Chapter 8 - The Ascent of Lupita
Ethan walked back toward the service elevators, holding Lily’s hand, with Arthur following closely behind. They descended once more to the basement level, which felt even more subdued now as word of the General Manager's sudden firing began to ripple through the grapevine.
When Ethan entered the housekeeping dispatch office, he found Lupita sitting at her small desk, filling out the evening shift reports. She looked up, and when she saw Ethan in his immaculate tuxedo, alongside the Chief Operating Officer, she stood up quickly, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
"Mr... Mr. Vance?" she said, recognizing his face but completely stunned by his sudden transformation. "I... I heard rumors that the owner was in the building, but I didn't..."
"Lupita," Ethan said, his voice filled with a warmth that had been entirely absent during his confrontation in the lobby. "Please, sit down."
Lupita sat slowly, her hands trembling slightly on her lap.
"Last night, you risked your job to help a tired father and his daughter," Ethan said, gesturing to Lily, who gave Lupita a bright, happy wave. "You didn't know who I was. You had every reason to stay silent and mind your own business, especially with a manager like Richard hovering over you. But you chose kindness. You chose humanity."
"I only did what was right, sir," Lupita said softly, tears glistening in her eyes. "Children shouldn't suffer for the mistakes of grown-ups."
"You are exactly what this hotel needs," Ethan said. He looked at Arthur, who smiled and handed Ethan a folder.
Ethan placed the folder on Lupita’s desk. "Effective immediately, Richard has been terminated. And effective immediately, you are being promoted to Director of Guest Relations and Internal Culture for the Grand Regent Hotel."
Lupita’s breath hitched. "M-me? Sir, I don't have a corporate degree. I've been a housekeeper for twenty years!"
"A degree can teach you how to manage a spreadsheet, Lupita. It cannot teach you how to care about people," Ethan said firmly. "You know every inch of this hotel. You know how the staff is treated, and you know how the guests should be treated. Your salary will be quadrupled, your grandson’s medical expenses will be fully covered under our executive corporate healthcare plan, and you will report directly to Arthur and myself."
Lupita covered her mouth with her hands, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "Oh my god... Mr. Vance... I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Lily walked forward, stepping up to Lupita and handing her the worn stuffed bunny for a moment. "Don't cry, Ms. Lupita. Daddy fixed it. He always fixes it."
Lupita laughed through her tears, hugging Lily gently before handing the bunny back. "Thank you, sweet little angel."
Ethan stood up, adjusting his tuxedo jacket. "Take the rest of the night off, Lupita. Spend it with your family. On Monday, you start your new office. We have a lot of work to do to fix this place, and I need you by my side."
"I won't let you down, sir. I promise," Lupita said, standing and shaking Ethan’s hand with immense gratitude.
May you like
As they walked out of the office and headed back toward the grand ballroom, Arthur looked at Ethan with deep respect. "Sarah would be incredibly proud of you tonight, Ethan."
Ethan looked down at his daughter, then up toward the ceiling, feeling a profound sense of peace settle over him for the first time in three years. "I know, Arthur. I know she is."
