Chapter 8 - Vanessa Apologized to the Staff Without Buying Forgiveness
Vanessa wanted to send:
a large gratuity.
Janice Reed advised against it.
Not because gratuities were forbidden.
Because money was Vanessa’s favorite repair tool.
She could not insult employees because she paid for service, then make the injury disappear by:
paying more.
Instead Vanessa requested:
permission to apologize.
Martin agreed.
Some employees agreed.
Others did not.
Amelia—the twenty-two-year-old server Vanessa had called stupid—declined.
Vanessa initially looked offended.
Then caught herself.
“Okay.”
That was part of the apology too.
She met:
Martin,
Graham,
three banquet employees
in a conference room.
Vanessa wore:
ordinary clothes.
No Daniel.
No Elena.
She said:
“I behaved as though paying for an event gave me ownership over the people working it.”
No excuses.
“I snapped at employees.”
“I insulted one person’s competence.”
“I tried to order Martin to physically remove a guest.”
“I used my relationship to the Whitmore family as authority I did not have.”
Then:
“I am sorry.”
Martin asked:
“Do you understand why people didn’t challenge you sooner?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Because of Daniel.”
“And Elena.”
“And because I acted like I knew I couldn’t be stopped.”
Martin nodded.
Vanessa looked down.
“That is the part I’m most ashamed of.”
The staff accepted:
the apology
without pretending:
everything was fine.
No hugs.
No social media.
No public performance.
Afterward Martin told Elena:
“She did better than I expected.”
Elena smiled.
May you like
“From you, that is practically a standing ovation.”
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