Second Chance: Dismantling the Penny-Pinching Mother

Two days later, the clients arrived right on time. George came out personally to welcome and host them.

The meeting room had been set up early that morning, with steaming lattes, cookies, and nougats placed in front of each seat. I had reminded Sadie to buy some fruit too, but she probably thought it was too expensive.

Once the clients were seated, Sadie pulled me aside. "Ms. Shepherd, how can I get reimbursed? I misplaced the receipt, and the Finance Department won't authorize the payment."

I thought for a moment. "Do you have any proof of payment? If not, you'll have to speak with Mr. Wood. Maybe once the deal goes through, he'll be in a better mood and approve the reimbursement."

Upon hearing that proof of payment was needed, Sadie's expression shifted uncomfortably. "I'll check with the Finance Department again. These items were expensive, so I'll need to get reimbursed."

Since Sadie was just a junior staff member, her absence didn't make much of an impact. I closed the meeting room door and moved to the front to present our proposal.

The clients listened attentively, occasionally sipping their coffee. I wasn't sure where Sadie had gotten it from, but judging by their expressions, it seemed to taste pretty good.

Before long, Sadie returned, clearly having made no progress with the Finance Department. Rather than returning to her desk, she headed straight for George.

She said, "Mr. Wood, would you mind transferring the payment for the coffee and snacks provided in the meeting room today? The Finance Department mentioned they can't reimburse me without an invoice.

"I invested a great deal of effort in preparing everything. Since everyone has enjoyed the food, I think it's only fair that the payment is made without delay."

Sadie's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard her clearly. The clients exchanged awkward glances.

I quickly raised my voice and carried on with the presentation, trying to pull their focus back to the proposal.

George took a deep breath and whispered, "We'll handle this later. We're in the middle of a meeting."

Sadie, however, stood her ground. "No way. What if you back out afterward? Just transfer the money now. It'll only take a few seconds."

The clients glanced over, their brows furrowed in confusion. Meanwhile, George frantically searched for a way to resolve the situation. Given Sadie's unreasonable behavior, no one could predict what she might do if he refused to pay her.

"How much do I owe? I'll send the payment immediately. Just sit down and relax. You'll get your money," George reassured her.

Sadie flashed a smile. "Just give me ten thousand dollars. I made everything myself, so I'm only asking for the cost price."

"Ten thousand?" George blurted out, leaping out of his chair in disbelief.

Our company wasn't some corporate giant. Even for client events, the budget rarely exceeded eight hundred dollars.

George stood frozen, blindsided by Sadie's outrageous demand.

"Is this stuff made of gold? How do you expect ten grand for such a tiny spread?" he snapped, his voice rising in frustration. "You're trying to rip me off, aren't you?"

Sadie simply shook her head, her face the picture of innocence.

What she said next stunned everyone into silence. "I made everything with my breast milk. I even mixed a bit into the coffee, which is why it tastes so rich. Don't you know a mother's milk is blood transformed into life-giving nourishment? So, tell me, isn't ten thousand a fair price?"