I work in customer service for a tech company. Yesterday was the worst day of my career. We have this one client who is EXTREMELY difficult. They call every day with the same issues that we've solved multiple times. They don't read instructions. They don't follow procedures. They just call and complain. My colleague and I have a running joke about them. We call them 'The Idiot Brigade.' Yesterday, the client called AGAIN with the same problem AGAIN. I was so frustrated. After the call, I wanted to vent to my colleague. I typed an email: 'Subject: The Idiot Brigade Strikes Again! Hey [Colleague name], I just spent 45 minutes explaining to the idiots at [Client Company] how to do the SAME thing we showed them last week. I swear these people have the collective IQ of a potato. How are they running a business? Anyway, I'm adding this to my 'reasons I drink' list. Meet me for lunch, I need to rant properly.' I hit send. Immediately realized my mistake. I didn't send it to my colleague. I sent it to our CEO whose email is similar to my colleague's (both start with 'J'). My stomach dropped. I tried to recall the email. Too late. Email delivered. I sat there in shock. Five minutes later, my phone rang. HR. 'Can you come to the office immediately?' I went. CEO was there. HR was there. My manager was there. The email was projected on the screen. CEO: 'Would you like to explain this?' I tried. 'It was a private vent, I didn't mean for anyone to see it.' CEO: 'You called our client - a client that brings us 5 million naira monthly - idiots. You said they have the IQ of a potato.' I apologized profusely. Explained I was frustrated but I deliver good service to them always. CEO: 'Your personal feelings about clients should never be put in writing. This is a terminable offense.' Plot twist: The CEO forwarded my email to the CLIENT. TO THE ACTUAL CLIENT. He said 'They deserve to know what your team thinks of them.' I wanted to die right there. My manager tried to defend me, saying I'm usually professional, it was one mistake. HR was silent, taking notes. CEO dismissed me, said they'll deliberate and get back to me. That was yesterday. I haven't slept. I've been checking my email every 5 minutes. The client hasn't responded yet but I KNOW they will. I've started updating my CV. I've accepted I'm fired. The worst part? My colleague (the one the email was meant for) feels guilty. He said 'If my email wasn't so similar, this wouldn't have happened.' But it's not his fault. It's mine. I put those words in writing. I've been at this company for 4 years. I've won employee of the month twice. I have good performance reviews. One email might erase all of that. I'm waiting for the termination email. My family doesn't know yet. How do I tell them I got fired for calling clients idiots in an email to the CEO?