Mats tries to save restaurant: financial plan gets completely out of hand
Elise’s husband has been passionately involved with their son’s football club for years. Until something happens that turns everything upside down. ‘When Mats walks into the kitchen, I silently pour myself a cup of coffee. We see each other, but pretend the other person isn’t there. I can’t do anything else, because a few days ago I discovered his big secret and I’m practically suffocating with anger.’
Mats has been treasurer of the football club in our village for years, where he has also played on a team himself since he was a little boy. He is passionate and committed and devotes a great deal of his free time to it, because he also coaches our son’s team. Everything for the club, which was also a welcome outlet from the hard work at his catering business.
‘It’ll all work out’
He especially needed that distraction during the coronavirus crisis, because his assignments dried up and, despite government support, he used up a considerable amount of his savings. I could see that he was worried, but when I asked him about it, he didn’t say much. It would all work out. There was still money in our account to buy groceries and pay the mortgage. We weren’t actually worried about money, so I believed him. And the assignments would pick up again on their own.
But last week Mats came home unexpectedly early. The children were playing outside and, nervously, he said he wanted to talk to me immediately. I was very alarmed, because what could have happened? Was he ill? I looked at him intently but didn’t see anything unusual. I did notice that he was very nervous. In a flustered voice, he said there was something he wanted to tell me before I heard it from someone else. But that I had to believe he had done it for us. I didn’t understand any of it. What had he done for us?
Solution
After some insistence, he began to talk. He said that, even though it had been a few years since the coronavirus crisis, business was still doing very badly and he had run through his reserves. But because he didn’t want to burden me with worries, he had looked for a solution. The bank was no longer willing to help him, so he had to find another way to get money. Because he had the trust of the rest of the board as the club’s treasurer, he was hardly ever checked.
That was why he had devised a scheme nobody would discover, one that would help keep his business afloat. He secretly transferred amounts from the club’s account to his business account. It was only meant to be temporary. Like a loan that he would, of course, pay back. But he hadn’t counted on one of the board members becoming suspicious and, when checking the accounts, discovering all kinds of receipts that Mats was not allowed to submit as expenses. Mats was called in to explain himself, but of course he had no explanation. The board immediately removed him from his position and expelled him as a member.
Wild stories
We live in a small village where everyone knows one another and gossip spreads quickly. So he had no choice but to tell me the truth. Within no time, the wildest stories were circulating. That we had stolen tens of thousands of euros from the club’s funds. That Mats was supposedly an addict and needed the money for that.
When I go grocery shopping now, I’m absolutely mortified. I see people watching me when I’m paying, and I don’t know how quickly I can cycle home afterwards. Being looked down on doesn’t bother me all that much. But I find it truly awful that the children are also victims of Mats’s deception. Our son doesn’t understand why his father is no longer his coach and doesn’t even go to the pitch anymore. And when I stand on the sidelines, I see the other parents looking at me and whispering. It’s a horrible feeling, because I actually have nothing to do with it.
Blind trust
That may be what I find most difficult. Because, just like the club, I trusted my husband blindly too. But I don’t know how I’m supposed to continue with him now. He said he did it for us. As soon as he had money again, he would pay everything back immediately. It was a perfect plan that nobody would discover. But apparently he hadn’t thought about the fact that he was putting everything at risk.’
Elise’s name has been changed for privacy reasons. Her real name is known to the editorial team. Would you also like to share a personal story (anonymously!)? You can email us at info@favorflav.com
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Source: Franska
