I never expected my boss’s pool invitation to turn into a test of my integrity. We sat by the pool, talking about the company, and then he made a proposition: he would give me the promotion I’d been eyeing if I spent just one night with him. I was speechless. He knew I was married, knew I valued my commitment.

For a moment, I felt paralyzed. My career had always been important to me, and the idea of a promotion was something I had worked hard for. But I knew this wasn’t the way I wanted to achieve it. My family and my self-respect meant far more than any job.

I finally found my voice and told him that I could never betray my marriage or compromise my values for a promotion. He looked disappointed, and I walked away that night feeling shaken but proud. The next day, I felt his displeasure, but it was a small price to pay. I learned that my dignity and self-respect were worth infinitely more than any position he could offer.