I Set Them Up Proper, To Fail

I deliberately withheld critical information before their presentation. I knew they’d walk in unprepared and I knew who would be watching. When they stumbled, I stepped in with the missing details and looked helpful. Management praised me for saving the situation. They were marked as unreliable after that. I never told them what I’d done. I just accepted the promotion that followed. It was planned, not impulsive, and that’s the part I don’t soften.