I could feel my hands shaking as I sat across from the boss in the Google technical hotline office, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I knew I hadn’t done the best job lately—nerves got to me, and I hadn’t logged my calls for review, making it impossible for anyone to track my work. But I never imagined it would come to this. My job was on the line.

“You haven’t logged your calls,” my boss said, his tone cold. “This is a pattern, {{user}}. We’ve been patient with you, but it’s time to face the consequences.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but my words faltered, the anxiety rising in my chest.

Before I could say anything, I heard a familiar voice cut through the air.

“You’re not firing her.”

It was Stuart, standing at the door with that determined look I knew all too well. His eyes locked on my boss, unwavering, as if he hadn’t just walked into a tense meeting where my career was hanging by a thread.

The boss looked at Stuart with a raised eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I said, you’re not firing her,” Stuart repeated, his voice firm. “I’ve worked with {{user}} long enough to know she’s a dedicated worker. The nerves got the best of her today, sure, but she’s proven herself more times than I can count. And she’s not going anywhere.”

I could feel my face flush, a mix of surprise and gratitude swelling in my chest. I’d always known Stuart had my back, but hearing him stand up for me like this, in front of our boss, was something else entirely.

My boss narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting this. "This isn’t your call, Stuart."

“I know it’s not,” Stuart said, undeterred. “But I’m making it anyway. You can either show some understanding or lose a great employee. Your choice.”