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“Call the specialist brokerage Voss uses for its historic properties.”

“Can they get me coverage?”

“I’ll know within five minutes. While I’m doing that, call your lawyer and find out exactly when you need to make a decision about the guests.”

“He’s in court until late this afternoon.”

“Then I’ll find an independent insurance lawyer and have them call you.” His answer comes without a pause. “I also need tonight’s occupancy report, tomorrow’s arrivals, and every booking due in the next forty-eight hours.”

“Why?”

“If we can’t get coverage, I need to know exactly how many guests we’re moving.”

“Right.”

“Send the insurance documents first, then get the reports. Keep your phone beside you and make yourself a coffee.”

“I don’t need coffee.”

“You do.” His voice softens, but only slightly. “Trust me for ten minutes, Rachel. Do exactly what I tell you, and let me handle the rest.”

I close my eyes and breathe. “Alright.”

“Good. Start now.”

He hangs up.

I do exactly what Eric told me. I forward the documents, go downstairs for coffee, and ask reservations for the reports. Then I return to my office with the reports. After that, all I can do is wait.

My coffee goes cold while I pace between my desk and the window. I check my phone, refresh my email, and read the same occupancy report until the numbers blur. Every minute brings the Hartwell closer to midnight, and I still don’t know whether I’ll have to move seventy-three guests.

Almost forty minutes later, someone knocks on my office door.

“Come in.”

Eric walks in carrying a black folder. I expected him to call me back. I didn’t expect him to come himself.

“Tell me you have good news,” I say.

“You’re not closing the Hartwell.”

Relief hits so fast that I grip the back of my chair to steady myself.

Eric places the folder on my desk. “Our broker found a specialist insurer prepared to issue a thirty-day binder. Once you sign, it will begin the moment your current policy ends. Your property and liability limits will stay the same. The price is higher, but not by much.”

“You did this in less than an hour?”

“The insurer already covers several historic hotels. Your broker was approaching the wrong companies.”

I open the folder. Yellow tabs mark the important sections, and a plain summary of the terms sits on top.

“I sent everything to an independent insurance lawyer,” Eric continues. “She has no connection to Voss. She’ll call within the next ten minutes and take you through every page before you sign. If she finds a problem, we’ll fix it.”

The Hartwell will be insured. Our guests can stay, and tomorrow the hotel will run as usual.

My eyes begin to sting.

“Are you alright?” Eric asks.