Ngaphambili, uza kubona idesika engaphambili, abalindi abanxibe iisuti zeebhulukhwe ezimdaka ngombala kunye nodonga olumiselweyo lwe-zigzag, eneneni isemva nje kokudibana kwe-H ezimbini ezihleli ecaleni kwayo: ii-inishiyali zegama langaphambili lendlu yabahambi, i-Harley Hotel, isithintelo U-Leona kunye noHarry Helmsley, ongasekhoyo, omkhulu we-dapper we-New York real estate, kunye nothando lobomi obungenantliziyo bukaLeona Helmsley. (Ukunyaniseka, wayemthanda uMalta onomsindo, Ingxaki, naye.)
Indawo yokungenela ongene kuyo, ekunokwenzeka ukuba ibijonge kuwe, yonke into iyahamba, utshilo uMark Briskin, umphathi jikelele wehotele, njengoko wayehleli kwi-ofisi yakhe ekumgangatho wesibini ehotele emva kwemini ngoLwesithathu. Wayenxibe ngokungenasinxibo enxibe isuti eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka enepin encinci yokugqobhoza i-lapel yakhe yasekhohlo.
Sizimisele ukusebenzisa igama elisekwe nguLeona Helmsley, utshilo uMnu Briskin. Ubotshelelwe ngumfanekiso kwisitayile kunye nokunethezeka, ukuba uyathanda. Sihlaziya ikhabethe, ukuba uyathanda. Kodwa asichaphazeli okanye senza nayiphi na into engafanelekanga kuyo nantoni na eyayifudula isekiwe.
Isidima uMnu. Briskin abhekisa kuso ayisiyiyo kaHelmsley njenge-avarice yango-1980, kodwa ibingowomfazi owongamele inzondelelo yehotele yakhe kwaye wakhuthaza uloyiko kunye nokuzingca kwabanye babasebenzi bakhe bakudala.
Ndiyazi ukuba ndimkhumbula kakhulu, utshilo uMercedes Vargas, umncedisi wezolawulo olawulayo kaMnu Briskin kunye nomsebenzi ehotele ngaphezulu kweminyaka eli-15. (UNks. Vargas wayedla ngokufumana umnxeba osuka ePark Lane, apho wayehlala khona uHelmsley, elumkisa ngokufika okumkanikazi kungekudala.) Usayigcina ifoto kaLeona eofisini yakhe nenye ekhaya. Izinto zazahluke kakhulu. Kwakukho le nto… abasebenzi kuye kwafuneka bamenzele okuhle.
Kubaqeshwa abakhe balapha ixesha elide, baya kuhlala besithi le ndawo ineklasi xa uNkskz Helmsley ebelapha, wavuma uSherryanne Gittens, umphathi wentengiso wamazwe aphesheya wehotele, obesebenza apho ishumi leminyaka. Amaphepha:1 Mbini
