Chapter 2 - THE GUESTS WHO DIDN'T FIT
Ethan called Adrian immediately.
“Stop the deletion.”
“I’ve locked the archive.”
“Does Victor know?”
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
Ethan kept his voice low because Lily was sleeping six feet away.
“How many complaints?”
“We recovered eighty-seven.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Eighty-seven people.
Eighty-seven moments that looked uncomfortably similar to what had happened downstairs.
“How many properties?”
“Mostly Grand Regent Chicago.”
“So this isn’t a chain-wide issue.”
“Not from what I can see.”
“Who had deletion access?”
“Victor. Two assistant managers. Patricia’s supervisor account.”
Ethan walked toward the window.
Below him, black cars were pulling up one after another beneath the hotel canopy.
Guests in tuxedos and evening gowns entered beneath gold lights.
The corporate gala Patricia had mentioned.
“What’s tonight’s event?”
Adrian paused.
“You don’t know?”
The question bothered Ethan.
“No.”
“Victor listed it as a private client event.”
“For whom?”
“I’m pulling the banquet contract now.”
A knock sounded at the suite door.
Ethan ended the call.
“Send everything.”
He checked the peephole.
Lupita.
He opened the door.
She held a proper glass vase.
“For the roses.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
Again, the answer mattered.
She stepped inside only after he invited her.
Her eyes moved toward Lily.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“How old?”
“Six.”
“My granddaughter is seven.”
Lupita arranged the flowers carefully.
Ethan noticed her hands.
Red.
Dry.
One finger wrapped in a small bandage.
“How long have you worked here?”
“Eleven years.”
“That’s a long time.”
“It used to be a good place.”
Used to be.
Ethan caught the word.
“What changed?”
Lupita stopped touching the roses.
“Sir, I should go.”
“You’re not in trouble.”
She gave him a tired smile.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t get in trouble.”
Ethan understood.
“Did Patricia treat me differently because of how I looked?”
Lupita looked toward the sleeping child.
Then toward the door.
“Yes.”
“Does that happen often?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
“How often?”
“Enough that we notice.”
“Who is we?”
“Housekeeping. Bell staff. Night maintenance. People who clean up after everyone else leaves.”
Ethan sat down.
“Tell me.”
Lupita hesitated.
Then something in her seemed to decide she was tired of being afraid.
“Mr. Hale calls it guest positioning.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“People who look important get upgraded. People who don’t are moved.”
“Moved where?”
“Cheaper partner hotels. Sometimes their reservations are canceled and recreated elsewhere.”
“Even when rooms are available?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He says the Grand Regent must protect its image.”
Ethan stared at her.
That phrase.
Protect its image.
Sarah would have hated it.
His wife had once stopped a board presentation because an executive referred to housekeeping staff as “labor units.”
They have names, she had said.
If your business model makes you forget that, the business model is broken.
Lupita continued.
“Some employees complained.”
“What happened?”
“They lost good shifts.”
“Anyone fired?”
She looked away.
“Yes.”
“Names?”
“I can give them to you.”
“Please do.”
She reached for the vase again.
Then stopped.
“There’s something else.”
Ethan waited.
“Your wife knew.”
His entire body went still.
“What?”
Lupita’s eyes filled with uncertainty.
“Mrs. Vance. Sarah.”
“You knew Sarah?”
“She came here often before she got sick.”
Ethan stared at her.
Sarah had visited the Chicago hotel regularly, but he had assumed those trips were for design meetings and charity events.
Lupita opened the small pocket of her housekeeping apron.
She removed a folded piece of paper.
Old.
Worn at the edges.
“She gave me this almost four years ago.”
Ethan did not take it immediately.
“Why didn’t you give it to me?”
“She told me not to.”
“What did she tell you?”
Lupita swallowed.
“She said if management ever started treating ordinary guests like they didn’t belong here, I should wait.”
“For what?”
“For you to come without warning.”
Ethan slowly took the paper.
Sarah’s handwriting was on the front.
FOR ETHAN — ONLY IF THE HOTEL FORGETS WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR.
His hands began to shake.
Before he could open it, his phone buzzed.
Adrian.
I found the gala contract.
Ethan read the next line twice.
May you like
Victor isn’t hosting a client event.
Tonight is a closed investor meeting to restructure ownership of the Grand Regent.
