Yesterday was a hectic day for me. I woke up on the right side of my bed and almost fell off because I woke up on the right edge of my well-laid bed. Yet, I believed that waking up on the right side of my bed was a good omen that the day was going well. Just when I was getting ready to go to work, a call came on my phone and I had an answer.
Hello sir. Good morning sir. Our client from the mainland has come to get his money and return the certificate of purchase.
This was a rude shock. The client in question was one of our biggest customers. He bought one of our products and the account has been closed. How would he just appear from the blues and announce that he is withdrawing his investment mid-way Worst is that as soon as that investment was made, we visited the actual amount and the commission has already been shared among the agents who brought in the client. ?
Alright. Just ask him to be calm, I will join you soon.
I hung the call and veered into my car frustrating Lagos traffic in the Ikorodu area and busted. As I drove through the traffic, I pondered on what the man was up to. I started to imagine a police case and having to call an attorney but despite all that was racing through my mind, I just kept believing that there must be a way out of all the mess.
Two hours later, I was still held in the traffic on the other side of the city. From this end, I could see the long queue of vehicles on the third mainland bridge. On average, it would take another two hours to get to the island where my office was located. I just kept faith alive that this customer wouldn't make Christmas boring for me because I had it all planned out.
While in the car and rehearsing what I would tell the client about the prospect of the property and the strategic location of the property, I turned on my car radio, and the Arsenal match was aired on live commentary.
I had to change my attention from over-thinking to paying attention to the match as Arsenal was leading, two goals to nil.
When I finally reached the office, I saw an unusual scene. The guys were celebrating Arsenal's win over Wolverhampton. I was like, don't these guys know what is at stake if we lose this client?
Tony, come over to the office.
The whole place became silent. They probably did not know when I entered the office. I opened the office door, hoping to see the said client but met nobody.
Where is he?
I asked Tony.
Oga, he left when you weren't coming. But he dropped a message, sir.
Tony moved towards the boardroom, brought a small brown envelope and then handed it over to me. My hand shivered as I collected it from him. Tony turned back and left. I knew that I was not at ease as beads of sweat started surfacing on my forehead.
I tore the envelope open. And inside it was a white piece of paper, no, two pieces of paper. Opened it and found that one of the pieces of paper is a cheque and the other a Christmas card.
Against the report from Tony, the client had come to say thank you for the investment with our organization that yielded profit.
I wasn't expecting anything from him but all my troubles and over-thinking have been paid for.
Tony!!
I called out but it seemed like the guys were playing a prank on me as I didn't hear him respond to my call.
Tony!!!
Before I could end the third call, Tony appeared with a bouquet and a bag of wine.
Quincy Eleniyan said thank you in the best way. It wasn't the first time I would be receiving such a gift from my clients but this one came at a time when I needed to sort out some bills for the yuletide. Christmas indeed came too early.