In the story, Tammy, a waitress at a restaurant, offers a meal to a man named Michael who is unable to pay, despite her manager Lisa’s objections. Lisa believes that giving food away for free could harm the restaurant’s reputation and business. When Michael is asked to leave, he reveals that he is the CEO of the restaurant chain and was testing the restaurant's commitment to kindness and respect. He expresses disappointment in Lisa’s lack of empathy and decides to fire her for failing to uphold the company's values. He praises Tammy for her compassion and offers her a promotion to manager, which she gratefully accepts.