When I started my first job, I quickly bonded with a coworker who seemed kind and supportive. We were inseparable during work hours, but after 6 p.m., he became distant—ignoring messages and avoiding meetups.

Six months later, I discovered the truth: he wasn’t just a coworker but was secretly monitoring me at the request of our boss. His role was to ensure I was performing well and not sharing any corporate secrets. What I thought was a genuine friendship turned out to be a case of him acting as the boss’s “eyes” on me.