Meet my mother.

I touched his arm. “Don’t worry. I’ve already embarrassed myself enough for both of us.”

A few people chuckled.

My son straightened. “I’ve worked here six years. I’ve trained employees, covered emergencies, and worked weekends.”

Bill interrupted. “And you’ve been paid!”

“Not for every hour.”

I thought he’d retreat.

The laughter stopped.

“You promised me a raise three years ago. You promised bonuses. Nothing happened.”

“That’s private business!”

“Then stop telling everyone how wonderfully you treat us.”

Bill’s expression hardened. “You’d better think carefully about your job.”

Not for every hour.

I raised my microphone. “Remarkable! He can fire people faster than he pays them!”

A few nervous laughs followed.

“Sit down, Daniel!”

“No,” my son said.

His voice shook, but he remained standing.

Nothing happened.

“I missed my daughter’s concert because you wouldn’t let me leave.”

“That’s business!”

A man near the back stood.

“Daniel’s right,” Frank said. “I’ve been waiting ten years for that promised raise.”

Another employee called out, “I’ve collected more company mugs than bonuses!”

He can fire people faster than he pays them!

The room laughed.

Bill slammed the podium.

“You ungrateful idiots! Without me, none of you would have jobs!”

I raised my microphone. “Funny. From what I’ve heard, they’re the ones keeping this place running.”

“Shut up, you crazy old woman!”

Daniel’s right.

“That’s an unusual employee appreciation speech.”

The laughter grew louder.

Bill’s face turned crimson. “I’ll fire every last one of you!”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the room.

“No, Bill. You won’t.”

You crazy old woman!

His wife walked toward the stage.

“Stay out of this, Linda.”

She took his microphone. “I’ve stayed out of this long enough.”

“What are you doing?”

“Something I should’ve done years ago.”

I’ll fire every last one of you!

She faced the employees.

“You’ve kept this business running while my husband takes credit for everything.”

Bill laughed bitterly. “My company! My decisions!”

“Our company,” Linda corrected.

He froze. “Excuse me?”

I should’ve done years ago.

“Your father founded it. After he died, I handled the finances, customers, and administration.”

“That’s paperwork!”

“Paperwork that keeps your trucks operating.”

She faced the room. “I’ve watched good employees leave because of broken promises. I’ve watched customers complain about Bill.”

Our company.

I raised my hand. “For the record, I’d like to add grocery shoppers to that list.”

A few people laughed.

“Every time I confronted him, he promised to change. And every time, I believed him because I was afraid of destroying the business his father had built.”

Bill threw up his hands. “Oh, come on, Linda! You’re making me sound like some kind of monster!”

I’ve watched customers complain.

She looked at Daniel.

“But watching him threaten another good employee reminded me exactly why things had to change.”

“Don’t you dare humiliate me!”

“You’ve been humiliating people for years.”

Bill crossed his arms. “So what? You’re going to give me another lecture?”