A Question of Trust

Inés had never felt so unsure about a business decision. She and her friend Leo had been planning to open a bakery for two years, and now, with the lease ready to sign, they disagreed about almost everything. They wanted different places, and they had different ideas about prices.

“It isn’t the rent that worries me,” Leo said. “It’s that you never listen.” Inés looked at the contract. “I want a place that people can find easily,” she answered. “And you were the one who suggested the cheaper street.”

They had two choices: a big shop on the main road and a smaller one near the university. Neither was perfect. Both were expensive, but the second was much cheaper than the first. “The more we argue, the less we agree,” Leo sighed. “We aren’t so different,” Inés said. “We want the same thing.”

Just then, the phone rang. It was the owner of the main-road shop, who offered a three-month discount. “We can’t sign today,” Inés said. “First we have to look at the numbers.” Leo nodded.

They spent the evening with a spreadsheet. By midnight, neither of them was angry. They were surprised that their numbers were so similar. In the end, they chose the smaller shop because it gave them more than they expected: lower costs, regular students and a big window for the bread.