You confront Samantha about her theft

You call Samantha into your office the next day.

"I'm really sorry to have to have this conversation with you, Samantha," you tell her after she sits down, "but I found out about how you've stolen money from Google."

She immediately tries to deny it, but when you cite some specific receipts she knows that she's been caught. She profusely apologizes and says it was a mistake. She got behind in her credit card payments anded some money quick to dig her out of a hole, she says. Though you do remember her going away on a mini-vacation around when she stole the money.

"I haven't told HR yet," you explain. "You know I think really highly about you, and despite this terrible crime, I still respect you enough to give you a heads up. I'm afraid once I inform HR things will happen swiftly."

"What things," Samantha asks quietly.

"Well your e-mail account will be locked, and you'll most likely be escorted from the Google office. I didn't want us to not even have a chance to say goodbye," you say.

"I'll be fired?" Samantha asks clearly horrified at the prospect.

"Of course. You stole money from Google," you say sympathetically. "I may forgive you for this, but Google never will."

"I don't want to lose my job, John!" Samantha said. She tells you again how sorry she is, and how it would never happen again. Then she starts to cry.

You walk over and stand behind her rubbing her back to comfort her.

"I'm sorry it had to happen this was, Samantha," you say.

"Please, please don't fire me, John!" Samantha says between sobs. "Please!"

You let her marinate in her fear of losing her job a while, you know you need to get the hook in good before you reel her in.

"I can't just hide your crime," you say to Samantha, "It's not that easy."

"Is there anything I can do? Any way I can earn your trust back in me?" Samantha says with more than a hint of desperation.