Luxury on the Company Dime: A Girlfriend's Bill and a Boss' Wrath
Under my parents' request, I work as the finance officer in my childhood friend, Julius Sanford's company. But the moment he goes on a business trip, the new intern, Lizzie Dalton, rushes into my office and demands that I process her reimbursements.
As I stare at the pile of receipts that come from luxury stores, all I feel is shock.
"Lizzie, I can only use the company's funds to reimburse business expenses. Why are you asking me for reimbursements when all you did was buy clothes and bags of your own?"
But as soon as my words fall, Lizzie splashes a cup of coffee at me instantly. "I'm the lady boss of this company! The company's funds are my funds too! Don't think you can just reject my receipts just because you know my husband!"
I do my best to suppress my fury as I dig out the company's policy and reiterate, "No, I seriously cannot do that. The company's cash flow must be reflected in the books."
Seeing as I refuse to yield to her no matter what, Lizzie calls Julius on the phone and begins whining to him.
"Babe, since when do I need to ask your childhood friend for approval if I want to buy something I like for myself? Or could it be that she's acting so assertively because you two are secretly having an affair?"
Julius panics and tells Lizzie that he has nothing to do with me. After that, he quickly releases an announcement on the company group just so he can defend Lizzie.
"Lizzie Dalton is my wife! She's the second boss of this company other than me!"
After that, Julius tags me in the group. "Hey, finance! You're not my mom here! I don't like you, so please stay out of my private matters!
"I'd like nothing more than to let my own wife spend my own money! If you don't like that, you can pack up and leave!"
Once Julius makes his stance clear, I change my tune and reimburse Lizzie the expenses she's claimed.
But one week later, Julius finds himself staring at the list of debts that's 33 feet long when he returns from his business trip.