Vanessa looked at Daniel again.
"His son?"
Michael nodded.
"Yes."
She turned toward the young employee.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Would it have changed anything?"
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Daniel continued.
"I applied for this position like everyone else. I completed the interviews, received the uniform, and worked the same shifts."
He paused.
"I never asked anyone to treat me differently."
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"But surely you could have..."
Daniel interrupted gently.
"Could have what? Told you my father owned the hotel?"
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
Daniel continued.
"I wanted to understand what working here was really like. I wanted to learn how employees were treated when nobody important was watching."
Edward placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"That's why I respected his decision."
Michael looked surprised.
"Daniel has been working here under his own name?"
Edward nodded.
"Yes."
Michael turned toward the general manager.
"Did you know?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
Edward looked at her.
"That's the point."
He spoke quietly.
"My son wanted to be evaluated based on his work, not his family."
He glanced toward the other employees.
"And today, I discovered exactly how you evaluate people."
Vanessa swallowed.
She tried to apologize.
"Mr. Harrison, I sincerely apologize. I had no idea..."
Edward raised one hand.
"Please stop."
He looked at her.
"Would you have spoken differently if you had known who Daniel was?"
Vanessa remained silent.
Edward continued.
"Would you have treated him with respect because he was my son?"
She nodded slowly.
Edward shook his head.
"Then you still haven't understood the problem."
CHAPTER 7: THE QUESTION THAT SILENCED THE ROOM
Edward looked toward the employees gathered around the lobby.
Several had witnessed the confrontation.
Some looked uncomfortable.
Others appeared relieved that someone had finally challenged Vanessa's behavior.
Edward asked a simple question.
"How many of you have been treated this way?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Vanessa looked around.
"Mr. Harrison, I think this is becoming unnecessary."
Edward ignored her.
"I want everyone to speak honestly. Nobody will be punished for telling the truth."
A young receptionist slowly raised her hand.
Her name was Sophie.
"I've been criticized in front of guests several times."
Edward nodded.
"Why?"
"Usually because something went wrong in another department. But the manager often blames whoever happens to be standing nearby."
Another employee spoke.
"Sometimes we're asked to work extra hours without proper notice."
A third added: