Margaret looked at Derek.
“You trained employees to decide a person's worth before asking what they needed.”
He said nothing.
“You made prejudice sound like brand protection.”
Still nothing.
“You taught young employees that cruelty was professionalism.”
Derek's jaw tightened.
“Mrs. Whitfield, with respect, luxury hospitality requires standards.”
“Yes.”
Margaret nodded.
“It does.”
She pointed toward Sam.
“Sam met mine.”
Derek looked at him.
Margaret continued.
“He had no idea who I was.”
Sam looked uncomfortable under the sudden attention.
“He believed I was exactly what you believed I was. An ordinary older woman in a wet coat carrying an old handbag.”
She looked around.
“He still brought me a towel.”
Sam lowered his eyes.
“He still asked whether I was all right.”
Margaret gestured toward the restaurant.
“He defended me when doing so could have cost him his job.”
She looked at Derek.
“That is hospitality.”
Derek started again.
“I can fix this.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You had months to fix it.”
“This is one incident.”
Daniel spoke for the first time.
“No.”
Derek turned.
Daniel held a folder.
“Three months of reviews.”
He opened it.
“Repeated complaints.”