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MidReal Story
The Boss's Wife
Scenario:in a move that stunned everyone, Julia Weber, a 6 feet, 3 inch 35 year old analyst, after only 2 years at Martin Investments, has just been announced
as the youngest SVP in company history. What makes this especially awkward is that she has won the promotion over her husband Mitchell- a man she deeply loves and respects -a brilliant 36 year old analyst, who, for the last 10 years, as toiled for the firm - often with 70 hour work weeks - with the expectation that the job would be his.
What Mitchell doesn't know is that , 2 weeks earlier, the CEO summoned Julia to his office - and offered the VP role to her. In fact ,
the CEO mentioned that originally Ray was to be offered the position - but the board ,impressed with Julia's, drive, and ambition , bluntly stated but if Julia wanted the job, Ray would be pushed aside. Julia accepts the job, knowing how this will devastate her husband.
Mitchell, blindsided by the news, is crushed and humiliated - recognizing the now vast power dynamic shift, and realizes that his wife is now his superior - a superior who with 10 less years of experience. Julia must now address the elephant in the room and talk to her husband.
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Julia Weber
She is a 35yearold analyst at Martin Investments. She is ambitious, driven, and strategic. Julia was unexpectedly offered the position of Senior Vice President over her husband, Mitchell. Despite her husband's long service to the company, the board favored her due to her impressive work ethic and dedication. This promotion creates a strained relationship as Julia grapples with guilt while navigating her new role. She must balance her career aspirations with the repercussions on her personal life.
Ben
He is Julia's supportive friend and colleague at Martin Investments. He is witty, perceptive, and loyal. Ben provides humor and insight into company dynamics, often helping Julia navigate challenging situations. He recognizes her emotional struggles with the VP role and offers companionship during difficult times. Ben's presence offers relief from the tension and anxiety surrounding Julia's career advancement over her husband.
Mitchell Ray
He is a 36yearold analyst and Julia's husband. He is dedicated, hardworking, and humiliated. Mitchell has worked at Martin Investments for 10 years, often exceeding 70hour workweeks. He is blindsided by the company offering Julia a senior leadership position over him, despite his seniority and longer tenure. The sudden reversal of roles is devastating, as he comes to terms with his reduced status under his wife's supervision, struggling with feelings of inadeclusion and disappointment.
Julia Weber
I was still in shock.
It had been two days since the CEO had announced my promotion.
At 35 years old, I was now the youngest SVP in the company's history.
What made this even more awkward was that I had just outranked my husband.
Mitchell had worked at Martin Investments for the last 10 years, often putting in 70-hour workweeks.
He was an amazing analyst and had expected to be promoted to the SVP position when it became available.
The board, however, had other ideas.
Two weeks earlier, I had been summoned to the CEO's office.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I certainly hadn't expected the CEO to offer me the VP role.
Originally, Ray was going to be offered the position, but then the board stepped in and said if Julia wants it... basically, they would push Ray aside for me.
I was floored.
I didn't know what to say.
I wanted the job desperately, but I knew how devastating the news would be for Mitchell.
He had been at the company for 10 years, and I had only been there for two years.
I knew he expected the job and had been working towards it for a long time.
Mitchell was a brilliant analyst and a wonderful husband.
We had been married for three years.
I found him in his home office, staring blankly at his computer screen.
His shoulders were tense, and he didn't turn as I entered the room.
I cleared my throat and sat down in the leather chair beside his desk.
This was the same chair I had sat in countless times before, sipping coffee with Mitchell as we talked about our day.
He continued to type, harder than necessary, the keys clicking aggressively beneath his fingers.
"Mitchell," I said softly.
He didn't respond.
"How are you doing?" "I'm fine," he muttered, not looking at me.
"I know you're not fine," I said gently.
"You have every right to be upset. This wasn't how I expected things to go."
Mitchell stopped typing abruptly.
His hands clenched into fists on the keyboard, and he finally turned to face me.
His eyes were red-rimmed, and I could see the pain and anger in them.
"Can you believe it?" he asked, his voice shaking with emotion.
"They passed me over for you. Do you know how humiliating that is?"
"I know," I said softly.
"I'm so sorry."
Mitchell shook his head.
"You don't understand. This was my dream job. I've worked my ass off for 10 years to get this position. And now it's gone. All because of some stupid board decision."
"I know how much this meant to you," I said again.
"But please don't blame yourself. You're an amazing analyst, and you deserve this job just as much as anyone else."
Mitchell scoffed.
"Yeah, right. If I was so amazing, they would have given me the job."
He stood up suddenly, knocking over his coffee mug in the process.
Brown liquid spilled onto the carpet, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Julia, I need to know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Did you know about this before they announced it?"
"No, Mitchell, I swear I didn't," I replied, trying to meet his eyes.
He didn't respond, and I stepped closer to his desk.
My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the tension between us growing thicker than ever before.
The coffee continued to soak into the beige carpet, creating a dark stain that seemed to spread with every passing second.
The afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting harsh shadows on Mitchell's face.
His eyes were filled with hurt and anger, and I could see the pain in them.
I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I knew that he needed space right now.
I slowly reached down and grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on his desk.
I bent down to clean up the spill, but before I could even touch it, Mitchell waved me away.
"Leave it," he said gruffly, turning back to his computer screen.
The silence between us was deafening, and I could feel the weight of his anger bearing down on me like a physical force. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I pulled up the spare office chair and sat beside him.
I was so close that our elbows almost touched, but he didn't acknowledge my presence.
His fingers continued to fly across the keyboard with a speed and accuracy that belied his inner turmoil.
I watched him for a moment, trying to think of something to say that would ease the tension between us.
But everything I came up with sounded hollow or insincere, so I remained silent.
Instead, I simply sat there beside him, my eyes fixed on his profile as he worked.
Eventually, his fingers slowed and then stopped altogether.
He leaned back in his chair and stared at the screen with a mixture of frustration and despair etched across his face. "Mitchell," I said softly, reaching out to touch his arm.
He flinched away from me, pulling his arm back against his chest.
The rejection stung, but I didn't let it deter me.