19. Good Sense Of Timing

19

GOOD SENSE OF TIMING

T wo days later, Van walked into Kyle's office ready to meet the man that his grandfather had hand-selected to oversee the hotels.

He wasn't sure why he was more nervous over this than meeting his grandfather's business partner.

Maybe because he was trying to open his mind a bit more, though there was a war in there over what he'd known to what he was finding out.

What was the truth?

He was almost positive he'd never find out all of it.

"Good morning," Kyle said. "Christian should be here shortly."

"Does he live on the island?" he asked. He wasn't sure why that just occurred to him.

"No," Kyle said. "He lives in Providence between the hotels distance-wise. Makes it easier for him to keep an eye on things. He would come here a few times a month to meet with us or we'd go there. The rest is mainly phone conversations."

"You're okay with that?" he asked. Van figured a man like Kyle would want to know more about the running of his businesses.

"I was once I got to know Christian more. What you've got to understand is that I was the silent partner in these hotels for years. Barry and I met, but he ran everything. I trusted him and he never failed me in any aspect. The businesses have thrived over the years."

"Even the past few years?" he asked. "With my grandfather not taking as active of a part in it?"

"Yes," Kyle said. "Mostly. In terms of revenue, yes. I let your grandfather continue because it was a pride thing."

He nodded. "I understand that. I appreciate you doing that too when maybe many wouldn't." It told him a lot about his girlfriend's father. "But you'd also want to protect your investments at the same time."

"I would and did. I always will. Just like your grandfather wanted this left to you, my legacy will go to my kids and their kids and their kids through the generations."

Van had lived most of his life not even thinking of legacies. He suspected most people did.

Generational wealth wasn't all that common for the average person.

"What are your thoughts now?" he asked.

Kyle walked over and shut his door. "I don't have any problems but want your take on Christian. I think you're a good judge. Do you have questions for him?"

"I do," he said. "More than I realized. A lot has to do with the way the security is run. I've found there is a slow response time and that more calls have happened in the past year than the previous years. Maybe you can answer that."

"I could answer some of it," Kyle said. "But you could say those were things I noticed too. They were brought up to Christian and he was working on them. I'd like you to ask. I want to hear his answer."

He frowned. "Do you think he'll give me a different answer than he gave you?"

"I'm not sure what he is going to say but would like to hear it."

This just told him that Kyle wasn't as keen about Christian as he let on. "What's your beef with him?"

"No beef," Kyle said. "We have different management styles. I run things tighter than him. Doesn't make his way wrong."

"It does if it's a conflict or costing money," he said.

Kyle grinned. "There is your grandfather in you whether you want to believe it or not."

"Hard for me not to," he said. He grabbed a coffee and then sat at the table with Kyle to talk some but found himself saying, "I opened the envelope two nights ago."

"Good for you," Kyle said. "That had to be hard."

"It wasn't easy," he said. He didn't find it odd that Kyle didn't question him on anything. If he learned one thing, the guy had a good sense of timing.

He held back when he had to, talked when he felt he should.

Nothing like his daughter who at some points didn't shut up.

He found he liked that trait of Kelsey's though.

"Do you mind if I look at some of the questions you're going to ask Christian? I might have some follow-up to them and can be prepared."

He pushed his folder closer for Kyle to open it and see the notes he'd made.

Again, it went back to Kyle wanting his pulse on everything and he found it odd that Kyle wasn't telling him things before Christian got here.

He sipped his coffee in silence. It never bothered him to do that before and wouldn't now.

Kyle was reading and looking through the notes that Van had made, then was making some of his own.

"Am I off base?" he asked. "Or coming off like an idiot?"

Kyle looked up and grinned. "Not at all. You're right on track and actually picked up on things I wouldn't have. You have something to offer here if you're willing."

He was starting to think he was. "I don't want to step on toes. I'm not out to take a job from someone."

"First off," Kyle said. "There are no toes to step on. You own majority shares. End of story."

"I've got a lot to learn yet."

"And you'll get there if you want to."

Surprisingly he realized he did.

The two of them chatted a few more minutes before there was a knock at the door and it was opened by a man in a suit. No tie, but looking slicker than Van could ever come off.

Kyle was in nice pants and a button-down shirt with no jacket over it. He didn't feel out of place with Kyle when he showed up in jeans and a plain black T-shirt.

Christian gave him a once over and then put a smile on his face and extended his hand. "I've heard a lot about you," Christian said. "Donovan, right? You look like Barry."

"It's Van, and I do?" he asked. No one had said that to him. He shook hands with Christian and then the thin lanky man took a seat.

"Not all that much," Kyle said. "It's in his eyes and jaw, but the rest comes somewhere else."

He got his mother's eyes and square jaw. His height also had to come from his mother's side because he was taller than his father. Bigger too. But he did resemble his father more than his mother, or so many said.

He tried not to see it. Or maybe it was a hope he had.

"I have to say I was surprised to hear you were living on the island," Christian said. "And for so long. Kyle never said a word until last week."

"I've kept to myself for most of the time," he said. "Trying to figure things out."

"That's funny," Christian said. "I'd think you'd want to jump on your inheritance. But then again, you and Barry didn't know each other either. Still, talk about receiving the gift of a lifetime. Many would kill for it."

Even though Christian was joking, he didn't find it funny. Could be the guy was nervous knowing that Van held Christian's job in his hands. Or it could be the guy was a dick.

He was trying to reserve judgment. But the fact Kyle kept the information from Christian on Van's appearance on the island was more telling.

Kyle knew almost immediately and told no one.

"I'm not like many people," Van said. "I'm sure Kyle informed you that I've got an interest in learning the ropes. It doesn't mean I'm going to do anything with the day-to-day operations. This is more of an information session. My years in law enforcement mean I might be able to offer some suggestions. At least on the security part of the hotels."

"Security is run tiptop," Christian said. "Did Kyle tell you that Griffin Zale set up all the cameras? No one better than him."

"I'm aware of the cameras and security on that level. Everything seems top of the line," he said. "I'm more interested in the personnel part of it. The response times to calls. The fact that calls have increased and even staff complain that they didn't feel supported at night."

"Funny how Kyle asked some of the same questions a few months ago," Christian said. "Barry was alive at the time. Barry and I talked it over and got it squared away."

Van looked at Kyle and saw the nod. "Why don't you explain to me what you and my grandfather talked about and got squared away? As I said, I'm learning now."

Might be best to play the idiot card.

"Sure," Christian said. "You probably aren't familiar with how a hotel is run like Kyle is." He'd let that comment slide. It wasn't false even if he didn't like the tone Christian used. "It's not easy to find staffing. That is a big problem. We've got two to three security on the premises during the day but only one at night. If the response time is slow, it's always night. The staff could be handling another situation, which I've found to be the case most times. I can give you copies of all those reports."

"I'd like that," he said. "Is there always just one staff on seven days a week at night?"

"Yes," Christian said.

"On weekends and peak season when the hotel has higher occupancy, you don't find the need to have more than one on at night?" he asked. That didn't make sense to him. Not when night was when there was normally a problem.

"We have more on during the day and until ten at night. But between ten at night and six in the morning, we still just have one person on. Most guests are sleeping anyway."

He moved some of the papers around and then pulled out one he'd highlighted. "Yet in the month of August, most of the calls with slow response times came over the weekend. August is one of the busiest months, correct?"

"It is," Kyle said. "Weekends will still be booked pretty full for a few more months but during the week will slow down."

"There are swings," Christian said. "I would have thought Kyle would fill you in on that."

"He did," he said. "I'm asking you because most of these calls came after midnight. Did you realize that?"

Christian pulled the paper forward as if it was news to him. "I'll have to look into this more. It's possible that they were on break or dealing with another issue."

"Break?" he asked. "So if security is called, they don't get off of break to handle an emergency?"

"No," Christian said. "By law they are entitled to a lunch break."

"If they are paid during their breaks, they still have to respond and not leave the premises," Van said. That seemed pretty basic knowledge to him. And he knew the security staff were paid for their meals.

"Again," Christian said, "I'll look and get back to you."

"Thanks," he said.

It went on for about an hour. Not the answers he wanted but gave Christian something to think about.

"That went well," Kyle said.

"Did it? I think I pissed him off."

"Nope," Kyle said. "You're going to make him work and get you those answers. He'll do it. Don't worry. He's a worker, but it's possible he's let things slide with Barry not around."

"Why?" he asked.

"It happens. Human nature for some. I bet you get your answers by the end of the week. He's going to want to prove his worth. He'll most likely find problems that you pointed out and he'll apologize for not seeing it and get it fixed right away."

"Why do that for me and not you?" he asked. "Or he's not afraid of you, which I find hard to believe."

"I've been waiting for you," Kyle said.

Jesus. Just like his daughter hitting him with shit like that he couldn't make heads or tails of.