Read Chapter 12: — THE MISSING NECKLACE

A month into the job, Eleanor was moved from restaurant service into guest relations.

The promotion came from Adrian, but this time it also came with written performance notes, a salary adjustment and a formal interview so nobody could pretend the reason was secret.

Her first serious problem arrived before lunch.

A television actress staying in a suite reported a custom diamond necklace missing.

Three assistants had cornered an elderly housekeeper named Brenda and were accusing her of theft.

“She was the only cleaner in the room,” one assistant said.

“Search her.”

Brenda, humiliated, began emptying her pockets.

Eleanor stepped between them.

“No.”

The assistant stared. “Excuse me?”

“You can call the police. You can make a report. You cannot strip-search a member of staff.”

“Then your hotel is protecting thieves.”

Eleanor's stomach tightened. She knew publicity could hurt the hotel. She also knew letting wealthy guests humiliate a cleaner would hurt something less visible and more important.

“Where is Ms Lane?” she asked.

“Out.”

“Has she personally confirmed the necklace is missing?”

“She said it was.”

“Did anybody check her luggage? Her handbag? Her manager?”

The assistants grew louder.

Then Adrian arrived.

He had reviewed corridor cameras. Several people had entered the suite, including the actress's manager.

“If Brenda is a suspect because she entered the room,” he said calmly, “then by that logic so are all of you.”

The assistants stopped shouting.

Minutes later, the manager returned.

“The necklace?” she said. “I found it on the bathroom floor this morning. Put it in her travel bag.”

Silence.

Adrian required an apology to Brenda.

Afterward Eleanor went to his office.

“I should have handled that without you.”

“You were handling it.”

“I was trying to stop it becoming a scandal.”

“And what did you protect first?”

“The employee.”

“Good.”

He poured tea.

“Hotels are buildings full of unequal power. Money, status, staff hierarchy. If we only behave well when the powerful are pleased, we're not in hospitality. We're in servitude.”

Eleanor looked at him differently after that.

Not romantically.

Not yet.

But with trust beginning where admiration had been.