Chapter 1 - The Master’s Reveal
The blonde receptionist, whose name tag read Brianna, gave a short, dismissive scoff. "Honestly, Lupita, know your place. We don't need line-level staff dictating front-desk procedures to us."
Lupita’s shoulders lifted slightly, but she didn't step back. Instead, she looked at Lily, whose small eyelids fluttered as she stirred against my shoulder, unsettled by the sharp tone.
"I know how the system works, Brianna," Lupita said, keeping her voice low and respectful. "And I know how we are supposed to treat guests."
"He isn't a guest," the second receptionist, Ashley, chimed in, leaning against the polished marble counter. "He's lost. Now go back to the fifth floor before I mention this to Mr. Harrington."
"You won't need to mention anything to Mr. Harrington," I said.
My voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the air with a weight that made both women freeze. I didn't reach for an ID or raise my fist. I reached into the breast pocket of my worn jacket—the very jacket Brianna had judged—and pulled out a solid silver keycard etched with a gold crest, alongside a custom signet ring Sarah had given me the day we broke ground on our first building.
I laid the silver card flat on the marble desk.
Brianna looked down at it, her dismissive smile fading into mild confusion. Then her eyes caught the embossed lettering beneath the crest: EXECUTIVE FOUNDER - VANCE HOSPITALITY GROUP.
Her face drained of color so fast it looked as though she had seen a ghost.
"You... you're..." Ashley stammered, her arms instantly dropping from her chest as she stared at the card, then up at my face.
"Ethan Vance," I said quietly. "Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of this hotel."
Brianna’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Her hands began to tremble above the keyboard she had lazily tapped just moments before.
"N-Mr. Vance," Brianna choked out, her voice dropping an octave as sheer panic set in. "I... we had no idea... the clothes, the... there was no notification from corporate—"
"Because it was a surprise inspection," I interrupted, my tone icy and unyielding. "The kind designed to see how my staff treats a tired father and a sleeping child when they think no one important is watching."
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Lupita stood completely still, her eyes widening in realization, though she remained poised and quiet beside the luggage cart.
I looked at Brianna, then at Ashley. "You told me the general manager was too busy to come down for someone who couldn't find a reservation. Let's see how busy he is now. Call Arthur Harrington to the lobby immediately."
