Jennifer had just finished sifting through the series of application letters left on her desk the previous weekend. They were all 20 in numbers out of which only five companies would qualify to execute the advertised contract, inferring that 15 of them would need to be dropped after the final selection.

But one letter had caught her attention. She had reviewed it a couple of times and she was certain she couldn't be wrong. As soon as she saw the name, it brought back memories of the experience she had kept buried for the past 10 years. Suddenly, like a jolt out of the blue, that bitter experience came flooding back like a wave washing away her shores of joy, making her to feel an inner rage such that if it were possible, she would vomit fire out her mouth like an enraged dragon, on the initiator. 

Despite her anger, she managed to maintain her cool and restrained her emotions. At first she wanted to tear to pieces this particular application, but on a second thought she added it back to the pile of other applicantions. Her company's management had requested that company heads applying for the job contract should personally appear before it to defend their proposals. She sank back in her cosy chair and went into a memory recall. 

It was 10 years ago. She had just completed her national youth service and had submitted her application for an advertised job opening in a prospecting oil firm. Her résumé aptly fits the job description as she met all the requirements. And after weeks of waiting, she finally received a text message via phone informing her to appear for a screening exercise at a disclosed location. On the said date and on arrival, after waiting for a couple of hours, she was drilled by a panel headed by one Mr. Chinkin and four others. She was asked a series of questions, mostly dwelling on her youth service experience. She was then asked to go and that she would be contacted much later.

It took another two weeks for her to receive a text message, this time, directing her to come for a personal chat at a popular 5-Star hotel. She was asked to bring along with her, a copy of her credentials. In excitement, she got all the requirements and headed for the destination of the meeting on the said date and time. On arrival, she made her presence known to the receptionist as instructed by the message, who asked her to wait at the visitors' lounge. After about five minutes' interval, the receptionist directed her to proceed by elevator to Room 45 on the fifth floor where the meeting is scheduled to take place. At first, she felt uncomfortable. She had heard interviews being conducted at hotels but not in private rooms. But for a big oil firm like the one she's applying to, the management may well have their reasons for choosing such a location. And so, she proceeded forth.

Mr. Chinkin opened the door few seconds on her announcing her arrival and ushered her into the well-decked and spacious air conditioned room. He was on a phone call; gesticulating with his fingers in the air as if by so doing, he would easily push his message through to the receiver. He certainly seemed like a man of authority as he kept giving directives to whoever was on the other end of the line. After talking for about four minutes, he hung up. He then proceeded to offer his guest some fruit drinks but she turned it down politely. Then he asked her a couple of questions, all bordering on her relationship. He then commended her for being competent and qualified for the job as reflected in her résumé. Then he dropped the bombshell.

“As you can see, there are so many applicants contesting for this job. After going through the list I figured that I should pick you out because I like you. I must confess, you must be lucky. This job will change your life. I see you're very young. And if you do well, in the next five years, you'll definitely be at the top. However, there is one thing you need do. I know you don't have money, being a fresh graduate, otherwise I would've asked. But for a man of my status, money is not my problem. I want you to have a romantic relationship with me. I want us to be intimate. I have the means to get you not only the job, but future promotions afterwards, if only you accept to play ball with me. I am a man of my words, so you don't have to doubt me.”

Jennifer was short of words because she hadn't expected this though on her way up in the lift, her suspicion was spiking. Mr Chinkin kept reemphasizing the importance of the job to her and assuring her it was a secret affair, that he won't divulge it out to the public. That if she agreed to his offer, she is bound to resume work the next Monday. But being raised and brought up by responsible parents who had always taught her to be God fearing, she pleaded with Mr Chinkin to be considerate with her as she couldn't accept his offer. But he kept insisting. And when he noticed her resistance was becoming thick, he lost his patience and drove her out, saying she was wasting his precious time; that she wasn't appreciative of the opportunity she had been offered. 

And that was how she was denied of getting her dream job as she never heard from the firm again. It took her three years later for her to land her first job after graduation. Finally, here she was as the General Managing Director of one of the biggest contracting firm in Africa.

She called her assistance to direct everyone to move to the company hall and for the podium to be set as she has a speech to give before announcing the five selected companies that would be handling the contract. And so, few minutes later, she was standing in the podium while everyone was seated and all eyes on her. She thanked them for deeming it fit to apply for the job and for those that couldn't make it in the selection process, there are other opportunities awaiting them in the future. 

She then called out, "Mr Chinkin, can you please step up here on the podium?" Mr Chinkin was full of smiles as he elatedly walked to the podium, with the mistaken belief that his company has been selected, being the first to be announced. In his heart, he considered it another great feat that is worth an award. He could picture himself lifting the award to the sky for all to see as the crowd cheers him on with congratulations. But he had no inkling he was about to receive the biggest humiliation of his life!

Jennifer began, "Mr Chinkin, do you know me?" Of course, poor Chinkin couldn't remember as he nodded sideways signaling he didn't know her. After all, it had been 10 years and so much water had passed under the bridge. 

She turned to the audience and continued, "Life has a very funny way of hitting back at us. No deed done will ever go unrewarded. If we do good, good will repay us. But if we do bad, evil will definitely haunt us. And unfortunately for Mr Chinkin, the bed he prepared is what he is about to lie on. I met this man some 10 years ago while applying for a job. He invited me to an hotel and proposed sex to me which I turned down. I pleaded with him and he refused to listen. In the end, he ejected me from his hotel room and that was how I lost that job that would've changed not just my life, but the lives of my poor parents as well as my siblings.

"For the next three years I was job haunting and passed through many challenges I wouldn't have gone through if this man had been kind to me. In the process, I lost my father as a result of the inability of me and my siblings to afford the drugs to treat his high blood pressure condition. But God remained faithful to us and somehow kept us going. Now, this same man standing here is coming to seek a job from me. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?" she put out the question to the crowd who had started murmuring to themselves.

She went on, “Although there are 20 applicants here and we need just five, definitely Mr Chinkin and company would never make up that number. I have nothing against his company but unfortunately Mr Chinkin is a bad influence and we wouldn't want such a man spreading that around here. This is also a lesson to us company executives who think that because we have been entrusted with certain high responsibilities, we can play God with it. Companies should therefore be vigilant of the kind of people they entrust their affairs to, as such persons can easily destroy the hard earned reputation of such an outfit.”

Mr Chinkin head was bowed down in shame and wished in his heart that the ground would just open up and swallow him. The last words he heard from her supposed employer were, “What goes around, comes around. Deal with your nemesis, Mr whatever you call yourself!”

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