For nine years, Catherine “Cat” Bennett kept the clients happy, the projects moving, and her shrinking team afloat. Then HR offered her a sixty percent pay cut. Same accounts. Same responsibilities. Less than half the salary. Her boss knew she was a single mother. He knew she had a mortgage and a son who needed asthma medication. He expected her to sign. Cat cried in her car instead. Then a former colleague called. Their biggest competitor had been trying to recruit her for years—and its CEO wanted a meeting. By the time Cat returned to give HR her answer, she had a signed offer in her bag. Her boss had prepared for an employee who couldn’t afford to leave. He hadn’t prepared for what losing her would cost.