My Boss Tricked Me Out of $400 and Paid the Price

Jackson was used to the highs and lows of contract work—new bosses, fresh projects, and the inevitable unpredictability. But Steve? He was a breed of boss Jackson hadn’t encountered before. Constantly trying to impress the staff, Steve kept piling on extra “favors” like food runs, always promising, “The company will cover it.” Yet, month after month, reimbursements never materialized. Jackson, however, had a plan.

It all started in a remote county facility. One morning, Steve enthusiastically suggested breakfast tacos for the entire staff. “Go all out!” he urged. Feeling generous, Jackson took the request to heart, ordering a spread of authentic tacos with all the fixings. When he nervously asked if the expense was approved, Steve replied confidently, “Don’t worry about it, Jackson. The company’s got this.”

So began a series of errands: donuts, fresh fruit, sandwiches, and croissants. The staff were thrilled, often exclaiming, “You guys sure know how to treat us!” Jackson didn’t mind; he was just glad to be appreciated.

But when he submitted the receipts at the end of the month, his expenses were flatly denied. Perplexed, he reached out to Steve, who met his inquiry with a casual, “You should’ve gotten it in writing, Jackson.” Those words stung, turning Jackson’s frustration into a slow-boiling resolve.

Months later, Jackson moved on to other projects, putting Steve in the rearview mirror. That was until Steve called, desperate to recruit Jackson for a major project. Steve painted a picture of high stakes and big money, pleading, “We need you on this, Jackson. Nights, weekends, whatever it takes!”

Feigning interest, Jackson played along, negotiating terms and haggling on rates until they agreed on a start date. Yet, as the date approached, Jackson knew he wasn’t going through with it. The day before kickoff, he received another call from Steve, eagerly confirming their arrangement. This time, Jackson delivered his reply calmly: “You should’ve gotten it in writing, Steve.”

For a moment, silence fell. Then came Steve’s indignant protests, “You agreed! We’re counting on you!” Jackson held his ground, savoring every second of Steve’s increasingly frantic tone. In the end, Jackson’s quiet refusal left Steve’s team scrambling, underscoring the lesson Steve had delivered so carelessly months before.

Jackson hung up, finally feeling that justice had been served.