'I run the place: Florist refuses to continue managing a flower shop for the woman buying his grandma's business after he catches her trash-talking and disrespecting him behind his back

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Sep 14, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

This florist knew that his world was about to be turned upside down when his beloved grandma sold her flower shop to the highest bidder. While he wanted his Granny to get the retirement she deserved, the undeserving Karen, who bought her business, was far from the milk n' cookies type. Of course, no business owner has to be a diary of good cheer and joyful tidings all the time, but if you catch your future boss dissing you behind your back, that's not a good sign.

So this florist did what any of us would do when catching a hater mid-disrespect: He dipped out. Although he loved working for his grandma and running the shop for a family member, this 24-year-old wasn't about to roll out the red carpet for a woman who made it clear that she had no respect for him and his craft. 

Perhaps he can leave a bouquet along with his resignation to share his condolences for her loss... The loss of an excellent employee.

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  • Cheezburger Image 10553220608
    via Scopio

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for refusing to work for the woman buying my grandma's flower shop after she trashed me behind my back?
    via Ikeuwu
  • So my grandma is selling her flower shop. I (M24) work full time and run the place since she's gotten remarried.
    via Ikeuwu
  • The new buyer has already been a nightmare and she doesn't even technically own it yet. For the past week, she's been blowing up my phone constantly.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Asking me to do things for her even though she doesn't pay me. I even helped her set up her email. On top of that,
    via Ikeuwu
  • she's having me and my grandma do business and tax paperwork that SHE is supposed to be doing herself.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Real professional. Anyway, today my coworker had the buyer on speakerphone while she was making an arrangement. Out of nowhere, she starts trash-talking me.
    via Ikeuwu
  • She said I'm a "terrible designer," "not all that," that I "don't know anything," and she even called me a "I " ‚,” “lil { and a " " "1
    via Ikeuwu
  • She also said I wasn't going to be the store manager like she had previously promised, and that she was the boss. I grabbed the phone and told her,
    via Ikeuwu
  • "I heard every word you said, and I'm not happy." A minute later, she called my coworker back and accused her of "setting her up,"
    via Ikeuwu
  • when she literally just had her on speaker because her hands were full. Then she came into the shop and said, "We need to sort things out, you still have a job."
    via Ikeuwu
  • I told her, "There's no sorting it out. You wronged me, and I will not be working for someone who talks S... about me behind my back.
    via Ikeuwu
  • I have tried to help, but I'm through with you." Her response? "What a load of S.... You helped me like standing over me telling me how to wash buckets?
    via Ikeuwu
  • Honey, I've been washing buckets since you were S y in diapers." J Stormed out and said, "that's your words, not mine." To me saying I won't be working for you.
    via Ikeuwu
  • (Bc unemployment ig?) The thing that hurts the most is that my grandma is more worried about how SHE reacted than about how this woman was talking to me.
    via Ikeuwu
  • She just wants to sell the shop and wash her hands of it. Which I understand, I do. But that just leaves me left feeling disrespected and humiliated.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Me and my coworker after this all happened cried together and hugged. This lady watched me grow up. I've known her since I was a baby.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Her daughter babysat me. We can't think of a plausible reason for her to say all of this to my coworker in the first place.
    via Ikeuwu
  • I am very good at what I do. I have been running this store since grandma has taken a step back since getting married.
    via Ikeuwu
  • She was acting like everything was fine just yesterday. Saying she loves my arrangements and how good this will be. So, AITA for saying I refuse to work for her after all this
    via Ikeuwu
  • and my last day will be when the keys are handed over? If it even makes it that far. Edit: Thank you all so much for the kind words.
    via Ikeuwu
  • It's really helped me get through this. I'm not going to lie, it's been bothering me all day. When it happened all I saw was red and I was shaking.
    via Ikeuwu
  • I'll make an updated post once things play out. In the process of possibly moving to a different state with my bf and other friend.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Edit 2: I'm not looking to buy the shop. I've thought in the past if I inherited the shop I would run it, but I have no desire to really own it.
    via Ikeuwu
  • I don't want to be in this town forever as me and my bf are getting more serious and would like to be somewhere with more opportunity.
    via Ikeuwu
  • It's a small town, y'all. I'm not gonna make it big especially with a huge mortgage out on the place. First and foremost I have been trained to think profit.
    via Ikeuwu
  • Edithasburglar ⚫ NTA- but as long as you're in an employment at will state, there's no reason to let her know ahead of time that you'll be discontinuing your work there. Don't jeopardize the sale for your grandmother.
    via Edithasburglar
  • Usual-Archer-916. You owe this woman nothing. You can always find another shop to work in. (I know because I work for a florist!)
    via Usual-Archer-916

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boss worker employee manager job work coworkers working ceo employees supervisor workplace flower shop company coworker business
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