Chapter 2 - The Glass of Red Wine
Ten minutes later, Victor returned to the front desk.
This time, Richard followed him.
Victor placed one hand on the marble counter.
“Do you know how much money I spend here every year?”
Emily kept her voice professional.
“No, sir.”
“Nearly three hundred thousand dollars.”
“We appreciate your business.”
“Then do what I asked.”
“I can't remove another paying guest because you dislike his clothes.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“Emily.”
Victor gave a short laugh.
“She really doesn't understand.”
He leaned closer.
“Let me explain hospitality to you. Important clients get priority.”
“Mr. Bennett is also a client.”
“Don't lecture me.”
People nearby began looking over.
Samuel lowered his newspaper.
Richard stepped beside Emily.
“Apologize.”
Emily turned.
“For what?”
“For your attitude.”
“I haven't been disrespectful.”
“You disobeyed a direct instruction.”
“Because the instruction was wrong.”
Richard’s eyes widened.
Victor laughed again.
Then he reached toward one of his associates.
“Give me that.”
He took the man’s glass of red wine.
Emily saw his arm move.
The wine struck her face.
A collective gasp swept through the lobby.
Red liquid ran through Emily’s dark hair, down her cheeks and across her white uniform shirt.
Some splashed onto the black marble counter.
Victor held the empty glass inches from her face.
“Now you look more appropriate for the kind of people you insist on protecting.”
Two of his companions laughed.
Emily closed her eyes.
Not from humiliation.
The wine was burning them.
She reached beneath the desk, took out a towel and wiped her face.
Then she looked at Victor.
“Are you finished?”
His smile faded.
“What?”
“I asked if you're finished.”
Richard rushed forward.
“Emily, staff room. Now.”
“No.”
“You're suspended.”
Emily stared at him.
“For having wine thrown in my face?”
“For refusing management instructions.”
Emily slowly removed her name tag.
Victor smirked.
“There. She's finally learning.”
But Emily didn't put it down.
Instead, she looked toward the ceiling.
“Camera Four records audio, doesn't it?”
Richard froze.
“Emily.”
“Yes or no?”
“Don't make this worse.”
Samuel Bennett stood.
He approached slowly, leaning on his cane.
Victor turned.
“This doesn't concern you.”
Samuel stopped beside Emily.
“It concerns me more than you realize.”
Victor scoffed.
“What are you going to do about it?”
Samuel ignored him.
He looked at Emily.
“Do you want to lose this job?”
“No.”
“Then why didn't you follow the order?”
Emily looked at her ruined uniform.
“Because you paid to be treated like a guest.”
“That's all?”
“That should be enough.”
Samuel nodded.
Then checked his watch.
“Good.”
Victor frowned.
“Good?”
Samuel looked toward the elevators.
“Let's wait one minute.”
“For what?”
Samuel said nothing.
Fifty seconds later, the elevator doors opened.
Three people emerged.
A woman in a black suit.
A corporate attorney.
And Jonathan Pierce, CEO of Bellmore Hospitality.
Richard’s face went white.
“Mr. Pierce?”
Jonathan walked directly past him.
“Good evening, Mr. Bennett.”
Victor frowned.
Emily stared.
Samuel nodded.
“Jonathan.”
Jonathan noticed Emily's wine-soaked uniform.
“What happened?”
Samuel answered quietly.
“Exactly what I came here to discover.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Who exactly are you?”
Samuel reached into his coat.
He removed a card and placed it on the counter.
Emily read it.
SAMUEL BENNETT
FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
BELLMORE HOSPITALITY
Richard took one step backward.
Samuel Bennett had founded Bellmore's first hotel forty-two years earlier.
He had deliberately arrived without an entourage.
No luxury car.
No executive suite.
No announcement.
Just an old coat, an inexpensive room and a question.
How would his hotels treat someone who appeared to have no power?
Samuel looked at Richard.
“Now I know.”
Victor cleared his throat.
“Mr. Bennett, this was a misunderstanding.”
Samuel glanced at Emily.
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“This was evidence.”
Then the woman beside Jonathan handed Samuel a tablet.
“Sir,” she said, “there’s something else you need to hear.”
Samuel looked at the screen.
“What?”
May you like
“Camera Four.”
Richard suddenly stopped breathing.
