I had just finished school and been accepted to university. All was good. I was eighteen and thought the world was my oyster. Then tragedy struck. My grandpa died of a heart attack.    

He ran the family business that his father had established seventy years ago. He owned the finest independent hotel in the city, and everything about it was excellent. 

My parents had divorced when I was twelve. I had always been closer to Mum. Since the divorce, I’d never spoken to my father.   

During my teens, Grandpa was the father I didn’t have.     

After Mum’s divorce. We all lived together in Grandpa’s apartment, which was on the top floor of the hotel. I loved it every day I was in the hotel.     

I had been working at the hotel since I was eight. I knew every department and how it operated. Losing Grandpa was an enormous loss. The day-to-day running of the hotel was down to him. We had excellent staff, but Grandpa was the ultimate decision-maker.     

The hotel was in a part of the city that the Council wanted to redevelop. Grandpa had just concluded a lucrative deal with the Council. The hotel had to remain open for the next three years.    

Following Grandpa’s death, Mum was in a difficult situation as she had limited knowledge of the day-to-day running of the hotel. We agreed that my university course had to be put on hold for the next three years. I would run the hotel until the Council paid us. A significant amount of money was involved. The hotel was a busy and profitable establishment.    

I didn’t regret missing out on university, as I loved working in the hotel. My one regret was that it would only last three years.   

Mum really appreciated my doing this for her. She was prepared to invest in a new hotel for us.   

Grandpa also had an apartment on the coast, which was a forty-minute drive away. Mum said that we’d use the apartment as a base after we left the hotel.    

The three years passed so quickly. I loved every minute of those years. I was running the hotel profitably. Mum helped with the accounts.    

As the hotel would close on January 2nd after the New Year festival, our excellent staff were all looking for new jobs.    

In the first week of November, I got a call from Harry Dunlop. Grandpa had trained Harry. He had worked with Grandpa for over ten years before joining a brewery-owned hotel group. He was now the regional director overseeing thirty-four four-star hotels. Harry was a powerful man.   

I invited Harry to lunch. I was looking forward to seeing him as his hotel group had five hotels in the city, and he could take on some of our staff when we closed.    

Over lunch, I mentioned to Harry that I had staff who would look for work after we closed. Harry smiled, then surprised me when he said, “No problem with your staff, Barry. I’m sure we’ll be able to find work for them all. Barry, I’ve got a problem at the Riverside Hotel. We lost the manager there six weeks ago. It’s so similar to your hotel, though it’s bigger.    

“A lot of the clientele use both the Riverside and your hotel. At twenty-one, you’d be my youngest general manager. Would you be interested in taking over this position in January?”    

The Riverside was an excellent hotel, featuring 160 bedrooms, a 400-seat ballroom, a 200-seat restaurant, and a first-class Spa. Every department had its own management. I felt so flattered that Harry had asked me to take over as general manager.    

I replied, “Harry, I appreciate you having the confidence to offer me such a prestigious position. I believe my future is now in the hotel industry. I’d be thrilled to accept your job offer. You probably know that I will do my best.”

Harry was happy when I said this. We finished lunch, then Harry drove me to Riverside and showed me around. It was impressive, and so were the salary and bonus Harry offered me.    

There was also a four-bedroom cottage beside the hotel, which would be my accommodation. Seeing this made me realise that this could be the time that I moved away from Mum.    

I knew Mum was shopping with her friend May today. I had the feeling that I’d better let her know the big news.    

Harry invited me for coffee, and as we sat in the manager’s office.    

Harry said, “Barry, you don’t know how happy I am that you’re taking this job. From now until the beginning of January, I’d like you to split your time between here and your own hotel. There are problems here.   

“John, the general manager, who died, hadn’t been well for a long time. He had aggressive cancer and knew he was dying. I don’t think he was sober once in the last six months.   

“Barry, you started working for me on November 1st. If you can spend as much time here in January as you can, we’ll get off to a strong start. I’ll also tell you. You’re in total control.   

“I’ll back you to the hilt. You can get the cottage decorated, so it’s fresh for you in January.   

“Is 10 AM tomorrow suitable for the heads of department meeting? I will be here to introduce you as the new general manager.”    

I smiled and said, “No problem, Harry, my hotel runs like clockwork. I’ll be able to spend as much time here as possible. If I find something that’s not working, I’ll make it work.   

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s meeting. I’ll get home now and tell Mum I’ve got myself a dream job.”    

Harry laughed and said, “How is your Mum? Please give her my kindest regards. Will your Mum retire now?”    

“Mum’s good, Harry, she’s interested in buying another hotel. I think that what you’ve offered me today may change my future. I’m looking forward to telling her about it.”    

Harry took out one of his business cards and wrote his mobile number on the back.    

Harry said, “Barry, you’re the only one of my managers with my mobile number. If you need me, call me, I’m backing you one hundred per cent.”    

I thanked him and left. As I drove home, my mind was trying to absorb all that had happened today. It was as though my future was being decided for me.    

They had offered me a job that someone twenty years older than me would be happy to have. Mum’s reaction was what I wondered about. I had done my bit for her. I was there when she needed me.    

I got back to the hotel, and everything was running smoothly. Mum wasn’t home when I went to the apartment. I poured myself a glass of wine.    

I messaged Mum, “Hi Mum, when will you be home? I want to take you out for dinner at the Riverside Hotel. Are you free tonight? Barry.”    

I knew Mum would be free. If she wasn’t doing the accounts, she would spend time with her friend May, who was the same age as Mum.    

My Mum had me when she was nineteen and is now forty. May had also married young but had had no children. Her husband was eighteen years older but had died three years ago.    

May was everything I desired in a woman. Tall, voluptuous, good-looking, and intelligent.  

During my time at the hotel, I’d been sexually active. I preferred older women as they could give so much pleasure.    

Ten minutes later, my phone beeped. Mum had replied, “Barry, I’m free. I love the restaurant at the Riverside. I’m just leaving May’s. We had a great time shopping.   

“I’m looking forward to tonight as this is a real treat for me. I bought a lovely outfit today, and I’ll wear it tonight. Love, Mum xx.”    

Mum got home twenty minutes later. I had booked a table for seven-thirty. It was now six.   

Mum had asked me what time we had to be there, and I told her seven-thirty.    

Mum went for a shower. She looked stunning when she came out in her new outfit. We had a glass of wine, then left in a taxi.    

In the taxi, I could see Mum was a little nervous. Mum’s social life was comprised of occasional lunches with May.   

Mum was very similar to May and was a beautiful woman. As far as I knew, she had dated no one since her divorce nine years ago.    

We arrived at the Riverside and entered the cocktail bar, which was within the restaurant. For a Monday night, it was pretty busy.     

We sat at a table; a waitress came and wished us a good evening and asked what we would like to drink.    

I asked to see the wine list and ordered a bottle of Chablis.     

Mum said, “This is so nice, Barry, it’s like a date for me. You’re the first man I’ve had dinner with since the divorce. Okay, I know we eat a lot at the hotel together. This is different now. Please tell me why we’re here?”    

As Mum said this, a man came to the table and handed Mum and me a menu and said, “Good evening, my name is Rocco. I’m the head waiter of the Riverside Restaurant. These are this evening’s menus. I’ll be back with you shortly to take your order.”    

As Rocco walked away, Mum whispered, “Rocco is drunk, and it’s twenty to eight in the evening. That’s not good, Barry. Why are we here?”    

As we both studied the menu, I told Mum that Harry Dunlop had contacted me and asked if I’d like to be the general manager of the Riverside.    

Mum had an amazed but happy look on her face. Rocco then came back and took our order. We shared a Chateaubriand.    

Rocco left us, and I continued to tell Mum about what Harry and I had discussed.   

I finished by saying, “Harry has problems here. He wants me to sort them out, and he’s asked me to work here from tomorrow.    

“Although I agreed to this, I’ll be splitting myself between here and our hotel for the next two months. Are you comfortable with my doing this, or would you prefer me to spend only a couple of hours a day at the Riverside?”    

Mum smiled and said, “Barry, I’m so proud of you. This is a marvellous position that Harry has given you. Our hotel runs like clockwork. You’ll be able to give so many of our staff members jobs here. That was a big worry for me.”    

The Chateaubriand was served. It melted in the mouth. Over dinner, Mum asked many questions about the cottage that came with the job.  

She had met John, the previous general manager. She had liked him and was sorry to hear he had died in the way he had.    

We finished the Chateaubriand. Both of us were full. We sat chatting and finished our bottle of Chablis.   

Mum said, “Barry, I’m happy you have the cottage. I know I have a property on the coast, but I’d prefer to stay in the cottage with you. How do you feel about this?”    

“Mum, I’ve no problem with that. The painters will be in soon. You can tell them how you want it decorated.”    

Mum smiled and said, “May has an apartment on Riverside Road. It’s a two-minute walk from here. Barry, I’m thrilled for you and incredibly proud of you.

“Could you show me around the hotel one day, as I’m detail-oriented? You might even give me a part-time job here?”    

I smiled and asked the waitress for the bill, and if she could organise a taxi for us.   

Rocco brought the bill a couple of minutes later. His voice was slurred now. He was drunk. I settled the bill in cash and left a sizeable tip.   

Rocco said, “Thank you so much, sir. I look forward to serving you again in the future.”    

As Mum and I left, I had one last look at the restaurant. There were too many tables and chairs in it. You couldn’t move comfortably around it.    

I wanted to count the tables and chairs to see how many there were, but the waitress came back to say the taxi was there.    

We left through a side entrance and walked past the cottage, which had manicured gardens used for wedding pictures.   

The gardens were lit by floodlights, which made them look impressive. We found our taxi and got in the back.    

The driver was a talkative man and asked, “Did you enjoy your meal in the restaurant? It’s my wife’s favourite restaurant, and I take her there once a month.”    

Mum replied, “I can understand why she likes it. The food was delicious, and we both enjoyed our meal.”    

The driver replied, “The old manager wasn’t doing his job. He wasn’t well. The head waiter was running the restaurant for himself. He put so many extra tables in and took away all the comfort.

“He wanted more people in because his fiddle was the tips. I heard he keeps the majority, and the staff gets a small slice. Rocco is bad.”    

Mum and I didn’t reply to him. We arrived outside the hotel, and as I paid him, I said, “What’s your name? My name is Barry Palmer. I’m the new general manager of the Riverside, and I’d like to have a cup of coffee with you one day soon.”    

The driver gave me his card and said, “I’m Gerry. Once you’re settled, please call me. I’d love to have a coffee with you.”    

I arrived at the Riverside at nine the next morning and had a quick look in the restaurant. According to the brochure, there was seating for 260, although it incorrectly stated seating for 200.    

I then checked the diary. On Friday, there were just under 200, and on Saturday, just over 200. I marked the diary as ‘Fully Booked.’   

The following weekend was okay, but I set 200 as the maximum.    

Harry arrived at twenty to ten. We had coffee together. I told him about Rocco. Harry told me to give him a final warning.   

We went to the meeting room, where ten members of the management team were present, including Rocco.    

He took a double look at me and realised I’d been there for dinner last night. As Harry introduced me, I looked around the room.   

The majority appeared to be decent people. There were three, including Rocco, who looked a little overconfident.    

As Harry introduced me, he then introduced the ten members of the team. It surprised me that there were a couple of assistant managers, and I was several years younger than they were.    

Harry realised this and said, “Before Barry speaks, you may wonder why a twenty-one-year-old is now General Manager of the Riverside Hotel. Don’t let his age fool you. He knows this business inside out.    

“He’s been at the sharp end of this business all his life. There’s no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the best hotels in the group within six months.   

“Work with him, and you’ll learn. I learned this business from Barry’s grandfather, and he made me what I am today.”    

My speech didn’t last too long; I spoke without a prepared speech, emphasising that they would experience change.   

I also said during the following weeks we’d get to know each other. I was free to be approached at any time.   

I slipped in that as from today, the maximum number of seats in the restaurant would be two hundred,    

I got the reaction I expected from Rocco. He put his hand up and said, “This hasn’t been discussed with me. This is my department.”    

I replied, “Rocco, the rest of the management team wants to get on with their work. When they go, I’d like a quick word with you.”    

Harry sat beside me as they left the meeting room. There were now only Harry, Rocco and me in the room.    

I said, “Rocco, last night you were drunk at seven-thirty in the evening. You’ll get a written warning today. If it happens again, it is instant dismissal. Do you understand?”    

The look on Rocco’s face was one of complete surprise. He shouted, “I’m the man who makes this place. I’ve worked at the Ritz and the Savoy. I’m the man who brings the class here. You can stick your job up your ass. I’m out of here.”    

I replied, “Let’s go to your locker and get your personal items. Give me your key, and you can go.”    

I didn’t know where the lockers were. Harry got two of the trainee managers who stood beside me as Rocco emptied his locker.    

After he had left, one trainee said, “Mr Barry, you have done the right thing. He was cheating all the staff out of their tips. I felt so sorry for them, but Mr John wasn’t around much, so he got away with it.”    

I replied, “Thanks. What’s your name and what department are you working in?”    

He smiled and said, “I’m Tom, and I go where I’m needed.”    

I replied, “Tom, I would like you to take over the restaurant until we get someone suitable. Please distribute the tips evenly among the waiting, kitchen, and bar staff. It must be fair and divided equally. Can you do that for me?”    

“Yes, sir, I’ll talk to everyone involved and get back to you.”    

That was the start of it. The Food and Beverage manager lasted a week, and one of the assistant managers lasted two weeks.   

By the end of the month, it was a much happier place to work.    

I had assigned the vacant positions to two managers from our hotel. They were both excellent and relieved me of a lot of pressure...