— It’s strange that with such credentials they even hired you for this position,» Natalia Andreevna said disdainfully as she handed me back the folder of papers. «I’m amazed how some people manage to advance without proper experience.»
A chill ran down my spine, but my expression remained unreadable. This was the fifth reprimand today. And each one was louder than the previous.
My name is Darya Alekseevna Klimova. I’m twenty-seven years old, and I’ve been working as an analyst at a large corporation for two years.
The corporation is headed by my father—Alexey Yuryevich Romanov. But no one knows that. Even my husband has no idea that his father-in-law and the legendary company leader are one and the same.
I took my mother’s surname when I was hired. It was part of an agreement with my father: no special treatment, no nepotism. «At this firm, you’re just an employee. Until you climb up on your own, no one will know,» he had told me back then.
And I managed. I established myself as a professional. Without support, without privileges. People appreciated me for my ideas and projects. Until Natalia Andreevna appeared.
My mother-in-law. Six months ago she transferred to our company from a competing organization. Our wedding with Egor was modest—my father couldn’t attend because he was on a business trip.
We didn’t publicize our family ties at work. My mother-in-law pretended not to know me, only occasionally allowing herself derogatory comments in my direction.
«Do you even understand how a commercial proposal is created, Darya Alekseevna?» she said when I proposed an unusual approach.
«Such a young woman, yet so self-assured,» she whispered loudly to her colleagues, assuming I couldn’t hear.
At first, I attributed it to my adjustment period. Natalia Andreevna seemed to be trying to assert herself in the new team. Then— to her character. Perhaps she was like that with all young specialists.
But after our family dinner three weeks ago, it became clear: the problem was much deeper. She considered me unworthy of her son.
«Egor could have found someone better,» she told her husband, thinking I was in the bathroom. «She’s too ordinary. No connections, no ambitions.»
If only she knew…
At the office, the pressure intensified. Natalia Andreevna stopped holding back. She interrupted me during meetings, nitpicked my reports, set deadlines that were impossible to meet.
I stayed silent and worked even harder. This battle had to be won with professionalism, not family ties.
Egor noticed my tension.
«Are you all right?» he asked in the evenings.
«It’s just a stressful period at work,» I replied. I didn’t want to pit him against his mother.
I knew that sooner or later everything would come to light. But I hadn’t thought it would happen so soon and so publicly.
That Monday, everything changed. We were sitting in a large meeting— the entire department and the heads of adjacent divisions.
I was presenting a new client data analysis system that I had been working on for a month. The system allowed us to track changes in consumer behavior in real time and adjust our strategy accordingly.
I finished the presentation. Colleagues nodded approvingly— the idea was indeed innovative.
Then Natalia Andreevna stood up from her seat.
«Perhaps you should learn how to prepare reports without mistakes,» she said coldly, folding her arms across her chest. «And stop embarrassing us with your ridiculous proposals.»
The atmosphere in the conference room seemed to freeze. I stood there, clutching the laser pointer in my hand, refusing to believe my ears.
Had she just switched to the informal «you» in front of the whole department?
«Natalia Andreevna,» the IT department head attempted to interject, «Darya’s proposal makes sense if we pay attention to the numbers…»
«Or maybe she’s just spouting nonsense?» her mother-in-law cut him off, not taking her eyes off me with a piercing glare.
The remark was direct and completely unexpected. Someone coughed awkwardly, someone else softly gasped. Maria from HR froze with her mouth agape. Natalia Andreevna had clearly crossed all the boundaries of professional ethics.
My cheeks burned. A pounding began in my temples. Always calm, always professional— now I felt a surge of anger rising from within. It’s one thing to humiliate me in private, another to publicly destroy my authority.
«Thank you for your comment,» I said, gathering all my composure. «If we return to the data, you’ll see that the system has already proven effective on the test group.»
My restraint only seemed to fuel her anger further.
«Alright,» she suddenly declared, rising. «I’ve expressed my opinion. Continue.»
The meeting ended in a tense atmosphere. Colleagues dispersed, whispering and casting sympathetic glances in my direction. I was gathering my documents when I heard Natalia Andreevna’s voice behind me:
«These are the kinds they hire now,» she said loudly enough for me to hear, «they don’t look at experience or competence—but at appearance. And their heads are empty.»
I didn’t look back. I continued gathering my papers and left, maintaining my posture.
In the restroom, I held my hands under the icy water. I breathed deeply, slowly. Ten inhales. Ten exhales. I looked up at my reflection.
«You’ll manage,» I said to myself. «You’ve always found a way out.»
But something inside broke. The line I had so carefully drawn between personal and professional was shattered.
My mother-in-law was deliberately trying to destroy me, and I could no longer pretend that it didn’t affect my family.
I knew what I had to do.
My father’s office was on the top floor. I rarely went there— it was part of our agreement, no special relationships at work. But today was a special case.
His secretary, strict Elena Viktorovna, looked at me in surprise.
«Darya Alekseevna? How can I help you?»
«I need to see Alexey Yuryevich. It’s a personal matter.»
«He has a meeting in fifteen minutes, but…»
«It’s urgent,» I interrupted. «Please.»
Something in my voice convinced her. She pressed the internal call button:
«Alexey Yuryevich, Darya Alekseevna Klimova is on the line. It’s urgent.»
«Let her in,» came my father’s calm voice.
When the door closed behind me, I finally allowed the mask of professionalism to fall.
«Dad,» I said, my voice trembling.
He rarely saw me like this. I had always been strong, composed, his pride. Now I felt like a little girl who had been hurt.
«What happened?» he asked, rising from behind his desk, studying my face intently.
«It’s time,» I said. «You asked me to stay silent. I did. But now— either I leave, or she does.»
«Natalia Andreevna?» his eyes narrowed.
I nodded and told him everything. About the early days of humiliation, about the mounting pressure, about the public insult today. How difficult it had become at both home and work. But he already knew about the mother-in-law, though not about the conflict.
He listened without interrupting. His face remained impassive, but I recognized that look. My father rarely lost his temper. But when he did, the consequences were serious.
«Are you sure you want this?» he finally asked. «Everyone will know about our relationship.»
I didn’t hesitate for a second:
«Yes. I have proven that I can build a career without your support. I’m no longer afraid of being seen as daddy’s girl.»
My father thoughtfully drummed his fingers on the countertop.
«Very well,» he said decisively. «Tomorrow at ten a.m. in the big conference room. I want the entire department there. And, of course, Natalia Andreevna.»
I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and anxiety.
«Thank you.»
«Don’t thank me yet,» he said, transforming back into the CEO. «Go now, I have a meeting scheduled.»
I left his office, feeling the invisible weight gradually lifting from my shoulders. Tomorrow, everything would change. I didn’t know how exactly, but I was ready to face those changes.
The large conference room was gradually filling with people. Puzzled colleagues whispered— a sudden meeting called by the CEO himself was an unusual event.
I took a seat in the far corner, trying to remain unnoticed.
Natalia Andreevna entered among the last. Seeing me, she raised her eyebrow with such haughtiness, as if yesterday’s episode had only reinforced her confidence in her own correctness.
Exactly at ten, the door burst open. My father entered, as always, briskly and composed. Conversations instantly died down. He surveyed the room, pausing for a moment on me, and nodded briefly.
«Good morning,» he began, his voice carrying that calm confidence that made even the most stubborn partners listen. «I’ve called you here for a rather unusual reason.»
He paused, laying out some documents before him.
«Yesterday, I received information about unacceptable behavior by one of our employees. About violations not only of corporate ethics, but also of basic human decency.»
A murmur ran through the room. I noticed how the shoulders of my mother-in-law tensed.
«Natalia Andreevna,» my father addressed her, «could you please come here?»
She rose with visible self-assurance, but I caught a fleeting look of confusion. After all, no one had warned her about this meeting.
«Darya Alekseevna,» my father continued, «I also ask you to come forward.»
I stood, feeling my pulse quicken. Dozens of eyes were watching with barely concealed curiosity.
«Natalia Andreevna,» my father said, when we were standing on either side of him, «I was informed about yesterday’s incident during the meeting.»
Regarding your public and highly inappropriate behavior towards a colleague. Is that correct?
Her mother-in-law lifted her chin:
«I expressed my professional opinion on the presented project. Perhaps a bit too emotionally, but…»
«‘Perhaps you should learn to prepare reports without mistakes,’» my father quoted. «‘Are your proposals nonsense?’ Is that a professional opinion?»
Natalia Andreevna paled:
«I… might have gotten carried away. But the project was indeed raw and…»
«Darya Alekseevna,» my father interrupted, «has been with our company for two years. During that time, she has proven herself to be a talented analyst with unconventional thinking.»
Her latest project on forecasting consumer behavior increased our conversion by 17%.
The marketing department now uses her models for targeted advertising campaigns. And I would like to know,» his voice became harsher, «on what basis do you allow yourself such remarks towards her?»
Her mother-in-law clearly became nervous:
«Alexey Yuryevich, perhaps I was too strict. But young specialists need discipline…»
«Darya Alekseevna,» he said, a slight smile playing on his lips, «won’t you answer one question for everyone present? What is your surname by your father?»
I straightened up, looking directly into my mother-in-law’s eyes:
«Romanova.»
A complete silence fell over the room. Then someone gasped, realizing.
«Yes,» my father confirmed. «Darya Alekseevna is my daughter. She joined the company on her own, under her mother’s surname. I never interfered in her career, and until yesterday, we both preferred not to publicize our family ties.»
Natalia Andreevna looked as if she had been struck. Her eyes darted from me to my father and back.
«This… this is impossible,» she muttered.
«Furthermore,» my father continued, «as far as I know, you are not just colleagues. Natalia Andreevna, you’re Egor’s mother? Darya’s husband?»
A murmur swept through the room. Someone softly whistled. Not everyone had known.
«I… yes,» she stuttered.
«So it turns out, you were deliberately poisoning your own daughter-in-law right here within these walls,» my father said, fingers interlocked, his gaze as sharp as a blade. «What exactly happened between you— is your private matter.»
But abusing an employee in my company is now my matter.
Suddenly, Natalia Andreevna deflated, like a punctured balloon. A shadow of realization crossed her face— the ground was slipping from under her:
«Alexey Yuryevich, I offer my sincere apologies. I didn’t know… We can discuss this in private…»
«No, we cannot,» my father replied calmly. «Yesterday, you publicly humiliated an employee. Today, you are publicly facing the consequences. You are fired, Natalia Andreevna.»
The HR department will handle all the necessary paperwork by the end of the day.
Her face twisted with indignation:
«But that’s unfair! Only because she’s your daughter…»
«Because you violated professional ethics,» he snapped. «And if Darya weren’t my daughter, I would have done exactly the same. Meeting adjourned. Everyone is dismissed.»
Colleagues left amid excited chatter. Some lingered to offer me support. Natalia Andreevna ran out of the room without even looking at me.
My father approached as we were left alone.
«Are you all right?» he asked, lowering his voice to a confidential whisper, worry lines appearing at the corners of his eyes.
«Yes,» I exhaled, feeling as if an invisible shackle was falling from my shoulders. «It’s like a weight has been lifted.»
«Remember,» his fingers gently but firmly squeezed my shoulder, «now everyone will be watching you under a magnifying glass. You’ve raised the bar— now maintain the height.»
«I will,» I smiled.
That evening, I came home later than usual. Egor was waiting in the living room, unusually serious.
«Mom called,» he said instead of greeting me. «She told her version of events.»
I silently sank into the armchair across from him.
«And then I spoke with Andrei from your IT department,» he continued. «He told me what really happened. And who you really are.»
I tensed inwardly, bracing for reproach. I had kept the truth about my father from him. Did he have the right to be angry?
«Why didn’t you tell me?» Egor asked softly.
«I didn’t want you to love me for my status or connections,» I answered sincerely. «I wanted to be just Dasha, chosen for who I am.»
Egor came closer, knelt before me, and took my hands in his:
«You’re right. Mom crossed all the boundaries. Thank you for not sinking to her level. She’ll have to accept that I decide my own fate. And I choose my wife,» he said, kissing my fingers. «I’m always on your side.»
A month later, I was sitting in my new office— after the truth was revealed, my father appointed me as the head of the analytics department. The promotion was well-deserved— the numbers spoke for themselves.
Colleagues now looked at me differently—with respect mixed with caution. But I remained the same Darya. Only now, everyone knew who I really was.
On my desk was a new photograph— me, Egor, and my father at a family dinner. A real family, without secrets or masks.
I achieved recognition not because of my surname, but because of my composure, professionalism, and the courage to remain true to myself.»
