Chapter 3: The Man Who Owned the Hotel
My father's words hung in the air.
"There's something I should have told you a long time ago.""
I stared at him.
"Dad, what are you talking about?""
He looked almost apologetic.
"The Grand Sterling is part of the Brooks Hospitality Group.""
I blinked.
"Okay?""
He gave me a small smile.
"Your grandfather founded the company. I took over twenty-eight years ago. We own this property, along with several other hotels across the country.""
For a moment, I couldn't process what he'd said.
I knew my father was successful.
I'd grown up in a comfortable house, attended good schools, and never worried about having food on the table.
But he had always been private about his business.
He rarely discussed money. He never wore flashy jewelry, and he drove ordinary cars whenever he wasn't traveling for work.
I'd assumed he owned a few commercial properties and had investments.
I hadn't known he owned an entire hotel group.
"Wait," I whispered.
"You own this hotel?""
"Yes, sweetheart.""
I turned toward Marcus.
His face looked as though someone had pulled the floor out from beneath him.
Victoria was staring at my father.
"That's impossible.""
My father raised an eyebrow.
"Is it?""
She looked at Marcus.
"Tell him he's mistaken.""
Marcus didn't move.
My father gestured toward the tablet.
"James, pull up the ownership records.""
James opened a document on his laptop.
"Grand Sterling Hotel is operated by Brooks Hospitality Holdings, with Richard Brooks serving as chairman and majority shareholder.""
Victoria took a step backward.
"No.""
My father remained calm.
"Yes.""
I looked at him, stunned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
He sighed.
"Because you never wanted people treating you differently. You wanted your own life, and I respected that.""
"Still, Dad...""
"I know.""
He gently squeezed my shoulder.
"Perhaps I should have told you.""
Marcus stood up.
"Mr. Brooks, I sincerely apologize for the confusion.""
My father turned toward him.
"Confusion?""
"Yes, sir. I wasn't aware that Ms. Brooks was your daughter.""
My father stared at him.
"Would that have changed how you treated her?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Of course, sir.""
The answer came too quickly.
My father slowly shook his head.
"That's exactly the problem.""
Victoria suddenly stepped forward.
"Richard, I think we can all agree that this situation has gotten out of hand.""
My father looked at her.
"Can we?""
She forced a smile.
"I never intended to cause any harm. Your daughter misunderstood the situation.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Misunderstood?""
Victoria looked at me.
"Please don't turn this into something it isn't.""
I felt my cheek pulsing.
"You slapped me.""
She sighed dramatically.
"I was upset.""
"You slapped me while I was holding Grace.""
"It wasn't intentional.""
I stared at her.
"Your hand accidentally flew across my face?""
Her expression tightened.
"Watch your tone.""
My father stepped closer.
"Mrs. Hale, I suggest you stop speaking to my daughter that way.""
Victoria turned toward him.
"I've been a loyal guest at this hotel for twelve years. I've hosted charity dinners here. I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars with your company.""
"And?""
Her eyes widened.
"And I deserve some respect.""
My father nodded.
"Respect is earned through how you treat people, not through the size of your bill.""
She opened her mouth, but he continued.
"My daughter was holding a six-week-old infant. You struck her. Then you attempted to use your status as a guest to have her removed.""
Victoria's voice rose.
"She shouldn't have been sitting there!""
"Why?""
"Because she looked completely out of place!""
I felt something twist in my chest.
There it was.
Not a misunderstanding.
Not a disagreement.
She believed my clothes gave her permission to decide where I could sit.
My father looked toward James.
"Did you hear that?""
"Every word, sir.""
"Good. Make sure it's included in the report.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Mr. Brooks, I accept that I could have handled the situation better. But I was trying to protect the hotel.""
My father turned.
"From what?""
"Potential disruption.""
"Was my daughter disrupting the hotel when she walked through the entrance?""
"No, sir.""
"Was she disrupting the hotel when she sat down?""
Marcus looked at the floor.
"No.""
"Was she disrupting the hotel when she asked you to review the cameras?""
Marcus didn't answer.
My father leaned forward slightly.
"Then explain why the only person you chose to remove was the person who had been assaulted.""
Marcus swallowed.
"I made a judgment call.""
"Yes. You did.""
The silence was unbearable.
Then James placed a folder on the desk.
"Sir, I've reviewed the initial incident log.""
My father opened it.
"What did you find?""
James looked toward Marcus.
"The report was entered at 2:31 p.m. It states that Ms. Brooks initiated a verbal confrontation and refused multiple requests to leave.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"That's a lie.""
James nodded.
"The camera footage contradicts the report.""
My father looked at Marcus.
"You wrote this?""
Marcus adjusted his collar.
"I documented what was reported to me.""
"You wrote that my daughter initiated the confrontation.""
"That was Mrs. Hale's account.""
"Then why did you present it as an established fact?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"I should have clarified.""
My father closed the folder.
"No. You should have investigated.""
Victoria shook her head.
"This is becoming absurd. Richard, I suggest you remember that I have friends on the hotel board.""
My father looked at her.
"Do you?""
"Very influential people.""
"Then perhaps you should call them.""
She hesitated.
"Excuse me?""
"Call them. Tell them what happened.""
Victoria looked around the room, apparently expecting someone to rescue her.
But nobody moved.
She took out her phone.
"Fine.""
She dialed a number and walked toward the door.
I heard her say, "It's Victoria. I need you to speak to Richard Brooks immediately.""
A few seconds passed.
Then her expression changed.
"What do you mean he's already there?""
She turned toward my father.
"Who have you spoken to?""
He didn't answer.
Victoria ended the call and stared at Marcus.
"Why didn't you tell me who he was?""
Marcus looked miserable.
"Mrs. Hale, I didn't know.""
She lowered her voice.
"You should have found out.""
I almost laughed.
Even now, she wasn't sorry she'd hit me.
She was upset that she'd hit the wrong person.
My father seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"James, I want the full security footage preserved. Every angle. I also want the original incident report and a copy of any communication between management and Mrs. Hale concerning this incident.""
"Understood.""
"And arrange for an independent review of today's events.""
Marcus's face tightened.
"An independent review?""
"Yes. I want to know whether this was an isolated failure or whether other guests have been treated similarly.""
Marcus looked down.
My father continued.
"Effective immediately, you are relieved of your management duties pending that review.""
Marcus's mouth fell open.
"Sir, please. I have worked here for nine years.""
"And today, you failed a basic responsibility of your position.""
"I can correct this.""
"Not by apologizing to me.""
My father glanced at me.
"Your responsibility was to protect every guest equally.""
Marcus turned toward me.
"Ms. Brooks, I'm sorry.""
I looked at him.
"Are you sorry because I was hurt, or because you just discovered who my father is?""
He had no answer.
Victoria suddenly raised her voice.
"This is discrimination against me!""
My father turned.
"No. This is an investigation into your conduct.""
"I'll sue!""
"You're entitled to seek legal advice.""
She stared at him.
Then she looked at me.
"You think you've won?""
I tightened my arms around Grace.
"I didn't come here to win anything. I came here to sit down.""
For the first time, Victoria had nothing to say.
A soft knock came at the office door.
A woman in a navy suit entered, carrying a folder.
"Mr. Brooks?""
"Yes, Emily.""
She glanced at me and offered a polite smile.
"Ms. Brooks, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Emily Carter, the group's general counsel.""
I nodded.
Emily turned to my father.
"The board has received the preliminary report. They've requested your presence upstairs.""
"All right.""
She opened the folder.
"There's one additional matter.""
My father frowned.
"What is it?""
Emily glanced at Marcus, then at Victoria.
"Mrs. Hale has been involved in two previous complaints at this property.""
Victoria stiffened.
"Those complaints were resolved.""
Emily didn't look at her.
"One involved a restaurant employee. The other involved a member of the housekeeping staff.""
My father slowly turned toward Victoria.
"What happened?""
Emily opened the folder.
"In both cases, the employees withdrew their complaints after management intervened.""
I felt a chill run down my back.
Two people.
Two complaints.
Two people who had apparently been pressured into silence.
My father looked at Marcus.
"Did you handle those cases?""
Marcus's face went pale.
"Sir, those were different circumstances.""
"Did you handle them?""
"Yes.""
Emily placed another document on the desk.
"There's something else. The previous complaints were both closed without the required internal review.""
My father stared at the paperwork.
Then he looked at me.
"Danielle, I think we need to understand how long this has been happening.""
I glanced at Grace, who had finally fallen asleep.
The hotel had seemed beautiful when I'd walked through its doors.
Now I was beginning to wonder what had been happening behind those polished walls.
And as Emily turned to the final page of the report, she said something that made my father stop breathing for a moment.
"Mr. Brooks, one of the employees who filed the earlier complaint is still working here.""
She paused.
"She's the woman who witnessed Mrs. Hale slap your daughter.""
My father looked toward the office door.
"Bring her in.""
Emily hesitated.
"There's a reason she hasn't come forward.""
"What reason?""
Emily lowered her voice.
"She's afraid she'll lose her job.""
And then, from somewhere outside the office, a woman's trembling voice interrupted us.
"Please don't make me say it again. I already told them what Mrs. Hale did.""
My father turned toward the doorway.
"What's your name?""
The woman stepped into the room.
Her eyes moved from Victoria to Marcus.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Sarah Mitchell. And Mrs. Hale isn't the only person at this hotel who thinks some people are beneath her.""
