‘I let Karma do what she does best’: Jealous coworker Barb plots to steal her trainer's job and gets her fired, only to end up jobless herself while the former friend is rehired to a higher position

Like many other office friendship stories, this one is truly a slow-motion train wreck waiting for applause. A new hire, a quick connection, a splash of shared hardships, and suddenly it's a two-woman drama about envy, rent money, and emotional bankruptcy. The 26-year-old escrow professional becomes the villain in her own story, accused of crimes as absurd as being more complimented and more employed, when she's assigned to train 29-year-old Barb.

Barb, the "friend", once compassion in heels, grabs her chance, gets her mentor fired, spreads rumors, and then spins out into a trilogy of poor choices. Eighteen months later, the universe restores balance: the protagonist is thriving again at the same company, now several rungs higher, and the ex-friend is home, broke, exhausted, and haunted by diapers and bad decisions.

Jealousy smells like cheap perfume in stories like this. It starts fragrant, a little sympathetic, then turns to vinegar the moment one woman realizes the other's highlighter blends better with success. Barb wanted the spotlight, but forgot that envy does not come with benefits or paid leave. The trainer gave kindness, rent money, patience, and her trust, while Barb offered betrayal in return, wrapped in Facebook posts and sad emojis. People like Barb crave proximity to competence until it reminds them of their own mediocrity, and then they bite the hand, the job, and the reputation that fed them.

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management terrible coworkers workplace discussion friendship employment issues workplace-stories bad friend hr best friends work coworkers friends girlfriend friend mean girls colleague workplace work-life balance

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