I’d been working as a marketing assistant at a real estate firm in Dallas, enjoying the job and the team until Linda became my boss six months ago. She was confident, stylish, and impressive at first, but quickly started oversharing about her messy divorce and custody battle with her ex-husband, Mike. At first, I felt sorry for her, but it soon became clear she was testing my boundaries.
What started as small favors like running errands or booking appointments quickly escalated. Then came the ultimatum: babysit her two daughters so she could go on a date, or lose my job. Linda thought I was cornered. What she didn’t know was that for weeks, I’d been quietly interviewing elsewhere. That very morning, I accepted a better job offer with a new company that valued professionalism.
I agreed to babysit but planned my move carefully. After Linda left for her date, I contacted Mike, her ex, who had been fighting for more custody but was often blocked by Linda. I let Mike know he could pick up the kids that night. Then I texted Linda, revealing my new job and letting her know Mike was coming for the girls.
She bombarded me with angry messages, but I blocked her number. Two weeks later, I started my new job with a boss who respected boundaries and treated me like a professional not a personal assistant or nanny. The whole experience taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes standing your ground means knowing when to walk away, even when it feels risky.