There was a wealthy business owner who drank too much, and who needed to hire an executive to assume his own responsibilities. His affliction took a great toll on his life, and he struggled with demons. And had for many years. He did not have the energy to look far for his new employee. So, he let it be known among his friends that he needed a top man to run his small empire because it was becoming too much for himself. And that the pay, coming from his own fortune, would be generous.
One day he was sitting in his dark room, the bottle was on the table and he was listening to his music. The doorbell rings, and he stumbles to the door. His face lights up and his best friend on earth enters, and they sit in the living room talking. A slow, but steady jazz simmers in the background, and they reminisce about times gone by and repeat anecdotes, visits to bars, prostitutes that behaved oddly, bizarre situations from a decade of nightlife. They are two friends in private laughing over many a pint. At the end of the evening they hug as his chum leaves, and the wealthy man says: “You know, I cannot describe how grateful I am for the happy moments that we have had together”.
The next evening, the man is again intoxicated in his darkened home, and again the stereo pounds quietly like a neon-lighted heart in one corner. And he sits in a shadow as the door bell rings. Another friend enters, but this one goes straight to the point. “What is this crap I hear about you hiring a replacement. Haven’t I told you for many years that it would come to this? Haven’t we argued? When you bought stocks half drunk, I told you it would end badly.”
“Yes, you did”
“Did I not pour your all your drinks in the toilet? And tell you to go fuck yourself.”
“Yes”
Then the man gets up, throws his arms in the air and marches towards the door. As he is about to leave the drunken millionaire shouts after him, almost in desperation:
“This may sound strange, but I cannot describe how grateful I am for the asshole you have been in my life. I just cannot understand why you will not accept the job I offered you? There is no one else I know who is remotely qualified, or who deserves it the way you have!”
