Lera, have you by any chance seen my container with cutlets? The blue one, Maksim looked into the fridge and scratched the back of his head in confusion.
What blue one? There was only my green one this morning, Lera looked up from her documents and glanced at her colleague. And now it’s gone too.
Strange. I definitely put mine there. Maybe someone took it by mistake?
Lera got up and approached the fridge. The empty shelves stared at them reproachfully. Something clicked in her mind — this was already the third time this week her lunch had disappeared. At first, she thought she’d forgotten it at home or mixed up containers. But today she clearly remembered — she put hot pilaf in the green box early in the morning.
Listen, Max, has your food ever disappeared before?
No, never, this is the first time. What about you?
Not the first time anymore, Lera thoughtfully closed the fridge door. Maybe someone really is mixing things up?
At that moment, Zoya entered the break room holding a plastic spoon. She looked slightly worried.
Hi guys. Do you know whose pilaf this green container is? I took it thinking it was mine, but it tastes kind of strange.
Lera felt a chill inside.
That’s my pilaf, Zoya.
Oh, sorry! I really thought it was mine. They look almost identical, Zoya smiled apologetically. I only tasted a little bit. I’ll bring it back now.
No need, finish it, Lera said, though inside she was boiling with indignation. How could someone take someone else’s food and not even recognize their own?
After Zoya left, Maksim shook his head.
Maybe she took my container? Mine was blue too, and I remember hers was blue as well.
I don’t know, Lera returned to her desk but couldn’t focus on work.
The next day she deliberately wrote her name in big letters on the container. She put it in the fridge at eight in the morning, but at lunch it was gone. This time, there was no note left behind.
Lera went around the office, checking every room. In a far corner, she saw the familiar green container on Sveta from accounting’s desk.
Sveta, where did you get my container?
What container? Zoya gave it to me, said she brought an extra one.
But my name is written on it!
Sveta took the container and looked carefully.
Indeed… Lera. Strange, Zoya said it was hers.
At that moment, Zoya appeared with two cups of coffee.
Sveta, I brought you coffee, she froze seeing the container in her friend’s hands. Ah, Lera, you’re here. Sorry, I mixed them up again. Honestly, not on purpose.
Zoya, my name is on it. How can you mix it up?
I wasn’t looking closely! I was in a hurry this morning and grabbed the first one I saw. I thought it was mine.
Lera took back the container. It was almost empty.
Next time, be more careful, please.
Of course, of course. It won’t happen again.
But it did. More than once. Every two or three days, her lunch mysteriously disappeared. Sometimes she found the empty container in the sink, sometimes on a colleague’s desk. Each time Zoya apologized, swearing it was an accident, that she was in a hurry, that she mixed things up.
Two weeks later Lera realized — this wasn’t an accident. It was a pattern.
She started watching. Came early, stayed late, kept an eye on the fridge. And soon saw what finally dispelled her doubts.
Zoya approached the fridge, opened it, carefully inspected the contents, and confidently took Lera’s container. No rush, no confusion. Just took it and left.
Maksim, can I have a minute?
Sure. What’s up?
Remember you asked about the missing lunches?
Yeah. What about it?
I know who’s taking them.
Lera told him what she had observed. Maksim frowned more and more.
Are you sure she’s doing it on purpose?
Absolutely. Yesterday I saw her picking exactly my container, even though there were three similar ones nearby.
And what are you going to do?
I’ll talk to her directly. Maybe she just doesn’t realize how it looks.
The next day Lera approached Zoya in the corridor.
Zoya, we need to talk.
About what? Zoya smiled, but a flicker of wariness flashed in her eyes.
About my lunches. I know you take them on purpose.
What? Lera, what are you talking about? I already explained, I mix them up accidentally.
You don’t mix them up. I saw you picking exactly my container among others.
Zoya blushed but kept denying.
Are you spying on me? This is paranoia. Making a fuss over food…
Zoya, just stop. Buy your own lunches or bring them from home. But don’t take mine.
I don’t take yours! And what right do you have to accuse me of stealing!
The conversation led nowhere. Zoya left, loudly protesting, insisting it was all a misunderstanding.
But the next day, lunches disappeared not only from Lera but also from Maksim and new employee Anya from the neighboring department.
This is too much, Maksim said when they found the fridge empty. We need to talk to Valentina Petrovna.
I don’t know… She’ll say we’re distracting her from work over nonsense.
What if the whole department ends up without lunches?
Valentina Petrovna listened carefully but responded predictably:
You’re coming to me over food? We have a quarterly plan burning a hole, and you’re counting containers. Sort it out like adults.
After that talk, Zoya became even bolder. She not only continued taking others’ lunches but also started telling colleagues that Lera was “stingy” and “makes a fuss over every crumb.”
Imagine, Lera overheard Zoya telling Sveta, she stopped me in the corridor, yelling that I’m stealing her food. I explained it’s an accident, but she doesn’t believe me. Says I was watching her on purpose.
Really? Has she always been like that?
I don’t know, we used to get along fine. Maybe she has problems at home, takes it out at work.
Lera felt the atmosphere changing. People looked at her with confusion, whispered behind her back. Some colleagues started avoiding conversations with her.
It was especially unpleasant that Zoya now acted as if nothing happened. She greeted with a sweet smile, asked about things, offered help. But lunches kept disappearing.
Tamara Ivanovna, Lera asked the cleaning lady who always saw and knew everything, have you noticed who’s taking food from the fridge?
Tamara Ivanovna looked around to make sure no one was near and quietly said:
Girl, I see everything. That Zoya comes every day, picks the tastiest containers and takes them. Then she boasts to her friend that some fool feeds her for free.
She really said that? ‘Fool’?
Not exactly, but it means the same. She says she tricked a simpleton into free food. And that now she’s learned to fool not just her but others too.
Lera felt her blood boil. So Zoya didn’t just take her lunches — she mocked her, telling her friend how stupid she was.
Can you confirm this if needed?
Of course, dear. But be careful. That girl is tricky, might cause more trouble.
That evening Lera thought long about what to do. She could ignore it, start buying lunches in the cafeteria. But something inside resisted. Why should she change her habits just because someone shamelessly takes advantage of her kindness?
Then she had an idea.
The next morning Lera got up early and cooked a special pilaf. It looked perfectly normal — rice, carrot, meat. But she added as much hot chili pepper as she had ever dared. She tasted it — eyes watered, mouth burned like fire. Perfect.
She divided the pilaf into two containers — one regular for herself, one “gift” for Zoya. She put them in the fridge and waited.
At one o’clock, a cry came from the break room:
Water! Water quickly!
Lera calmly got up and went to see what was happening. In the break room, Zoya, red as a lobster, was gulping water from a bottle. Nearby stood the familiar green container with leftover pilaf.
What happened? Lera asked innocently.
This pilaf… it’s strange… very spicy, Zoya gasped between gulps.
What pilaf? Lera approached. Ah, that’s my container. Zoya, did you take my food again?
I… I thought…
Thought what? My name is written on it, as always.
Maksim came over, drawn by the noise.
What’s going on here?
Zoya took my lunch and now complains it’s spicy, Lera explained. I cooked it spicier for myself, I like that.
You did it on purpose! Zoya put down the bottle and looked at Lera indignantly. You knew I’d take it!
How could I know? Lera shrugged. You said you take lunches by mistake, that you mix them up. I cooked it for myself.
That’s mean!
What’s mean? Cooking food to your taste?
Valentina Petrovna entered, attracted by the shouting.
What’s the noise? The whole office can hear.
Valentina Petrovna, Zoya attacked the boss, she cooked spicy pilaf on purpose so I’d get poisoned!
Who cooked on purpose? Valentina Petrovna looked sternly at Lera.
I cooked my own lunch, Lera answered calmly. I like spicy food. And Zoya took my container again, even though my name is on it.
Again? the boss repeated. So this isn’t the first time?
It’s been going on for a month, Maksim chimed in. My lunches disappeared too.
And Anya from the neighboring department, added a girl who had come to the fridge. I thought I’d lost mine myself somewhere.
Valentina Petrovna looked closely at Zoya:
Explain what’s going on.
I sometimes mix up containers, take the wrong one, Zoya tried to justify. Not on purpose! And now she’s setting traps!
What traps? the boss asked, puzzled.
Cooking spicy food on purpose so I’d…
So you wouldn’t take other people’s food? Valentina Petrovna’s voice grew cold.
In the ensuing silence, Tamara Ivanovna entered with a bucket and mop.
Valentina Petrovna, sorry to interrupt, she said quietly. But I saw it all. That girl, she nodded at Zoya, comes every day, picks other people’s containers and takes them. Then brags to her friend.
Tamara Ivanovna, that’s not true! Zoya protested.
Girl, I’ve worked in this office for thirty years. I’ve seen and remember everything. You think I didn’t hear you telling Sveta that some simpleton feeds you for free?
Zoya went pale. Valentina Petrovna frowned even more.
Alright, everyone disperse. Zoya, come to my office in ten minutes.
After everyone left, Maksim approached Lera:
Wow, you’re something else. That chili idea was genius.
I really cooked it for myself, Lera smiled. Just wanted to experiment with spiciness.
Yeah, experiment, Maksim laughed. Poor Zoya, her mouth is probably still burning.
Let her eat her own food next time.
After talking to the boss, Zoya received a reprimand. Officially — for causing conflicts and spreading false information about colleagues. Unofficially, everyone understood why exactly.
From that day, Zoya stopped taking others’ lunches. She also stopped greeting Lera, answered work questions with monosyllables, and showed her displeasure openly.
A few days later, Sveta from accounting approached Lera:
Listen, I wanted to apologize. Zoya told me you’re picking on her over nonsense. I believed her without checking.
It’s okay, Lera replied. We all sometimes believe what we want to hear.
She told it so convincingly… Said you freak out over every little thing.
Now you see who was really freaking out.
A new order settled in the office. Valentina Petrovna ordered everyone to label their containers clearly and boldly. A sign appeared on the fridge: “Do not take others’ food! Violators will be reprimanded.”
Inspired by Lera, Maksim also started bringing homemade lunches.
You know, he said one day, you inspired me. I used to think cooking at home was too much trouble. But it’s actually cheaper and tastier.
And no one steals it, Lera added with a laugh.
Yeah, now no one will steal it for sure.
Zoya never spoke to Lera again. They greeted each other curtly only when work required. Each kept their own opinion about what happened.
Sometimes Lera caught Zoya’s angry glance and understood she still blamed her for “making a fuss out of nothing.” But Lera was sure she had done the right thing defending her boundaries.
Tamara Ivanovna once came up to her at the end of the workday:
Girl, you did right not to let yourself be bullied. Girls like that Zoya need to be put in their place immediately. Otherwise, they sit on your neck and swing their legs.
I was just tired of putting up with it, Lera admitted.
And rightly so. Kindness should come with fists, as they say.
A month later, a new employee — Marina — joined the office. Young and energetic, she quickly blended in. Soon Lera noticed the girl started bringing homemade lunches.
Good idea, Marina said when they talked in the kitchen. You cook what you want at home, save money, and know what’s in your food.
Just be careful with your containers, Lera advised. We’ve had mix-ups here.
What mix-ups?
Lera told the story with Zoya without naming names. Marina listened carefully.
Got it. Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful.
And indeed, Marina labeled her containers not only with her name but also drew funny faces on them. “So no one can mix them up,” she explained.
Zoya now bought lunches at the cafeteria or brought sandwiches from home. But sometimes Lera noticed her lingering gaze on other people’s containers in the fridge. Old habits apparently died hard.
The conflict had run its course, but the relationship was never restored. They worked in the same department, handled work matters, but no longer had personal communication. Each drew a line they would not cross.
Lera learned an important lesson: sometimes you have to defend your boundaries firmly but fairly. Kindness and understanding solve many problems, but not all. Some people see kindness as weakness and are ready to take advantage.
And Zoya apparently never realized she was wrong. In her world, she remained the victim of a “troublesome colleague” who “blew a scandal over nothing.”
But the main thing was that lunches stopped disappearing. And that, in the end, was the most important result of the whole story.