Cook’s Recipe for Integrity Pays Off

Frantic, Albert Reyes retraced his steps.

He searched all over his home, ran back to the local Thrifty’s where he made a purchase earlier in the day and even rummaged through a 32-gallon trash can on the sidewalk.

But he still couldn’t find his envelope containing $800.

The next day, Reyes and his wife decided to check out Shakey’s Pizza restaurant in Simi Valley, where Reyes ate on Friday, the day he lost the money.

“They looked very depressed, like they hadn’t slept all night, very sad,” recalled restaurant manager Nizar Patel. But after hearing an accurate description of the money Reyes lost, Patel pulled out the envelope containing $800.

“He looked shocked and happy,” said Patel.

One of the cooks at the pizzeria, Sofia Guidano, found the envelope while cleaning tables Friday. It was resting on one of the seats.

“I could not believe it,” Guidano recalled in Spanish. “The person had forgotten it and was probably looking for the money. I thought, ‘This is something very important to them.’ ”

Guidano rushed to Patel’s office and handed her boss the envelope. Patel then waited for the owner to return.

Reyes rewarded Guidano with $40, which she used to purchase clothes for her baby.

In the meantime, Patel is beaming at his employee’s integrity.

“I’m very proud of her,” Patel said. “I’ve been talking to all my employees and customers about her. People want to shake hands with her.”