Chapter 2: The Manager's Biggest Mistake
Richard Collins watched me end the call.
He looked irritated rather than concerned.
"Ma'am, I don't know who you just spoke to, but making threats against hotel staff won't help your situation.""
I adjusted Lily's blanket.
"I'm not threatening anyone.""
Victoria laughed.
"Richard, she's obviously trying to intimidate you. People like this always have some story.""
I turned toward her.
"People like what?""
She shrugged.
"People who want to be treated like they belong somewhere they don't.""
Richard gestured toward security.
"Please escort her outside.""
The younger guard hesitated.
"Sir, she has a baby.""
"And?""
That single word told me everything I needed to know about him.
I stared at Richard.
"Do you have children?""
He looked annoyed.
"That's irrelevant.""
"Would you want someone slapping your wife while she held your newborn?""
His expression didn't change.
"This is a hotel, not a courtroom.""
"No," I replied.
"It's a business. And you're responsible for how it's operated.""
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Can we please stop wasting everyone's time? I have dinner reservations.""
Richard immediately turned toward her.
"Of course, Mrs. Whitmore. I'll personally make sure everything is arranged.""
Then he looked back at me.
"Security?""
The guard stepped closer.
I moved slightly, protecting Lily with my body.
"Don't touch me.""
The guard stopped.
Ethan suddenly came around the counter.
"Mr. Collins, perhaps we should review the security footage before doing anything.""
Richard glared at him.
"You're a receptionist, Ethan. Let management handle management.""
"But I saw—"
"One more word and you can collect your things.""
Ethan fell silent.
Victoria smiled.
"Finally, someone understands how a proper establishment should operate.""
I watched Richard carefully.
He wasn't simply making a mistake.
He was choosing to humiliate someone because he believed she had no power to challenge him.
I'd seen that behavior before.
Daniel had once told me that the worst people to put in charge of a luxury property weren't the incompetent ones.
They were the ones who believed the guests existed to serve their egos.
My phone vibrated.
A message from James.
I'm downstairs in the private office. Please wait five minutes.
I put the phone away.
Richard noticed.
"Are you waiting for a taxi?""
"No.""
"Then what exactly are you waiting for?""
"For the person who can explain why you're still employed here.""
His face reddened.
"That's enough.""
Victoria stepped closer to him.
"Richard, I want her removed immediately. I don't care if you have to call the police.""
I looked at her.
"Actually, that might be a good idea.""
She blinked.
"What?""
"I'd like an official report documenting the assault.""
Victoria's confidence faltered.
Richard quickly intervened.
"Mrs. Whitmore, let's not encourage her.""
"Encourage me?"" I repeated.
"You're making this much more complicated than it needs to be.""
I almost laughed.
"My newborn was in my arms when your guest hit me. You have security cameras recording everything. What exactly is complicated?""
He leaned closer.
"Listen. I have managed this hotel for eleven years. I know how things work here.""
"Clearly.""
"And I know the kind of people who belong in this environment.""
I looked around the lobby.
At the polished marble floors.
The fresh white orchids.
The staff standing silently behind the counter.
Then I looked back at him.
"Apparently, you don't.""
His eyes narrowed.
Before he could answer, a woman in a navy suit hurried through the entrance.
It was Margaret Ellis, the hotel's director of operations.
She had worked with Daniel for years.
"Claire!""
She rushed toward me.
"Are you all right? Is Lily okay?""
I nodded.
"I'm fine. Lily's frightened, but she's unharmed.""
Margaret looked at my cheek.
Her expression changed.
"Who did this?""
Victoria stepped forward.
"That would be me, but only because she was being incredibly disrespectful.""
Margaret stared at her.
Then she turned to Richard.
"Did you seriously allow this to happen?""
Richard straightened his tie.
"Margaret, this woman was causing a disturbance. Mrs. Whitmore is one of our most important clients.""
Margaret looked at him as though he had spoken another language.
"Do you know who you're talking about?""
Richard hesitated.
"I know she's a guest who refuses to cooperate.""
Margaret closed her eyes briefly.
Then she turned toward the reception desk.
"Ethan, please lock the guest incident footage and make sure nobody deletes or overwrites it.""
Richard frowned.
"Margaret, you don't have the authority to—"
"Actually, I do.""
She turned back to him.
"And you should probably stop talking.""
Victoria looked between them.
"Why is everyone behaving so strangely?""
Margaret didn't answer.
She gently touched Lily's blanket.
"Claire, James is on his way?""
"Yes.""
"Good. He'll want to see this.""
Richard gave an uncomfortable laugh.
"James? James who?""
Margaret looked at him.
"James Carter. The chief executive officer of Bennett Hospitality Group.""
Victoria's expression changed slightly.
"Wait. Bennett Hospitality?""
Richard looked confused.
Margaret continued.
"The company that owns this hotel.""
For the first time, Richard looked directly at me.
Not at my clothes.
Not at my baby.
At my face.
"You're telling me she works for Bennett Hospitality?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No, Richard.""
She paused.
"She owns it.""
The lobby fell silent.
Victoria slowly lowered her handbag.
Richard's mouth opened, but no words came out.
I watched the realization move across his face.
He glanced at the security guard.
Then at Margaret.
Then back at me.
"Ms. Bennett," he whispered.
I didn't smile.
"That's right.""
He immediately straightened his jacket.
"Well, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding.""
I tilted my head.
"Which misunderstanding?""
He swallowed.
"The confusion surrounding your reservation.""
"That wasn't the misunderstanding.""
"Of course. I understand.""
"No, Richard. I don't think you do.""
Margaret's phone rang.
She checked the screen.
"James is here.""
A moment later, the private elevator doors opened.
James Carter stepped into the lobby carrying a leather folder.
He was usually calm, even during multimillion-dollar negotiations.
But when he saw my cheek, his expression hardened.
"Claire.""
He walked straight toward me.
"Who hit you?""
I looked at Victoria.
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
James turned.
Victoria forced a nervous smile.
"Mr. Carter, I'm sure this is all a terrible misunderstanding. I had no idea—"
James opened his folder.
"Victoria Whitmore?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
He pulled out a document.
"Then perhaps you should explain why your name appears on the list of guests who have been receiving complimentary stays in exchange for confidential business favors.""
Richard went completely pale.
Victoria's lips parted.
"What are you talking about?""
James looked at me.
"Claire, there's something else. We reviewed the hotel's internal accounts this morning.""
He turned the folder around.
And I saw a list of payments.
One name appeared beside nearly every suspicious transaction.
Richard Collins.
But the last page was worse.
Because it showed that the money had been transferred through an account registered to someone I knew.
Someone Daniel had trusted.
May you like
James lowered his voice.
"Claire, I think your husband's death may have something to do with what's happening here.""
