Chapter 2: The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Daniel stared at Emily as though he expected her to laugh and admit it had been a joke.
Instead, she simply stood there.
Her newborn daughter rested against her chest, one tiny hand visible beneath the white blanket.
Victoria recovered first.
She gave a short laugh and shook her head.
“That's adorable.””
Emily said nothing.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You think you can intimidate hotel employees by claiming you know the owner?””
“I didn't claim anything,” Emily answered.
“I called my father.””
“And your father owns this hotel?””
“Yes.””
Victoria burst into laughter.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Hayes, perhaps we should—”
“Oh, don't start,” Victoria interrupted.
“I've seen this type before. People come in here pretending to be important because they think it gets them special treatment.””
Emily glanced at the reception counter.
“Could you please check my reservation?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Ma'am, your reservation has already been flagged.””
“Flagged by whom?””
Victoria raised her hand.
“By me.””
Emily slowly turned.
“You don't work here.””
Victoria's face tightened.
“I don't need to work here. I have been a guest at this property for eleven years. My husband has business relationships with the people who run this place.””
“That doesn't give you permission to cancel someone else's reservation.””
Victoria leaned forward.
“Listen carefully. I have spent more money in this hotel than you will probably earn in your entire lifetime.””
Emily looked down at Lily.
Then she looked back up.
“My daughter doesn't care how much money you spend.””
For a moment, Victoria seemed genuinely speechless.
Then she pointed toward the entrance.
“Daniel, call security.””
Daniel reached for the desk telephone.
Emily's stomach tightened.
“Please don't do that. I'm not causing trouble. I just want my room.””
Daniel picked up the receiver.
“Security to the front desk, please.””
Emily took a slow breath.
She could feel the baby beginning to move restlessly in her arms.
She had promised herself that she wouldn't cry in public.
Not again.
Not after everything that had happened during the past six weeks.
Her father had arranged the hotel reservation as a surprise. He knew she had been exhausted since Lily's birth and wanted her to have a few days of rest before returning to her home in Boston.
He had even arranged a private suite with a crib, a nursing chair, and a small welcome basket for the baby.
Emily had been looking forward to it.
Now she was standing in the lobby being treated like a criminal.
Daniel placed the telephone down.
“Security is coming.””
Emily looked at him.
“What's your full name?””
He frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I want to remember who refused to help me.””
Daniel straightened his jacket.
“Daniel Brooks.””
“Thank you.””
Victoria laughed.
“Oh, now she's collecting names.””
Emily ignored her.
Her phone vibrated inside her handbag.
She pulled it out.
A message from her father appeared.
*DAD: I need you to answer one question. Did that woman actually hit you?*
Emily looked at the screen.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
Then she typed:
*EMILY: Yes. In front of everyone.*
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
*DAD: Understood.*
Another message followed.
*DAD: I'm on my way.*
Emily felt her shoulders relax slightly.
Victoria noticed the expression on her face.
“What's wrong? Did your imaginary owner tell you he's busy?””
Emily put her phone away.
“No. He's coming.””
Victoria glanced at the large clock above the lobby.
“Well, I hope he enjoys the traffic.””
Daniel tried to hide a smile.
But the atmosphere changed when a middle-aged housekeeper approached the reception desk.
Her name was Rosa.
She had been polishing the marble floor near the elevators and had witnessed everything.
“Miss,” Rosa whispered to Emily, “are you all right?””
Emily nodded.
“I'm okay. Thank you.””
Rosa looked at Lily.
“Poor little thing. She's so small.””
Victoria turned sharply.
“Rosa, why aren't you working?””
The housekeeper froze.
“I was just checking if the guest needed—”
“She isn't a guest anymore.””
Rosa glanced at Emily's handbag.
“She's holding a reservation confirmation.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Rosa, please return to your duties.””
The older woman looked from Daniel to Victoria.
Then she quietly stepped away.
Emily watched her go.
She was beginning to understand something.
This wasn't simply about one rude woman.
Victoria had become accustomed to getting whatever she wanted because people were afraid of losing their jobs.
And Daniel had decided that keeping Victoria happy mattered more than treating a paying guest fairly.
A few minutes passed.
Then the front doors opened.
Two security guards entered.
One was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried a radio clipped to his belt.
“What's the situation?”” he asked.
Daniel pointed toward Emily.
“This woman is refusing to leave.””
Emily's mouth fell open.
“That's not true. I've asked you to check my reservation three times.””
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
“She became aggressive when I asked her to leave. I don't feel safe with her here.””
Emily stared at her.
“You slapped me.””
Victoria lifted her chin.
“Watch your mouth.””
The security guard looked between them.
“Ma'am, did you strike this woman?””
Victoria hesitated.
Then she said, “I merely tried to get her attention.””
Emily let out a disbelieving breath.
“You slapped me across the face.””
Daniel quickly stepped in.
“Can we please move this along? She needs to leave.””
The taller guard didn't move.
“Sir, I need to understand what happened first.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I'm the front desk supervisor.””
“And I'm asking a question.””
Before Daniel could respond, Emily's phone rang.
The screen displayed one word.
*DAD.*
She answered.
“Hi, Dad.””
His voice came through clearly.
“Emily, I'm outside. Don't move.””
She turned toward the glass entrance.
A black luxury sedan had just pulled up beside the hotel.
The rear door opened.
A tall older man stepped out.
He wore a dark navy suit and carried a leather briefcase.
Daniel glanced through the glass.
His face drained of color.
Victoria followed his gaze.
“Why does that man look familiar?”” she whispered.
Daniel didn't answer.
Because he knew exactly who was walking toward them.
It was Richard Carter.
May you like
The owner of the Grand Bellmont Hotel.
And he wasn't coming alone.
