Am I supposed to be grateful? - Jimmy

Jimmy was a financial advisor who sells insurance products to individual clients.

A retiree, Madam Lim, saw his mailer and got in touch. They spent several afternoons together, meeting at cafes while Jimmy went through various insurance packages.

After these coffee meetings, Madam Lim often asks Jimmy out for dinner. Jimmy always says no, keeping things professional.

Over time, Jimmy notices something. Madam Lim asks many questions but never seems close to making a purchase. She hesitates at every proposal. She asks him to come back with more options.

Eventually, Jimmy learns the truth:
Madam Lim was not actually thinking about any of the insurance packages.

She simply enjoys the energy that salespeople typically have. The attention they shower on her. The free drinks that often come with these meetings. The company.

Jimmy feels a wave of frustration. He has spent his time and money for nothing. All those afternoons, all those presentations. Wasted.

When Jimmy stops replying to Madam Lim's messages, she calls him.

"You're so unprofessional!" she says, her voice sharp with indignation.

Jimmy tries to explain that he needs to focus on other clients who are making purchases.

Madam Lim was quick with her justification. "I was simply responding to your mailer's invitation for more information. I'm not obligated to share upfront that I have little intention to purchase more insurance."

She continues, her tone becoming patronising. "After all, there was a possibility, no matter how slim, that I might change my mind. In fact, I was giving you free training opportunities and keeping you company. Poor boy, you don’t have much sales anyway!"

Jimmy ends the call, stunned by her reasoning. Was he really supposed to be grateful?

How much trust do friends extend? - Evelyn

Evelyn owned a bespoke boutique. She was a designer dressmaker who customised clothing for her customers.

Fanny had been Evelyn's loyal customer for many years. She recommended Evelyn's boutique to her circle of friends and ordered several pieces every month. The relationship felt warm and easy. They would chat about life over fabric swatches and pattern books.

During a financial crisis, Evelyn noticed that Fanny was slow in making downpayments for her orders. At first, it seemed like a temporary hiccup. But it gradually escalated. Without discussion, Fanny seemed to expect Evelyn to produce pieces without payment.

With a backlog of unpaid orders piling up, Evelyn felt uneasy. She couldn't afford to keep producing custom pieces with no money coming in. When she gently told Fanny she couldn't take on new orders until the outstanding payments were settled, Fanny was livid.

"I've been a loyal customer for years! I've brought you so much business!" Fanny said, her voice sharp with hurt. "We have such a great friendship. Surely you could be more understanding and wait for my business to turn around?"

Evelyn felt the weight of those words. Had she been unkind? Unsupportive? Was she a bad friend?