THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT HIM TO STAY

t front by the eastern entrance of his hotel, shoes gleaming. Ex

subtle-then gave his custom-tailored trouse

ing to inspect the property

cting them to be visibly falling

hoes. Not

ed plenty wel

ne more time. "Well, today's the

've got forty-five minute

spend five finding

changing

ain when we get to the

. She smiled, sw

ning, Mr.

how someone half his size made him feel li

approval on the lighting and furniture before the reopening

," he greeted Nath

replied. "Show us th

tdoor lamps had seen better days, and a stretch of w

t the damaged boards. "Why

pair request wen

at him. "So it's

ded app

jaw tightene

pped with the fin

ng the weak spot. "Can you r

ed extra materials

ked, note of impat

igure. Isabelle scribble

t to the rev

. App

eady to breathe for the

service corridor, Isabelle caught

utes till y

w," he

leave,

w that

w. "Then why are

ause I want to know wh

expected excuses or maybe a quick

finally said. "

s running overhead, boxes in every corner, the lingering smell of cleaning supplies. Nathaniel followe

ees sorted through supplies. One young woman, loaded with folded towel

dness! I'm

pped back. "A

g his voice. "No sir, I'm

worry a

r the towels. Isabel

me

n, you don

a lot of towels, an

ugh this basement plenty of times, but never k

s your

ooked up, surpris

have you w

three

ou li

bvious. Isabelle gave h

him. He's ac

e people. It's good work. Sometimes it's tough-whe

he nearly empty shelve

. Sometimes we borro

pply request today. No more borrowing essenti

s,

ed him in a

d, already head

lle said, "Thanks

sn't that why

led. "E

buzzed for the eleventh time-he'd ign

oard meetin

his watch, sighe

r's asking

m with hotel

you lik

N

hun

ersation with Mr. Collins about the menu for

aid. "You stuck around

otic

e. "Your board can wai

I'm finishing

rently, im

t be hope f

ig

Let's not get

lancing a tasting plate-a

resentation. Nathaniel listened as the chef

it, sir?" Mr.

the plate. "I'v

a fork in hand. "Too

ked do

ou tast

ven look up.

nd

Which is why I'm

d. Nathaniel gave

it was good. The sauce was

he chef. "You

s,

t on th

ns looked

ed to Isabelle

enuinely deli

rare it was for him to slow down and actually enjoy something. Just an o

to the boardroom. His father sat at the he

're

ing operatio

s me you were inspec

folder down. "Am

ld. "You're the chief exe

make sure we're

people

en waiting weeks

others around the table. "

his teeth. "This i

a week and already you le

the job I h

a good event fo

r recommendations make sense. The staff are already re

ied him. "Quick

nding the

cour

the meeting. Still, his father's wor

ice, deep into supplier schedules, when Nat

't you b

t the doorframe.

t finish

set a paper b

it. "What

nne

side-a sandwi

rought

ou hadn't eate

eyes. "Daniel t

worr

ttle, but enoug

d her laptop. "

ty mi

fini

"Are you ordering m

ou eat before you

How thoughtful

fended. "Don't act

pect lunch t

lutel

ha

ned to

hani

used.

ul. The staff not

. "I should've

ftened. "But you

ded an

at the door-then quietly picked u

stopped by the window. His

wered.

rrow. We need to dis

elle's office, where her ligh

s meet at

ut more than

et. "Goodnight, F

his so hard. But one thing was obvious-Isabel

wanted anything to g