For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then whispered.
“I won't.”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“That's my boy.”
Elias looked toward the window.
Then asked.
“Mama, do you ever think about that hotel?”
She was quiet.
For several seconds, he could hear only the faint sound of her television.
Then she answered.
“Sometimes.”
He swallowed.
“Are you still angry?”
Celeste considered.
“I was angry for years.”
“And now?”
She took a breath.
“Now I think about how much time I lost being ashamed of something I never did.”
The words struck him.
She continued.
“I wish I'd known sooner that I didn't need those managers to believe me before I could believe myself.”
Elias felt tears rise.
He looked down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Celeste asked.
“Why did you buy these hotels, Elias?”
He smiled faintly.
“You know why.”
“No.”
Her voice became firm.
“I know why you say you bought them. I want to know what you're really trying to fix.”
Elias stared toward the city.
For a moment, he saw himself at thirteen.
Waiting for his mother to come home.
Wondering why people who owned beautiful buildings could make a hardworking woman feel worthless.
Then he answered.
“I don't want another family going through what we did.”
Celeste was quiet.
Then she spoke gently.
“Baby, you can't buy away everything unfair in the world.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“But you can make sure the people working in your buildings don't have to suffer because someone powerful refuses to listen.”
For several seconds, Elias remained silent.
Then whispered.
“That's what I'm going to try to do.”
Celeste laughed softly.
“Well, start by getting some breakfast. You sound like you haven't eaten.”
Elias smiled.
“I haven't.”
“I knew it.”
He laughed.
For the first time since the confrontation, the tension in his chest loosened.
Then his mother added.
“And Elias?”
“Yes, Mama?”
“Don't let anybody turn this into a story about how rich you are.”
He closed his eyes.
“I won't.”
She continued.
“The interesting part isn't that they insulted a billionaire.”
He nodded.
“It's that they insulted a man they thought nobody would defend.”
Elias sat silently.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered.
“Thank you, Mama.”
She laughed.
“Now go eat.”
The call ended.
Elias looked toward the phone.
Then toward the hotel investigation files.
For a moment, he thought about the headlines.