They no longer have purchasing power without approval from the boss, and all calls are to be monitored.

On the financial front, the first payment to HAACP has not been paid yet and is late, causing representatives to call every other day inquiring about payment and reminding about high interest rates.

Aside from that, operations are running efficiently, and production is steady.

However, with their new exposure to a larger market, they have garnered the attention of a communist organization masquerading as vegans.

Someone reported their products to a local chapter leader, who proceeded to call the boss for a meeting.

Unaware of what was going on, the boss agreed to meet.

The next day, the leader and two of his apprentices showed up to meet with the bewildered boss.

The leader wore drab clothing, but all expensive brand names, and had facial hair styled like Trotsky. He wore Birkenstocks and was known as a pseudo-intellectual by anyone who ever interacted with him.

His apprentices looked like mentally ill drug addicts.

One had lesions on his mouth and piercings in his face. The other had a tattoo above his right eyebrow.

Both smelled like rancid urine.

But make no mistake, this is a dangerous organization. The head of it being a former university professor who spent decades poisoning the minds of the youth and played a leading role in getting the city to demolish many of it's historic buildings in favor of brutalist architecture. He also appeared on TV numerous times to promote his ideology.

"How can I help you?" asked the boss.

"We notice you are selling a vegan product but don't have a vegan certification label."

"I have never heard of such a thing."

The leader then proceeds to pull out a catalogue and shows her all the brands that use the label.

"We use the funds to further our cause and to promote social change."

"What funds?" asked the boss.

"You pay a one-time fee of $1000 for us to inspect your facility and then $500 yearly. You are part of the collective and have to contribute like everyone else."

The boss knew she was being extorted.

"I am not interested, please leave."

"If you don't pay, we will use our connections to slander you in the media and have your products removed from all the major outlets. You will never sell a salad in this town again."

"You will be better off moving back to China."

"I am Japanese."

"Next time we come back, we won't be so nice."

With that, the three men left.

The boss, shaken up, put her head in her hands and gently wept.

The driver saw the entire meeting from a hole in the floor and felt sad.