“Richard is already reviewing it. We should have checked with you directly.”
“Yes, you should have.”
She looked relieved that I had said it plainly.
When the room was ready, I opened my suitcase and hung my clothes in the wardrobe. I made tea. Then I stepped onto the terrace and listened to the sea.
It would have been easy to enjoy the revelation of my ownership as a victory.
Instead, I thought about Daniel’s face when Vanessa spoke to me.
He hadn’t known who owned the building. He had known exactly who I was.
He still said nothing.
That was the part I couldn’t solve with a phone call.
An hour later, Daniel knocked.
He stood outside with his hands in his pockets.
“May I come in?”
I led him to the sitting area.
He looked around as though seeing the room for the first time.
“This really belongs to you?”
“I own a controlling share in the group that operates it. Not the pillows individually, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He gave a weak smile. I didn’t return it.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I never thought it was something you needed to know to behave kindly.”
He stared at the floor.
“That’s not fair.”
“What isn’t?”
“You kept this huge part of your life secret.”
“Daniel, I told you when I began investing. I told you when I joined the board. You were busy, and I didn’t want our relationship to become a discussion about assets.”
“You didn’t tell me about a resort.”
“No.”
“And now I look like an idiot.”
I set down my cup.
“You looked like my son who was willing to let someone take a room I’d paid for. The property ownership didn’t create that.”
He looked away toward the ocean.
