Harbouring snakes

“At this moment, I would like the legal counsels to consult with their clients and confirm if the presentation by Duke represents their views.You have 30 minutes” S’bu said leaving the boardroom.

Tsepo kept his head down the whole time. He was wondering how he went wrong when he tried his best to accommodate everyone. It seemed that at this moment everyone was against him. After 30 minutes, the meeting resumed and all legal counsels confirmed that their clients were all happy and stood by every word of the presentation.

“On behalf of Jobe and Company, I would like to thank you for your service. From your presentation it is clear that our company procedures and policies are no longer compatible with your needs. I therefore terminate all your contracts with immediate effect. You are free to sign up with other companies. The next presentation will clarify the reasons and your legal counsel will advise you on further steps you take” S’bu said all of this with no emotion showing on his face.

“Wait..... What?..... Terminated?.....How?” The boardroom went into chaos, even the legal counsels were caught off guard. Tsepo who was sure he was getting fired today looked at S’bu dumbfounded. S’bu fired 51 people instead of sacrificing him, Tsepo was deeply touched.

“The next presentation will hopefully answer all your questions”S’bu said indifferent.

The presentation started by showing their contracts. On it was a policy for dealing with grievances which they disregarded when they did not show up to a meeting Tsepo and Charlie organised and went to the media instead. There was nothing on their contract about them being involved in community service, Tsepo did it for their benefit. Next Tsepo’s work from the time SJC was formed was projected. “You were all hired from the profit that came through Tsepo’s work” S’bu said. “Some of you have not brought any profit to the company and should not be paid according to your contracts. Guess who’s been paying you from his own salary? Yes, Tsepo the idiot” S’bu said. He showed the names of those that were being paid from Tsepo’s salary and surprisingly Duke was one of them. Next, SJC shares were shown and everyone was shocked to find out that Tsepo owned a third of the shares. “Lastly, you should know that only the CEO of JC selects the communities for services and I choose Tsepo’s community every year because of the loyalty and the work he has done here but most importantly so that he does not use his own money to do it, because he’s an idiot like that.Tsepo handpicked each one of you and made it his mission to improve your lives. He had no idea that he was harbouring snakes in his backyard waiting to strike his heels. You are all sportsman and women and should be more understanding when one of you is injured and even down rated as a consequence of that injury, but you decided to strike him when he was down. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! I will leave with my managers now, our legal counsel will address your queries” S’bu said and left the boardroom furious.

“You never told me that I have shares”Tsepo finally spoke when they were alone.

“We both know that you would have given them up long ago trying to save ungrateful people. I was waiting to tell your wife on your wedding day”S’bu said.

Tsepo was speechless knowing that S’bu was right. He did seem to attract selfish people who took advantage of him and his money.

“Congratulations, you are a millionaire but you not getting it until your wedding and even then, I will do a thorough background check on your wife”S’bu told him.

“Thank you,Brother” Tsepo said emotional and hugging S’bu.

“Now go rest, you have new sportsman and women to recruit” S’bu told him.

“You not really terminating their contracts, are you? You can just give them a warning”Tsepo suggested, sympathetic.

“Those people wanted to bury you and you feel sorry got them? Get out of here before I punch you” S’bu threatened. Tsepo really was the kindest and humblest man he ever met but the world was an evil place full of treacherous people. He made a decision to do a better job protecting him in the future.

In the boardroom the legal counsels could not find anything in the contracts to fight JC. They were also amazed at how selfish their clients were to go against Tsepo who had done so much for them. In the end, all they could do was advise their clients to apologise and hope JC will take them back.