Executive VP Sawyer stepped into my path.
Ronnie Sawyer had joined the company the same time I did—one of the original crew. He ran HR, and most days he came across as reasonable enough.
He shut the door behind us and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Was that really necessary?"
My head snapped up. I stared at him in disbelief.
"Necessary? Mr. Sawyer, my team is counting on that money to get through the holidays!"
"Milton's mother is eighty years old! She's always wanted to see the Capital, and he promised her—promised her—he'd take her once the bonus came through."
"Cordelia's mom needs surgery, and that money was supposed to cover it. And Caspar—"
"But the company isn't a charity. We follow the rules here. We can't just hand out extra bonuses because employees are having a hard time."
He brushed it off like it was nothing.
"Fine. Then let's not talk about hardship."
I pulled out a chair and sat down, my expression dead serious.
"Let's talk about contributions."
"Bonuses are supposed to be based on contributions. And according to the results, the Tech Department contributed nothing to this company this year."
I opened my email and pulled up every single request form from the Sales Department.
"This year, Sales brought in twenty new clients. That means twenty new software systems to support those accounts."
"If we'd outsourced that development, each system would've cost at least five hundred thousand dollars. That's ten million total—not counting ongoing maintenance."
"The Tech Department has fifteen people. Average monthly salary: six thousand. Total payroll for the year: one point zero eight million."
"On development alone, we saved the company at least eight point nine two million dollars. And that's not even counting the long-term value those systems generate." I stared him down. "You call that no contribution?"
VP Sawyer went quiet. After a long pause, he found another angle.
"No one said you didn't contribute. But your department's salaries are higher than other departments."
I let out a cold laugh.
"AI is the hottest field in tech right now. Other companies are offering fresh graduates four hundred thousand a year just to walk in the door."
"My team? Every one of them has solid credentials and real experience. And their annual salary is less than a fifth of what a new grad makes elsewhere." I leaned forward. "You call that high wages?"