Chapter 4 - The Guard
Quan Nguyen expected to be fired.
Instead Thomas invited him for coffee.
Quan arrived nervous.
“Mr. Walker, I didn't know.”
Thomas held up a hand.
“I know.”
Quan looked confused.
“You're not firing me?”
“I don't employ you.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“Apparently.”
Quan looked down.
Thomas asked:
“Who created the flag policy?”
Quan hesitated.
“Mr. Tran.”
“Personally?”
“The regional manager sent instructions.”
“Why?”
“There were complaints about political arguments during heritage events.”
Thomas nodded.
That part was plausible.
The restaurant wanted to prevent heated confrontations involving symbols.
But Quan added something.
“Your family was different.”
Thomas looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“We received your photo that afternoon.”
Thomas’s face hardened.
“My photo?”
Quan opened his phone.
An internal staff message showed Thomas's photograph.
Instruction:
IF THIS GUEST ARRIVES, CONTACT MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT PROVIDE ACCESS TO PRIVATE AREAS.
Thomas stared.
“Who sent it?”
“Corporate operations.”
“Why did you say I wasn't important enough to meet the owner?”
Quan looked embarrassed.
“The assistant manager said you were some old investor who thought you still mattered.”
That hurt more than Thomas expected.
Not because of Quan.
Because someone inside the organization had been taught to describe him that way.
“Did David know I was coming?”
“I don't know.”
Thomas thanked him.
Quan stood.
“Mr. Walker?”
“Yes?”
“The kids looked upset.”
Thomas’s face softened.
“They were.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You were following a policy.”
Quan shook his head.
“I enjoyed saying it.”
Thomas appreciated the honesty.
“I thought you were another rich customer trying to use money to get special treatment.”
Thomas nodded.
“And now?”
Quan managed a nervous smile.
“Now I think I insulted the wrong rich customer.”
Thomas laughed for the first time in two days.
“No.”
He stood.
“You insulted a customer.”
Quan looked confused.
May you like
Thomas continued:
“That should have been enough.”
