Chapter 5: The Executive Who Thought He Owned Everyone
Gregory Shaw walked into the lobby as though nothing unusual had happened.
He was fifty-two, tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably dressed. His charcoal suit probably cost more than Danielle's monthly rent.
He carried a leather briefcase in one hand and a silver smartphone in the other.
His eyes moved across the gathered employees.
Then they stopped on Marcus.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Marcus nodded.
“Gregory.””
Gregory smiled politely.
“I wasn't expecting to see you today.””
“Neither was I.””
Gregory looked at Thomas.
“What's happening?””
Thomas gestured toward the laptop.
“We're investigating an incident involving a guest, along with some irregularities in vendor payments.””
Gregory's expression barely changed.
“Then I suggest we handle both matters through the appropriate channels.””
Marcus nodded.
“That's precisely what we're doing.””
Gregory glanced at Danielle.
“Is this the young woman involved in the incident?””
Danielle tightened her arms around Amara.
“Yes.””
Gregory offered a practiced smile.
“I'm sorry to hear there was a misunderstanding.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Why does everyone keep calling it a misunderstanding?””
Gregory raised both hands.
“I'm simply trying to keep things professional.””
Danielle spoke before her father could respond.
“She slapped me.””
Gregory looked at her cheek.
“I understand that you're upset.””
“I'm not asking you to understand my feelings. I'm telling you what happened.””
Gregory gave a small nod.
“Of course.””
Then he turned toward Thomas.
“Let's get the guests away from this area. We can discuss the matter upstairs.””
Marcus remained still.
“My daughter isn't going anywhere until this is resolved.””
Gregory's smile faded.
“Mr. Brooks, with respect, the lobby isn't the place to conduct an internal investigation.””
“Then you should have prevented this from becoming an incident in the lobby.””
Gregory glanced at Vanessa.
She immediately approached him.
“Greg, thank goodness. I've been trying to explain that this woman is making false accusations.””
Gregory looked at her.
“Vanessa, I told you not to say anything.””
She froze.
Marcus noticed.
“Interesting.””
Gregory turned toward him.
“There's nothing interesting about it. I simply don't want an emotional situation to become a legal problem.””
Marcus looked at Danielle.
“Are you comfortable with us continuing?””
She nodded.
“I'm fine, Daddy.””
He turned back.
“Then let's continue.””
Evelyn opened her document case.
“Mr. Shaw, we need to ask you about the vendor payments to Whitmore Executive Solutions.””
Gregory's expression became colder.
“I don't handle accounts payable.””
“Your authorization appears on two of the payment approvals.””
“Then someone has made an error.””
Evelyn placed the documents on the table.
“These approvals were made using your executive credentials.””
Gregory barely looked at them.
“I sign hundreds of documents.””
“Do you remember approving these?””
“No.””
“Do you recognize the vendor?””
Gregory glanced at Vanessa.
“I know Vanessa professionally.””
Vanessa quickly added:
“We've worked together for years.””
Marcus studied them.
“How long?””
Gregory answered.
“Approximately four years.””
Evelyn turned another page.
“Your first payment approval was dated six months before the consulting agreement officially began.””
Gregory frowned.
“That's not possible.””
“Would you like to explain why?””
He closed his briefcase.
“I'd prefer to have legal counsel present.””
Marcus nodded.
“That's your right.””
Gregory seemed relieved.
Then Marcus added:
“But the hotel will continue preserving the evidence and investigating the incident.””
Gregory looked irritated.
“Of course.””
He turned toward Thomas.
“I want a private meeting with you.””
Thomas hesitated.
“I'm currently assisting with the investigation.””
Gregory's voice dropped.
“Thomas. Now.””
For a moment, Thomas looked like he might obey.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“I'm afraid I'll need to remain here.””
Gregory stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
Thomas straightened.
“This investigation concerns the hotel. I'm responsible for the property, and I won't interfere with the evidence.””
Marcus gave a slight nod.
It was the first time Thomas had shown any real independence.
Gregory's jaw tightened.
“Fine.””
He turned toward Monica.
“Monica, I need you upstairs.””
Monica shook her head.
“I think I should speak with the investigators first.””
Gregory's eyes hardened.
“You're an employee. You follow instructions.””
Monica looked down.
Then she looked at Danielle.
“I don't want to lie anymore.””
Gregory froze.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Monica, think carefully about what you're doing.””
Monica took a breath.
“I have been thinking about it for eighteen months.””
She reached into her pocket and removed a small USB drive.
Gregory's face changed immediately.
“What is that?””
Monica held it tightly.
“Copies of the instructions I received.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“You said you deleted those!””
Monica's eyes filled.
“I said I would delete them.””
Gregory moved toward her.
“Give me that.””
Marcus's security officer stepped between them.
“Please remain where you are, sir.””
Gregory stopped.
His face reddened.
“This is company property.””
Monica shook her head.
“No. It's a copy of messages sent to my personal email.””
Evelyn approached carefully.
“Monica, where did these messages come from?””
Monica looked toward Gregory.
“From him. And from Vanessa.””
Gregory let out a sharp breath.
“This is absurd.””
Monica continued.
“They asked me to use my credentials to process vendor invoices. They said the payments were approved and that I was only helping with administrative work.””
Evelyn nodded.
“Did you know the invoices were potentially false?””
Monica looked down.
“Not at first.””
“When did you become suspicious?””
“After the second payment.””
Thomas frowned.
“Why didn't you report it?””
Monica looked toward Vanessa.
“Because she told me I would lose my job.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That's a lie.””
Monica opened her phone.
“I have the messages.””
She handed it to Evelyn.
Evelyn read the first few lines.
Her expression became serious.
Then she read another.
And another.
Finally, she looked at Marcus.
“Sir, these messages are significant.””
Marcus remained calm.
“What do they say?””
Evelyn turned the phone slightly.
One message read:
*Vanessa:* Process the invoice tonight. Gregory has already cleared it. Don't send it through the usual review process.
Another read:
*Gregory:* Keep the vendor account active. If anyone asks, the services were completed.
Monica's voice trembled.
“They kept telling me everything was approved. But then I found invoices for events that never happened.””
Thomas looked shocked.
“Which events?””
Monica opened another file.
“A private executive reception. A corporate training weekend. And a consulting seminar.””
Evelyn checked the records.
“The hotel never hosted those events.””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“Those were external services!””
Monica looked at her.
“Then why did you ask me to change the event dates after the payments had already cleared?””
Vanessa went silent.
Gregory stepped forward.
“This conversation is over.””
Marcus looked at him.
“It's only beginning.””
Gregory turned toward Thomas.
“I'm placing you on administrative leave pending a review of your handling of this incident.””
Thomas blinked.
“You can't do that without authorization.””
Gregory raised his chin.
“I am the regional director.””
Marcus slowly smiled.
“Not for much longer, perhaps.””
Gregory stared at him.
“You're making a serious mistake.””
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
“Please contact the ownership board.””
Evelyn nodded.
Gregory scoffed.
“You think the board is going to believe you over me?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward Danielle.
“Baby, do you remember the last time we discussed the Brooks Foundation?””
Danielle nodded.
“The scholarship program?””
“Yes.””
“Of course.””
Marcus glanced at Thomas.
“My daughter has spent the last two years helping us develop a community employment initiative. We were considering this property as the first location for the program.””
Thomas looked surprised.
“Mr. Brooks, I wasn't aware of that.””
“That's because the proposal hadn't been announced.””
Marcus continued.
“We planned to fund a training center here. Young people from underserved communities would receive hospitality training, paid internships, and employment opportunities.””
Danielle looked at him.
“You never told me you were considering this hotel.””
“I wanted to surprise you.””
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
“You cannot possibly be serious.””
Marcus turned.
“Why?””
“Because this is a luxury hotel. You can't turn it into some charity project just because your daughter had a bad experience.””
Danielle looked at her.
“People who work in luxury hotels still deserve respect. So do the people who visit them.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“That's a nice speech.””
Marcus's voice became colder.
“It's also the principle behind the program.””
Gregory shook his head.
“This is completely inappropriate. You're using a personal grievance to interfere with a business agreement.””
Marcus nodded.
“Then let's discuss business.””
He turned toward Evelyn.
“Please bring up the board's current agenda.””
Evelyn opened her tablet.
“It's ready, sir.””
Gregory's face tightened.
“What agenda?””
Marcus looked directly at him.
“The ownership board was scheduled to review the regional management structure this afternoon.””
Thomas slowly turned toward Gregory.
Gregory looked confused.
Marcus continued.
“And given the evidence presented today, I believe the board will have some questions about your performance.””
Gregory's phone began vibrating.
He looked down.
A message had arrived.
He read it.
Then his face went pale.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Gregory didn't answer.
She grabbed his sleeve.
“Greg, what happened?””
He finally looked at her.
“The board has suspended my executive access pending an investigation.””
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
“What?””
Gregory looked toward Marcus.
Then he whispered:
“This isn't over.””
Marcus replied calmly.
“No. It isn't.””
But just as Evelyn prepared to take Monica's USB drive into secure custody, another employee rushed into the lobby.
It was a young security officer.
He looked breathless.
“Mr. Reed, we have a problem.””
Thomas turned.
“What happened?””
The officer glanced at Marcus.
“Someone attempted to delete the original lobby security recording.””
Everyone froze.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Did they succeed?””
The officer shook his head.
“No, sir. We stopped the deletion.””
Thomas exhaled.
“Who attempted it?””
The officer looked down at his tablet.
Then he raised his eyes.
“It came from an administrator account assigned to the general manager's office.””
Thomas went completely still.
May you like
Because the account had been used while he was standing in the lobby.
And someone had just tried to erase the one recording that could prove exactly what happened to Danielle.
