After 12 years of hard work as a senior projects manager, I just found out I’m paid 20% less than a junior I hired and trained. When I confronted my boss, he smirked: “She bargained. You never dared. The market belongs to the bold.” I didn’t argue.

The next day, I went to the office very early in the morning and quietly handed in my resignation to HR, but not before doing one small thing — I’d transferred every major client contact I’d brought in over the years to my personal phone. They trusted me, not the company.

I had called each of them that evening, calm and polite, telling them I was moving to a new firm, one that actually valued competence, experience. I’d actually received an offer from that firm months ago, but out of loyalty to my company, I never accepted it. I thought I owed them more. Turns out, I was wrong.

In the morning, 3 of the company’s biggest clients had called my boss, informing him that they’ll follow me. When he realized what happened, he called me, furious. I just laughed and said, “You were right. The market belongs to the bold.” Then I hung up.

He ran to my office, pale and shaking, asking me if I’d reconsider my resignation. I just smiled and said, “I think it’s already late.”