“Twenty-six. Hoodie. Sneakers. You told him test drives required proof of financing.”
“He looked like a kid.”
“He sold a software company last year.”
The silence grew heavier.
“He bought a Range Rover somewhere else.”
Tyler’s mouth went dry.
Walter placed the comment card back on the desk.
“I came in today because I’ve been hearing things.”
Tyler’s face fell further.
“This wasn’t random?”
“No.”
Walter looked around the showroom.
“I don’t like mystery-shopping my own stores. I think employees deserve trust. But when the same pattern reaches me three times, I pay attention.”
Claire looked stricken.
“I should’ve known.”
Walter looked at her.
“You should have.”
Then, after a moment:
“But you came out here when you heard something wrong.”
Claire nodded.
“That matters.”
Tyler took a shaky breath.
“Mr. Mercer, give me a chance to fix this.”
Walter looked at him.
“I can take training. I can apologize to those customers. I’ll change how I handle walk-ins.”
“Why?”
Tyler frowned.
“What?”
“Why will you change?”
“Because this was wrong.”
“You knew it was wrong five minutes ago.”
Tyler’s eyes dropped.
Walter stepped closer.
“You didn’t become disrespectful today. You were simply disrespectful to the wrong person.”
The sentence hit harder than a shout.
Tyler looked toward the glass doors.
Outside, sunlight flashed across rows of vehicles.
He suddenly understood what was coming.
“Please.”
Walter’s face remained controlled.
“I have a mortgage.”
Claire looked at Walter but did not intervene.
“I have a wife,” Tyler continued. “We’re expecting our first child.”
Walter’s eyes changed slightly.
For the first time, something like sadness appeared in them.
“That makes this harder.”
Tyler’s hope returned.
Walter continued.
“But it doesn’t make your conduct acceptable.”
“I’ll do anything.”
Walter studied him.
“Do you know what I was doing before I came here?”
Tyler shook his head.
“I was repairing a fence at my daughter’s property.”
He looked down at his dusty boots.
“Her husband broke his ankle last week. They have horses. A storm knocked down part of the west fence, so I went over at six this morning to help.”
Walter looked back at Tyler.
“This is how I dress when I work.”
His voice was softer now.
“My father was a mechanic. He wore clothes like this every day. Some months when I was a kid, we didn’t know if we could pay the electric bill.”
Tyler stood completely still.
“If someone had laughed at my father because of his boots, I would’ve remembered it for the rest of my life.”
Walter looked toward the doors.
“You told me to leave.”
Tyler closed his eyes briefly.
Walter pointed toward the entrance.
“Now I’m telling you.”
“Mr. Mercer—”
“You’re terminated.”
Tyler’s face went blank.
Claire inhaled slowly.
Walter continued.
“You’ll be paid everything you’re owed. Claire will arrange the paperwork. If you need a reference confirming dates of employment and sales performance, we’ll provide that.”
Tyler stared at him.
“But you will not represent this company again.”
For several seconds, Tyler seemed unable to move.