Mr.
Doyle stared at the first page inside the black folder.
His lips moved, but no sound came out.
Across the top was the name of a company Emily had never heard of.
Beneath it sat a purchase agreement, several inspection reports, and a photograph of the hotel taken nearly thirty years earlier.
Graham Weston rested one hand on the counter.
“Read the buyer’s name,” he said.
Mr.
Doyle swallowed.
“Weston Hospitality Holdings.”
“And the controlling owner?”
The manager looked up at Graham.
“You.”
The lobby became completely still.
Even the flickering desk lamp seemed to hold its breath.
Graham turned toward Emily.
“I bought this hotel three weeks ago.”
Emily stared at him.
“You own it?”
“Not officially until noon today.
The final transfer is waiting for my signature.”
Mr.
Doyle closed the folder too quickly.
“Mr.
Weston, I was never informed that you would be visiting personally.”
“That was intentional.”
“I assure you, what you saw this morning is not how I normally address staff.”
“She is not staff,” Graham said.
“You made that very clear.”
Mr.
Doyle’s eyes darted toward the employees behind the desk.
“This has been a misunderstanding.
The young woman sent an inappropriate personal message to a guest.
I was protecting the hotel.”
Graham unfolded Emily’s note.
The paper had softened at the corners from his wet hands.
“She saw me sitting outside in a storm,” he said.
“She asked me to come inside.
What exactly were you protecting the hotel from?”
Mr.
Doyle straightened his tie.
“Liability.
Boundaries.
Guests of your position can be targeted.”
Emily felt heat rise into her face.
Graham noticed.
“You accused her of targeting me?”
“I was being cautious.”
“No.
You were being cruel because you believed she had no power to answer you.”
The manager said nothing.
Graham opened the folder again and removed a thinner report.
“I came here anonymously because your quarterly reports describe this property as fully maintained, efficiently staffed, and ready for redevelopment.”
“It is.”
“The lamp over the front desk flickers every forty seconds.
The reservation system failed twice during my check-in.
