Once a highly reputed contractor in his busy city, Mr. James was well-known for his intricate handiwork. On one particularly sunny day, while at the hardware store picking up painting supplies. While in the parking lot putting the painting supplies in his truck his ex business partner Mr. Jones pulls up and parks in the empty parking spot next to him. They both were glad to see each other despite their differences the two talked for about an hour and then it happened.
Mr. Jones: Yeah man, I got that hair salon over by the the old neighborhood pressure washing and painting for $4,000.
Contractor Mr. James: Oh yeah nice how did you get that?
Mr. Jones: About a month ago in the right place at the right time over hearing talking about how she needed her shop painted and I introduced myself.
Contractor Mr. James: That’s good my brother got get that money.
Mr. Jones: Thanks man. Aww look at the time let me get in here and get some paint brushes before it’s get too late I’ll see you later James.
Contractor Mr. James: Ok man you take care and congratulations on the deal.
Mr. Jones made his way into the hardware store to get some paint brushes. Meanwhile Contractor Mr. James seen the painting contract papers on Mr. Jones car seat and took pictures of the contract while Mr. Jones was still in the hardware store.
When Mr. James made it home he began to write up a contract for outdated hair salon. In Mr. Jones notes it required a pressure washing with a fresh paint job. Mr. James came up with a scheme that he was going to go over to the salon two days early and start working and tell them Mr. Jones is out sick with the flu and he was confident it would work.
Bright and early, Mr. James was outside the hair salon, accompanied by his dedicated helper. Their paint buckets brimming with the salon owner’s carefully selected hues. The air was electric with the rhythmic hum of the pressure washer as they diligently prepared the exterior walls for their colourful facelift.
Suddenly, a silver sedan pulled up. The salon owner, Mrs. Jenny, was in it. Mr. James greeted her warmly. However, she regarded him with confusion. Who in the hell are you? You're not the guy that talk to me about painting my salon, she squinted, suspicion growing in her voice, I remember you yeah you painted the last shop and we paid you half the money and didn’t return...get off my property! You're a con artist contractor. The painter who is meant to do this job is Mr. Jones, not you!
We had to call Mr. Jones to finish what you started at the last shop. Yeah you know Mr. Jones your ex business partner. He told me that every job you guys did y’all would split half the money. On one job when y’all finished the job the owner gave you the money $2,000 and you told Mr. Jones that the owner only gave you $1000 because he overdrew to much money in on day and gave Mr. Jones $500 and disappeared. Well Mr. Jones double backed and and asked the owner and the owner told him everything.
We filed a complaint on you I’m surprise you still around and doing the same thing. Anyway who told you about my shop and for you to come here with these documents that me and Mr. Jones printed out with your name and my signature. How did you get this? Something not right this is very suspicious. I’m calling the police!
The last two words hit Mr. James like a ton of bricks. He was speechless. A sudden realization dawned on him that he had been busted bringing forged documents, that he was not the rightful contractor for this job. Feeling embarrassed, Mr. James nodded apologetically at the fuming salon owner. Gathering his equipment and his clueless helper, Mr. James packed up and made a quick exit from the scene.
The day ended quite differently for Mr. James, a stinging blow to his pristine reputation. Still, he found resolve in the fact that errors happen even to the best of us and vowed to ensure no further such incidents tarnish his work. The adventure at the hair salon was just the beginning of a con artist contractor.