Daniel nodded cautiously.
“That’s correct.”
“But numbers can improve while culture gets worse.”
Daniel said nothing.
Ethan turned to Lupita.
“How often does that happen?”
She understood what he meant.
“Sir, I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“You didn’t cause anything.”
She looked at Daniel.
He gave a small nod.
Lupita exhaled.
“Not every day.
But enough.”
“Enough what?” Ethan asked.
“Guests being judged before they’re helped.”
Daniel stared at the elevator doors.
Lupita continued carefully.
“If someone looks wealthy, they get patience.
If they look tired, confused, young, old, foreign, or like they might complain about a price, sometimes they get treated differently.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Have you reported it?”
“Yes.”
“To whom?”
She did not answer immediately.
Daniel looked at her.
“Lupita?”
“To front-office supervisors.
More than once.”
Daniel’s face changed.
He had not heard about those complaints.
The elevator reached the ninth floor.
Suite 904 was at the end of a quiet hallway overlooking the city.
Daniel opened the door.
Ethan carried Lily inside and laid her gently on the bed without removing her shoes.
She curled onto her side immediately, one hand under her cheek.
He placed the backpack beside the chair and set the roses on the desk.
For a long moment, he simply stood there looking at them.
Three years.
Three years since Sarah had died.
Three years since he had learned how strangely grief rearranged ordinary tasks.
Buying groceries became remembering what she used to cook.
Folding Lily’s clothes became finding the small sweater Sarah had chosen.
Traveling became calculating which situations might trigger a question about mothers.
The anniversary trip to Chicago had not been planned for sentiment.
Ethan had business meetings the following day.
Bringing Lily had seemed easier than leaving her with family during the anniversary.
They would spend the morning together, put the roses in water, and tell one Sarah story each.
That was the plan.
Instead, the evening had become something else.
Daniel remained near the door.
“I want to suspend Patricia and Karla pending review.”
Ethan turned.
“Not because they insulted the owner.”
Daniel nodded.
“Because they treated a guest that way.”
