Emeka had the connection to a company for the maintenance of their air conditioners. He couldn’t do the job because he doesn’t have the required skill . He negotiated for the price and sent his friend Chinedu to do the job.
Whenever Chinedu finished doing the work, Emeka collects the payment and gives Chinedu a little fraction of the money. Chinedu was satisfied with the amount he was recieving. He didn’t care to know how much Emeka was being paid.
After a while, the Managing Director discovered that Chinedu was the one coming to do the job whenever Emeka was invited, so he decided to invite Chinedu for a discussion.
“I have noticed that you are the one that has been coming to do this work. I have also been observing your commitment to duty and your behaviour generally. I am really satisfied, keep it up.”
“Thank you sir,” Emeka responded joyfully.
“Why I invited you to my office is because I want to hand over the contract to you. I am doing this because I don’t want to miss your expertise. I don’t know if the person that brought you is compensating you adequately.”
“I am satisfied with the payment sir. I will appreciate if you continue working with Emeka. We are partners. he negotiates for the job while I take care of other things,” Chinedu told the MD.
“It’s okay but feel free to reach out to me anytime you notice what you are not comfortable with. I am looking forward to having a long time working relationship with you.”
“Thank you so much sir, I appreciate it,” Chinedu responded
Three months afterwards, Chinedu kept going to the company whenever he was called, but no payment was made to him. Whenever he confronts Emeka concerning the issue, Emeka would plead with him to exercise patience because the company was having financial constraints.
After the fourth month. Chinedu decided not to go to the company again.
When the company started disturbing Emeka because their A/C needs repair, Emeka took someone else to the company to help repair the A/c. But the management of the company insisted that they want Chinedu.
Emeka had no choice than to take some money to Chinedu, claiming that the money was from him. Chinedu insisted that he must get his full payment before going back to the company to do any work.
After a while, the Managing Director told his staff to look for a means to contact Chinedu and invite him to his office. It was not easy reaching Chinedu because he refused to drop his phone number to any staff of the company. He never wanted to betray his friend.
Later, one of the staff members discovered Chinedu’s workshop and told him that the MD wanted to see him. Chinedu decided to honour the invitation.
“Mr. Chinedu why did you refuse to work for us. How did I offend you?” the MD asked.
“Sir, you did not offend me, but a labourer is worthy of his wages. We are being owed four months wages. My partner have been coming to ask for the money but never recieved a favourable response. He had been pleading with me to endure but I can’t endure anymore because I am the one doing the work.”
“Please, give me some minutes, I want to invite your colleague.”
Chinedu thought the MD was inviting Emeka because he wanted to pay them. He never knew that he was about to watch a sad drama.
Within few minutes, Emeka arrived the MD’s office. He was shocked to see Chinedu there.
“Mr. Emeka you are welcomed. I am so sorry for the condition under which I summoned you. It’s just that the matter is urgent. I have been looking for how to contact your partner directly since he refused to listen to your plea. He finally came today and informed me that his grouse was that your payment was delayed. Is it true?”
“It is not true sir,” Emeka answered. Afterwards, he turned to Chinedu.
“O boy , they have paid . I was searching for you, to give you your share. Check your phone, you will see the missed calls.”
“Is there any month that the company did not pay you before the end of the month?” the MD asked Emeka.
“No sir,”Emeka answered.
“When did you receive payment for last month?”
“On the 26th sir,” Emeka answered.
Chinedu opened his mouth wide in shock.
“Since 26th of last month till today which is 20th of another month, you were searching for your partner, but could not find him. Get out of my office! If I see you anywhere around my office, I will invite the police to arrest you.”
The MD officially handed over the contract to Chinedu. He directed the account department to pay him for the four months that Emeka didn’t pay him.
That was when he knew the exact amount that Emeka had been collecting on monthly basis. What Emeka was paying him was actually one fifth of the total monthly payment. Emeka divides the money into five equal parts, takes four parts and give one part to the person doing the job. Yet, he was not satisfied. He prefers to take all.
If you cannot be faithful in little things, even if you are given the whole world, you will not be satisfied.
