8 Rules Are Rules (2/2)
”Host, please be advised, you served this woman an ultimate cup of joe 5 hours ago.You cannot serve her one again for another hour.”
Alan did a double take.”Wait, system are you serious?How am I supposed to refuse this woman?”
”Host, as the future owner of the world's most luxurious cafe, how can you capitulate to the demands of your customers?Show your pride young man!”
Alan felt incredulous.”What pride?She just wanted a second cup of coffee? Plus she was going to pay for it.”However, no matter how he insisted the system refused to back down.Finally, he sighed, and turned to face the woman reluctantly.
”Excuse me ma'am, but I'm afraid I can't serve you.”
The woman stared at him in shock before raising her voice shrilly and exclaiming, ”What do you mean you can't serve me?What sort of discrimination is this?Do your job and get me a cup of coffee this instant!”
Alan remained calm.”Ma'am, it is my personal rule not to serve my coffee to any customer more than once every 6 hours.You had coffee this morning, only 5 hours ago.Thus, I cannot serve you more.”
She continued to shout shrilly at him.John, hearing the commotion, came out of his office.
”What seems to be the problem?” He said, as he hurried over sweatily.
”Your barista is refusing to serve me coffee!What sort of cafe is this?What business of yours is it how many times I drink coffee per day?”
Alan felt a headache coming on as John turned to him.”What's the problem?Hurry and apologize to the customer and go make her her coffee.”Turning back to the woman he said, ”My apologies ma'am, the coffee will be on us.”
Alan really wanted to just go make the coffee, but he knew the system wouldn't let him so he spoke to John.”As a cafe, we should not be in the habit of over serving our customers.The caffeine in coffee has an addictive property.Without proper management of caffeine intake it is possible to develop withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.It's a rule of mine to never serve any customer my coffee more than once every 6 hours.”
Alan gasped in admiration at his own ability to speak bull****.Somehow creating a health concern out of drinking coffee, who else could come up with such an excuse.He patted himself on the back as he looked to see how John reacted.
John was less impressed.He looked at Alan angrily, exclaiming, ”Nonsense!It's none of our business how much caffeine the customer chooses to consume during the day.Hurry up and apologize right this minute and then get this woman her coffee.If you keep this up, I will fire you.”
Truth be told, John initially had some reservations about his new employee.Since Alan claimed to be sent by Alexander Willington, he felt almost trapped, like he had to walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting Alan.However, Alexander Willington had never once called or stopped by.Frankly, there was no indication that Alan's story had any truth to it.Maybe he just used the name to get his foot in the door.
Reassuring himself with this thought, John attempted to stare down Alan.
Alan, though calm on the outside, was frantically arguing with the system.”Hey, system, come on.It's one thing to have that rule when I own my own business, but to have the rule now?You want me to become the owner of the world's most luxurious cafe don't you?How can I do that if I get fired?”
The system replied, ”Correction, Host.As the future owner of the world's most luxurious cafe, how can you let the threat of being fired usurp your pride.Stand tall young man!”
Alan felt like crying, but he was helpless to do anything.
He took a deep breath and said to John, ”Then I guess you'll have to fire me.I can't serve her another coffee for at least one more hour.”
John looked at him in disbelief before shaking his head.”Collect your check at the end of the day.You're done here.”
Just like that, Alan was back to being unemployed.