“Yes.”
“I also want the reservation logs preserved.”
“Security footage.”
“Complaint system.”
“Employee complaints.”
“Guest incident reports.”
“Settlement history.”
“Turnover.”
“Exit interviews.”
“Anything involving selective service or discriminatory treatment.”
Sarah was already typing.
“I’ll have Jennifer lead it.”
Jennifer Martinez was Washington Hospitality Group’s chief people officer.
Former employment lawyer.
Precise.
Almost irritatingly unwilling to overstate anything.
Exactly who Damon wanted.
“Independent outside counsel too.”
Sarah said.
“Agreed.”
“And Damon?”
“Yes?”
“Do not go back inside alone until regional leadership confirms control.”
He looked through the doors again.
“I wasn't planning to.”
Jake shifted nearby.
Damon ended the call.
Then looked at him.
“You should go inside.”
Jake hesitated.
“Are you…”
His phone buzzed.
Then again.
He pulled it out.
His face changed.
Damon watched him read.
WASHINGTON HOSPITALITY GROUP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF METROPOLITAN IMPERIAL HOTELS.
Jake looked from the screen to Damon.
Then back.
A second notification arrived.
CORPORATE TRANSITION NOTICE.
Jake went pale.
“Sir.”
Damon said nothing.
“You’re Damon Washington.”
“Yes.”
Jake closed his eyes.
“Oh.”
That was all.
Just one exhausted syllable.
Damon almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Jake looked through the doors.
“Does she know?”
“Not yet.”
Jake swallowed.
“I need to tell…”
“No.”
Damon’s voice stopped him.
“Corporate will contact her.”
“Do not turn this into another performance.”
Jake nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
“Regional security.”
“Answer it.”
Jake did.
Through the glass, something changed inside.
Phones began appearing.
Ryan looked toward his screen.
A bellman stopped mid-conversation.
Victoria remained unaware for perhaps another thirty seconds.
Then Ryan walked toward her.
Damon could not hear through the glass.
He saw him hold up a tablet.
Victoria looked.
Her face changed.
She took the tablet from him.
Read.
Looked through the glass doors.
Straight at Damon.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Damon would remember that expression for years.
Not remorse.
Not yet.
Fear.
Fear created by status.
That mattered.
She had not been troubled when Damon was simply a man.
Now that he owned the company, he was suddenly real.
The revolving door turned.
Victoria stepped outside.
She no longer looked theatrical.
“Mr. Washington.”
Damon looked at her.
No apology came immediately.
Instead:
“There has clearly been a misunderstanding.”
Damon felt his disappointment deepen.