“I did. I sent you the proposal.”
“You sent me 18 pages and buried the name change near the end.”
“You said the ideas were interesting.”
“I said we’d discuss them.”
Kyle rubbed his forehead.
“Frank, you’re getting emotional about a name.”
“My mother’s name.”
“Exactly. That’s the problem.”
I stared at him.
He continued.
“You built something successful, but you’re still running it like the little neighborhood diner it was 20 years ago.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“People with money don’t want to eat beside someone counting pennies for soup.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked, “Is that why you threw me out?”
“You looked homeless.”
“And?”
“That kind of appearance makes other customers uncomfortable.”
“Did anyone complain?”
He hesitated.
“No.”
“Then whose comfort were you protecting?”
He didn’t answer.
I called Amber into the office and asked her to gather the employees in the dining room. Kyle followed me out.
