Dawn36's journey

I've been working as a bookkeeper at a small company for just over two years. I got the job because I knew one of the owners from our social circle, and they needed someone to handle the books. Initially, my role was pretty casual—just writing checks and entering expenses. But when the previous bookkeeper left, I stepped up to take on more responsibilities. At first, my coworkers were supportive, and even the owner who has now turned into a nightmare was helpful. However, things took a turn for the worse after about a year. The owner, who I considered a friend, has become increasingly hostile towards me. Two months ago, he went on a rant about how he wanted to fire me and called me horrible, which I found out through mutual acquaintances. He didn’t go through with it, likely due to pushback from the other owner and our vendors, but the situation has only deteriorated since then. I’m still showing up and doing my job, but it feels like I'm fighting an uphill battle against someone who holds all the power. The lack of HR support is a significant issue since the company is so small—just three employees and the two owners. I feel trapped in a toxic environment that’s really affecting my mental health. With the job market not being what it used to be, I’m worried about my options. I could survive on my pension, but that’s not a long-term solution. It feels like I’m stuck between dealing with this nightmare or quitting, and neither option seems good.