Another whispered something to the person beside him.
A third looked toward Victor.
Edward allowed them time to read.
Then he spoke again.
"These reports describe elderly guests being ignored, families being removed without reasonable consideration, employees being punished for showing compassion, and complaints being concealed."
Victor leaned forward.
"Mr. Harrison, I would like to clarify several points."
Edward nodded.
"Please do."
Victor stood.
"Managing a luxury property requires difficult decisions. We serve guests with very different expectations. Sometimes, maintaining a consistent experience means making choices that may not satisfy everyone."
Edward listened.
Victor continued.
"The restructuring proposal was intended to improve operational efficiency. Our labor costs have increased, and the market has become more competitive."
A board member nodded.
"That's true. We have all been concerned about rising expenses."
Victor seized the opportunity.
"Exactly. The changes were necessary to protect profitability."
Edward looked at him.
"Victor, may I ask you something?"
"Certainly."
"If a hotel becomes more profitable but loses the trust of its guests and employees, have we improved it?"
Victor hesitated.
"Profitability is one of several important indicators."
"Agreed."
Edward leaned forward.
"But it isn't the only one."
He opened another document.
"This is the proposed employee restructuring plan."
The screen displayed a list of positions.
Housekeeping.
Maintenance.
Guest relations.
Kitchen staff.
Reception.
Dozens of employees were marked for replacement.
"Why were these employees selected?" Edward asked.
Victor replied quickly.
"Several were approaching retirement. Others had performance issues. We intended to replace them with a more flexible workforce."
Edward pointed toward one name.
"Thomas Walker."
Victor looked at the screen.
"Yes."
"Do you know how long he has worked here?"
"Approximately eighteen years."
"Twenty-three."
Edward corrected him.
"Thomas Walker has worked here for twenty-three years. He helped maintain the original building during our first decade."
Victor remained silent.
Edward moved to another name.
"Linda Brooks. Sixteen years. David Chen. Nineteen years. Maria Thompson. Fourteen years."
He looked around the room.
"These aren't numbers. These are people who helped build the reputation of this hotel."
Victor responded.
"With respect, Mr. Harrison, loyalty cannot replace performance."
Edward nodded.
"You're absolutely right."
Victor looked slightly relieved.
Then Edward continued.
"But neither can a spreadsheet replace judgment."
The room became silent.
James displayed another document.
It was an internal email.
The subject line read:
RE: EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS — CONFIDENTIAL.
Victor recognized it immediately.
His expression changed.
James began reading.
The email showed that several complaints had been forwarded to the general manager's office but later marked as resolved without a proper investigation.
One message contained a particularly troubling sentence:
We cannot allow minor employee concerns to interfere with premium guest priorities.
A board member looked up.
"Victor, did you write this?"
Victor cleared his throat.
"It was taken out of context."
James displayed the complete conversation.
There was no ambiguity.
Victor had instructed his department to discourage employees from escalating complaints.
Edward looked at him.
"Why?"
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Because we were receiving too many complaints."
"That is not an answer."
"We needed to protect the hotel's reputation."
Edward shook his head.
"You protected the appearance of our reputation. You did nothing to protect the people who gave it meaning."
One of the directors leaned forward.
"I think we need to investigate this independently."
Another agreed.
Victor looked around the table.
"You're all reacting emotionally. We need to consider the financial implications."
Edward slowly closed his folder.
"Victor, do you know what I find most disappointing?"
Victor said nothing.
"It isn't that you made mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes."
Edward paused.
"It's that you had opportunities to correct them, and instead, you chose to hide them."
Victor's face turned red.
"I have given twelve years of my life to this hotel."
Edward nodded.
"And I acknowledge your work."
"Then surely I deserve some consideration."
"You do."
Victor looked hopeful.
Edward continued.
"Which is why you will have the opportunity to answer every allegation during the investigation."
He turned toward James.
"Effective immediately, I want all proposed dismissals suspended. Every complaint reopened. And no employee is to face retaliation for speaking with the review team."
James wrote down the instructions.
A board member raised his hand.
"What about Victor's position?"
Edward looked at the general manager.
"That decision will be made after the investigation."
Victor slowly sat down.
For the first time, he understood that his authority was no longer enough to protect him.
The meeting continued for another hour.
By the time it ended, the board had approved an independent review of the hotel's operations.
But Edward wasn't finished.
As everyone began leaving, he called James aside.
"There's something else."
James stopped.
"What is it?"
"I want to visit the employees."
"Today?"
"Yes."
James looked surprised.
"Would you like me to arrange a formal meeting?"
Edward shook his head.
"No speeches. No announcements. I simply want to listen."
He picked up his old suitcase.
"Let's go downstairs."
And as Edward walked out of the conference room, he had no idea that one of the employees he was about to meet would reveal the most heartbreaking truth about the hotel's past.
The service corridor behind the Grand Imperial's main lobby was very different from the elegant spaces guests usually saw.
There were no chandeliers.
No polished marble floors.
No expensive paintings.
Instead, there were storage rooms, cleaning equipment, delivery carts, and narrow hallways filled with the sounds of people working.
Edward entered the corridor with James and Olivia.
Several employees stopped when they recognized him.
Some whispered to one another.
Others simply watched.
Edward greeted each person.
"Good morning."
"Hello."
"How are you today?"
At first, the employees responded cautiously.
They weren't accustomed to being greeted by the hotel's founder.
Most had never even seen him.
Finally, Edward stopped beside a woman organizing towels.
"Good morning. What's your name?"
The woman looked up.
"Linda, sir. Linda Brooks."
"How long have you worked here, Linda?"
"Sixteen years."
Edward smiled.
"That's a long time."
She nodded.
"It is."
"Do you enjoy working here?"
Linda looked toward Olivia.
Then she looked back at Edward.
"I used to."
Edward recognized the answer.
He had heard it before.
"What changed?"
Linda folded the towel in her hands.
"Things became different."
"Can you tell me how?"
She hesitated.
James stepped forward.
"Linda, you can speak freely. This conversation will be treated confidentially."
Linda gave a nervous laugh.