Chapter 9 - THE INVESTOR WHO REMEMBERED MY NAME
I met Alexander Reed at a hotel investment conference in Manhattan.
He was forty-one.
Founder of Reed Hospitality Capital.
A billionaire investor known for turning struggling boutique hotels into profitable properties.
We had met once before.
Six years earlier.
When Ryan and I were trying to secure our first major contract.
Alexander had attended our presentation.
Afterward, he approached me.
“You built the operating model?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“It's excellent.”
Ryan interrupted.
“We built it together.”
Alexander looked at him.
Then back at me.
“Of course.”
I remembered that moment.
Because Alexander had been the first major investor to recognize my work without needing Ryan to explain it.
Now, years later, he approached me again.
“Katherine Bennett.”
I smiled.
“Alexander Reed.”
He looked pleased.
“You remembered.”
“You were the first person to tell me our company might actually succeed.”
He laughed.
“I was right.”
I smiled.
“Mostly.”
He studied me.
“I heard about the wedding.”
My expression changed.
He immediately added:
“I'm sorry. That was intrusive.”
I shook my head.
“No. It's fine.”
He nodded.
Then changed the subject.
“I have a project I'd like your opinion on.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Business?”
He smiled.
“Entirely.”
I laughed.
“Good.”
He handed me a folder.
Inside was a proposal for a luxury hotel restoration in upstate New York.
I opened it.
Scanned the numbers.
Then frowned.
“Your staffing assumptions are wrong.”
May you like
Alexander grinned.
“That's what I was hoping you'd say.”
