience, telling Harper they needed “fresh perspectives.” Harper “just smiled” and accepted the decision at the time.
Two months after the new external hire started, they quit, leaving a major mess and several panicked deadlines behind. Harper’s boss, completely overwhelmed, called her into his office to discuss the crisis.
Instead of offering to help unconditionally, Harper seized the moment. She calmly handed her boss a paper outlining her terms.
The boss’s face “drained” when he read her salary request: Harper demanded a salary equal to his, which was $120,000. She firmly told him she would not negotiate or go any lower.
The situation immediately became tense. Harper notes that her boss is acting like she “betrayed him” simply for asking to be treated fairly.
Despite the strained atmosphere, Harper feels strong for standing up for herself but also feels “shaky,” recognizing she stepped into a serious conflict. The ultimate status of her demand (whether she received the raise or if negotiations were ongoing) is not stated in the letter, but she concludes that she refuses to feel guilty or dramatic for confronting the years of unfairness.
