Marcus stopped.
His voice softened.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes."
He ended the call.
Inside the conference room, everyone stared at him.
One executive asked quietly,
"Is everything okay?"
Marcus looked toward the door.
"No."
Then he walked out.
Less than twenty minutes later, a black SUV pulled up beneath the hotel entrance.
Marcus stepped out.
He was tall, sharply dressed in a navy suit. His shoes were polished. His watch was expensive. His appearance immediately changed the way people looked at him.
Walter noticed.
He almost smiled.
That was the irony.
The same hotel that had rejected his father now watched Marcus carefully because Marcus looked like someone important.
Marcus crossed the sidewalk.
"Dad."
Walter turned.
Marcus immediately noticed the expression on his father's face.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
He walked closer.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Who did this?"
Walter pointed gently toward the hotel.
"The manager."
Marcus looked at the entrance.
"Let's go inside."
Walter shook his head.
"I don't want a scene."
Marcus looked at him.
"You deserve an apology."
"I know."
"Then you're getting one."
They walked toward the entrance.
Rosa saw them through the glass.
Her expression changed when she noticed Marcus.
She looked at the SUV.
Then at his suit.
Then at his watch.
Her confidence returned.
She stepped outside.
"Wonderful."
Marcus looked at her.
"Were you the one who had my father removed?"
Rosa folded her arms.
"I was."
Marcus remained calm.
"Why?"
"He was disturbing the lobby."
"He told you he had a reservation."
Rosa shrugged.
"Anyone can say that."
"Did you check?"
"No."
Marcus stared at her.
"You didn't check."
"I didn't need to."
"Why?"
Rosa looked toward Walter.
"Look at him."
Marcus said nothing.
"Does he look like someone staying in one of our luxury suites?"
Marcus took a slow breath.
"My father told you he had a reservation."
"And I made a judgment."
"You made the wrong one."
Rosa laughed.
"I don't think you understand how this hotel works."
Marcus stepped closer.
"I understand perfectly."
Rosa looked at the SUV.
"A fancy vehicle doesn't suddenly make you important."
Marcus almost smiled.
"Please, keep going."
"What?"
"Keep explaining."
Rosa frowned.
"Your father needs to leave."
Marcus adjusted his cuff.
"No."
"He doesn't belong here."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
Marcus looked at his father.
Then back at Rosa.
"You might want to apologize while you still can."
Rosa scoffed.
"Or what?"
Marcus took out his phone.
"Or you can explain this to the person who actually owns the hotel."
Rosa smiled.
"Go ahead."
Marcus searched his contacts.
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
Rosa pointed toward the driveway.
"Try another hotel."
Marcus pressed the call button.
"Richard."