Emily frowned.
"Sir, I'm afraid this isn't a valid hotel reservation."
Arthur looked confused.
"Perhaps you should check the records from many years ago."
Emily glanced at him.
"Many years ago?"
"Yes."
She looked toward the growing line behind him.
"Sir, are you looking for someone who works here?"
Arthur smiled.
"Perhaps."
Emily exhaled.
"Could you tell me exactly what you need?"
The old man looked toward the enormous chandelier.
Then he looked back at her.
"I need to see the person who manages this hotel."
CHAPTER 2: THE REQUEST THAT MADE EVERYONE UNCOMFORTABLE
Emily was becoming impatient.
The lobby was crowded.
She had several guests waiting.
And now an elderly stranger in worn clothing wanted to speak with the hotel's management.
"Sir, our general manager is extremely busy."
Arthur nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then I'm afraid you cannot meet him without one."
Arthur looked around.
"I don't need much of his time."
Emily smiled politely, although her expression showed little enthusiasm.
"Everyone says that."
Arthur looked at her.
"I'm not everyone."
Emily did not understand the comment.
She glanced at his plastic shopping bag.
"Perhaps you could explain your situation to our concierge."
Arthur shook his head.
"I need to speak with the general manager."
"May I ask why?"
The old man paused.
"I built this place."
Emily stared at him.
For a moment, she thought she had misunderstood.
"Excuse me?"
Arthur repeated himself.
"I helped build this hotel."
Emily looked toward the nearby bell attendant.
He was a young employee named Lucas.
Lucas had heard the conversation.
He looked at Arthur with curiosity.
Emily gave a small, uncomfortable laugh.
"Sir, the Grand Aurelia was built more than thirty years ago."
Arthur nodded.
"That sounds about right."
Emily looked back at her screen.
"Do you have any identification?"
Arthur reached into his wallet again.
He removed a small, dark-colored card.
It looked old and slightly damaged.
He placed it on the marble counter.
Emily picked it up.
At first, she barely looked at it.
Then her expression changed.
The card had a gold emblem.
Beneath it were several words.
GRAND AURELIA HOTEL.
FOUNDING PARTNER.
ARTHUR J. BENNETT.
Emily blinked.
She turned the card over.
There was a signature.
A date.
And a photograph of a much younger man.
She looked at Arthur.
Then back at the photograph.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"Sir..."
Arthur remained calm.
"Yes?"
Emily swallowed.
"Where did you get this?"
Arthur looked at her.
"It belongs to me."
She examined the card again.
It was not an ordinary membership card.
It was an original founding identification card issued during the hotel's construction.
Emily had seen a photograph of it in the employee training archive.
The card belonged to Arthur Bennett, the original founder and principal architect of the Grand Aurelia.
But that man was supposed to be dead.
At least, that was what Emily had been told.
CHAPTER 3: THE NAME EVERYONE HAD FORGOTTEN
Emily immediately looked toward her computer.
She searched the hotel's historical records.
Arthur J. Bennett.
The screen displayed a result.
FOUNDING PARTNER: ARTHUR JAMES BENNETT.
ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT YEAR: 1992.
FORMER CHAIRMAN: AURELIA HOSPITALITY GROUP.
STATUS: RETIRED.
Emily stared at the information.
The old man standing before her was the person whose name appeared in the hotel's history.
He had been one of the men responsible for transforming an abandoned building into one of Manhattan's most prestigious hotels.
His vision had shaped the entire property.
He had personally selected the original architectural design.
He had negotiated with investors.
He had spent years supervising construction.