Chapter 2 - The Mask Slips
"Patricia, Karla, is everything ready for the VIP arrivals?" Marcus demanded as he approached, not even glancing at Ethan. "The regional VP could arrive at any moment, and I want this lobby flawless."
Patricia swallowed hard, her face ghostly pale. "Mr. Sterling... we were just checking in a guest. Mr. Ethan Vance."
Hearing the last name, Marcus stopped in his tracks. He turned his eyes toward Ethan. He looked at the worn jacket, the battered backpack, and the sleeping child. Marcus had only seen Ethan Vance in two blurry profile photos on the corporate intranet—Ethan rarely did press and despised the spotlight. Marcus failed to connect the dots. He assumed this was a distant relative or an mid-level employee abusing a corporate account.
"Vance?" Marcus murmured, his eyes narrowing. He looked at Patricia's screen and saw the gold seal. A flash of corporate arrogance took over. Marcus believed in absolute perfection, and to him, Ethan looked like a stain on his immaculate lobby.
"Mr. Vance," Marcus said, stepping into Ethan’s personal space, his voice dripping with forced corporate politeness. "While your reservation appears valid, I must inform you that the Grand Regent has a strict dress code and behavioral standard for our executive floors, especially tonight during the gala preparation. Carrying... damaged flora and looking as though you’ve just come from a hike does not align with our brand image."
Lupita gasped softly. Patricia and Karla exchanged panicked glances, but their fear was overridden by a twisted sense of relief—the big boss was handling the problem.
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Ethan looked Marcus dead in the eye. "A brand image, Mr. Sterling? Is the comfort of a grieving, exhausted six-year-old child against your brand image?"
"This is a five-star luxury establishment, not a highway motel," Marcus replied coldly, echoing Patricia's earlier insult. "I am willing to honor your reservation for tonight out of respect for the Vance name on your file, but tomorrow morning, I will have to ask you to relocate to a sister property more suited to your... demographic."
