Monday morning — Nexum Creative Office, Madrid
Sofía
I just saw Roberto's email... Alejandro presented MY project as his. I can't believe it
B1 chat story
El Grupo de la Oposición
When Sofía discovers her colleague Alejandro has stolen credit for her project, she creates a secret WhatsApp group with her coworkers. But in a group built on distrust, who can you really trust?
92 messages4 min read
Marcos
wait what?? the one for the social media campaign??
Sofía
yes. THAT one. I worked three weeks on that and he sent the final report with his name. only his name
Marcos
sofia that is crazy
Marcos
do you have the email? save it, save everything
Sofía
Marcos
hey... and Carmen? does she know anything about this? I think she also had problems with Alejandro last month
Sofía
I don't know. let's see if I add her here
Sofia creates a new group. She calls it 'The Opposition Group'. She adds Marcos and Carmen. It's 9:22 on Monday and the week already smells like trouble.
Sofía
carmen, good morning. look at the email I just sent you. Alejandro presented my campaign as his. we have to talk
Carmen
I just read it
Carmen
sofia... my god
Carmen
last month he did something similar with me. he 'forgot' me in the presentation for the Barcelona client. roberto never knew that I worked on that
Marcos
so this isn't the first time
Carmen
no. and always when there is a promotion nearby...
Sofía
exactly. the promotion meeting is on Friday
Marcos
Voice message
Carmen
wait. we have to think this through well. if we go to Roberto without a clear strategy we could look bad ourselves
Sofía
look bad? carmen he stole my work
Carmen
I know, I know. I'm just saying we have to be careful. roberto and alejandro are close friends
Marcos
😬
...yes. that's true 😬
Sofía
ok. this afternoon we'll meet in the small room. after eating. can you?
Marcos
yes
Carmen
me too. ah... what do we do about Elena? she also works with alejandro sometimes
Sofía
Sofía
I don't know if I trust her
Marcos
the more we are, the better, right? more proof, more people
Carmen
it's true. and she went to the barcelona meeting. she can confirm what happened with me
Sofía
ok. I'll add her. but with care, eh?
Sofia adds Elena to the group. At that moment, Alejandro is on the other side of the office, having coffee and laughing with Roberto. He knows nothing. Yet.
Elena
hi guys? what is this
Sofía
elena, look at the email I sent you. alejandro stole the project from me. we're going to talk this afternoon at 2:00 PM in the small room. can you come?
Elena
I just read it
Elena
how intense sofia. of course I'm coming
Sofía
—
thanks. and elena — this stays between us, ok? no one says anything until Friday
Elena
of course
Before the meeting
It's 1:47 PM. The morning passed slowly. Sofia couldn't concentrate on anything. She saw Alejandro twice in the hallway. He smiled as if everything were fine. She smiled too. It was very difficult.
Marcos
I'm already in the room. are you guys coming?
Sofía
I'm coming now
Carmen
😅
one moment, I'm finishing eating 😅
Elena
I can't go now, I'm sorry. something has come up for me
Sofía
what has come up for you?
Elena
an important call. tomorrow I'll tell you guys everything ok?
Marcos
sofia...
Sofía
I already know
After the meeting
Sofia, Marcos, and Carmen met for forty minutes. They organized the emails, the dates, the documents. They made a plan to speak with Roberto on Thursday. Leaving the room, Sofia saw Elena. She was talking to Alejandro. The two went quiet when they saw her.
Sofía
marcos. I just saw elena with alejandro. the two of them stopped talking when they saw me
Marcos
what
Marcos
Marcos
Carmen
😭
I told you guys. I told you we should be careful 😭
Sofía
ok. calm down. we don't know anything for sure yet
Sofía
but I'm going to talk to roberto tomorrow. alone. without waiting for Thursday
Marcos
yes. good idea. before alejandro gets to him first
Carmen
sofia, do you want me to go with you?
Sofía
❤️
I think better alone. more personal. but thanks carmen ❤️
Monday night
That night, Sofia reviewed all her files. She organized the evidence: emails with dates, project drafts, screenshots. At 11:00 PM she was still awake. She was afraid, but she was also very sure of one thing: she was right.
Sofía
Voice message
Marcos
good night sofia. tomorrow give it your all. and if you need anything, call me
Tuesday — 9:05
Tuesday, 9:05 AM. Sofia is outside Roberto's office. She knocks on the door.
Sofía
Voice message
Sofia: marcos. I'm out of the talk with roberto. Marcos: and??? what happened, tell me now. Sofia: well... he already knew something. someone spoke with him before me. Marcos: elena. Sofia: he didn't say it directly. but yes. he said alejandro also spoke to him early this morning. that he explained his 'version'. Marcos: my god. and did roberto believe you? Sofia: I think so. I showed him everything. the emails, the dates, the drafts. he got very serious. he said he needs time to review everything before Friday. Marcos: ok. that's good, right? Sofia: I hope so. but marcos... I'm shaking. Marcos: hey, you did the right thing. whatever it is, you did the right thing.
Sofía
carmen. I already spoke with roberto. elena told alejandro something. I'm almost sure
Carmen
I knew it sofia. I knew it from the start
Carmen
what is roberto going to do?
Sofía
review everything before Friday. we have to wait
Elena
hi. I know you guys are angry with me
Sofía
elena. did you talk with alejandro about what we said in the group?
Elena
...
Elena
he told me that if I didn't warn him he was going to speak badly of me to roberto. I'm afraid of losing my job sofia
Marcos
elena... that's the same thing he does with everyone. he uses fear
Carmen
exactly. that's why we have to stop this together
Sofía
elena. I understand that you were afraid. truly. but you put me in a very difficult situation
Elena
I'm sorry sofia. I'm very sorry. can I do something to help you now?
Sofía
yes. tell roberto what alejandro did to you. the truth. all of it
Elena
I will. this very day
Friday — The day of the meeting
Friday arrived slowly. At 10:00 AM, Roberto called a meeting. Only four people received the message: Sofia, Marcos, Carmen... and Alejandro.
Marcos
sofia. I just saw the invitation. alejandro is also invited
Sofía
I already know
Sofía
good. that way he can hear everything
Carmen
💙
good luck sofia 💙
Marcos
💪
we are with you 💪
One hour later
The meeting lasted an hour and twenty minutes. Sofia spoke with calm and clarity. She showed all the evidence. Carmen and Marcos confirmed her story. Alejandro didn't say much. At the end, Roberto asked Alejandro to leave the room.
Sofía
roberto asked alejandro to leave the meeting
Marcos
WHAT
Carmen
😭
sofia I'm shaking sitting here 😭
Sofía
roberto said the project is mine. official. and that they are going to talk to alejandro separately next week
Marcos
you did it
Carmen
I'm very proud of you. very very proud
Elena
sofia... I also spoke with roberto yesterday. about the barcelona thing. I wanted you to know
Sofía
I know elena. roberto told me. thanks
Sofía
hey guys
Sofía
🍕
lunch today? my treat 🍕
Alex
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