My best friend signed our brand deal alone and left me with nothing

Two years ago, I convinced my best friend from Uni, Chidinma Okonkwo, to leave her job and join me in building a content creation house in Lekki. We were so excited, we poured everything into it. I put in ₦2.5 million from savings and borrowed equipment, she contributed ₦1.8 million. We shared a two-bedroom apartment in Ilaje, shot content every day, and prayed for a big break.

Then it came. A skincare brand reached out for a ₦4 million campaign. Chidinma handled the email correspondence. One morning, she told me the deal fell through. I was heartbroken but I moved on. Three weeks later, I saw her Instagram story. She was at the brand's photoshoot. Alone. I called her and she said, 'Temitope, I signed it under my name. The money is already spent.'

I couldn't speak. I just sat on my bed and stared at the wall. That was ₦2.5 million I had borrowed from my savings. I had to move back to Mushin for six months to recover. She never paid me back. The friendship ended that day.

Now I run my own PR agency and I don't mix business with friendship anymore. Trust is not a contract. Get everything in writing.