Everything Belongs to the Team
I waited until everyone had gone to lunch. Then I walked up to Trevor's desk.
“Trevor. That report. It's mine. I wrote it.”
He didn't even look up from his screen.
“It's a team document, Indiana. You were on my team. Everything you make here belongs to the company. And on this floor, the company is me.”
“You took my name off it.”
“I edited it.” He finally looked at me. His smile was gone. “Let me explain how this works, because nobody explained it to you at Indiana State. Interns don't present to the board. Interns don't get promoted. Interns get a return offer for a full-time job. If their manager says they're a team player.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Are you a team player, Abby?”
My face was burning. My hands were shaking.
“I just want my name on my work.”
“And I just want you to have a good reference,” said Trevor. “So go and get me a coffee. Large oat latte, two sugars, extra hot. And we'll forget we had this conversation.”
I turned around and walked away.
I didn't get him a coffee.