10.03.05 When Bernard’s Financial Instability Shattered Martha’s Job Credibility – A Fictitious Story

When Bernard’ Financial Instability Shattered Martha’s Job Credibility

A Fictitious Story

Martha was a focused project manager with an international NGO. Being an orphan and a first born, she had educated her siblings, almost single-handedly and now, one of them Micah was about to graduate. So, that was how she walked into a boutique looking for the perfect outfit for the occasion.

Bernard, a tall, stylish and handsome owner noticed her immediately. “What brings you in today?” he asked with a warm smile, displaying confidence and flair. Within a few minutes, he got busy showing Martha a lineup of outfits. Martha, struck by his looks, tried to stay focused but Bernard’s charm was disarming. In a short while, they picked the perfect suit for Micah. However, the clothing needed a small adjustment and Bernard offered to deliver it to Martha’s office the following day.

True to his word, Bernard appeared at Martha’s office as agreed, well-dressed, with a cool masculine fragrance that could not be ignored. “Can we do coffee sometime?” he asked. That was how their first date happened. Within weeks, Martha was convinced that she had found a hardworking man with a promising future.

However, as they grew closer, reality began to unfold.

Bernard’s boutique looked elegant on the outside; but it didn’t take long for Martha to sense the financial cracks beneath the glamour. “Bernard, is everything okay financially?” she would ask, only for Bernard to smile reassuringly. “Yes, ups and downs happen but Ben is in control.” Then he would insist on dining at posh hotels and pay the bills effortlessly; including carrying himself as a successful influencer; crisp shirts, new shoes, upgraded gadgets.

One evening, Martha visited the boutique unannounced and found unopened envelopes stuffed in a drawer; including utility notices, debt reminders and rent arrears. Undoubtedly, Bernard had a disturbing tendency to push essential bills aside. When she picked the issue up, Bernard lamented. “You know, in fashion industry, one product sells the others. I am running low on leather shoes and yet people who buy suits prefer a one-stop buy. If only I could get the shoes…” Since his explanation made sense, Martha took a staff loan from her workplace to help Bernard restock the shoes, explaining that the money should be returned. The visibly over-joyed Bernard promised to do so. And for sure, sales picked. However, bills remained unpaid, while Bernard’s personal spending continued to grow. Whenever Martha tried to speak to him, he would get defensive.

Then came the day when everything exploded. Apparently, Bernard had approached Martha to inject more money in the business and she could not, since the loan had not been repaid; a thing which he did not take kindly. What she did not know was that Bernard had picked a huge stock from a Turkish trader without her knowledge; mentioning that a business partner, ‘Martha’, working in a very high position in an International Agency, would bail him out in case he did not make sales in the expected time. So, when the trader did not get his payment, the furious Turk stormed into Bernard’s shop shouting. “I need my money. Where is your partner, Martha?”, repeating her name over and over. A bystander recorded the confrontation and posted it on TikTok. In no time, the viral clip landed in Martha’s office. As a shocked Martha saw the clip, she called Bernard who was quick to explain how he had promised the supplier that Martha would bail him out. “Babe, you are my future wife. We are in this together”, he concluded, much to her dismay.

What followed was even worse. The supplier issued a demand letter mentioning Martha’s name in the saga. When the panicky Bernard shared the letter with Martha, she was very overwhelmed. “Bernard… If this falls into the ears of our HR department, it can spell big trouble. They already heard my name on social media”. And indeed soon thereafter, the HR Manager asked for a meeting, warning that her name could be flagged for violating the organisation’s financial integrity standards. “Your involvement in a commercial financial dispute compromises our reputation. You need to resolve this immediately.” To protect her reputation and repay the supplier as well as the salary loan, Martha had to sell the small plot of land she had bought years earlier. Being a ‘Quick Sale’, it was sold at a loss.

That was how she came to terms with the truth that Bernard was not the kind of partner she would wish to get married to.