Finding a hidden Christmas gift is supposed to bring excitement and joy — but what if the tag reveals a name that shatters your trust? One woman’s discovery turned heartbreak into a bold act of revenge that’s equal parts shocking and satisfying.
Two days before Christmas, I found a hidden gift box in my husband’s closet meant for his mistress. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I planned the “perfect” surprise instead, one they’d never forget.
I never thought I’d be the type of woman who’d get creative with payback, but life has a way of surprising you. Just like finding that little red gift box in my husband’s closet surprised me. Now, sitting here with a glass of wine, I can’t help but smile at how perfectly my Christmas surprise turned out.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
The first sign something was wrong came a month before Christmas. Jimmy started working late… really late. The kind of late that makes you wonder if your husband’s office actually has a bed hidden somewhere.
Then, one day, out of the blue, he was already home. Weird.
“Hey, you’re home early! I took half a day off today. Headache. So, how was the meeting with the client” his voice echoed from the kitchen as I walked through our front door at 7 p.m. These days, that counts as early.
I dropped my keys in the ceramic bowl we’d bought on our honeymoon. “Yeah, the meeting was fine.”
A man smiling | Source: Midjourney
The house felt empty despite the Christmas decorations I’d put up — the garland along the stairs, the wreaths on every door, and the giant tree in our living room that I’d decorated alone while Jimmy worked another late night.
“I made pasta,” he called out. “Want some?”
“Already ate.” I headed upstairs, my footsteps heavy on the wooden stairs. “Got a headache. Think I’ll turn in early.”
A woman ascending upstairs | Source: Midjourney
That night, I lay awake listening to Jimmy’s steady breathing beside me, wondering when exactly we’d become strangers who shared a bed. Five years of marriage, no kids yet. We’d been “waiting for the right time.”
Now, I wondered if there’d ever be one.
My mom had warned me about marrying young. “You’re only 23, Alina,” she’d said. “What’s the rush?”
But I’d been so sure. Jimmy was different. He was special. He was… well, currently getting a text at 2 a.m. that made his phone light up the darkness of our bedroom.
A man using a smartphone in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney
Two days before Christmas, I finally tackled Jimmy’s disaster of a home office and then started cleaning his closet. Between the messy clothes, tangled charging cables, and abandoned gym gear, something caught my eye.
It was a red gift box tucked behind some of his winter coats.
My heart skipped. Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe he’d planned a surprise. Maybe all those late nights were just him working hard to afford something special for me.
Then I saw the note attached with a pristine silver ribbon: “LOVE YOU, JULIE!”
Here’s the heartbreaker: My name IS NOT JULIE!
A red gift box | Source: Midjourney
The world didn’t stop spinning. My hands didn’t shake. Instead, a strange calm washed over me as I opened the box to find a diamond necklace — the exact one I’d shown him months ago during our anniversary dinner.
“Look how beautiful that is,” I’d said, pointing to the jewelry store window.
“Too expensive,” he’d replied, barely glancing up from his phone.
Apparently not too expensive for Julie, though!
A heartbroken woman holding a red gift box | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark, my furniture-fixing friend from college. “Remember when you said you owe me for helping with your divorce paperwork? Time to cash in that favor.”
“Alina? Everything okay?”
“Not really. How good are you at modifying gift boxes?”
Mark’s workshop smelled like sawdust and revenge when I visited. He whistled as he examined the box. “You sure about this, Alina? Once we modify it, we can’t—”
“Absolutely.” I handed him a small canister that contained my secret recipe for revenge. “Make it count.”
A woman holding a small canister | Source: Midjourney
“It’ll trigger the moment anyone lifts the lid more than an inch.” He demonstrated the mechanism with careful hands. “Spring-loaded, just like you asked. It will hit everything within a three-foot radius. Industrial grade stuff.”
I smiled, imagining the scene. “Perfect!”
“Want to tell me who it’s for?”
“Let’s just say someone’s getting an extra special Christmas surprise this year.”
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
That evening, I returned the gift box to its hiding spot, right where Jimmy would expect to find it. Now came the hard part… waiting.
Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. I’d always loved the magic, anticipation, and joy of Christmas. This year, I felt a different kind of anticipation as I watched from the kitchen while Jimmy grabbed his coat, the red box poorly hidden under his arm.
“Heading to the office, hun?” I asked sweetly, stirring my coffee. “On Christmas?”
A man smiling against the backdrop of Christmas decorations | Source: Midjourney
“Just for an hour,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes. “Emergency client meeting, sugar.”
“Of course. Don’t work too hard.”
He smiled and left. I grabbed my car keys and followed him to Honey Bunz, our favorite restaurant.
Through the window, I saw her. JULIE. My husband’s mistress. She had that perfectly styled blonde hair, red lipstick, and a designer outfit. Everything I didn’t have.
A young woman smiling in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Julie bounced in her seat like a kid on Christmas morning as Jimmy approached. “Awww, Jim, darling! You shouldn’t have!” She clapped her hands together, drawing stares from nearby tables.
“Anything for you, sweetheart.” Jimmy’s voice carried through the window he’d forgotten to close completely. He slid into the booth across from her, presenting the glittery box with a flourish. “I picked it out for you, my love.”
“Oh my god, is it…?” Julie’s eyes widened as she grabbed the box. “The diamond necklace from La Enchanted Diamonds? The one I showed you last month? The diamond ring from Botswana?”
An excited woman holding a glittery gift box | Source: Midjourney
“Open it and see, sugar.” Jimmy leaned forward, grinning like a fool.
“I’m trying. The knot seems a bit too tight,” Julie said.
“Let me help you,” Jimmy rose from his chair and approached her as they untied the ribbon.
“Three…” I whispered, my phone steady and recording. “Two… one…”
SPLAT!
The explosion of green paint was magnificent. Julie’s scream hit a note I didn’t think was humanly possible. “MY HAIR! MY DRESS!” She jumped up, paint dripping down her face like melted ice cream. “JIMMY, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”
A startled woman shrieking | Source: Midjourney
Jimmy stood frozen, mouth open, green paint dripping from his nose. “I… I don’t…”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Julie shrieked, wiping paint from her eyes. “Do you think this is funny, you MORON?”
An elderly woman at the next table snorted into her mimosa. “Well, I think it’s hilarious!”
“Someone get this on video!” a teenage boy called out.
“Already trending!” another responded, typing furiously on his phone.
A shocked man with his face covered in green paint | Source: Midjourney
Julie grabbed her ruined designer purse. “I look like the Grinch threw up on me! This dress cost more than your monthly salary, you idiot!”
“Julie, baby, wait—” Jimmy stood up, spreading green paint everywhere.
“Don’t ‘baby’ me! I’m done being your dirty little suprise!” She stormed toward the door, leaving green footprints in her wake. “And by the way? Your wife’s way too good for you!”
You got that right, sister!
A furious woman | Source: Midjourney
I barely made it home before Jimmy burst through the door, his face and expensive suit covered in bright green paint.
“What happened to you?” I gasped, fighting to keep my expression concerned. “You look like the Grinch!”
“Some… some kids with paint balloons,” he sputtered. “They were targeting everyone outside my office.”
“On Christmas? How awful!” I reached for the manila envelope on the counter. “Oh, by the way, these came for you today. Consider it my Christmas gift, DARLING!”
A woman holding a manila envelope | Source: Midjourney
Jimmy’s paint-streaked fingers trembled as he opened the envelope. His eyes widened at the divorce papers inside.
“WHAT?” He looked up, anxiety dawning on his green face.
“Merry Christmas, darling.” I pulled the diamond necklace out of my pocket. “By the way, your taste in jewelry has improved since our anniversary. Poor Julie. She missed out on this!”
A woman holding a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney
“You… you swi—”
“Yep! I switched the gift box you’d so lovingly hidden for your sweet mistress! How was the surprise? Liked it?”
“Alina, honey, let me explain. You don’t understand!” He stepped forward. “Julie means nothing to me! She was a mistake!”
“A mistake?” I laughed. “A mistake is forgetting to buy milk. A mistake is mixing whites with colors in the laundry. Buying your mistress the exact necklace your wife wanted? That’s betrayal.”
A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
“We can fix this!” He reached for me with paint-stained hands. “I’ll do anything! Counseling, therapy, whatever you want!”
“What I want?” I stepped back. “I wanted a faithful husband. I wanted the man I married. Instead, I got a liar who can’t even come up with a decent excuse for being caught. ‘Kids with paint balloons?’ Really?”
“Baby, please,” Jimmy stepped forward, green paint dripping onto our pristine floors. “It was nothing serious. Julie was just… she didn’t mean anything. We never—”
“Save it.” I held up my hand. “I’ve heard all the excuses. ‘She’s just a friend.’ ‘We’re just colleagues.’ ‘Those late nights were just work.’ Do you know what the worst part is? I actually believed you for a while.”
An angry woman yelling | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t do this. Please. I’m sorry.”
I laughed. “You know what’s funny? I spent months thinking I wasn’t enough. That I needed to be prettier, smarter, and better somehow. But standing here looking at you covered in paint, I realize you’re the one who was never enough.”
“Give me another chance.”
“No.” I grabbed my packed suitcase from behind the couch. “But thanks for the necklace. Consider it my consolation prize. Oh, and Jimmy? Green really isn’t your color.”
As I drove away, I caught one last glimpse of Jimmy in my rearview mirror, a pathetic green figure standing in our driveway. My phone buzzed with notifications. Apparently, someone had posted the paint incident online. The video was already going viral.
A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash
The last I heard, Julie dumped him following the paint incident that made rounds at the law firm where they worked. She couldn’t handle being known as ‘the green mistress.
Jimmy tried dating apps for a while, but it’s hard to find matches when you’re infamous as “the green Christmas cheater.”
Me? I’m doing just fine. The necklace looks beautiful with everything I wear. Every time it catches the light, I smile, remembering my special Christmas payback: the day I wrapped up my marriage with a bow and a whole lot of green paint.
A cheerful woman wearing a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney
Here’s another story: I mourned my dead wife for 23 years after she died in a plane crash. But fate had arranged for one more meeting with her.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
My Colleague Suggested We Buy a Joint $2,000 Gift for Our Boss and Now Refuses to Pay Her Share
Rachel reluctantly agrees to buy a $2,000 watch for their boss after her colleague Emily promises to split the cost. But when Emily refuses to pay her share, Rachel is left struggling with the unexpected financial burden. Determined to teach Emily a lesson, Rachel devises a clever plan to expose her deceit. But will she succeed in bringing Emily’s dishonesty to light?
“That’s a lot of money, Emily,” I sighed, stirring my coffee slowly.
A person stirring coffee | Source: Pexels
“Oh, come on, Rachel,” she said, sitting across from me. “Think about it! A $1,600 watch for Mr. Johnson’s birthday would show our dedication. Plus, I’m sure he’ll love the customized engraving. Oh, and with that, the total would be $2,000.”
I took a sip of my coffee, trying to buy some time. “It’s just… that’s a huge expense. Are you sure about this?” I asked.
A woman sipping coffee | Source: Pexels
“Absolutely!” she replied, nodding eagerly. “Trust me, Rachel. It will be perfect. And don’t worry about the cost. We’ll split it, and I promise to pay my half as soon as possible.”
I felt a knot forming in my stomach. I liked Emily, despite her reputation for sucking up to management. She’s always the one staying late, bringing coffee, and organizing events. But this whole watch idea seemed too much, even for her.
A man wearing a watch | Source: Unsplash
“Emily, I don’t know. I have bills to pay, and $2,000 is a lot for me right now,” I said, hoping she’d understand.
“Rachel, this is an investment in our future here,” she insisted, trying to convince me. “Imagine the impression we’ll make! Mr. Johnson will remember this forever, and it could really boost our standing in the company.”
A smiling woman chatting with her colleague | Source: Pexels
I sighed again. Emily always had a way of making things sound so simple and beneficial.
“Alright,” I said reluctantly, finally giving in. “Let’s get the watch. But please don’t forget what you’ve promised.”
“Of course, Rachel,” she said. “He’ll love the gift!”
A man in a suit with his arms folded | Source: Pexels
Soon, Mr. Johnson’s birthday arrived.
Emily had everything meticulously planned.
She walked into his office first, and I followed, holding my breath.
A man holding a pen and pointing at a monitor | Source: Pexels
“Mr. Johnson!” she exclaimed, standing beside his desk. “We have a special surprise for you!”
Mr. Johnson looked up from his paperwork, clearly curious.
Emily handed him the elegantly wrapped box, her eyes shining with pride. “This was our idea,” she said, “but I really pushed for it because I knew it was perfect for you.”
A person holding a gift in their hands | Source: Unsplash
I stood there, smiling awkwardly. Emily opened the box to reveal the watch, and Mr. Johnson’s eyes widened in surprise.
“This is incredible. You really didn’t need to!” he said, examining the watch. “Thank you so much. This is really thoughtful.”
A watch on a man’s wrist | Source: Unsplash
Emily beamed, soaking in his praise. I forced a smile, feeling a pang of regret. I had hoped this gift would be a gesture of teamwork, but it quickly became Emily’s solo performance.
She kept talking about how she had put extra effort into getting the gift for him, which made me realize I had spent a thousand dollars for nothing more than a front-row seat to Emily’s self-promotion.
A young woman talking to an older man | Source: Midjourney
“This is wonderful, Emily. Thank you again,” Mr. Johnson said.
Emily turned to me with a triumphant grin. “See, Rachel? I told you he’d love it.”
I managed a weak smile. “Yeah, he really does,” I said.
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
A week passed, but I didn’t hear anything from Emily about her share.
One day, I found her in the break room, chatting away with another colleague. I waited until she was alone before approaching her.
“Hey, Emily,” I started calmly. “I… I just wanted to remind you about your share of the cost of Mr. Johnson’s watch. I have some expenses, and I really need that money right now.”
Two women chatting at workplace | Source: Freepik
Emily looked up at me with a condescending smile. “Oh, sweetie, I thought you were just helping out. I never intended to pay. Besides, you earn more than I do, don’t you? Consider it a charitable act.”
“WHAT?” I stared at her, stunned. “What do you mean? You… weren’t you supposed to pay your share?”
A smiling woman talking to her co-worker | Source: Freepik
“Look, life isn’t fair, Rachel,” she shrugged. “You wanted to make a good impression, and we did. Didn’t you see how happy Mr. Johnson was? Isn’t that worth it?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Her selfishness was astounding. “That’s not the point, Emily,” I said, my voice rising. “You promised to pay your half!”
A stern-looking woman | Source: Pexels
She laughed. “Oh, Rachel, you’re making a big deal out of nothing. Let it go,” she said and walked away.
I stared at her, anger and frustration bubbling up inside me. Clearly, she had no intention of paying and didn’t care about the impact on me.
So I made up my mind. It was time for some payback.
A confident woman | Source: Pexels
Two days later, I looked into Emily’s schedule and discovered she had a big presentation for the upcoming quarterly meeting. This was crucial for her, and I saw an opportunity.
I began subtly mentioning to a few trusted colleagues that Emily might need ‘help’ with her presentation.
A woman giving a presentation | Source: Pexels
Word spread quickly, and soon everyone offered her ‘suggestions’ and ‘feedback.’ The result? The conflicting advice overwhelmed her, and I could see her becoming more stressed. She did manage to give the presentation, but it was a huge mess.
I wasn’t done yet, though.
A sad-looking young woman | Source: Midjourney
One day, while having lunch in the break room, I overheard Emily bragging about a meeting with a potential big client. She sat at the table, surrounded by a few colleagues, her voice full of confidence.
“This client is huge,” she said, her eyes gleaming. “If I close this deal, I’m sure to get a promotion. Mr. Johnson will be so impressed.”
Co-workers around a table | Source: Pexels
I listened quietly, my mind already plotting. After lunch, I returned to my desk and found the client’s contact information.
I crafted an anonymous email, attaching screenshots of Emily’s rude social media comments.
A person using their laptop | Source: Unsplash
“I felt it was important to inform you about some unethical behavior by Ms. Richards who is scheduled to meet with you,” I wrote in the mail to the client. “Please see the attached screenshots of her social media posts, which include rude and unprofessional comments.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Individual.”
A Gmail screen | Source: Unsplash
A few days later, Emily’s face was pale as she entered the office.
“The client canceled the meeting,” she told a colleague. “They said it was due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’ I don’t know what went wrong!”
A stressed woman | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry to hear that, Emily,” the colleague replied. “That must be tough.”
Emily sighed and walked away, clearly distressed. Only I knew how hard it was to contain my laugh. But even after going through so much, Emily wouldn’t mend her ways.
A laughing woman at workplace | Source: Unsplash
She started spreading rumors that she had single-handedly bought the watch for Mr. Johnson. Had she guessed I was behind her canceled meeting and failed presentation? I didn’t know. But I wouldn’t let her succeed.
So, I printed out our email exchange where she promised to pay her half and placed copies on the desks of key people in our department, including HR. The next day, whispers filled the office as people read the emails.
A woman using a printer | Source: Pexels
“Can you believe this?” one colleague said, showing the email to another. “Emily promised to pay her half for the watch.”
“Unbelievable,” the other replied. “She’s been taking all the credit.”
Emily’s popularity plummeted, and she looked more stressed than ever. I decided to take it one step further.
A stressed woman at work | Source: Pexels
Creating a fake online persona as a headhunter from a prestigious company, I sent Emily a message.
“To: [email protected]
Subject: Exciting Job Opportunity
Dear Ms. Richards,” I typed.
A person typing on their laptop | Source: Unsplash
“We have been following your impressive work and would love to discuss a potential job opportunity with you at our prestigious firm. We believe you would be a perfect fit for our team. Please let us know if you are available for an interview this Thursday at 10 AM.
Best regards,
Linda J.
Executive Recruiter, El.T.Search.”
An excited female employee | Source: Midjourney
Emily’s eyes lit up as she read the email. She ran over to the desk beside me, her excitement barely contained.
“You won’t believe this! I just got an email from a top headhunter. They want to interview me for a high-level position!”
“That’s amazing, Emily!” Stacey, my co-worker, said. “You should definitely go for it.”
A smiling woman chatting with her co-worker | Source: Freepik
Emily called in sick on the day of the fake interview, completely convinced it was real. She dressed in her best business attire and left the house early to be there on time.
The next day, she returned to the office and I overheard her talking to Stacey. “There was no interview,” she said sadly. “I showed up, and no one knew who I was.”
A sad woman | Source: Midjourney
“That’s so strange, Emily. Maybe it was some sort of mistake?”
Emily nodded slowly, still in shock. “Maybe…”
Hardly had she finished talking when Mr. Johnson approached her.
“Emily, we need to talk. Please come into my office,” he said sternly.
A serious-looking man in a suit | Source: Pexels
Emily’s confidence visibly shook. She followed him, her face pale. I stayed at my desk, straining to hear the conversation from behind my computer.
“Emily, I’ve received some concerning information,” Mr. Johnson began, his tone firm. “Can you explain why our client canceled their meeting with you?”
An older man in professional attire | Source: Midjourney
“I-I don’t know, sir. They said it was due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Mr. Johnson raised an eyebrow. “Unforeseen circumstances? Or could it be because they received an email with screenshots of your unprofessional social media comments?”
A female employee talking to her boss | Source: Midjourney
Emily gasped. “What? No, I… I didn’t think… I mean, those were private posts!” she gasped, staring at a tablet screen. Maybe Mr. Johnson was showing her the mail.
“They may have been, but they reflect poorly on you and this company,” Mr. Johnson said sharply. “And there’s more. I’ve been hearing rumors that you claimed to have bought the watch for me single-handedly. Is that true?”
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
Emily’s face turned pale. Her silence said it was true.
“Emily, this behavior is unacceptable. You’ve been manipulating situations and lying to your colleagues. This ends now. You are being demoted, effective immediately. One more misstep and you will be terminated!” Mr. Johnson declared.
A box labelled “FIRED” | Source: Pexels
Emily emerged from the office, looking defeated. That same day, in a team meeting, Mr. Johnson took off the expensive watch and held it up for everyone to see.
“This gift was meant to symbolize teamwork and appreciation,” he began, “but given the circumstances, I think it’s only fair to return it.”
A happy boss and employee | Source: Midjourney
He then walked over to me and handed me the watch. “I believe this was more of your contribution. Please, you keep it,” he said.
Emily turned beet red as everyone watched. Her scheme had backfired spectacularly, and my efforts to expose her had paid off.
And that was how I got my ultimate petty revenge on a two-faced colleague.
A smiling woman | Source: Unsplash
What would you have done?
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