Chapter 5 - The Woman Behind the Laptop
Juliet began rebuilding the resort without revealing her ownership.
She negotiated an emergency agreement with the bank.
She canceled unnecessary contracts.
She recovered money from duplicate payments and false vendor accounts.
She rehired four of the seven employees who had been dismissed for questioning Beatrice’s charges. Two others had moved away, and one had retired, but Juliet made sure each received the compensation they had been denied.
The staff began noticing changes.
Overtime was paid.
Suppliers received clear schedules.
Managers could no longer hide family expenses inside promotional budgets.
The resort’s head chef, Clara, approached Juliet after a morning meeting.
“People are talking about you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“They think you’re either here to save the resort or close it.”
“I haven’t decided what they should believe.”
Clara smiled.
“Your mother used to say that silence is useful only when it protects a plan.”
Juliet looked up.
“You knew her well?”
“She hired me when I was twenty-two. She also paid for my culinary classes when I couldn’t afford them.”
Clara’s eyes softened.
“She would be proud that you came back.”
Juliet did not trust herself to answer immediately.
Instead, she opened her laptop and displayed the new employee protection policy.
“No staff member can be forced to provide free personal services to my family anymore.”
Clara read the policy.
“Does Malcolm know?”
“He will.”
“When?”
May you like
Juliet looked at the calendar.
“During his birthday celebration.”
