The plane hummed with the familiar drone of engines as I settled into my seat, the plush fabric barely accommodating my size. The anticipation of my journey was tinged with apprehension, knowing the challenges that awaited me beyond the clouds. My name is Eliza, and I’ve grown accustomed to the sideways glances and subtle judgments that accompany me wherever I go, especially in crowded places like airplanes.
As the cabin filled with passengers, I couldn’t help but notice the scrutinizing gaze of a woman who settled into the seat beside me. Her name was Isabel, and from the moment she took her place, her disdain for me was palpable. Every glance, every shift in her body language, screamed silent condemnation.
I tried to ignore her, focusing instead on making myself as comfortable as possible in the limited space available. But Isabel seemed determined to make my journey a living hell. She huffed and sighed, exaggeratedly shifting in her seat as if my mere presence was an inconvenience to her.
“Excuse me,” Isabel finally spoke up, her voice dripping with condescension, “could you try to keep to your side? You’re taking up more space than you paid for.”
Her Disdain and Hostility Made Me Flush with Embarrassment
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I awkwardly attempted to shrink into myself, apologizing for the perceived intrusion. But Isabel’s disdain was unrelenting, her eyes darting to my body with barely concealed contempt.
Throughout the flight, Isabel’s hostility only seemed to escalate. She called over a flight attendant, demanding to be moved to another seat away from me. But to my relief, the flight attendant politely informed her that the flight was fully booked and there were no available seats.
Undeterred, Isabel turned to me with a self-satisfied smirk. “Since I can’t move, how about you buy my seat as compensation for encroaching on my space?” she suggested, her tone laced with entitlement.
I was taken aback by her audacity. “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to pay you for a seat I’ve already paid for,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising anger within me.
Isabel scoffed and turned away, muttering under her breath about the inconvenience of having to sit next to someone like me. But despite her disdain, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her. Maybe she was just having a bad day, I thought, trying to rationalize her behavior.
I Realized that She Also Stole Money from Me
As the flight continued, Isabel’s rudeness only intensified. She refused to let me pass to use the restroom, sighing loudly whenever I dared to shift in my seat. And then, when I returned from the bathroom, I discovered that a significant amount of cash was missing from my purse.
Heart pounding, I turned to Isabel, my hands trembling with anger. “Did you… did you take my money?” I demanded, my voice shaking with rage.
Isabel’s eyes widened in mock innocence, but I could see the guilt lurking behind them. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied, her voice dripping with insincerity.
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But I knew better than to believe her. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realized that Isabel had stolen from me, taking advantage of my momentary absence to rifle through my belongings.
The rest of the flight passed in tense silence, the air thick with unspoken accusations and resentments.
As the plane touched down and the passengers disembarked, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered within me. The encounter with Isabel on the flight had left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Meanwhile, Isabel hurried off towards her eagerly awaited job interview, her mind buzzing with nerves and anticipation. Little did she know, her interviewer’s name was Allen – and all of our paths were about to cross again.
Karma Showed Up in the Form of a Job Interview
As Isabel entered Allen’s office, her heart pounded with excitement. The interview was going amazingly well, her answers flowing effortlessly as she dazzled Allen with her charm and confidence. She couldn’t believe her luck when Allen mentioned that he would bring in his boss to meet her on the spot.
But as Allen left the room to fetch his boss, a sense of foreboding settled over Isabel. Something didn’t feel quite right, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her stomach.
And then, as if on cue, the door swung open and Allen reentered the room, accompanied by a woman whose face Isabel recognized immediately.
It was me—Eliza, the woman from the plane. Isabel’s heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation, her face flushing with embarrassment as she met my gaze.
And I, too, was shocked to see Isabel sitting in the interview room, her presence a stark reminder of the turbulent journey we had shared just hours before.
As Allen began to sing Isabel’s praises and introduce her, I couldn’t let the charade continue any longer. With a heavy heart, I interrupted him, my voice trembling with nerves.
“Wait,” I said, my words echoing through the room, “there’s something you should know about Isabel.”
Allen and Isabel both turned to look at me, their faces a mix of confusion and curiosity. I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I had as I recounted the events of the flight—the judgment, the hostility, the stolen cash.
And then, with a sinking feeling in my stomach, I turned to Isabel. “I believe you have something of mine,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Isabel’s face turned ashen as she reached into her bag, retrieving the stolen cash with trembling hands. She handed it to me without a word, her face burning with shame as she met my gaze.
Talent Doesn’t Matter When You Have No Integrity
I turned to Allen, my heart heavy with regret. “Although Isabel appears to be qualified for the role, I do not think it would be beneficial for the company to hire her,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me.
Allen looked stunned, his brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to make sense of the situation. But deep down, he knew that I was right. The betrayal and deceit that Isabel had displayed were not qualities they wanted in an employee, no matter how talented she may be.
And as Isabel left the room in defeat, I felt a sense of sadness for her. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but wonder what demons she was battling that had driven her to such extremes.
But as I watched her disappear into the hallway, I couldn’t shake the feeling of relief that washed over me. Justice had been served, and although the road ahead would be uncertain, I knew that I had made the right decision. For in the end, integrity and honesty are the cornerstones of success, and no amount of talent can outweigh the importance of doing what is right.
