Conflict of Interest

Jeff and Frank were good friends, but as life went on, the ways of the world seemed to tear them apart little by little.

“Hey, Frank, this is Jeff. Call me back when you get a chance,” Jeff said leaving voice message after voice message.

“I told him how I felt, but he just keeps calling me. He knew that Jennifer was my first love why would he marry her? That punk stole everything from me. Do you remember the time when I created the musician’s corner in high school, I know that’s where he got the idea for his booming restaurant. Jeff is a thief and a fraud. Next time I see him I’m going to give it to him the old fashion way,” Frank said as tensions began to flare.

Sadly, Jeff never thought that Frank would be upset over his success. Before he fell in love with Jennifer, he did call Frank to get his consent, but Frank didn’t answer. The next evening Jeff would have never saw what was brewing coming. He and his wife Jennifer were out having a drink when Frank who was also drunk saw them dancing. In frustration, he leaped over the bar stool and punched Jeff in the face. This cleared out the entire dance floor. In a fit of rage Frank grabbed his pocket knife and began stabbing Jeff until he was lifeless. Everyone had witnessed a bitter man who was either jealous or unhappy with his own circumstances. Frank had lost it. His fit of disgust with his old friend was wild. He was so filled with rage that he growled as he stabbed his old friend over and over again. He stabbed him until he couldn’t stab him anymore. Tired and sweating, Frank fell to the floor as the cops burst in to break things up, sadly, it was too late. Jeff was dead and his wife was traumatized. This entire incident made national news and when Frank woke up the next day he couldn’t remember anything. It was like he blacked out. Young and filled with hopes and dreams he never gave his life a chance to develop. The judge gave him life in prison and Frank’s life would never be the same. What we can learn from this situation is simple. Frank spent so much time focusing on his friend Jeff that he failed to focus on himself. Sadly, after the damage was done it couldn’t be undone. After the tragedy, Jeff’s wife Jennifer created the Conflict of Interest Foundation. A group that focused on issues that often destroyed friendships. She spent the rest of her life working at this nonprofit with a picture of her husband at the front entrance. She never married again. Still in jail, Frank sent her an apology letter every week just so she could hang them on the walls at her organization so that everyone who entered would not suffer the same fate. Beware of how you allow hatred to enter your thoughts and mind friends. 

The End

Conflict of Interest