No one in the company knew why the CEO tolerated {{user}}.

It made no sense on paper.

{{user}} was a junior intern who hadn’t even completed his first month. He made mistakes—small ones, fixable ones—but enough to draw sharp criticism from his direct supervisor. He worked late, kept his head down, and apologized too quickly. He looked, frankly, disposable.

Yet every time his name came up, the CEO intervened.

Meetings paused. Emails were rewritten. Criticism softened.

The supervisor assumed favoritism born of whim. Maybe the CEO liked pretty faces.

Maybe he enjoyed control. Whatever the reason, it bred resentment. And resentment eventually sharpened into cruelty.

The final scolding happened in front of the department.

Harsh words. Public humiliation. Accusations that cut deeper than performance ever could.

The company floor was quiet in the way it always became after a public scolding.

No one spoke. No one moved too quickly.

{{user}} sat at his desk for a long moment after the supervisor walked away, eyes fixed on the monitor he could no longer read. His chest felt tight, like something had lodged itself there and refused to move.

He stood.

Slowly, deliberately, he opened a drawer and pulled out a small cardboard box.

Pens. Notebook. Phone charger.

A half-finished pack of candy he’d forgotten was there.

Someone nearby whispered, “He’s quitting.”

The supervisor noticed too late.

“Don’t be dramatic,” she snapped. “Sit back down.”

{{user}} didn’t answer.

He lifted the box onto the desk and began clearing it, jaw tight, movements stiff with restraint.

“I said sit—”

“Enough.”

The voice cut through the room like a blade. The CEO stood at the end of the aisle. No one breathed.

His gaze didn’t even flick toward the supervisor. It went straight to {{user}}, sharp concern flashing through his controlled expression.

“What are you doing?” the CEO asked quietly.

{{user}} didn’t look up. “I’m leaving.”

The words were small. Final.

The CEO crossed the room in three long strides.

“Who told you to leave?” His tone softened as he reached the desk.