“Get out of here, you filthy old man!” they shouted as they shoved him out of the hotel. Only later did they discover who he really wasbut by then, it was too late.
The young receptionist, impeccably dressed and polished, blinked in surprise at the man in his sixties standing at the desk. His clothes were worn and reeked sharply, but he gave a friendly smile and asked,
“Miss, could you book me a luxury suite, please?”
His bright blue eyes flickered with familiarityas though Emily had seen that gaze somewhere before. But before she could place it, irritation prickled her. She rolled her shoulders dismissively and reached for the panic button beneath the counter.
“Apologies, but we dont accommodate guests like you,” she said coldly, tilting her chin up.
“Guests like *what*? Do you have special admission rules?”
He looked offended. Not a beggar, certainly, but his appearance well, to put it mildly, left much to be desired. He carried an unpleasant odourlike someone had left a kipper under a radiator days ago. And he had the audacity to ask for a *suite*!
Emily scoffed, eyeing him with derisionhe couldnt even afford the cheapest room here.
“Please dont waste my time. Id like a shower and a rest. Im exhausted. No time for chit-chat.”
“Ive made myself clearyoure not welcome. Try another hotel. Besides, were fully booked.” She muttered under her breath, “*Dirty old man, thinking he can waltz into a suite*”
William Montgomery knew for a fact there was always one room available. He opened his mouth to argue, but security had already seized him, twisting his arms roughly as they marched him outside. They exchanged smirks*old codger trying to relive his glory days, eh?*
“Grandad, you couldnt even afford the budget room. Scram before we count your ribs for you!”
William was stunned by their arrogance. *Grandad?!* He was only sixty! If it werent for this blasted fishing trip, hed have shown them who the real *grandad* was. Part of him wanted to teach them a lesson, but he was too drained for a fight. Brawling would risk police involvementabsolutely out of the question. He swallowed his pride but silently vowed: *If I ever own this hotel, these guards are the first to go.*
His attempt to return failedthey threatened to call the police. Muttering curses under his breath, William trudged to a park bench. How had it come to this? Hed only wanted a quiet fishing trip, but everything had gone wrong. The fish had barely bittenjust small fry hed tossed back. Then the rain started, and on his way home, hed slipped near the riverbank, plunging knee-deep into murky water. His clothes were ruined, and his keys were lost.
His daughter, Lucy, was away on business, so he couldnt get into her flat. Hed meant to surprise heronly to find she was packing for a trip. If hed known, hed have come later. Hed taken leave just to spend time with her.
“Dad, Im sorry to leave you alone. Ill be back soon, yeah? Promise me you wont mope?” Lucy hugged him and kissed his cheek.
“Mope? Im going fishing! Why else would I be here?” He chuckled.
“I thought you came just to see me,” Lucy pouted, then grinnedshe knew he was teasing.
William hadnt checked his phones battery before leaving. Now, stranded, hed hoped to wait at the hotel until Lucy returned. Instead, hed been turned away. Never in his life had he faced such treatment. Since when did appearances dictate service? He wasnt drunk or dangerousjust a fisherman caught in bad luck. So he smelled a bit fishywas that reason enough to be rude?
His dead phone mocked him. No friends or family in town. Roadside assistance wouldnt helpLucy owned the flat. The phone might as well have been a brick.
“What now, grandad?” He smirked wryly. No one had ever called him that before. *Grandad?* He was in his prime! His employees wouldve choked hearing it.
A womans voice snapped him from his thoughts. Middle-aged, kind-faced, she offered him a warm pasty. Grateful, he accepted, his stomach growling.
“Youve been here all day. What happened?”
William recounted his ordealthe fishing, the rain, the lost keys, the hotels locked doors.
“Doubt Ill find them now,” he sighed. “Probably at the bottom of the river. Never thought Id end up like this. All because people judge by appearances.”
The womanMargaretnodded. She ran a bakery nearby and had noticed him sitting alone, ignored by passersby.
“I could tell you werent some drunk,” she smiled. “You dont seem the type.”
“God forbid,” William chuckled. “Healths precious at my age. But today, I was called old and thrown out of a hotel. Margaret, could I borrow your phone? Need to find somewhere to stay. Dont want to bother Lucyits late.”
“Youre welcome to stay with me. I can see youre decentjust unlucky. My cottage is small, but theres a spare room. Freshen up, rest, and call Lucy in the morning.”
“Really? Im endlessly grateful. Ill repay your kindness!”
Margarets compassion moved him deeply. She was the first person all day to treat him with dignity. He vowed silently to repay her.
After closing the bakery, she led him home. Years of hardship had taught her empathyonce, a stranger had saved her when no one else stopped. Helping William was a risk, but after losing her husband, she had little to lose but her faith in goodness.
A hot shower and clean clothes (borrowed from Margaret) revived him. Her cottage was modest but cosy. Though accustomed to luxury, William felt truly contenthed nearly resigned himself to sleeping outdoors.
“Youve a good heart. Thank you for helping a stranger,” he said before bed.
In the morning, Margaret handed him her phone. Lucy was furious when she heard how her father had been treated. She stormed to the hotel immediately.
“We couldnt host someone like *that*,” Emily defended, playing the victim. “You shouldve seen him!”
“Someone who needed *help*? He wasnt drunk or dangerous! Every one of you will submit resignations. Staff should be professional and *kind*. My father owns this place, and I wont tolerate this behaviour.”
The staff exchanged baffled glanceswhy apologise to a “pathetic old man”? Then William appeared: clean, composed, assured. Emily gaspednow she recognised the business magnate from magazine covers. Her face paled; realisation came too late.
Security grovelled, promising to make amends, but Lucy was unmoved. None of them kept their jobs.
“Dad, Im so sorry. Ill hire a manager who trains staff properly.”
Emily wept, begging forgiveness, but the damage was done. No use crying over spilt milk.
When William suggested Margaret as the new manager, Lucy agreed instantly. He explained the hotel was Lucyshe was just her father, barred at the door. Lucy had fallen for the city while studying and stayed. William, reluctant to retire, had supported her by gifting the hotel as her first venture. Hed never visiteduntil now.
Lucy dreamed of a place where everyone was welcomed respectfully. Margaret embraced the vision, proposing partnerships with hostels for those who couldnt afford rooms and adding bakery breakfasts to the services. Shed train staff in kindness herself.
Lucy knew shed found the right person.
After a few days with Lucy, William returned home. Recounting the ordeal to friends, he laughedbut bitterness lingered. The thought of facing the cold alone had terrified him.
Since then, hed thought often of Margaret. Theyd spent only a day together, but something warm had sparked. Hed loved his late wife dearly, but life went onand the idea of growing old alone gnawed at him.
Finally, William made his choice: he handed his business to a trusted partner, sold his flat, and bought a new one near Lucy and Margaret. Overjoyed, Margaret agreed to join him for theatre weekendsthough neither rushed into labels.
Lucy merely arched a brow, grinning as she watched her father. Shed noticed the spark between them long ago. And she couldnt have been happierseeing him smile again, truly.
