Chapter 7 — The host’s desperate excuse
Caleb slams his palms flat against the wooden reception counter.
His face flushes a deep, angry crimson.
“You don’t understand how things work around here,” Caleb shouts, breaking his silence.
“The restaurant underpays me every single week.”
“Management expects us to handle hundreds of angry guests on base salary alone.”
The manager narrows his eyes.
He steps around the edge of the counter to face Caleb directly.
“That does not give you the right to extort families,” the manager says.
“You forced a young boy to labor in the dining room just to cover up your fake seating shortages.”
“I didn’t force him to do anything,” Caleb lies defensively.
“He offered to help set tables on his own.”
“I just gave him an opportunity to earn his keep since his reservation was supposedly lost.”
The father steps forward from the monitors.
His gaze is cold and steady.
“He is a twelve-year-old child,” the father says.
“You took his place card, hid his registration slip, and put him to work like an employee.”
“The restaurant underpays you?” the manager repeats, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“Let me tell you what else we underpay for.”
The manager reaches down and picks up the employee handbook resting beside the computer terminal.
He flips the laminated manual open to a highlighted section near the back.
The manager points a finger directly at the bold text printed on the page.
“Section twelve, clause four,” the manager reads aloud.
“Exploitation of minor guests, unauthorized labor extraction, and customer fraud are immediate termination offenses.”
“Furthermore, forcing a child to work in a commercial dining area without permits or waivers is a severe legal liability for this establishment.”
Caleb tries to interrupt, but the manager cuts him off with a raised hand.
“It opens this company to massive lawsuits and health code violations,” the manager continues.
“You didn’t just run a side scam for cash.”
“You dragged an innocent kid into your illegal operation to cover your tracks.”
Caleb opens his mouth to offer another excuse, but the words stall in his throat.
The manager reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out his corporate smartphone.
He taps the screen twice and brings up a direct contact entry labeled Corporate Human Resources.
He hits the call button and presses the speaker icon before lifting the phone to his ear.