Chapter 3: The Chairman's Daughter
Vanessa's confidence began to crack.
"What exactly are you implying?"" she demanded.
Richard didn't raise his voice.
"Nothing yet. I'm simply asking my legal department to verify something.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"That's ridiculous. My husband has excellent business relationships. He has invested millions in properties across this city.""
Richard turned to Thomas.
"Have we completed the review of Whitmore Capital?""
Thomas opened his tablet.
"Not entirely, sir. The compliance department flagged several inconsistencies in the investment documents last week.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"What inconsistencies?""
Thomas didn't answer her.
Richard looked at Emily.
"Sweetheart, why don't you sit down? You shouldn't be standing with the baby for so long.""
Emily nodded.
He guided her toward the sofa.
Then he turned to Daniel.
"Get her some water. And have someone bring a medical professional to check her cheek.""
Daniel immediately nodded.
"Yes, sir. Of course.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Don't leave this lobby.""
Daniel stopped moving.
Richard turned toward Thomas.
"Let's find out exactly what happened.""
Vanessa took a step forward.
"Mr. Carter, I really think we should discuss this privately.""
Richard looked at her.
"We will discuss whatever needs discussing. But first, I want to know why you struck my daughter.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"I did not strike her for no reason.""
Emily looked up from the sofa.
"You slapped me before I could even finish apologizing.""
Vanessa snapped her fingers toward her.
"Please don't exaggerate.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Are you suggesting my daughter is lying?""
Vanessa quickly shook her head.
"No, but she walked into me. I was startled.""
Emily stared at her.
"You told me people like me shouldn't be in this hotel.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Well, you were behaving like someone who didn't belong.""
Richard looked at the manager.
"Did you hear that?""
Daniel's face was pale.
"Sir, I heard parts of the conversation.""
"And what did you do?""
"I attempted to maintain order.""
Richard glanced around the lobby.
"By asking the victim to leave?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"I was trying to avoid an escalation.""
Emily finally spoke.
"You didn't even ask me what happened.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Miss Carter, I apologize if you felt—"
"Don't.""
Her voice was quiet.
But everyone heard it.
Emily shifted Noah in her arms.
"You didn't ask if I was hurt. You didn't ask whether the baby was okay. You looked at her dress, listened to her complaints, and decided I was the problem.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"I made a mistake.""
Richard watched him carefully.
"One mistake?""
Daniel didn't answer.
At that moment, Thomas approached with his tablet.
"Mr. Carter, there's something you should see.""
Richard glanced at the screen.
"What is it?""
"The lobby security system captured the entire incident.""
Vanessa stiffened.
Daniel looked up sharply.
Thomas continued.
"Camera six has a direct view of the reception area. The footage begins approximately twelve minutes before the incident.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's unnecessary.""
Richard turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because there is nothing to prove. I already told you what happened.""
Thomas tapped the screen.
"Would you like me to play it, sir?""
Richard nodded.
"On the lobby display.""
Daniel looked horrified.
"Sir, perhaps this should be handled privately.""
Richard turned to him.
"Why? Are you worried about what people might see?""
Daniel said nothing.
Thomas connected the tablet to the large display behind the reception desk.
Within seconds, the screen showed the lobby from above.
The camera captured Emily entering through the glass doors.
She was holding Noah against her chest, carrying a small handbag, and looking around for the reception desk.
Vanessa entered several minutes later.
The footage showed the two women approaching the same section of the lobby.
Then Emily's shoulder brushed Vanessa's arm.
It was barely noticeable.
Vanessa immediately turned.
Her mouth moved angrily.
The video had no audio, but the next moment was unmistakable.
Vanessa raised her hand.
And slapped Emily across the face.
The sound wasn't captured, but Emily's reaction told the story.
She stumbled backward.
Her arm tightened around the newborn.
Her free hand covered her cheek.
The lobby went silent.
The footage continued.
It showed Vanessa pointing at Emily.
It showed Daniel arriving.
It showed him speaking to Vanessa with a polite smile.
Then it showed him turning toward Emily and pointing at the entrance.
Finally, it showed Emily sitting alone while Vanessa laughed with the manager.
Thomas paused the video.
Richard stood motionless.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Was there anything unclear about that footage?""
Daniel's lips parted.
"No, sir.""
"Did my daughter threaten Mrs. Whitmore?""
"No.""
"Did she strike her?""
"No.""
"Did she damage her property?""
"No, sir.""
Richard nodded slowly.
"Then explain to me why you told her to leave.""
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
"Mrs. Whitmore is a frequent guest. I was trying to protect the hotel's reputation.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"You protected a guest's handbag and reputation. You ignored a woman who had just been assaulted while holding a six-week-old baby.""
Daniel's shoulders dropped.
"Sir, I apologize.""
"An apology is not an explanation.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"This is completely unfair. I am a paying guest, and I expect to be treated with respect.""
Richard looked at her.
"Respect is not something you purchase with a hotel reservation.""
Vanessa's face reddened.
"Do you have any idea how much money my husband spends?""
Richard gave a small, humorless smile.
"I have a general idea.""
"Then you should understand that this kind of treatment could damage an important business relationship.""
Richard turned toward Thomas.
"How much has Whitmore Capital invested in our properties?""
Thomas checked the tablet.
"According to the latest records, approximately eighteen million dollars across three development agreements.""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"Exactly.""
Thomas continued.
"However, the legal team has identified several disputed transfers and discrepancies in the ownership disclosures.""
Vanessa's expression froze.
Richard turned toward her.
"Your husband has been asking my company to approve an additional investment of forty million dollars.""
She didn't respond.
Richard continued.
"That approval is now on hold.""
Vanessa's voice rose.
"You can't do that because of a personal disagreement!""
Richard looked at her.
"This has nothing to do with a personal disagreement. It has everything to do with the way you behaved in a property my company owns.""
"Your daughter was the one who walked into me!""
"And you slapped her.""
"She should have watched where she was going!""
Richard stepped closer.
"She was holding my grandson.""
Vanessa looked toward Noah.
For the first time, she seemed to understand how badly the situation had turned against her.
But she still wasn't finished.
"You can't expect me to apologize just because she's your daughter.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"No. I expect you to apologize because she's a human being.""
Emily looked down at her baby.
She hadn't wanted this.
She hadn't wanted her father to cancel investments, fire employees, or make a public spectacle of the incident.
She had simply wanted someone to believe her.
"Dad," she said softly.
Richard turned immediately.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Please don't make this about money.""
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then his expression softened.
"I won't.""
Emily glanced at Vanessa.
"I just want her to understand that she can't treat people this way.""
Richard nodded.
"Then that's exactly what we'll address.""
He turned toward Thomas.
"Contact the regional director. I want an independent review of the hotel's guest-treatment procedures. Every manager involved in this incident will be interviewed.""
Thomas nodded.
"Understood.""
Richard continued.
"And preserve all the footage. No one is to delete or modify anything.""
"Of course, sir.""
Daniel looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"Mr. Carter, I understand your concerns. But I have served this hotel faithfully for seven years.""
Richard studied him.
"Then you should understand the responsibility that comes with your position.""
"I do, sir.""
"Apparently, you don't.""
Vanessa suddenly reached for her phone.
"I'm calling my husband.""
Richard nodded.
"You're welcome to.""
She walked several steps away and pressed the call button.
It rang twice.
"Jonathan? You need to come to the Grand Meridian immediately.""
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"What's happened?""
Vanessa glanced at Richard.
"There's a problem with Richard Carter. He's threatening our business relationship because of a misunderstanding.""
There was a pause.
Then Jonathan asked:
"Richard Carter is there?""
"Yes!""
"Vanessa, listen carefully. Don't say another word until I arrive.""
She frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I need to speak to him.""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"You're making this sound like a big deal. It's just some woman and her baby.""
The voice on the phone became sharp.
"WHAT woman?""
Vanessa glanced at Emily.
"His daughter, apparently.""
Silence.
Then Jonathan spoke again.
"Vanessa, tell me you didn't touch her.""
Vanessa looked irritated.
"I barely—"
"Tell me you didn't slap her.""
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"How do you know about that?""
Jonathan exhaled sharply.
"Because I've spent the last two weeks trying to keep our company from losing its largest investor.""
Vanessa stared at the phone.
"What does that have to do with this?""
Jonathan's voice dropped.
"Everything.""
He ended the call.
Vanessa slowly lowered her hand.
Richard had heard enough to understand that something much bigger was happening.
He turned to Thomas.
"Get me the complete Whitmore Capital file.""
Thomas nodded.
"Sir, there's another issue.""
"What?""
Thomas hesitated.
"The compliance team found a connection between Jonathan Whitmore and the hotel investment fund. We believe some of the money transferred into his company may have originated from an unauthorized account.""
Richard's face tightened.
"An unauthorized account belonging to whom?""
Thomas looked at his tablet again.
"That's what we're still investigating.""
Emily stood up.
"Dad?""
Richard turned.
"What is it, sweetheart?""
She looked toward the entrance.
A black car had just stopped outside.
A man in an expensive navy suit was stepping out.
Jonathan Whitmore.
Vanessa rushed toward the doors.
"Finally!""
Jonathan entered the lobby with a phone pressed to his ear.
He barely acknowledged his wife.
His eyes went straight to Richard.
"Richard, thank goodness. I can explain everything.""
Richard didn't move.
"Then explain.""
Jonathan looked around.
His gaze passed over the security officers, the manager, and the frozen employees.
Then it landed on Emily.
He stopped.
His face turned almost completely white.
Emily noticed.
She had never met Jonathan Whitmore before.
But the way he was staring at her made her uneasy.
Jonathan slowly looked from Emily to the baby in her arms.
Then he looked at Richard.
And in a voice barely above a whisper, he said:
"Richard... before you do anything, you need to know something about that baby.""
Richard's expression changed.
Emily instinctively pulled Noah closer.
"What are you talking about?"" she asked.
Jonathan swallowed.
Then he looked directly at her.
"Your son isn't just connected to this hotel, Emily.""
He paused.
May you like
"He's the reason my company has been hiding something from your father.""
And suddenly, the slap in the lobby was no longer the biggest problem in the room.
