“Originally the hotel had a hundred and twenty-five rooms,” the architect said. “As you can see, I’ve cut it down to seventy-five keys, as you’ve asked.”
In the drawing there were fifty suites and twenty-five deluxe rooms.
“It’s perfect,” Lara said.
Lara showed the plans to Howard Keller. He was equally enthusiastic.
“Let’s go to work. I’ve set up a meeting with a contractor. His name is Steve Rice.”
Steve Rice was one of the top contractors in Chicago. Lara liked him immediately. He was a rugged, no-nonsense, down-to-earth type.
Lara said, “Howard Keller tells me that you’re the best.”
“He’s right,” Rice said. “Our motto is ‘We build for posterity.’ ”
“That’s a good motto.”
Rice grinned. “I just made it up.”
The first step was to break down each element into a series of drawings. The drawings were sent to potential subcontractors: steel manufacturers, bricklayers, window companies, electrical contractors. All in all, more than sixty subcontractors were involved.
The day escrow closed, Howard Keller took the afternoon off to celebrate with Lara.
“Does the bank mind your taking this time off?” Lara asked.
“No,” Keller lied. “It’s part of my job.” The truth was that he was enjoying this more than he had enjoyed anything in years. He loved being with Lara: he loved talking to her, looking at her. He wondered how she felt about marriage.
Lara said, “I read this morning that they’ve almost completed the Sears Tower. It’s a hundred and ten stories—the tallest building in the world.”
“That’s right,” Keller said.
Lara said gravely, “Someday I’m going to build a higher one, Howard.”
He believed her.
They were having lunch with Steve Rice at the Whitehall. “Tell me what happens next,” Lara asked.
“Well,” Rice said, “first we’re going to clean up the interior of the building. We’ll keep the marble. We’ll remove all the windows and gut the bathrooms. We’ll take out the electrical risers for the installation of the new electrical wiring and update the plumbing. When the demolition company is through, we’ll be ready to begin building your hotel.”
“How many people will be working on it?”
Rice laughed. “A mob, Miss Cameron. There’ll be a window team, a bathroom team, a corridor team. These teams work floor by floor, usually from the top floor down. The hotel is scheduled to have two restaurants, and you’ll have room service.”
“How long is all this going to take?”
“I would say—equipped and furnished—eighteen months.”
“I’ll give you a bonus if you finish it in a year,” Lara told him.
“Great. The Congressional should…”
“I’m changing the name. It’s going to be called the Cameron Palace.” Lara felt a thrill just saying the words. It was almost a sexual feeling. Her name was going to be on a building for all the world to see.
At six o’clock on a rainy September morning, the reconstruction of the hotel began. Lara was at the site eagerly watching as the workmen trooped into the lobby and began to tear it apart.
To Lara’s surprise, Howard Keller appeared.
“You’re up early,” Lara said.
“I couldn’t sleep.” Keller grinned. “I have a feeling this is the beginning of something big.”
Twelve months later the Cameron Palace opened to rave reviews and land office business.
The architectural critic for the Chicago Tribune wrote, “Chicago finally has a hotel that lives up to the motto ‘Your home away from home!’ Lara Cameron is someone to keep an eye on…”
By the end of the first month the hotel was full and had a long waiting list.
Howard Keller was enthusiastic. “At this rate,” he said, “the hotel will be paid off in twelve years. That’s wonderful. We…”
“Not good enough,” Lara said. “I’m raising the rates.” She saw the expression on Keller’s face. “Don’t worry. They’ll pay it. Where else can they get two fireplaces, a sauna, and a grand piano?”
Two weeks after the Cameron Palace opened, Lara had a meeting with Bob Vance and Howard Keller.
“I found another great site for a hotel,” Lara said. “It’s going to be like the Cameron Palace, only bigger and better.”
Howard Keller grinned. “I’ll take a look at it.”
The site was perfect, but there was a problem.