Dominic
“Thank you, Mr. Vance.”
A short dip of the head is enough. No pause. No small talk. The glittering foyer of the Grand Regent Hotel is loud and alive, people moving in every direction, voices bouncing off polished stone.
Shoes echo as I cross the space and head for the stairs instead of the elevators. I like the stairs. Fewer people. Fewer delays.
The private stairwell is quiet. Too quiet. The smell hits halfway down. Disinfectant mixed with lavender. Clean, sharp, and heavy. It sticks in my nose and doesn’t let go. The kind of smell that says control, order, routine.
At the bottom, the front desk comes into view.
“Good morning, Mr. Vance.”
Lila looks up the second she sees me. Blonde hair perfect. Smile bright and hopeful.
“Morning, Lila.”
That’s all she gets. She opens h
