I've seen movies and read of people stealing others' ideas at the workplace. I always thought some to be a farce, not until I heard of it at work.
A few months after I got this new job at this organization. I was starting to like it there, thanks to Mark for being a good person or so I thought.
Although, I've always wondered why Miriam and some other colleagues seemed to detest him. I didn't care to ask until one day, I was at my desk handling some important documents, not realizing that it was time for lunch. Luckily, Mark offered to get me lunch on his way back from the cafeteria.
"I appreciate it. Thank you" I greeted, with surprise engraved on my face. It's been a few months since I started working at this place, but Mark has been far too kind to me. Offering to help even when I didn't need help.
Not like I wasn't appreciative of his help; in fact, it made work easier for me at times, but my instincts told me that there was more to it. So,, I played it nice and slow with him at the same time being careful.
Immediately, he was out of sight; Miriam leaned in from her seat, which was nearby and said to me.
"Fair advice from me, avoid this guy. He's not what he seems to be" she said, it was, it was as if she read my mind.
Ignorant and confused about what she meant by the sudden warning. My curiosity quickly kicking in, I asked,,
"What do you mean?"
"He has a knack for stealing people's thunder" she continued, with a more serious tone.
She still wasn't making sense, and as far as I could tell, I've noticed Miriam to be a little bit dramatic. But with the way she sounded, I wasn't going to stop asking. I love gist and wanted to hear it all. Especially,, ones that sound so intriguing like hers
"Girl, you mind elaborating. I'm still in the dark here" I said, stopping what I was doing to face her.
Miriam paused and relaxed in her chair. "Okay, here's the gist. There was a meeting with the board of directors a few months back. We were asked to come up with ideas that can help boost the organization's sales. I researched and came up with an idea but unfortunately, my mouth put me in a mess"
I kept a long stare at her, signaling she should continue. My heart racing faster to understand her point.
"Just like you, Mark was all kind and caring to me. Little did I know that he had his intentions. So, a day before the meeting day, Mark walked in on me putting some final touches to my presentation. Then, he asked what I was doing which I told him. He inquired further to know what plans I had come up with. I hesitated at first but because of how I trusted him, I laid down my ideas before him.”
"I'm guessing that was a bad move", I replied; finally, it was getting clearer what transpired between them.
"Hmm, my dear. Will you believe that during the meeting, Mark was called on before me to tell us his ideas, and as he plugged in his PC, behold, my idea was on the screen! Then he went ahead to boldly tell the board my idea. He stole my idea! Turns out he went home and worked on my idea from what I told him, and on the presentation day, he laid it out to the board as his idea. Before me and with no fear or shame "
I opened my mouth in disbelief. If Miriam's story was true, then it was not a story but a warning for me.
"That's bad", I replied, feeling sorry for her and still careful not to take sides with anyone yet. I couldn't conclude or judge if I hadn't heard from the other party. But then, I still wanted to hear the whole truth I asked
"So you didn't confront him there?"
"Even if I did, one of the board members is his big aunty, she gave him the job. So, they wouldn't have believed me. However,, I confronted him later, and he claimed he didn't know what I was talking about. Besides no other person was there when it happened. I had no evidence"
I shook my head in shock. "Nawa o (exclamation)", I exclaimed.
I didn't want to say anything that would implicate me if at all she was lying. And at the same time, I didn't want her to feel like I didn't feel sorry for her. So I tried my best to be neutral
"My dear, serious Nawa o. That was how he got the promotion. So I'll advise you now, be careful of him. He's a wolf in sheepskin"
Immediately, Mark walked in, and everywhere went silent. He offered me the food he had bought. I collected it and thanked him. He returned my thanks my thanks with a big smile, which I thought felt different. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me from the story I had just heard, but I shook it off.
Till today,, I don't know if Miriam was telling the truth. But I did well to avoid her, especially when she came to me with a gist of what had happened in the office, past or present. It felt like she had the information about everything and everyone.
Just like Miriam, I played it safe with Mark too. I wasn't the type to judge based on a story I heard from one party. So I wasn't willing to recruit an enemy I didn't make. But at the same time, I was careful not to fall victim if it happened to be true.