Chapter 6 - Unearthing the Rot
The purge of the executive tier was only the beginning. Over the next forty-eight hours, Ethan transformed the executive conference room into a command center.
With Marcus Sterling removed, the regional corporate structure was vulnerable, but Ethan didn't fly in executives from Denver. Instead, he did something unprecedented in the history of the luxury hospitality industry: he promoted from within the ranks of the people who actually ran the hotels.
Lupita sat at Ethan's right hand, reviewing files. Her twelve years of working on the floor gave her an encyclopedic knowledge of which employees were genuinely dedicated and which ones had been installed as political favors by Robert and Marcus.
"We need to address the front desk immediately, Mr. Vance," Lupita noted, highlighting several names on a roster. "Patricia and Karla were just the tip of the iceberg. Robert created a culture where the staff received bonuses based on 'guest profiling.' They were actively encouraged to steer lower-income appearing guests away to keep the lobby looking 'exclusive.'"
Ethan looked at the policy documents with disgust. "A luxury hotel should be defined by the excellence of its service, not the exclusivity of its arrogance. Send a company-wide mandate to all seven properties. Any employee caught discriminating against or profiling a guest based on appearance, race, or socioeconomic background will be terminated immediately with cause. No warnings."
As they were working, a soft knock sounded at the door. Lily walked in, holding the hand of a young woman dressed in a standard kitchen uniform. The young woman looked incredibly nervous, her eyes darting between Ethan and the high-end corporate surroundings.
"Daddy," Lily said, pulling the woman forward. "This is Maya. She made me the special cookies with the funny faces."
Ethan smiled warmly, his intense corporate demeanor melting away instantly. "Thank you, Lily. Maya, please come in."
Maya stepped forward, clutching her hands together. "Mr. Vance, I... I didn't mean to interrupt. Lily came by the pastry kitchen with her nanny, and she was so sweet. But I also... I wanted to talk to you, if you had a moment."
"Of course," Ethan said, gesturing to a chair. "Please, sit down."
Maya sat tentatively on the edge of the plush leather chair. "I heard what you did for Lupita. And what you did to Robert. I wanted to show you this." She pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Ethan.
It was an eviction notice for an apartment in South Chicago.
"What is this, Maya?" Ethan asked, his brows furrowing.
"Robert Sterling cut the kitchen staff's hourly wages by twenty percent six months ago," Maya said, her voice shaking with unshed tears. "He told us the corporate office in Denver ordered budget cuts due to low profits. But we knew the hotel was making money. I’ve been working sixteen-hour shifts, trying to make up the difference, but I’m still short on rent. Three other girls in the laundry department are sleeping in their cars in the basement garage because they can't afford security deposits."
Ethan felt a cold horror wash over him. He looked over at the independent auditor, Sarah. "Sarah, did you find any corporate directives regarding wage reductions for the Midwest region?"
Sarah checked her database rapidly, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "None, Mr. Vance. In fact, corporate approved a four percent increase in the cost-of-living wage adjustment for all regional hourly staff last November. The funds were disbursed from Denver monthly."
Ethan’s fist clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
Robert and Marcus hadn't just stolen luxury inventory; they had literally stolen the money meant to feed and house their lowest-paid employees, pocketing the corporate wage disbursements through their shell companies while telling the staff that Denver was cutting budgets.
Ethan stood up, walking over to Maya. He placed a gentle, reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Maya, look at me," Ethan said softly but with absolute certainty. "You are not going to lose your apartment. Vance Hospitality is going to wire the entire back pay owed to you and every single member of the kitchen, laundry, and housekeeping staff by five o'clock today. With an additional ten percent interest for the hardship you endured."
Maya gasped, covering her mouth as tears finally spilled over her cheeks. "Sir... you mean it?"
"I mean every word," Ethan said. "And more than that, your wages are being restored to their proper rate immediately. The people who did this to you are facing criminal charges. I promise you, no one will ever steal your hard work again."
Maya wept openly, nodding her head in profound gratitude. Lupita walked over, wrapping her arms around the young woman, comforting her.
May you like
Ethan turned back to his laptop, his expression carved from stone. The corruption was deeper, viler, and more damaging than he could have ever imagined. It wasn't just corporate fraud; it was a human tragedy occurring right under his nose, protected by his name.
"Sarah," Ethan ordered, his voice echoing in the large room. "Call the District Attorney's office. Tell them we have added grand larceny and systemic wage theft to the charges against Marcus and Robert Sterling. I want them arrested before the sun sets today."
