And the person who made that demand believed he had the authority to do it.
The woman looked toward her phone.
She wanted to call her father.
Ask what he would do.
But he was recovering from surgery, and she had promised not to bring company problems into his hospital room.
For the first time in years, she realized she would have to solve this one without asking him to make the difficult decision.
She started the car.
Then drove carefully down the mountain.
Her original Christmas dinner could wait.
Silver Pines couldn't.
By the time the woman reached Silver Pines Lodge, the lobby was filled with Christmas music.
A pianist played near the enormous fireplace.
Children gathered around a towering Christmas tree decorated with glass ornaments.
Guests moved between the lounge and dining room carrying shopping bags, ski equipment, and expensive winter coats.
Everything looked perfect.
The air smelled of cinnamon.
Waiters carried trays of champagne.
And a smiling receptionist welcomed arriving families with the effortless warmth expected at a luxury resort.
The woman stopped near the entrance.
She looked around.
For years, she'd been proud of this atmosphere.
It represented everything her company promised.
Comfort.
Security.
Attention to detail.
A holiday that guests would remember.
But now she saw something else.
Behind the beautiful decorations were employees working late on Christmas Eve.
A housekeeper pushed a linen cart through a side corridor.
A maintenance worker hurried past carrying equipment.
And a young waitress stood near the dining room, trying to calm an angry guest whose reservation had been changed.
The woman wondered how many of them had problems nobody in corporate leadership knew about.
She approached the reception desk.
The employee behind it looked up.
Then froze.
"Ma'am?"
The woman smiled faintly.
"Good evening."
The receptionist straightened.
"We weren't expecting you."
"I know."
She looked toward the elevators.
"Is the property manager here?"
The receptionist nodded.
"In his office."
"Please let him know I'd like to speak with him."
The young woman hesitated.
"Right now?"
"Yes."
Then the CEO softened her tone.
"And please don't cancel anyone's break or pull extra staff into the lobby because I'm here. I came to deal with a specific issue."
The receptionist nodded.
The woman walked toward the lounge.
She removed her sunglasses.
Placed them inside her burgundy handbag.
Then looked toward the western wing of the resort.
An elderly couple stood near the entrance to a hallway.
A staff member was explaining that their room might need to be changed.
The couple looked disappointed.
The wife held a small wrapped Christmas gift.
The husband asked whether they could keep the same view.
The employee apologized and began searching for an alternative.
The CEO watched.
She knew the relocation would be inconvenient.