I’d been at a logistics firm in Chicago for six years when my boss, Russell, suddenly laid me off. He claimed it was “corporate restructuring,” then handed me six thick folders to prep for my “replacement.” That replacement? His college friend, Marissa.

Out of curiosity, I checked the folders before leaving. They were a mess—errors that could cost the company big. Normally, I’d fix them. But this time, I didn’t. When Russell asked on Friday if I’d reviewed them, I looked him in the eye and said, “Didn’t even open them.”

Weeks later, I landed a better job through an old conference contact. Meanwhile, word spread: Marissa botched the folders, losing the company $300k. Russell tried to blame me, but HR logs cleared my name. He was fired within two months. Marissa resigned soon after.

Six months into my new role, my new boss promoted me to Regional Manager—higher pay, bigger scope, and a healthier culture. The same day, I thought back to that conference room. How disposable Russell made me feel. And how wrong he was.

The lesson? Don’t carry a company on your back if they won’t carry your name into the next meeting. Loyalty isn’t owed—it’s earned. Sometimes being underestimated is the best thing that can happen.