Chapter 5
Victor called the payments “stability dues.”
Of course.
He claimed the club had grown too generous.
Too many family discounts.
Too many inherited vendor arrangements.
Too many staff benefits established when margins were larger.
He believed generosity had become entitlement.
Maybe some had.
That was worth reviewing.
But instead of telling me, he taught Dominic a different lesson.
If people believe access is conditional, they become grateful again.
There it was.
Scarcity manufactured as discipline.
Food allocations reduced.
Delivery windows shortened.
Staff bonuses delayed.
Then restored selectively to people who paid.
Dominic discovered control was profitable.
Victor discovered everyone became more deferential.
Neither bothered asking what happened to the families at the bottom.
Maeve happened.
A four-year-old giving away her last coins to a stranger because her household ration had vanished.
I looked at Victor.
“Did Sofia ever go hungry?”
His face changed.
“No.”
“Did Dominic?”
“No.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then which of you became qualified to teach hunger gratitude?”
May you like
No answer.
Good.
