Closing Time Is A Deli-cate Subject

I work in a grocery store deli. While the store as a whole doesn’t close, there are certain sections that do (deli, meat/seafood, bakery). The hours of those sections are clearly posted, but we all know about certain customers and reading.

On the night in question, I’m the last one closing. The deli section itself has been closed for close to an hour at this point and everything is deep-cleaned. I’m just finishing up some paperwork.

Customer: “I would like a pound of ham.”

Me: “I’m sorry, but the deli is closed.”

Customer: “Come on, I’m shopping for someone. They’re waiting in the car right outside.”

Me: “Everything is cleaned off and I have to leave soon. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

Customer: “It won’t take you that long to get my meat and clean up again!”

I wouldn’t budge and the customer left in a huff. I had to file some of the paperwork in a different area of the store. From there, I could see the deli. Right after I got there, I saw the customer come back with a manager and gesture angrily at the empty, clean deli. The manager just shrugged, said something to the customer, and walked off. I made sure to take the long way around leaving the store so the customer didn’t see me.