My mother-in-law showed up at my restaurant with 38 friends and announced, “Order the most expensive things. I’m treating everyone today,” even though she knew she had no intention of paying. Instead of throwing them out, I looked at the manager and said, “Serve them everything.” Three hours later, when she saw the $23,289 bill and the folder I placed on the table, she stopped smiling.

Beatrice’s friends began physically stepping away from her, washing their hands of the situation.

“I only came today because Beatrice assured us everything was taken care of!” one woman declared loudly.

“Me too!” another chimed in. “I am certainly not getting dragged into legal trouble because of her family’slies!”

 

Beatrice began to cry real tears of panic.

“My son deceived me, too!”

“You can explain your side of the story to the proper authorities,” I replied firmly. “But the outstanding debt for this meal remains unpaid.”

Gavin walked up beside me.

“Should I call security, Camilla?”

“Just to keep the peace, Gavin. Nobody is going to be harmed, but if anyone refuses to pay their portion or attempts to leave without providing full identification, please dial the police immediately.”

When Beatrice realized that I was not going toback down, she began desperately begging me.

 

“Just write it off as advertising, Camilla! This restaurant makes so much money, so twenty thousand dollars is not going to ruin you!”