Chapter 8 - The Removals
Clara looked toward the side of the stage. “Mr. Mercer, step forward.”
Mercer, his legs shaking like reed sticks, stumbled up the side steps of the stage, standing five feet away from the podium under the glare of two hundred judging eyes.
“Do you recognize page forty-three of the reservation protocol, Mr. Mercer?” Clara asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Vance,” Mercer whimpered, staring at the floor.
“Did you instruct your front desk staff to ignore executive holding blocks in order to sell walk-in rooms for cash?”
“No! I... I would never—”
“Arthur,” Clara said simply.
Arthur Pendelton tapped his tablet screen. The display behind Clara shifted instantly, showing an internal forensic accounting audit of the Grand Regent’s front desk cash ledgers over the last eighteen months. Over forty thousand dollars in unaccounted cash deposits were flagged, tied directly to Mercer’s private manager account.
Mercer’s jaw fell open. He had no defense left. The evidence was overwhelming, pristine, and undeniable.
“Effective immediately, Mr. Mercer,” Clara declared, her voice firm and ringing with absolute authority, “your employment with Vance Hospitality Group is terminated for gross negligence, financial fraud, and violation of core corporate ethics. You will be escorted from the premises by security within five minutes. Our legal team will be filing formal corporate fraud charges with the state prosecutor tomorrow morning.”
Two heavy-set hotel security officers stepped onto the stage, taking Mercer firmly by both arms.
“Mrs. Vance! Please! I spent five years building this property!” Mercer shrieked as he was turned around.
“You didn't build this property, Mr. Mercer,” Clara replied coldly. “You corroded it.”
The crowd erupted into loud, unanimous applause as Mercer was dragged down the stage steps and out through the service exit doors.
Clara then pointed down to Patrick and Karl.
“Patrick. Karl.”
The two clerks stepped forward, looking like men walking toward a firing squad.
“Your employment contracts are terminated effective immediately,” Clara said. “You will receive no severance. You will leave your nametags on the desk and vacate the property tonight.”
Karl looked up, tears springing to his eyes. “Mrs. Vance... please... I have rent to pay—”
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“So do the mothers you turned away into the cold,” Clara said without a shred of pity. “You spent your shift asserting power over vulnerable people. Tonight, you can experience what it feels like to search for a room down the road.”
Security guards stepped up behind Patrick and Karl, escorting them swiftly out through the main glass doors into the chilly Chicago night.
