Love is truly a tricky thing. It's not a thing as much as an emotion and the worst thing about emotions is that there is a special brand of people who are emotional parasites. They seek to feed off your emotions leaving you feeling drained, sceptic about life in general and jaded. It would seem Ciku Muiruri ran across one such person whom she chose to dub "a scrub".
This is her tale about how one man attempted to rob her blind by taking advantage of her emotions:
I have received tonnes of email regarding a piece I wrote a few weeks ago – Living on a wing and a prayer. People (mostly managers) admitting, which must be hard, that they don’t have a clue what they’re doing. Trust me, as much as you’re winging it, you can’t be as bad as this chap. He is a CEO of a local upstart that I wanted to do business with. He worryingly always has the kind of paraphernalia one would leave behind in the car when having a meeting. Indication one: He’s not mobile; the company must be a struggling upstart.
Meetings are never in his office, there are always in Java or a place with Internet connection, where one’s only expense is a cup of coffee. Indication 2: No solid base. He spends an entire afternoon there with his Finance and Administration manager. Despite all this, he seems to know what he is talking about in his chosen field. My next step was due diligence. I called the guy who introduced us to get background on the young man. Reviews were positive: “He does good work for me, I like him, he shares his networks etc.”
Talks progressed about the business at hand in different venues but he would rarely have money to pick up the tab. Indication 3: Broke. I didn’t mind, I was the one pitching for the business, you are meant to wine and dine potential clients. He finally agreed to the pitch, expressed huge enthusiasm and committed to giving me the funds by July. He has a big Expo coming up and this was where he would find the money necessary to do the business. As time progressed, business talk slowly turned into: “Can I see you today? I miss you.” Then… “I need a hug.” What the…?
Before I knew it, talk of business was relegated to a simple “That’s already done, I’ve agreed to it, now let’s talk about us.” Eh, us? Oh dear. Now here’s a wonderful catch 22 ladies. Do you flirt and slowly count down to July? Or do you say, no, I’m taken. I chose the latter. But they have undying spirit these chaps: “Would you date a guy like me?” A direct question answered emphatically in the negative.
“Why not???” Persistence.
“Gee, let’s see, because I always pick up your tabs?” I respond, then laugh to take the sting out. Look, if we are discussing business, yes, I’ll pay for all the damn meals he likes but if we are discussing how you can trip the lights fantastic with me, then that’s a freaking date! YOU pay! Punk.
For once, he looks suitably embarrassed. “I don’t have my card with me, please pay and I’ll refund you.”
I paid. Needless to say the refund is not happening anytime soon. It gets worse – That was a late lunch that carried into early evening. Because he had “bought” lunch I offered to buy dinner. This guy is special. Having never been to an Italian restaurant before, he is so jazzed by the lasagne (first time he’s tried it) that he says he wants to order yet another plate to eat the next day. I’m not kidding. I watch incredulously as another meal is ordered for him to takeaway. Remember, he has no money. Who does that?
At this point you must be wondering what business I could possibly be getting from someone who doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. Trust me; I was wondering the same thing. Do I take a leap of faith or cut my losses?
Monday, July 14, 2014
Ciku Muiruri Opens Up About Being Romanced And Then Conned By A
Love is truly a tricky thing. It's not a thing as much as an emotion and the worst thing about emotions is that there is a special brand of people who are emotional parasites. They seek to feed off your emotions leaving you feeling drained, sceptic about life in general and jaded. It would seem Ciku Muiruri ran across one such person whom she chose to dub "a scrub".
This is her tale about how one man attempted to rob her blind by taking advantage of her emotions:
I have received tonnes of email regarding a piece I wrote a few weeks ago – Living on a wing and a prayer. People (mostly managers) admitting, which must be hard, that they don’t have a clue what they’re doing. Trust me, as much as you’re winging it, you can’t be as bad as this chap. He is a CEO of a local upstart that I wanted to do business with. He worryingly always has the kind of paraphernalia one would leave behind in the car when having a meeting. Indication one: He’s not mobile; the company must be a struggling upstart.
Meetings are never in his office, there are always in Java or a place with Internet connection, where one’s only expense is a cup of coffee. Indication 2: No solid base. He spends an entire afternoon there with his Finance and Administration manager. Despite all this, he seems to know what he is talking about in his chosen field. My next step was due diligence. I called the guy who introduced us to get background on the young man. Reviews were positive: “He does good work for me, I like him, he shares his networks etc.”
Talks progressed about the business at hand in different venues but he would rarely have money to pick up the tab. Indication 3: Broke. I didn’t mind, I was the one pitching for the business, you are meant to wine and dine potential clients. He finally agreed to the pitch, expressed huge enthusiasm and committed to giving me the funds by July. He has a big Expo coming up and this was where he would find the money necessary to do the business. As time progressed, business talk slowly turned into: “Can I see you today? I miss you.” Then… “I need a hug.” What the…?
Before I knew it, talk of business was relegated to a simple “That’s already done, I’ve agreed to it, now let’s talk about us.” Eh, us? Oh dear. Now here’s a wonderful catch 22 ladies. Do you flirt and slowly count down to July? Or do you say, no, I’m taken. I chose the latter. But they have undying spirit these chaps: “Would you date a guy like me?” A direct question answered emphatically in the negative.
“Why not???” Persistence.
“Gee, let’s see, because I always pick up your tabs?” I respond, then laugh to take the sting out. Look, if we are discussing business, yes, I’ll pay for all the damn meals he likes but if we are discussing how you can trip the lights fantastic with me, then that’s a freaking date! YOU pay! Punk.
For once, he looks suitably embarrassed. “I don’t have my card with me, please pay and I’ll refund you.”
I paid. Needless to say the refund is not happening anytime soon. It gets worse – That was a late lunch that carried into early evening. Because he had “bought” lunch I offered to buy dinner. This guy is special. Having never been to an Italian restaurant before, he is so jazzed by the lasagne (first time he’s tried it) that he says he wants to order yet another plate to eat the next day. I’m not kidding. I watch incredulously as another meal is ordered for him to takeaway. Remember, he has no money. Who does that?
At this point you must be wondering what business I could possibly be getting from someone who doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. Trust me; I was wondering the same thing. Do I take a leap of faith or cut my losses?
