Chapter 45
Dorothea ended the call and headed straight to Lenard’s office.
Lenard greeted her with a grin and waved her in. “Dorothea, you’re just in time. Lyman specifically asked to meet with you today p>
She glanced at the unfamiliar middle-aged man waiting inside, then gave him a polite nod.
Lyman stood up right away and reached out as if to shake her hand. “Dorothea, I’m Lyman, head of Administration at The Stephens Group. I’ve heard a lot about you and wanted to discuss a potential partnership p>
He said he’d heard about her… It was obvious whose reputation brought him here, but since Lyman didn’t mention it, Dorothea had no reason to bring it up either.
“Lyman, it’s a pleasure. I’ve heard great things,” she replied smoothly.
Lyman chuckled. “Our group’s subsidiaries and branches have always worked with Solstice Springs. They’ve handled accommodations for our headquarters trainings and all our important meetings. This year, though, we thought we’d try something new. People get bored staying at the same hotel every time p>
That excuse sounded flimsy, and Lenard knew it. If this deal went through, everyone would know it was thanks to Dorothea’s connections.
He handed the lead over to her without a second thought.
Dorothea was already familiar with the company’s business structure and the contract rates they’d offered clients over the years. She gave Lyman a warm, confident smile. “Thank you for considering The Gresham. We may not be quite at the seven-star level, but our hotels are built to high five-star standards. We’ve got branches all over the country, and for any room type you need, we can offer you our best rates. Of course, the longer the contract, the better the deal. How many years were you thinking about p>
Lenard glanced at Dorothea, totally satisfied. He’d heard the new executive in HR was smart, and she clearly knew how to work a negotiation. A client like The Stephens Group was worth half a dozen mid-sized ones. They had to lock this in.
Lyman didn’t hesitate. “How about we start with five years p>
“Our rates are flexible,” he added, “but what matters most is your service and facilities p>
Five years? Lenard’s eyes practically sparkled.
“For a five-year contract, we can absolutely give you our lowest exclusive rate,” Dorothea replied. “What we offer will be unique to the Stephens Group. As for service you might have heard we’ve recently expanded to Harrisburg and Verdian, and we’ve just upgraded some of our older branches p>
She smiled again. “Those upgrades are all finished, so you don’t need to worry about the hardware. Plus, we’re making sure every staff member across all locations is fully trained. Whenever your employees book with us, we’ll make sure there are no issues with service or rooms. We’ll always arrange the best possible accommodations for you p>
Lyman seemed pleased. He gave Dorothea an easy smile. “Alright, let’s get the paperwork started p>
Lenard shot Dorothea a meaningful look. Clearly, there was more to her relationship with Lyman than met the eye.
With a quick and smooth negotiation, the three of them wrapped up the deal in under thirty minutes.
As Lenard and Dorothea walked
Lyman downstairs, everyone was in
high spirits. Before getting into his
car, Lyman pulled out his phone. “Dorothea could we exchange contact info? It’ll make things easier if anything comes up p>
Dorothea was more than happy to. They added each other right away.
Lenard arched a brow. So they didn’t actually know each other? That meant
Dorothea’s connection to The Stephens Group wasn’t through Lyman, but someone else entirely.
Dorothea noticed Lenard lost in thought and nudged him gently. “Shall we head back up p>