Chapter 5: The Husband Who Didn't Take Her Side
Thomas Hayes arrived twenty minutes later.
He entered the hotel carrying a black leather briefcase, still wearing the charcoal business suit he had worn to a downtown meeting.
Victoria hurried toward him.
“Thomas! Finally.””
She grabbed his arm.
“Tell Richard this is completely unreasonable. His daughter came in here creating problems, and now he's threatening my reputation.””
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved across the lobby.
He noticed Daniel standing behind the desk.
He noticed the two security guards.
Then he saw Richard beside the monitor.
“What exactly happened?”” Thomas asked.
Victoria lowered her voice.
“I was trying to protect the hotel. That woman was dressed like she didn't belong here, and she became disrespectful when I asked her to leave.””
Thomas stared at her.
“Dressed like she didn't belong?””
Victoria sighed.
“Please don't start.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Thomas, watch this.””
Martin replayed the footage.
The screen showed Emily entering with Lily in her arms.
Victoria approached her.
Then came the slap.
The sound filled the lobby again.
Thomas didn't move.
The recording continued.
Emily stumbled sideways, caught her balance, and immediately checked her baby.
Then Victoria pointed toward her face and spoke.
The audio was clear.
“You and that baby don't belong in this hotel.””
Thomas slowly looked away from the monitor.
“Victoria.””
She shook her head.
“It wasn't like that.””
“Did you hit her?””
“I was trying to get her attention.””
“Did you hit her?””
Victoria looked toward Richard.
“He's making this sound worse than it was.””
Thomas stepped back.
“I'm asking you a simple question.””
Victoria's expression changed.
“Yes, I touched her. But she was being difficult.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he turned toward Richard.
“I'm sorry.””
Victoria stared at him.
“What?””
Thomas continued.
“Richard, I sincerely apologize for what happened to Emily and the baby.””
Victoria grabbed his sleeve.
“Thomas, stop apologizing! She doesn't even know who we are!””
Thomas looked at her.
“That's exactly the point. She didn't need to know who we were. You had no right to touch her.””
Victoria released his arm.
Richard gestured toward the monitor.
“There's something else.””
Martin displayed the recording of the envelope.
Thomas watched Victoria approach Daniel and place the envelope on the counter.
Then he watched Daniel hide it.
“What is that?”” Thomas asked.
“A five-hundred-dollar gift card,” Richard replied.
“Given to my employee shortly before my daughter arrived.””
Thomas looked at his wife.
“Why?””
Victoria crossed her arms.
“It was a thank-you.””
“For what?””
“For being helpful.””
Richard interrupted.
“Daniel accessed Emily's reservation three days earlier. Her room assignment was altered. Victoria was notified when she arrived.””
Thomas slowly turned toward his wife.
“Did you arrange this?””
Victoria's silence lasted too long.
Thomas's expression darkened.
“Victoria?””
She finally spoke.
“I didn't want her staying in that suite.””
Richard frowned.
“Why?””
Victoria looked toward the elevators.
“Because I didn't want people asking questions.””
“What questions?”” Thomas asked.
Victoria pressed her lips together.
Then she said something that made Richard's expression change.
“Because your wife told me she was bringing the baby here to meet her grandfather, and I knew exactly what that meant.””
Thomas stared at her.
Richard's voice dropped.
“What are you talking about?””
Victoria gave a nervous laugh.
“Don't pretend this is a coincidence. Everyone knows you have a daughter from your first marriage. But your daughter has been living quietly for years. Suddenly she comes here with a baby, and we're supposed to treat her like royalty?””
Richard took a step forward.
“She is my daughter.””
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“And that's supposed to make her special?””
Thomas looked genuinely shocked.
“Victoria, enough.””
But she had already started.
“You know what? I'm tired of everyone acting like the Carter family is untouchable. My husband and I have supported this hotel for years.
We've attended your events. We've brought clients here. And suddenly one woman walks in carrying a baby, and the entire staff is expected to bow down.””
Richard stared at her.
“You believe that's why this happened?””
Victoria shrugged.
“I believe people should understand their place.””
Thomas slowly removed his wedding ring.
Victoria noticed.
“What are you doing?””
Thomas placed the ring in his jacket pocket.
“I'm trying to understand who I've been married to.””
Her eyes widened.
“Don't be ridiculous.””
He turned toward Richard.
“Please let me see the full report before I leave.””
Richard nodded.
Martin handed him a printed incident summary.
Thomas read the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed when he reached the reservation access record.
“Daniel accessed her personal information?””
“Yes,” Martin replied.
“And Victoria was notified?””
“Yes.””
Thomas closed the folder.
“This is more serious than I thought.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“Thomas, you're embarrassing me.””
He looked at her.
“You embarrassed yourself when you slapped a woman holding a baby.””
She began to cry.
Not because she was sorry.
Because the room was no longer obeying her.
“After everything I've done for you,” she whispered.
Thomas shook his head.
“Don't make this about me.””
Richard turned toward Martin.
“Have legal counsel review the access violation. I also want Daniel removed from guest-facing duties pending an investigation.””
Daniel looked up.
“Sir, please. I have a family.””
Richard's expression remained firm.
“So does Emily.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Victoria wiped her cheeks.
“You can't destroy my reputation over one misunderstanding.””
Richard answered without hesitation.
“This wasn't one misunderstanding. It was a series of deliberate decisions.””
Thomas picked up his briefcase.
“I need to speak to you privately, Richard.””
Richard nodded.
They moved toward the far end of the lobby.
Before they could begin, Martin's tablet chimed.
He glanced at the notification.
Then he looked at Richard.
“Sir, the system has identified another document connected to the reservation.””
“What document?””
Martin hesitated.
“A message from Mrs. Hayes requesting that the guest be denied access to the property entirely.””
Richard took the tablet.
He read the message.
Then he looked at Thomas.
“Your wife didn't just want my daughter moved to another room.””
He turned the screen around.
“She wanted Emily and the baby removed before they even arrived.””
Thomas stared at the message.
And then he noticed the date.
It had been sent six days earlier.
Long before Emily had packed her bags.
May you like
Long before she had entered the hotel.
Long before the slap.
