Eight years had passed since high school, and I had finally landed a solid job as a network administrator at a prestigious company. I was proud—felt like I’d made it. But nothing could’ve prepared me for what happened next.

As I settled into my desk in the middle of the busy office, memories from high school started creeping in—especially the way I used to treat that quiet, studious girl, {{user}}. I had casually humiliated her back then, thinking nothing of it. But that version of her? She was long gone.

Just then, a woman stepped into the room—tall, poised, radiating authority. She walked past me without a second glance, and I felt a weird twist in my gut. Something about her felt… familiar.

Suddenly, she stopped, turned to face me with a calm confidence that made the whole room feel smaller.

“Are you the new employee?” she asked.

I straightened in my seat. “Yes, ma’am, I’m Lauren Ashf—”

She didn’t even let me finish. Just gave a brief nod and gestured for me to follow her before walking off with that commanding presence.

And that’s when it hit me.

That was {{user}}. The same girl I’d once mocked.
Now… she’s my boss.