Chapter 6: The Signature That Wasn't His
Daniel stared at the document.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he looked at Margaret.
"Who submitted this?""
Margaret checked the digital record.
"The authorization was uploaded through the executive office portal yesterday afternoon.""
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Yesterday afternoon, I was in London.""
"Yes, sir. The system shows your executive credentials were used.""
Victoria stepped closer.
"Could someone have accessed your account?""
Daniel looked at her.
"Possibly.""
Eleanor suddenly laughed.
It was a short, nervous sound.
"Now you're suggesting a conspiracy? This is getting absurd.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Did you arrange tomorrow night's guest removals?""
Eleanor shrugged.
"I coordinated the event.""
"Did you instruct Northbridge to remove people?""
"I instructed them to maintain standards.""
"Did you use my authorization?""
Eleanor's smile disappeared.
"I don't know anything about your passwords.""
Margaret quietly interrupted.
"There's a digital access log, Mr. Carter.""
Daniel turned.
"Show me.""
She opened the security report.
The authorization had been entered using a terminal inside the hotel's executive office.
The access time was 4:38 p.m.
Daniel examined the report.
"Who was in the office?""
Margaret looked at Victoria.
"Your assistant's access card was used.""
Victoria frowned.
"My assistant was on vacation yesterday.""
"Who had access to her card?""
Victoria slowly looked toward Eleanor.
Her mother had a habit of entering the executive office whenever she wanted.
She also knew where spare access cards were kept.
"Mother," Victoria said quietly, "did you enter my office yesterday?""
Eleanor rolled her eyes.
"I don't remember.""
"You don't remember?""
"I have a busy schedule, Victoria.""
Daniel turned toward James.
"Can you get the lobby and executive corridor footage from yesterday?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Do it now.""
James hurried away.
Eleanor began pacing.
"This is unbelievable. I've spent years helping this family, and now I'm being treated like some kind of thief.""
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"Nobody has called you a thief.""
"You're acting like it!""
"I'm asking questions. If everything is legitimate, the records will establish that.""
Victoria looked at the document again.
"Why would you forge Dad's signature?""
Eleanor turned sharply.
"I didn't.""
"Then who did?""
"I have no idea.""
Emily watched the exchange.
She had seen Eleanor lie repeatedly that afternoon, but this time the woman's anger seemed different.
It wasn't just embarrassment.
It was fear.
A few minutes later, James returned.
"Mr. Carter, we've located the footage.""
He placed a tablet on the desk.
The recording showed the executive corridor.
At 4:31 p.m., Eleanor walked into Victoria's office carrying a small handbag.
She looked around before entering.
Seven minutes later, she left.
Daniel watched the recording twice.
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"Mother...""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I was visiting my daughter.""
"Your office was empty.""
"I don't need permission to visit.""
Daniel pointed toward the tablet.
"You were inside for seven minutes. Your access card was used to enter the executive terminal. Then my authorization was submitted.""
Eleanor crossed her arms.
"That's circumstantial.""
Daniel nodded.
"You're right. Which is why we'll let the independent auditors examine it.""
He turned toward Margaret.
"Freeze every payment to Northbridge and Whitmore Hospitality Advisory. Preserve all contracts. Notify our external legal team.""
Margaret nodded.
"Immediately.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"You can't freeze my payments!""
Daniel looked at her.
"Those payments belong to the company until their legitimacy is established.""
"You are humiliating me!""
Daniel's voice sharpened.
"You humiliated yourself when you decided that the rules didn't apply to you.""
Eleanor turned toward Victoria.
"Tell him to stop!""
Victoria was crying now.
"I can't.""
"You're my daughter!""
"And you're my mother. But that doesn't mean I have to pretend this is acceptable.""
For a moment, Eleanor looked genuinely wounded.
Then her expression changed.
"You ungrateful girl. Do you remember who helped you get this position?""
Victoria froze.
"What?""
"I introduced you to people. I helped you build relationships. I made sure you were taken seriously.""
Victoria wiped her eyes.
"I earned this position.""
"Without my help?""
"Yes. Without your help.""
Eleanor's mouth tightened.
Daniel watched the exchange without interrupting.
He was beginning to understand why the hotel had been allowed to deteriorate.
Everyone had been afraid of disappointing Eleanor.
And she had learned to use that fear as a weapon.
Suddenly, Emily's phone vibrated.
She looked down.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*You should take your daughter and leave immediately. Your father doesn't know everything about what happened here.*
Emily frowned.
Another message arrived.
*Ask him why your family name was removed from the hotel's ownership records five years ago.*
Emily's stomach tightened.
She read it again.
Five years ago.
That was the year her father had unexpectedly transferred several of his business interests into a new corporate structure.
She remembered asking him about it.
He had told her it was simply an administrative change.
She had never questioned him.
Now she looked toward Daniel.
"Dad?""
He turned immediately.
"What's wrong?""
Emily showed him the phone.
Daniel read the messages.
His expression changed.
"Who sent this?""
"I don't know.""
He examined the number.
Then he looked at the timestamp.
The message had arrived less than a minute after the forged authorization was discovered.
Someone was watching them.
Daniel handed the phone to James.
"Trace the sender through our security team. Don't reply.""
Emily's voice was quiet.
"Dad, what does this mean about the ownership records?""
Daniel looked at her.
"Nothing you need to worry about right now.""
"Dad.""
He sighed.
"Emily, there are things about the company I intended to explain to you when you were older.""
She stared at him.
"I'm twenty-nine.""
"I know.""
"And I have a daughter of my own. I think I'm old enough to know what's happening.""
Daniel glanced at Eleanor.
For the first time, the older woman looked almost satisfied.
As if she had been waiting for this moment.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Five years ago, I discovered financial irregularities in one of our subsidiaries. I moved certain assets into a protected trust while we investigated.""
Emily frowned.
"What does that have to do with me?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because the trust was created in your name.""
Emily stared at him.
"My name?""
He nodded.
"The Grand Windsor's parent company was transferred into that trust.""
Emily looked toward the hotel lobby.
Then back at her father.
"Are you saying...""
"You're the beneficiary.""
Her mouth fell open.
Eleanor suddenly stepped forward.
"That's enough, Daniel!""
Everyone turned.
Eleanor's voice trembled with fury.
"She has no idea what you're talking about. You cannot simply hand an entire hotel empire to someone who knows nothing about running it!""
Daniel looked at her.
"Why does that concern you?""
Eleanor's eyes flickered.
Then she said something that made Victoria step backward.
"Because I was promised control of this hotel five years ago!""
The lobby went silent.
Daniel's face hardened.
"By whom?""
Eleanor looked at Emily.
Then at Victoria.
Finally, she whispered:
"By the person who helped me forge your signature.""
Daniel took one step forward.
"Name them.""
Eleanor opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, James's radio crackled.
A security officer spoke urgently.
"Mr. Carter, we've got a situation at the underground parking entrance.""
Daniel turned.
"What situation?""
"Someone is trying to remove financial records from the executive archive.""
A pause.
"Sir, the individual has identified himself as a member of your legal team.""
Daniel looked toward the tablet.
Then toward the hotel entrance.
"What's his name?""
The answer came through the radio.
"Thomas Reed.""
Daniel went completely still.
Because Thomas Reed wasn't just any lawyer.
He was the man who had created Emily's trust five years earlier.
May you like
And he was supposed to be on vacation in Switzerland.
*To be continued.*
