Martha was always quiet and smiling. No matter how hard or small the task, she was always ready to help. One of her colleagues, Chelsea, often took advantage of Martha’s kind nature by asking her to do her work for her. But this time, Chelsea unintentionally did Martha a favor.
Martha had always been known as a people pleaser. Whether it was family, friends, or coworkers, she had a hard time saying no.
Her kind nature made her the go-to person for everyone’s requests, especially at work.
Her colleague, Chelsea, knew this well and often took advantage of Martha’s helpfulness.
Anytime Chelsea had a report to finish, paperwork to submit, or a task she didn’t feel like doing, she’d turn to Martha, and with a polite smile, Martha would agree to help, no matter how busy she was.
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Martha didn’t mind helping others, not at first anyway. She believed in kindness, and part of her felt that the good she did for others would someday come back to her, like a boomerang.
But, deep down, she couldn’t ignore the growing feeling that she was being taken for granted.
Chelsea, in particular, seemed to expect Martha’s help at every turn, never once considering what Martha might need or want.
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One quiet afternoon at the office, Chelsea approached Martha’s desk with her usual sweet but pushy smile.
“Martha, I need a huge favor,” she began, her tone dripping with false friendliness. Martha, already used to this, already felt her heart sink.
“I’ve been assigned this really boring business trip,” Chelsea continued, rolling her eyes.
“It’s to some small office out of town to sort through old documentation. But, you see, I’ve already planned a huge party with the girls from work, and I really can’t miss it. Do you think you could go in my place?”
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Martha hesitated. She had been looking forward to her own vacation, one she’d been planning for months with her best friend, Helen.
They were supposed to leave in just a few days, and now Chelsea was asking her to cancel it.
“I’m not sure, Chelsea… I’ve been looking forward to this vacation,” Martha said, trying to stand up for herself.
“Oh, please, Martha! You’re so good at these things, and I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important!” Chelsea added, her voice growing more pleading. “I’ll owe you big time!”
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Despite her better judgment, Martha found herself nodding. “Alright, I’ll do it,” she said softly, already regretting her decision.
That evening, Martha made the dreaded phone call to Helen, apologizing for canceling their trip. Helen was disappointed but, as always, understanding.
Martha packed her bags for the business trip, trying to push away the nagging doubt that maybe, just maybe, she was letting herself be taken advantage of again.
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The drive to the small, dusty town felt longer than Martha had expected. The scenery outside the car window was dull, with endless stretches of dry fields and abandoned buildings.
As she finally arrived at the old office, Martha instantly saw what Chelsea had meant—the place looked worn down like it hadn’t been maintained for years.
The walls were faded, the windows grimy, and the whole atmosphere was unwelcoming. It was a far cry from the sleek, modern office she was used to.
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Martha parked her car and stepped inside the building. A faint musty smell filled the air, and the floor creaked under her feet as she walked.
The local manager, an older man with a tired expression, greeted her with a brief nod. “You must be Martha,” he said, handing her a set of old keys.
“The documentation you need is in the archive, but it’s not digitalized. You’ll have to go through the physical folders yourself,” he explained, motioning toward the back of the office.
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“Great,” Martha muttered under her breath. It was exactly as she had feared—a tedious, time-consuming task that no one wanted to do.
She took a deep breath and headed to the archive room.
When she opened the door, she was greeted by a chaotic mess. Papers and folders were scattered haphazardly on the shelves, with no organization in sight.
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Dust coated everything, and it was clear that no one had touched the files in years. Martha stood still for a moment, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her. She had sacrificed her vacation for this?
But Martha wasn’t the type to give up easily. She straightened her back and got to work. Picking up the first folder, she started reading, carefully sorting through each document, and jotting down notes.
It was slow work, but Martha’s attention to detail kept her going. She knew that every paper had to be reviewed, no matter how tedious it seemed.
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Hours passed, and the light outside the window began to fade. By the end of the day, Martha had barely made a dent in the pile of papers, but she refused to let the mess overwhelm her. She stayed focused, determined to complete the job.
The work wasn’t glamorous, but it was a task that needed to be done, and Martha was going to do it right.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Martha remained focused on her task in the archive. The dim light from the overhead bulb flickered slightly, but she didn’t mind.
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She had been organizing for hours, meticulously labeling every folder with small paper tags to indicate its contents.
The once chaotic archive room was now transformed, the shelves neat and orderly, thanks to her diligent work.
Martha had even taken the time to clean up the mess left behind by previous workers, arranging every single document into its proper place.
Just as she was finishing up the last of the paperwork, she heard footsteps approaching from the hallway.
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A tall man appeared in the doorway, dressed in a sleek, tailored suit that seemed completely out of place in the dusty, neglected office.
He had a commanding presence, and Martha’s heart skipped a beat as she realized this wasn’t just any ordinary office worker.
“You must be Martha,” the man said, his voice smooth but authoritative, breaking the silence in the room. Startled, Martha looked up from her work and blinked in surprise.
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“I’m Naton, the CEO of the company.”
Martha froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She had not expected to meet anyone from the higher ranks of the company, let alone the CEO himself.
She quickly stood up, wiping her hands on her skirt as she gathered her thoughts.
“Yes, I’m Martha,” she said, her voice steady despite her nerves.
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Naton glanced around the room, his sharp eyes taking in the now-neatly arranged shelves and labeled files.
“I heard you were sent here to find some important documentation. Have you had any success?” he asked.
Without saying a word, Martha reached for one of the organized folders she had been working on and handed it to him.
Naton opened the folder, flipping through the pages with a practiced eye. After a few moments, he looked back at her, clearly impressed.
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“I can’t believe you’ve managed to do all of this in just one day,” Naton said, his tone filled with admiration.
“This place was a disaster, and now it looks like a professional archive. Your attention to detail and dedication are truly impressive.”
Martha felt her cheeks flush at the unexpected compliment.
She wasn’t used to receiving praise for her hard work, especially not from someone as important as the CEO.
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She smiled humbly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to do the job right,” she replied softly.
“It may not have been the easiest task, but I knew it needed to be done properly.”
Naton nodded, his expression thoughtful.
“It’s rare to find someone who takes such pride in their work, especially when the task is as tedious as this. I appreciate your commitment, Martha.”
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Martha’s heart swelled with pride. For once, her hard work and willingness to go the extra mile had not gone unnoticed.
She felt a quiet sense of accomplishment, knowing that her efforts were finally being recognized. The exhaustion from the long day seemed to melt away, replaced by a feeling of satisfaction.
Naton smiled warmly and put the folder down.
“Your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, Martha. I’m always looking for talented people like you, and I’d like to offer you a position as my personal assistant. It would mean an immediate promotion, a significant salary increase, and, of course, a transfer to our main office. What do you think?”
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Martha blinked in surprise, her heart racing as she absorbed his words.
She had never expected this—she’d come to the office as a favor to Chelsea, assuming it would be another thankless task. And now, she was being offered her dream job. It was almost too much to process all at once.
“I don’t know what to say,” Martha finally stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced down at the floor, her mind whirling with the weight of the decision. “I’m honored, but… I still need to finish the task I came here to do.”
Naton chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
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“You’re dedicated, I’ll give you that. Take your time, Martha. There’s no rush. When you’re ready, the job will be waiting for you.”
He gave her a nod of approval, a final reassuring smile before turning to leave the room.
As the door closed behind him, Martha stood still for a moment, letting the reality sink in.
She had spent so many years saying yes to everyone, taking on extra work without expecting anything in return. It wasn’t in her nature to seek recognition or rewards, but now—finally—it felt like all her efforts had led her to this moment.
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Her hands trembled slightly as she touched the organized folders on the desk.
She couldn’t believe how a simple business trip, one she had taken to help out a colleague, had turned into such a life-changing opportunity.
All those times she had put others first, all the long hours she had worked, were finally paying off.
Her kindness, her diligence, and her belief in doing good had come back to her, just like the boomerang she had always trusted in. She took a deep breath, ready to embrace this new chapter in her life.
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