Chapter 6 - THE MORNING AFTERBy 8:00 AM on Wednesday, the video of the Bellweather House confrontation had amassed over two million views across social media platforms.
The headline running across local news sites and viral video channels was electric:
“BILLIONAIRE IN CANVAS JACKET GOES UNDERCOVER, DESTROYS ARROGANT MANAGER AFTER HE THROWS CHANGE ON THE FLOOR!”
Inside the corporate headquarters of Cole Hospitality in Nashville, the phones had been ringing off the hook since dawn. Journalists, investors, and culinary critics were clamoring for interviews with the mysterious CEO who dressed like a handyman and walked into his own restaurants incognito.
Ethan, however, was sitting at his corner desk in a simple gray sweater, sipping black coffee and reviewing the updated operational roster for the Bellweather House.
Mara walked into his office without knocking, holding a sleek tablet displaying rising stock metrics and glowing customer reviews.
“The PR team is having a field day,” Mara announced, setting a stack of morning mail on his desk. “Reservations for Bellweather House are already booked out for the next three months. People are flying in from Atlanta and Louisville just to eat where the billionaire dropped the quarters.”
Ethan didn't look up from his screen. “And the staff?”
“That’s the best part,” Mara smiled, her usual corporate sharpness softening. “We promoted Tessa to assistant floor manager on an interim basis, with a retroactive pay raise starting this week. Luis is heading our kitchen equipment safety overhaul. And we’ve set up an independent, anonymous whistleblower hotline for every single restaurant in the portfolio so no manager can ever bully an employee again.”
Ethan nodded slowly, satisfied. “Good. Make sure the hotline goes directly to your desk, Mara. Not mine.”
“Understood, boss,” she said, turning to leave before pausing at the door. “Oh, by the way... there’s someone downstairs waiting in the lobby. Refuses to leave until she speaks to you personally.”
May you like
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Who?”
“Tessa,” Mara said. “She took the morning shift off to bring you something.”
