« Excuse me! » he called out louder.
Denise finally looked up, rolling her eyes: « Sir, if you have a problem, the customer service number is on the back of the receipt. »
« I don’t need the number, » Jordan replied calmly. « I just want to know one thing: do you treat all your customers like that, or only those you assume are without money? »
Denise blinked: « What? »
The young cashier intervened: « We haven’t done anything wrong— »
« Didn’t you do anything wrong? » Jordan repeated, his voice hardening. « You mocked me behind my back because I looked down on my luck. Then you seemed to talk to a customer like he was vermin. This isn’t a gossip bar or a private club. It’s a diner. My diner. »
The two women froze. Denise opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out.
« My name is Jordan Ellis, » he continued, removing his hood and beanie. « I’m the boss. »
Silence fell like a guillotine. A few nearby customers turned around. The cook, behind the glass, glanced in surprise.
« Not possible… » murmured the younger one.
« Yes, » Jordan replied coldly. « I opened this place with my own hands. My mother used to bake the pies here. We built this diner to serve everyone: workers, the elderly, mothers with children, people struggling before payday. You have no right to decide who deserves consideration. »
Denise’s face fell. The younger girl dropped her phone.
« Let me explain— » stammered Denise.
« No, » Jordan interrupted. « I’ve heard enough. And so have the cameras. »
He glanced towards a corner of the ceiling where a small surveillance camera was mounted. « These microphones? They’re working. Every word you say is being recorded. And it’s not the first time. »
At the same moment, Ruben, the restaurant manager, a middle-aged man, came out of the kitchen, looking astonished.
« Mr. Ellis?! »
« Hello, Ruben, » said Jordan. « We need to talk. »
Ruben nodded, his eyes wide.
Jordan turned to the two women: « You are both suspended, effective immediately. Ruben will decide if you can return after a refresher course… if you return at all. I’ll be spending the rest of the day behind the counter. If you want to learn how to deal with customers, watch me. »
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