I thought that I had it all figured out. I had helped my friend get started with their own business and, in return, they had promised me a fair share of the profits.
We had been best friends since secondary school and I trusted them implicitly; they never gave me any reason not to.
The business was doing well and we were both seeing the fruits of our labour.
But then something changed. Suddenly, my friend began to act differently around me. He became aloof, distant, and refused to talk about the business.
I knew something was wrong and I asked him about it, but they refused to tell me what was going on.
One day, the truth came out. My friend had been planning to take over the business for themselves and throw me out.
He had been quietly making deals and arrangements behind my back to gain control of the business. When I confronted him about it, they had the gall to tell me that it was for the best and that he had my best interests at heart.
I was stunned and heartbroken. I had been betrayed by someone I thought I could trust. I felt like a fool for believing and putting my trust in him.
How could someone do this to someone they supposedly cared about?
But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. I consulted with a lawyer and we were able to prove that my friend had been dishonest and had acted in bad faith.
The court agreed and awarded me a settlement.
Since then, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: always trust your gut instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
I’m still a little wary of trusting people, but I’m slowly learning to trust again. I’m also more aware of the signs of someone who might not have my best interests at heart.
I hope that my story can serve as a warning to others.
Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by someone you think you can trust.
Protect yourself and your livelihood, and don’t let anyone take advantage of you.