Chapter 4: The Secret Thomas Was Hiding
Benjamin didn't move.
The lobby was still filled with guests, but suddenly he could hear nothing except Thomas Carter's voice coming through his phone.
"What did you just say?"" Benjamin asked.
Thomas hesitated.
"Sir, I think we should discuss this somewhere private.""
"You're going to explain it now.""
"Victoria Whitmore has been asking questions about your family for months.""
Benjamin's eyes narrowed.
"What questions?""
"About Naomi. Her marriage. Her financial arrangements. Whether she's still connected to the Carter family trust.""
Naomi heard her name and looked up.
Benjamin noticed.
"Why would Victoria be interested in my daughter?""
Thomas exhaled.
"That's what I've been trying to establish.""
"Trying?""
"Sir, I didn't want to alarm you without proof.""
Benjamin's voice dropped.
"Then perhaps you should have considered that before allowing a woman to use my hotel to intimidate my daughter.""
He ended the call.
Richard Hayes approached.
"What did he say?""
Benjamin glanced at Naomi.
"Apparently, Victoria has been asking questions about our family.""
Richard's expression changed.
"That's not ordinary guest behavior.""
"No. It isn't.""
Naomi slowly stood.
"Daddy, why would she care about me?""
Benjamin looked at her.
"I don't know yet.""
Victoria was standing near the entrance, pretending to read something on her phone.
She had stopped looking confident.
Benjamin turned toward her.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I suggest you remain available for questions from our investigators.""
Victoria raised her chin.
"I don't take instructions from you.""
"Then consider it a courtesy.""
She put her phone away.
"My husband will be here shortly. He'll explain everything.""
Richard quietly closed his briefcase.
"That may be interesting.""
Naomi looked at her father.
"Can we please go upstairs? Grace needs to sleep.""
Benjamin immediately nodded.
"Of course.""
He turned toward Marcus.
"Prepare the presidential suite for my daughter. Make sure it's quiet, and have the hotel's physician examine her cheek.""
Marcus nodded quickly.
"Absolutely, Mr. Carter.""
Naomi interrupted.
"I don't need a presidential suite.""
Benjamin looked at her.
"You drove two hours with a newborn. You deserve a comfortable room.""
"I paid for a room already.""
"And you'll receive a full refund.""
"Daddy—"
"Naomi, this isn't about money.""
He gently touched her shoulder.
"It's about making sure you and Grace are safe.""
Naomi finally agreed.
A hotel employee approached with an elevator key.
As Benjamin helped his daughter into the elevator, Victoria watched them leave.
Then she quickly sent a message.
*He's here. He knows about the incident. Find the original file before he does.*
She received an immediate reply.
*Too late. Someone has already requested it.*
Victoria's fingers tightened around her phone.
She looked toward the security office.
For the first time that afternoon, she seemed to understand that the slap was only the beginning of her problems.
Twenty minutes later, Naomi was sitting in the presidential suite.
The room was larger than her apartment's entire living area. Tall windows overlooked the French Quarter. Fresh flowers stood on a marble table, and a small bassinet had been brought in for Grace.
Naomi sat on the edge of the bed while a female physician examined her cheek.
"There's some swelling, but I don't see any serious injury," the doctor explained.
"I'll leave you with an ice pack and some instructions.""
"Thank you," Naomi replied.
After the doctor left, Benjamin entered carrying two cups of tea.
He placed one beside her.
"How are you feeling?""
"Tired.""
"That's understandable.""
Naomi stared at the window.
"Daddy, can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"Did you really buy this hotel?""
Benjamin smiled faintly.
"Technically, my company bought the parent group. The hotel is one of several properties under our management.""
"So you own it?""
"Yes.""
Naomi looked down at her hands.
"I wish I'd known.""
"Why?""
"Because I wouldn't have booked it.""
Benjamin sat beside her.
"Would you have been afraid someone might treat you differently?""
She nodded.
"I wanted to do something by myself. I didn't want people looking at me and thinking I was some rich man's daughter.""
Benjamin was quiet.
Then he reached for her hand.
"Naomi, I didn't work all those years to make you feel ashamed of having a father who can help you.""
She smiled weakly.
"I know.""
"You never have to earn the right to be treated with respect.""
Naomi's eyes filled.
"I just wanted Grace to have a normal day.""
Benjamin glanced at the bassinet.
"She has a good mother. That's a better beginning than most children get.""
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Naomi remembered something.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Victoria said something strange before she slapped me.""
"What?""
"She said people like me shouldn't be in the hotel. Then she mentioned something about knowing who belonged there.""
Benjamin frowned.
"Did she say anything else?""
Naomi thought carefully.
"She asked whether I was still using the Carter name.""
Benjamin's expression changed.
"She asked that?""
Naomi nodded.
"Why would that matter?""
Before he could answer, Richard Hayes entered.
"Benjamin, we have a problem.""
Benjamin stood.
"What now?""
"Thomas has arrived. And he brought documents.""
"Where is he?""
"In the conference room.""
Richard hesitated.
"There's something else. The hotel's guest records show that Victoria requested information about Naomi's reservation three days ago.""
Naomi went still.
"Three days ago?""
"Yes.""
Benjamin looked at Richard.
"She knew my daughter was coming?""
"It appears so.""
Naomi felt a chill move through her.
She had made the reservation herself. She hadn't told many people about the trip.
"Who knew I was staying here?""
Benjamin's expression hardened.
Richard opened his folder.
"That's exactly what we're trying to determine.""
He placed a printed page on the table.
The reservation had been accessed from an internal employee account.
The account belonged to Thomas Carter.
Benjamin stared at the name.
"Thomas accessed Naomi's reservation?""
Richard nodded.
"And according to the system, he shared the information with an external email address.""
Naomi looked at her father.
"Daddy, who is Thomas?""
Benjamin didn't answer immediately.
Thomas had been with Carter Hospitality Group for eleven years. He had helped expand the company into three states and had been entrusted with sensitive financial information.
Benjamin had once considered him almost family.
"He's someone I trusted," he finally said.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message appeared from Thomas.
*Sir, I need to speak with you before Richard shows you the remaining documents. There is something about Naomi's mother that you don't know.*
Benjamin read it twice.
His face went pale.
May you like
Because Naomi's mother had been dead for twelve years.
And nobody had spoken about her secrets in a very long time.
