
A hardworking woman turns into an aggressive and impatient boss after her most recent promotion at a store. She gets away with it until she insults and fires an old janitor.
Nia had recently been promoted to general manager of a major fashion retail outlet. Just a week into her new role, she was already implementing major changes, guided by a binder of ideas she had accumulated over the years.
One morning, Nia addressed her staff.
“Alright, guys. Is everyone clear on the new protocols we’re going to follow?” she asked.
The team responded with nods and gentle affirmations.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
“I don’t want anyone deviating from my guidelines, so here’s what we are going to do,” she continued. “Anybody who fails to follow the new rules — whether it is about uniform, customer greetings, display arrangements, punctuality — will lose their incentive for that month,” Nia declared, her face beaming with pride.
The staff exchanged worried glances. Nia’s drastic measures made them fear for their livelihoods, as even minor mistakes could cost them dearly.
But despite her recent changes, the team respected Nia. They knew her journey from an intern to the top position and admired her dedication to the fashion industry.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
However, with time, Nia’s approach became increasingly problematic. She set unrealistic goals and responded harshly to small errors. Her decisions, like extending shifts and imposing strict rules, were met with silent frustration from the staff. Their only respite, weekends, was now occupied with work. But that wasn’t all.
Nia’s strategies, like reducing loading costs by involving sales staff and limiting employee breaks, pushed the team to their limits. She even banned sitting during shifts and restricted sick leaves, all in the name of creating a good impression for customers.
“We’ll have to show them we are never tired of serving them. And always serve them with a smile. Am I clear?” Nia instructed sternly. She was overly pleased with the way she was conducting things.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Raised by a single mother, Nia had faced numerous rejections before landing an internship at the fashion outlet. Her dedication to her job and hard work quickly led to her promotion.
From her office, she looked out at the street where she once sought opportunities, determined never to return to those hard days. Under her leadership, the store buzzed with activity, though the staff struggled with the overwhelming workload and strict deadlines she set. Nia was happy until… the work really started taking its toll on the employees.
Over time, her strict management led to a drastic drop in sales, contradicting her ambitious plans. Furious, she confronted her exhausted staff. “Our ratings are dipping. We’ll be ruined at this rate,” she yelled. “Extend your shifts, cut down on breaks… do whatever it takes! We have to boost sales!”
Nia couldn’t understand the sudden decline and increased the workload even more. One day, after a tense client meeting, she found Maya, a saleswoman, asleep on the counter.
“How dare you sleep during work??” Nia yelled.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Maya, startled and panicked, apologized, but Nia was unforgiving. “Meet me in my office,” she demanded. Gathering the staff, Nia, already upset about the sales, decided to demonstrate her authority.
She fired Maya on the spot, tossing her paycheck at her. The team was shocked but remained silent. They knew Maya was exhausted from overworking, but who would dare to go against Nia? They wanted to keep their jobs.
But as Maya was leaving, Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up. “Nia, child, I’ve got something to say,” he said calmly, despite Nia’s obvious irritation.
“We’re all happy to help with your vision, Nia,” Victor began, trying to reason with her. “But maybe we could let go of the small mistakes…”
Nia, angered by his audacity to speak up, cut him off. “That’s enough, Victor! Do you think I haven’t noticed your tardiness and long lunch breaks?” she retorted. “And let’s not forget how you arrive late daily!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Nia, there’s a reason why I’ve been coming later than the others…”
Nia couldn’t believe that the older man had interrupted her again. Looking at the other employees stare at her, anticipating her reaction, she decided to put her foot down and set an example once and for all.
“I don’t care about the reason! Let this be an example, folks,” Nia said. “Anyone who makes excuses on my watch will be fired. Hey, you’re fired, old man! Now you can accompany Maya and get lost!”
Maya and Victor left quietly while the rest of the staff watched in dismay, tears in their eyes. Nia’s ruthlessness had reached a new level, leaving everyone in shock.
Though it was the end of Victor’s job at the store, an unexpected turn of events awaited him the next day.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Mr. Gordon, the owner of the multi-million-dollar store chain,unexpectedly visited his store to address the sudden revenue decline.
“Good morning, everyone! How are things going?” Mr. Gordon asked all the employees.
“It could’ve been much better,” a worker replied, with others nodding.
“What’s up? Aren’t you guys excited for the Christmas holidays?” Mr. Gordon inquired.
“Some of us wanted an extended Christmas break, but Miss Ferguson only allowed two days off,” another employee explained.
Mr. Gordon partially understood what was happening and called Nia to his office.
“Miss Ferguson, our revenue has dropped drastically. What happened? Do you need help?” he asked while they sat across from each other.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Nia blamed the staff, claiming they were lazy and needed close monitoring.
“I see…We had the same ‘lazy’ staff with us the last month, didn’t we? But everything was much better. We didn’t hire anyone recently, so I don’t understand why they are suddenly acting lazy.”
Mr. Gordon gave Nia a month to improve the situation. As he was leaving, he asked about Victor, the custodian.
“Where’s Victor? I didn’t see him today,” he said.
“He was fired for being late and too old to work,” Nia hesitantly revealed.
Mr. Gordon was shocked. “WHAT? Do you know you fired the co-owner of this store?”
Nia was stunned. “The co-owner? But he’s just a janitor!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Mr. Gordon shared a story from his childhood. “I still don’t remember what happened that day…but my father told me I ran after an ice cream van and almost got hit by a car. Victor had seen me while emptying the trash and rushed to my rescue. He pushed me away and saved my life, but he ended up in intensive care after being hit by the car.
“My father, the original owner of this store, offered him a share in the business. Do you know what Victor said when my dad wanted to reward him? ‘I just did what any normal human was supposed to do.’ Victor accepted the offer to become a co-owner because my father kept persuading him, but on one condition. That he would work as a janitor.”
He continued, “Victor lost his wife and child during childbirth and considered the staff here his family.”
Mr. Gordon then dropped a bombshell. “You must apologize to Victor. He’s taking over this unit tomorrow. I’ll come again, and it’s up to Victor to decide whether or not I should fire you.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Panicked and fearing for her job, Nia drove to meet Victor, worried about facing him and the challenges ahead. “How will I boost sales in a month? How will I face Victor? It’s his fault, too. Why did he just walk away without telling me who he was? Now, everything is against me. What will I do?” she fretted.
Nia arrived at Victor’s modest home, surprised by its simplicity despite his co-ownership of a lucrative business. She knocked, and Victor greeted her warmly, inviting her in for apple pie.
“Mr. Gordon told me you’d come. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Victor said, unaffected by her previous actions.
Nia felt awkward in the humble setting. Victor, sensing her unease, began to talk about Mr. Gordon’s father’s business philosophy.
“Unlike others, he valued his staff first. He provided nap rooms, bonuses, corporate events, and weekends off and ensured customers didn’t mistreat them. He treated employees like family,” Victor explained.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Nia shyly nodded, partially realizing what had gone wrong. “But how does that help with the growth of the business? If employees get such perks, how will they work without distractions? Won’t they take it for granted?” she said.
Victor smiled. “When employees love their work, they provide top-notch service, satisfying customers and growing the business. A smart boss finds ways to make employees devoted. He doesn’t fire them.”
As Victor hungrily devoured his pie, he requested Nia to call Maya back to work. “You may never know how fate works for others, Nia. You joined as an intern, but you became the general manager. You may never know what potential a simple salesgirl like Maya can have. Never underestimate and judge others by their appearance or job!”
Nia grinned, and just as she was about to leave, Victor stopped her. “Don’t worry, Nia. I will not fire you. But we will decide later together with all the employees and Mr. Gordon by a vote, alright?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Assured she still had a second chance, Nia returned to the store and gathered all the employees in her office. They were afraid about what more rules she was going to impose on them. But none of them had expected to see what was about to happen next.
“Good day, everyone!” Nia began with a smile. Everyone thought it was unusual because she had never greeted them with a smile since day one of her promotion.
“I would like to tell everyone that Victor, the company’s co-owner, will be heading us from tomorrow!”
The employees were shocked at the revelation. Some of them didn’t have a clue that the custodian of their store was their boss.
“Don’t be shocked, guys! I am young and new to this trade, and I made mistakes. I hope you’ll all forgive me for what happened in the last few days. Maya and Victor will be back tomorrow, and we will work as a team. Is that clear?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
From the next day onward, Nia followed Victor’s advice and implemented Mr. Gordon’s dad’s principles. She treated her employees respectfully and did not show authority over them. She thought more about them and made sure each and every employee loved their job.
As days passed, Nia’s efforts worked in her favor. The employees started giving their best, and as Nia had wanted, the sales for the next quarter surged with impeccable results.
Mr. Gordon was impressed with Nia’s efforts, and with Victor, he decided not to fire her. Five years later, Nia was promoted to the position of CEO of all the outlets.
As for Victor, he chose to keep working as a janitor because he loved his job.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed reading this story, you might like this one about a young kid who yells, “There’s something inside!” after sitting on the old sofa left to him by his late granny. He finds something inside the furniture that changes his life forever.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Dirt and mess don’t stand a chance with these 11 Amazon best sellers
The spring-cleaning season can become your favorite time of the year if you use these 11 best sellers from Amazon. These products and tools will leave your house sparkling clean, helping you get rid of the most stubborn stains in the blink of an eye. Buy these brilliant cleaners today, and say goodbye to dust, dirt, grime, limescale, and mold in your house!
1. Amazon customers never stop buying this wonder-working toilet cleaning stone. Its ergonomic, heavy-duty plastic handle will help you avoid touching the dirt with your hands. The stone quickly removes hard water stains, limescale, and stubborn dirt that other tools and cleaners can’t remove. The before and after photo collage below speaks louder than words!

4,500+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ After watching the wife try a lot of other methods which didn’t work for removing mineral ring stains in the toilet, I did my own research and discovered pumice stones. I ordered these without any expectations, but they actually worked. We have well water and the stains came off pretty easily with this product. A few minutes of light scrubbing, so it took less than 15 minutes for 4 toilets. I would recommend this product. — Pao
2. This bathroom foam cleaner is a real hit on Amazon with more than 11,000 ratings. Its non-drip formula clings to surfaces quickly removes dirt, and prevents limescale. The product will make your bathroom sparkle and smell amazing whenever you use it. This safe, easy-to-use, and family-friendly product removes dirt, grease, soap, and grime from surfaces, leaving them shiny and squeaky clean.

11,100+ ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This stuff is amazing! Let me tell you, my bathroom tiles were disgusting and completely discolored. I tried everything to get them clean and nothing worked. I’m so glad I searched online and found this cleaner. My bathroom tiles look like new now! — Maryann
3. You won’t recognize your bathroom after using this all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Its unique formula attacks dirt, grime, soap scum, and hard water stains to make your bathroom shine. The product creates an invisible coating to keep surfaces clean for longer periods of time. This cleaner repels bathroom grime, scum, and dirt, so you won’t have to clean as often.

900+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My tub looks brand new! I have been looking for a cleaner that would get in the cracks and crevices of my tub, and this worked wonders. I sprayed the entire tub, came back after 5–10 minutes and wiped everything down with a damp cloth. It took me no longer than 10 minutes to clean, and it looks like new. I would say that the smell isn’t the best. I would recommend opening a couple of windows before you spray. Overall, it’s a great bathroom cleaner. — Diane McFadgen
4. Say goodbye to rust stains with this rust remover gel. It works equally well on a variety of surfaces, including bathtubs, clothes, carpets, sinks, toilets, furniture, etc. Even if you’ve tried everything to remove those pesky rust stains and nothing worked so far, give this product a try, and you won’t regret it.

600+ ratings
4.2 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had rust stains on my stainless steel outdoor utility sink. It’s probably a cheap stainless that was used, and it was streaked with rust stains. I applied the product to the stains and in a few minutes they disappeared. Then I used it on one of my sailboats sails that had rust stains, and they also disappeared. This product eats rust! — kim hanford
5. This portable carpet cleaner is great for removing and deodorizing pet messes, spills, and tough stains. It’s ideal for cleaning carpets, upholstery, car interior and more. Compact and lightweight, it can be easily carried around the house as you do the cleaning. The built-in hose rinse flushes the machine with water to remove any dirt and debris. Removable water tanks guarantee simple usage.

900+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This product works great in that it’s easy to use and has great suction power. The clean water tank goes fast, but it’s worth all the dirt and grime that is extracted from the seats. I’m never worried about spilling food or drink on my seats again because the cleanup will be easy.
I add in some fabric carpet cleaner too. Just turn the power button and it’s ready to go. I would buy another one. — Andrew Montgomery
6. Here is another portable carpet and upholstery cleaner. This powerful appliance works great on carpets, stairs, upholstery, car interiors, and more. For your ultimate convenience, the package includes stain-removing tools and a cleaning formula. The cleaner combines superior suction and scrubbing action, which guarantees amazing results after each use.

10,600+ ratings
4.6 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have several cats and a dog, which seem to leave food and dirt stains everywhere. I purchased this item for myself. I loved it so much I purchased three more for my pet loving adult children for Christmas. They each sent me pictures of them using it within days. It is a game changer!
I now clean up a small spot when I find it, no longer waiting for the future’s «big» professional carpet cleaning. I learned the hard way that you must clean it up when finished. Letting it sit for a couple of days resulted in a stinky and more complicated process. If you have a pet, you really need this product! — Sharon S.
7. No more bending or kneeling while cleaning with this electric spin scrubber. The set includes 4 brush heads that you can use for various cleaning purposes. The tool can be used for cleaning showers, bathtubs, tiles, grout, grooves, toilets, etc. The extendible handle will allow you to use the tool while standing, so there’s no need to bend. The appliance can be used for about 90 minutes after only 3.5 hours of fast charging.

13,800+ ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ OMG, where has this thing been all my life. This is my elderly mother’s bathroom, I moved in recently and finally tackled this mess. Cleaning bathtubs is very awkward, leaning over, trying to put elbow grease on cleaning the tub can be hard. This does all the work for you. Just remember to spray and soak for 15–30 minutes ahead of time. — Laura
8. This brush with a non-slip handle is ideal for scrubbing pots, pans, dishes, and more. Its nylon bristles are safe for non-stick surfaces, while the built-in scraper effectively removes baked-on dirt. Thanks to its clever design, the brush will clean all corners and crevices of pots and pans. The ergonomic handle guarantees a firm grip even if your hands are wet. The tool is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

25,900+ ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It’s very durable and functional. I love this dish brush! I ordered my first one over a year ago, and have made repeat orders. It’s the best dish brush I’ve found.
The bristles are firm, but not «hard». Just right. It’s a good size and great quality. I give it a good workout, as I seldom use a dishwasher, and it holds out for a long time. — Mellie
9. This toilet cleaning brush has a unique design that allows it to reach the under-rim area of the toilet bowl. Its dense and flexible bristles clean the surface thoroughly, leaving no stains, effectively removing odors and keeping your bathroom fresh. The set includes a convenient holder that catches water drips from the brush, eliminating mess and odors.

4,200+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cleaning under the rim of the toilet completely is always a challenge, so when I saw this S-shaped brush, I decided to try it. It really does fit up under the rim of the toilet bowl! Not only does the curved brush fit up under the rim of the toilet bowl, it goes well down into the hole in the bottom of the bowl for complete cleaning.
The bristles are stiff enough to give it a good scrubbing. The handle is easy to hold, and it has a loop on the handle end if you want to hang it for storage, or you use the holder it comes with. — Claudia M
10. Take proper care of your hands while cleaning with these multipurpose vinyl gloves. The thick clear plastic material helps avoid tearing and puncturing, yet it offers enough stretch for finger flexibility. Whether you use these gloves in the kitchen or while cleaning various surfaces around the house, they offer reliable protection against chemicals and odors.

23,100+ ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I bought these gloves to use while I’m painting and they work well. They cover my hands completely and seal out most of the paint that I’m using. Also, they don’t restrict my hands in any way. — Star Root Press (Consignment)
11. With this DIY mold test kit, you can find out whether there is unseen mold in your house or not. The item shows visible results in as little as 48 hours. The test kit can be used both indoors and outdoors, and it includes everything you need to perform the test, including a Petri dish, a swab, and mold growth medium. Optional laboratory analysis is available. For an additional fee, you can mail the results to determine the mold type.

7,000+ ratings
4.0 out of 5 stars
Promising review:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ After weeks of a chronic cough and congestion with me, difficulty breathing for my husband and our baby being congested with a rash, we decided to do an at home mold test of our rental. The results shocked us! We were not expecting this. We have no visible mold in our apartment.
We did an open air test in our bedroom, a swab test of our bathroom, and an air test of our HVAC system. All of them came back positive! The process to complete the test is extremely easy. I highly recommend getting it if you think you might be living with mold. — JILLIAN
Even those of us who love cooking would probably like the idea of spending less time in the kitchen. This is possible when you have these 11 Amazon best sellers by your side. These clever kitchen tools and accessories will make cooking simple, enjoyable, and mess-free while saving space in your drawers.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews may have been edited for length and clarity.
Preview photo credit Kindle Customer / Amazon, Laura / Amazon
Leave a Reply