Chapter 2 - THE GALA CLARA NEVER APPROVED
Everett Collins arrived at Suite 904 twelve minutes later.
He did not look like a man coming to apologize.
He looked like a man who had just discovered the floor beneath his career was disappearing.
“Ms. Vance.”
“Sit.”
He did.
Clara stayed beside Lily.
Her daughter had finally fallen into a deep sleep, one arm wrapped around the stuffed rabbit Michael had bought her during his last Christmas.
Clara kept her voice low.
“Why did you modify my reservation?”
Everett glanced at Lupita.
Clara noticed.
“Do not look at her. Look at me.”
“I was following instructions.”
“Whose?”
He hesitated.
“Malcolm Reed.”
“Why?”
“He said corporate might send observers during the gala.”
“I am corporate.”
Everett said nothing.
“What is the gala?”
“A strategic event.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
He swallowed.
“Halcyon Capital.”
“I can read a calendar.”
Another silence.
Clara felt anger beginning to move through her exhaustion.
“What are they doing in my ballroom?”
Everett lowered his voice.
“Management has been discussing a transaction.”
Clara went completely still.
“What transaction?”
“I assumed you knew.”
“Then assume less.”
He looked toward the bedroom where Lily slept.
Then back.
“A sale.”
The word landed softly.
That made it worse.
“Of what?”
“The Grand Regent.”
Clara stared.
Everett rushed ahead.
“I don’t know details. Malcolm said the board had authorized exploratory negotiations.”
“The board has not authorized the sale of this hotel.”
His face changed.
“Ms. Vance—”
“I control sixty-seven percent of voting shares.”
“Yes.”
“So explain how my flagship hotel is holding a buyer’s gala without my knowledge.”
Everett could not.
Clara took out her phone.
She called Dana Brooks, Vance Regent’s CFO.
Dana answered on the second ring.
“Clara?”
“Are we selling the Grand Regent?”
Silence.
Clara sat straighter.
“Dana.”
“I’ve been trying to get Malcolm to schedule a review with you.”
Wrong answer.
“Yes or no?”
“There is no completed sale.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Dana exhaled.
“There have been negotiations.”
“How long?”
“Four months.”
Clara’s fingers tightened around the phone.
Four months.
She had spent those months closing a Denver acquisition, dealing with Lily’s school issues, and surviving the third anniversary of Michael’s death.
“Why wasn’t I told?”
“I sent two briefing memos.”
“I never received them.”
Another silence.
“Where?”
“Through Malcolm’s office.”
Of course.
Clara looked at Everett.
He looked ill.
Then Dana said:
“Clara, there’s something else. Halcyon thinks tonight is more than an exploratory gala.”
“What do they think it is?”
“A preliminary closing celebration.”
Clara stood.
“What?”
“Malcolm apparently told them major approvals were complete.”
“They aren’t.”
“I know.”
“Then stop everything.”
“I can stop internal execution. But there’s already a financing structure attached.”
Clara felt cold.
“What financing?”
Dana hesitated.
“A credit facility secured by several properties.”
“How much?”
“Approximately one hundred forty-eight million.”
Clara stopped breathing.
“What properties?”
“Grand Regent Chicago. Regent Harbor Boston. Regent House Denver.”
Three of her best hotels.
She had approved no such collateral package.
Then Dana whispered:
“I’ve been trying to verify the founder consents.”
“Founder consents?”
“Your electronic signature appears on two.”
Clara stared at Lily.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because I never signed them.”
Silence.
Then Dana said:
“There’s a third authorization.”
“Whose?”
A pause.
“Michael’s.”
Clara’s blood went cold.
Her husband had been dead for three years.
Dana continued carefully.
“The document says he signed before his death.”
“Did he?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“Send it.”
The PDF arrived seconds later.
Michael Vance’s signature appeared at the bottom.
It looked perfect.
May you like
Then Clara saw the document creation metadata Dana had highlighted.
The file had been generated eight months after Michael was buried.
