Mr. Robinson answered honestly.
“I was called to assist with a guest situation.”
“What situation?”
He glanced at Claire.
“I wasn’t told.”
David’s expression hardened.
Naomi stepped in.
“David.”
He looked at her.
“Not here.”
He immediately understood.
Claire finally found her voice.
“Ms. Grant, I sincerely apologize. There has obviously been an enormous misunderstanding.”
Naomi looked at her.
“What exactly was misunderstood?”
Claire’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Naomi waited.
“Was my name misunderstood?”
“No.”
“My identification?”
“No.”
“My confirmation number?”
Claire swallowed.
“No.”
“The email from your general manager?”
“No.”
“My credit card?”
Claire’s eyes lowered.
“No.”
Naomi nodded.
“Then help me understand what part was confusing.”
Claire glanced toward the nearby guests.
Naomi followed her eyes.
“This is uncomfortable?”
Claire looked back.
“Yes.”
Naomi nodded.
“It was uncomfortable before you knew who I was too.”
Claire’s face flushed.
“I understand.”
“No.”
Naomi’s voice remained controlled.
“You understand now that treating me badly may affect your job.”
Claire looked stunned.
Naomi continued.
“What I need to know is whether you understand why it was wrong before that.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
David watched silently.
Mr. Robinson looked toward the floor.
Claire whispered, “I made assumptions.”
Naomi looked at Jordan.
Then back at her.
“What assumptions?”
Claire struggled.
“I thought…”
She stopped.
Naomi waited.
“I thought perhaps the reservation wasn’t legitimate.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
Claire closed her eyes briefly.
Jordan watched.
Naomi almost stopped the conversation because he was there.
Then she realized this was precisely why it mattered.
Claire opened her eyes.
“Because of how you arrived.”
Naomi frowned.
“How did I arrive?”
“Casually.”
“In clothing?”
“Yes.”
Naomi looked around the lobby.
A man in shorts and a baseball cap was checking in near the elevators.
No security.
A woman wearing yoga pants walked toward the concierge carrying a designer shopping bag.
No questions.
Naomi looked back at Claire.
“Continue.”
Claire looked cornered.
“Your reservation was very expensive.”
“So?”
“And you…”
She stopped again.
Naomi knew what came next.
She had heard versions of it her entire life.