The company director fired me in front of everyone. Two hours later, he called and said, “Dress nicely and meet me by the lake. Don’t tell anyone we’re meeting.” When I arrived, he asked me to take a photo with him… and the next morning, that photo was hanging on the door of his office

“But you fired me.”

For the first time, he smiled.

“I know.”

I barely slept that night.

I felt as if I had somehow become part of a bizarre game.

At that point, I was becoming uncomfortable.

If someone from the company saw us there, what would they think?

Worse—what if the photo ended up somewhere?

But he stood beside me, placed his hand casually around my back, and we took one picture.

Then he took his phone back, looked at the photo, and said,

“Good.”

“And now?”

His only response was:

“Come to the office tomorrow at nine.”

“But you fired me.”

For the first time, he smiled.

“I know.”

I barely slept that night.

I felt as if I had somehow become part of a bizarre game.

The next morning, the moment I walked into the company building, I could tell something was wrong.

People were staring at me.