"Is there anything you need? I'll drop by at the department store," Landon asked Deanna.
For the past three weeks, Deanna has been taking care of both Landon and Mavis. It was a promise she had to fulfill. A promise made by a mother to a dying daughter. A promise she has to keep for the sake of her growing grandson and the inconsolable husband of her daughter. Deanna gave Theresa the assurance that she would help them stand up when it was time for her to leave them. It was all she could do since she was also grieving for her lost of a daughter.
Deanna was about to check on Mavis who was still sleeping when Landon asked her. It was already seven in the morning. The sun was already dancing in the clear blue sky and the summer heat wind was blowing the waves of the Myrtle Beach straight into the sand.
Deanna just finished cooking for them. Despite Landon being a great chef, it was Deanna who has been preparing them their meals. Unlike when Theresa was still around, Landon would wake up early and entice them with delicate cuisine that would wake them up with its aromatic smell. Lately, Landon couldn't find the fervor to do his routine. His mind and his heart were fixated on his pain of lost.
"I'm good," she responded while shaking her head. "Aren't you going to have your breakfast? I just finished cooking bacon and egg. Have something before going out. I'll just wake up Mavis," she added.
"I would just eat with Abby. She's asking for my help," he responded.
"Okay!" she replied and as Landon was about to leave, "By the way, Marco called. He's asking if you could come to the Palace," she informed.
Marco is the business partner of Landon and Theresa on the joint venture on the MTL Palace. It is a three star hotel, which highlights the grandeur of the Myrtle Beach and the hospitality of the people of Myrtle Beach. It has been the get-go of hosting events around the North Myrtle Beach. It was a partnership that clicked with smooth contributions from the individual skills of the owners. Hospitality and staff management belonged to Theresa. The check and balance was under the watchful eye of Marco. And Landon established the kitchen and dining experience of the guest.
It started with the desire of Theresa to leave a legacy in Myrtle knowing that she wouldn't last longer in her lifetime. It would be a legacy that most locals would be proud of since foreigners owned many of the fast-growing and modern hotels in Myrtle Beach that were starting to eat the profits of the locals. At first, Landon was hesitant due to the condition of Theresa. Establishing a hotel wasn't easy. It requires money, time, and effort to have an unwavering and income-generating hotel. Landon knew since his dad owns one at the heart of Manhattan. But when Marco jumped on board on a Sunday gathering, they were able to convince Landon to buy the former Surfside Suite and improve it into a three star MTL Palace.
It wasn't a smooth sailing at the start. They have bumped into management and renovation problems that left them into spending more from what they have expected. However, all the efforts and sacrifices that they have given were returned hundred fold when they were able to meet the qualifications to be a three star hotel and were covered among the top ten new hotels in Myrtle in 2014.
Since the death of Theresa, Landon was hands-off on the hotel. Despite the increase in number of guests and events to be hosted, Marco didn't bother to ask Landon for help. He knew that his partner, more so a friend needed more time to be alone and detach from any worldly concerns. As an expert in business management, he tried to cover things for Landon's grieving recovery. He knew his friend needed his support by covering for him.
It was only after three weeks when Marco couldn't do anything but ask for help from Landon to visit the hotel for he's on a trip to New York for the submission of the documents for the upgrading MTL into a higher level of the star classification.
It was unusual for hotel owners to be hands-on with the decision-making of the life of the hotel. However, it was one of the agreements of the owners, Marco, Theresa and Landon that they would not only give their investments, time and skills, but also their heart and life for the triumph of the hotel.
"I'll drop by before going to the store. Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"I'm good," Deanna reiterated.
Landon walked out the house and drove his raven black 1969 Ford Mustang to the hotel. Their house was not that far from the Hotel. It only took him five minutes to drive but he didn't bother to visit before even once since Theresa died. It was just that the Palace has stored wonderful memories of Theresa from the color accent of the walls to the uniform designs of the staff.
Landon had actually thought of selling the shares they have on the Palace but Marco advised him to take a break first and let him handle everyone while he's adjusting himself from his nursing of the pain. Moreover, he reminded him what Theresa wanted if she was still alive. She would go crazy with him if he would sell it. As a close friend, Landon heeded Marco's advice and took a time off with the hotel.
After more than three weeks of absence excluding the time he was nursing Theresa at the hospital, Landon wasn't sure how he would feel seeing the Palace again. He hadn't gone over there for weeks, he thought. It certainly hadn't done any good. It would surely remind him of Theresa, as it was field with heartfelt memories of Theresa, which would only make him devastated all the more. He found himself crying just thinking over it. Still, the Palace was among the memories they have both started together as foundation and fruit of their love.
He stopped crying when he caught sight of the Palace. A quick peek from the car window was enough to ring a bell of the blissful moments. He didn't want the hotel staff to see him crying. As one of the Palace valets was walking towards his car, he instantaneously wiped his tears.
Upon reaching the hotel lobby, which welcomes guests with a reception area that is palatial and ornate and its centerpiece is a crystal chandelier that came all the way from France; Landon noticed that a group of guests were complaining to Mr. Connolly, the General Manager of Palace. He was among the staff that Landon brought from his dad's hotel in Manhattan. He was among the trusted employees of his dad. Landon actually grew up close to Mr. Connolly as Landon stayed at his dad's hotel while studying at the renowned and often considered the best in the world, Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City. Furthermore, Mr. Connolly was like his second father as his dad was more immersed in his businesses.
Not wanting the other guests to be disturbed, Landon slowly walked towards them.
"Ma'am, we sincerely apologized for what happened. It's an honest mistake of our counter. Would it be alright with you if your two rooms would be separated by floors?" Mr. Connolly calmly asked.
"Of course, it's not alright! What's the use of asking us for preference before booking? We have been traveling to different places and it's our first time to encounter such mistake. Why did you think we book our stay in your hotel despite the numerous hotels in Myrtle Beach? Among them was the availability of adjacent rooms," one of the guests furiously confronted.
"Calm down Julie. The other guests are looking at us," the other guest evenly pointed.
"Calm down? Come on Lea! I don't care about the other guests. It's our right as a guest to complain. We're exhausted from our flight and such scenario would greet us?" Julie exploded.
Julie, Lea and five of their friends were on vacation at Myrtle Beach. They have booked their stay at the MTL Palace in hope for a better location to all the different Myrtle Beach attractions and the yearly Carolina Country Music Fest for the whole five-day vacation. Unfortunately, a rare mistake took over the guest booking of the hotel that's now endangering their request of having two family rooms near each other.
As a well-trained and experienced hotel manager, Mr. Connolly reassured, "We humbly apologized. We're trying to find a vacancy for your request."
"It's okay." Lea smiled at Mr. Connolly.
Instead of talking to them, Landon went to the desk and asked for the vacancy of rooms. The attendant informed him that there were no other vacant rooms of the same type and on the same floor to that which they have booked. He then gave an instruction to the attendant. Landon learned some few tricks of damage control in hotel management from Theresa. He knew what has to be done in order to satisfy the guests. Although Landon was assured that Mr. Connolly would be able to pacify the guests, it just struck him to instruct the employee on duty.
Landon approached them and smiled at Mr. Connolly.
Landon coolly interrupted, "Excuse me!" Julie and Lea looked at him. "We apologized for the trouble. Here are your room cards." He reached out two cards to them and Lea hesitantly received them.
Upon seeing the cards, they noticed that they were not the type of rooms that they booked. "These are not the rooms that we booked," Lea calmly pointed out while showing the cards.
It was two suite cards, which was different from the family rooms that they have originally booked. It was totally different not only with the amenities available but also the price of the rooms. Lea was aware of the price since she was the one who booked for them.
"It's a complimentary from the hotel as sincerity for our apology. We hope you would enjoy your stay." Landon smiled at them. Landon then turned to Mr. Connolly. "Mr. Connolly, could you kindly escort them to the buffet area for their complimentary breakfast?"
Without hesitation, "Please follow me," Mr. Connolly quickly said. "You could leave your belongings here. We would gladly bring them to your rooms," he added.
"Ah! Thank you!" Lea hesitantly expressed and smiled at Landon.
"On behalf of the Palace management, we sincerely apologized for what happened. We hope you would enjoy your stay here in Myrtle and in the Palace," Landon said.
"Guys!" Julie called out their five other friends who were comfortably seated at the coach near them. "We'll have breakfast first," she added.
"Breakfast? I thought we would have it outside?" one of them asked as all of them stood up and followed Mr. Connolly.
As they were on their way to the gourmet restaurant, Mr. Connolly was narrating to them the additional amnesties that they would be receiving that were included in the rooms they have received. Among those where the use of state-of-the-art health clubs, luxurious spas, and the valet parking.
Suddenly Julie interrupted Mr. Connolly, "How about butler service? The man in all-white polo shirt and pants, the one who gave us the room cards would surely suffice?"
"Julie!" Lea and their other friends reprimanded her.
"What? He's kind of hot. Maybe a bit older than us but hot!" Julie imaginatively expressed.
"Stop it Julie!" Lea turned her attention from Julie to Mr. Connolly. "I'm sorry about what she said," she apologized afterwards.
Mr. Connolly beamed. "Well, he is Mr. Landon Bolton, one of the owners of the hotel. You might have browsed in our website that the name of the hotel, MTL, came from the initials of the names of the owners. The last letter came from Mr. Bolton."
"How about the M and T?" Shira, one of the friends of Julie and Lea asked.
"M was from Mr. Marco Hess and T came from Mrs. Theresa Bolton."
"Bolton?" Julie noticed.
"Yes, the wife of Mr. Bolton."
"Oh!" In unison they expressed while Julie was unable to hide her disappointment.
Upon reaching the restaurant of Palace, Mr. Connolly instructed one of the staff to accommodate them and then turned his attention to them. "Here is the restaurant. We hope you would enjoy your stay. If you need anything just inform any staff you can see or call the front desk. Lastly, welcome to Myrtle!" he warmly expressed.
They thanked Mr. Connolly and began to help themselves with the variety of choices for breakfast.
Returning to the lobby, Mr. Connolly greeted and smiled at Landon. "Welcome back sir!"
"Thank you Mr. Connolly!" Landon smiled. "Marco asked me to come. He said that there was a problem," he added.
"Yes sir! There was a delay of the delivery of flowers for the wedding event tomorrow. Most of the flowers were still imported from Ecuador," Mr. Connolly informed as both men started walking back to the restaurant.
"Have you asked Enrico if they have any such flowers?"
"We did sir. Unfortunately, according to Mr. Sanchez, they're out of stock." As they reached the table reserved for Landon, Mr. Connolly asked, "Would you like to have something for breakfast sir?"
"Just coffee." Landon couldn't help himself but glance once in a while on the table of the guests whom he had just spoken at the lobby. What really caught his attention was Lea. She reminded him of Theresa especially on how she composed herself despite the loud voice of her friend, Julie who was getting the attention of all the guests that were passing by the lobby.
Mr. Connolly instructed a waiter for a cup of coffee and asked, "Sir, about the flowers?"
"Who's the coordinator of the event?"
"It's Ms. Page."
"Oh! So, it's Abby's company? She would be coming over. We would just discuss about it then when she arrives." He smiled at Mr. Connolly. "Are there other concerns that I need to address?"
"Well sir, one of the suites that you have given to the guests was booked for tomorrow's event."
"Don't worry about it. We would just give them the King's suite. I'll talk with Abby about it as well." Landon explained. He knew that what he did would what Theresa would do with the situation. Being in-charge of the hospitality of the hotel, she has instilled in the hotel the mentality that one unsatisfied guest would do greater harm than giving away complimentary things to pacify them.
Mr. Connolly just nodded.