By three o'clock that afternoon, Clara was seated at the head of the dark mahogany table in the executive hotel boardroom.
The twelve senior hotel staff members sat around the long table, their faces pale with anxiety.
Arthur Vance sat at Clara's right hand, organizing a stack of corporate legal filings.
Clara: Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I know today has been chaotic for everyone.
Head Chef: Mrs. Sterling... is it true that Julian was stealing from the employee pension trust as well?
Arthur: We conducted an initial audit two hours ago. Julian attempted to transfer the pension reserves, but the bank flagged the transaction yesterday.
Head Chef: Thank God... we were all terrified we were going to lose our retirement savings.
Clara: Nobody is losing a single dollar under my watch. The Sterling Trust is fully guaranteeing every pension account starting today.
The room erupted into relieved sighs, with several staff members clapping their hands together.
Housekeeping Manager: Mrs. Sterling, Julian was forcing us to clean rooms in half the normal time so he could cut staff hours.
Clara: Effective immediately, all previous staffing cuts are cancelled. We are hiring back every worker Julian laid off over the past three months.
Front Desk Manager: What about the guest room prices, ma'am? Julian raised rates by forty percent last month.
Clara: Lower them back to the standard family rates. This hotel was built to serve families, not to line a thief's pockets.
Arthur: We also need to select an interim managing director to run daily hotel operations until the board meets next month.
Clara looked down the long table, her eyes resting on the front desk manager, Robert.
Clara: Robert, you've worked at this hotel for fifteen years, haven't you?
Robert: Sixteen years next month, Mrs. Sterling. My father worked in the engine room here before me.
Clara: I'm appointing you interim general manager starting today, with a fifty percent salary increase.
Robert sat back in his chair, his eyes widening in total disbelief.
Robert: Mrs. Sterling... I... I don't know what to say. Are you sure?
Clara: You showed genuine concern for my daughter this morning, even when Julian was screaming at you. You have a good heart, Robert.
Robert: I promise you I will treat this hotel like my own home, Mrs. Sterling. You won't regret this decision.
Clara: I know I won't. Meeting adjourned, everyone. Let's get back to work and make this place great again.