Chapter 3: When the Chairman Walked Through the Doors
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The name Richard Brooks seemed to hang in the air above the marble floor.
Vanessa blinked.
Then she laughed.
It was an awkward, uncertain laugh.
“That's impossible.””
Marcus didn't respond.
“Marcus, I said that's impossible.””
He looked down at his phone.
“I don't think it is.””
Vanessa turned toward Danielle.
The young mother was still seated near the reception desk, gently rocking her crying daughter.
Her face was red.
One cheek was beginning to swell.
And she looked exhausted.
Nothing about her appearance had changed.
The beige shirt was still slightly wrinkled. Her canvas tote still rested beside her. Her hair was still arranged in simple shoulder-length twists.
Yet the entire atmosphere around her had changed.
“Richard Brooks?”” Vanessa repeated.
Danielle looked up.
“Yes.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Your father is Richard Brooks?””
“Yes.””
“The Richard Brooks who owns Brooks Meridian?””
Danielle nodded.
Vanessa's mouth opened.
For the first time that afternoon, she seemed unable to find anything to say.
Marcus quickly approached Danielle.
“Ms. Brooks…”
Danielle looked at him.
“What?””
He cleared his throat.
“I think there has been a misunderstanding.””
Danielle gave him a tired look.
“A misunderstanding?””
“Yes. We should probably move you somewhere more comfortable.””
“You told me to leave.””
“I was trying to manage a difficult situation.””
“You watched a woman slap me, and you told me to leave.””
Marcus glanced toward Vanessa.
“I'm sorry if that's how it appeared.””
Danielle looked at him steadily.
“That's not how it appeared. That's what happened.””
Emily lowered her eyes to hide the expression on her face.
Thomas stood near the entrance, shaking his head.
Marcus tried again.
“Ms. Brooks, perhaps we could discuss this privately.””
“No.””
He paused.
“Excuse me?””
“I don't want a private discussion. Everyone saw what happened. Everyone should hear what happens next.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Now, hold on.””
Danielle looked at her.
Vanessa's voice had changed.
The sharpness was gone.
She was speaking more slowly now, carefully choosing every word.
“I think we've all gotten a little carried away.””
Danielle stared at her.
“You slapped me.””
“I was frustrated.””
“You slapped me while I was holding my newborn.””
“I didn't realize you had a baby in your arms.””
Danielle's eyes widened.
“You didn't realize?””
Vanessa shifted her weight.
“I mean, I didn't intend to hurt the child.””
Danielle looked down at Amara.
“Thank God you didn't.””
Vanessa glanced around.
Several guests were now openly watching.
The older woman who had whispered to her husband earlier stepped closer.
“I saw everything,” she said.
Vanessa turned.
“Excuse me?””
“I saw you slap her. The young mother was standing peacefully. You walked into her and then hit her.””
Her husband nodded.
“That's exactly what happened.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“This is becoming ridiculous.””
The older woman folded her arms.
“No, dear. What's ridiculous is watching someone attack a woman holding a newborn and then pretending it never happened.””
Marcus looked toward the security officer.
“Can we please move everyone away from the lobby?””
Officer Harris shook his head.
“I'm afraid we need to document the incident.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Document what? Nothing happened.””
Danielle finally stood.
She adjusted Amara against her shoulder and carefully picked up her tote.
“I want to see the footage.””
Marcus hesitated.
“We'll need approval from corporate.””
“Then get approval.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“You're really going to make a scene over one little slap?””
Danielle looked directly at her.
“One little slap?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You weren't seriously injured.””
“You don't get to decide that.””
“I'm sure your father can buy you another hotel.””
Danielle shook her head.
“You still don't understand.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Understand what?””
“This was never about the hotel.””
Danielle looked toward the security cameras.
“It was about being treated like a human being.””
For a moment, the lobby became completely quiet.
Then the glass entrance doors opened.
A man walked inside.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a dark navy suit. His silver-rimmed glasses caught the afternoon light.
Two security professionals followed several steps behind him.
A woman carrying a leather briefcase entered behind them.
Richard Brooks had arrived.
He didn't look at the reception desk.
He didn't look at the chandeliers.
He didn't look at the ocean.
His eyes searched the lobby until they found his daughter.
“Danielle!””
She turned.
And for the first time since the slap, her expression broke.
“Dad.””
Richard crossed the lobby quickly.
He reached her and carefully wrapped one arm around her shoulders, making sure not to disturb the baby.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Danielle pressed her forehead against his chest.
“I didn't want to call you.””
Richard pulled back.
“Why not?””
“You were busy.””
He stared at her.
Then he gently touched the swollen area near her cheek without putting pressure on it.
“Busy?””
His voice cracked.
“Baby, you're my daughter. There is nothing more important.””
Danielle began crying.
“I didn't do anything.””
“I know.””
“I was just walking back from the beach.””
“I know.””
“She hit me, Dad.””
Richard closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, he looked toward the manager.
“Who is responsible for this?””
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
“Mr. Brooks, I'm Marcus Reed, the guest relations manager. I sincerely regret the confusion.””
Richard stared at him.
“Confusion?””
“Yes, sir. There appears to have been a disagreement between two guests.””
Richard glanced at Danielle's cheek.
Then at the baby.
Then back at Marcus.
“My daughter has a handprint on her face.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Yes, sir.””
“And you called that a disagreement?””
“Sir, I was only trying to maintain order in the lobby.””
Richard looked around.
“Where is the woman who struck her?””
Vanessa took a small step forward.
“Mr. Brooks, I'm Vanessa Whitmore.””
Richard turned.
She extended her hand.
He didn't take it.
“My husband, Jonathan, has business interests connected to this property. I'm sure we can resolve this privately.””
Richard stared at her.
“Did you hit my daughter?””
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“I think the situation has been exaggerated.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“I was upset because she bumped into me.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“And your response was to slap a woman holding a newborn?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I didn't mean for her to fall.””
Richard turned to Danielle.
“Did she apologize?””
Danielle shook her head.
“No.””
“Did anyone call medical assistance?””
“No.””
“Did the manager ask whether the baby was safe?””
Danielle hesitated.
“No.””
Richard looked toward Marcus.
“Did you?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
Richard slowly nodded.
“Interesting.””
The woman with the leather briefcase stepped forward.
Her name was Patricia Ellis, the chief legal officer of Brooks Meridian Group.
“Mr. Brooks,” she said quietly, “the resort's general manager is on his way down.””
Richard raised one hand.
“Good. I want the security footage preserved. I want the incident report. I want the names of every employee who witnessed this.””
Patricia nodded.
“Already underway.””
“And I want my granddaughter examined by the resort physician, if one is available. I also want Danielle checked.””
Danielle touched his arm.
“Dad, Amara is okay.””
Richard looked down at the baby.
“I'm glad, sweetheart. But we're going to make sure.””
Vanessa was becoming visibly agitated.
“Mr. Brooks, surely you don't intend to turn this into some enormous corporate matter.””
Richard turned toward her.
“You assaulted my daughter on property connected to my company.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Your company?””
Richard nodded toward the enormous marble reception desk.
“Brooks Meridian acquired the parent company that owns this resort three years ago.””
Marcus went pale.
Vanessa slowly looked at him.
Then back at Richard.
“You own this hotel?””
“I own the company that owns it.””
Vanessa's lips parted.
Richard continued.
“And I would like to know why a guest was treated this way in a property bearing my company's standards.””
Marcus began speaking quickly.
“Sir, I assure you, I had no idea who she was.””
Richard looked at him.
“That is precisely the problem.””
Marcus blinked.
“Sir?””
“My daughter should not have to carry a different handbag, wear a different dress, or introduce herself with my name to receive basic respect.””
The words landed heavily.
Danielle looked at her father.
He wasn't shouting.
He didn't need to.
His disappointment was far more frightening than anger.
At that moment, the general manager hurried through the corridor.
“Mr. Brooks!””
He was a middle-aged man named David Lawson.
His face was flushed, and he was carrying a tablet.
“Sir, I just heard what happened. I'm terribly sorry.””
Richard turned.
“David, did you know about this?””
“No, sir. I was in a meeting.””
“Have you reviewed the security footage?””
“Not yet.””
“Then do that.””
David nodded quickly.
“Of course.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Mr. Lawson, I hope you're going to remember that my husband is a major investor in this property.””
David looked at her.
“Mrs. Whitmore, this is not the time.””
“My husband has spent millions here.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Then perhaps your husband should have taught you how to treat people.””
Vanessa flushed.
She took out her phone.
“I'm calling Jonathan.””
She pressed his contact and placed the phone against her ear.
It rang twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
“Vanessa? What's wrong?””
Vanessa looked at Richard.
“Jonathan, there's a situation. Richard Brooks is here, and he's making threats against me.””
Richard's expression remained still.
Vanessa continued.
“He says he owns the resort, and he's threatening to interfere with our investment.””
The man on the other end went quiet.
Then he asked a question that made Vanessa's expression change.
“Did you hit someone?””
Vanessa looked around.
“Jonathan, that's not important.””
“It is very important. Did you hit someone?””
“She's exaggerating.””
Jonathan's voice became colder.
“Vanessa, answer me.””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“I slapped her. But she was being disrespectful.””
There was a long silence.
Then Jonathan said:
“Tell me the name of the person you're standing with.””
Vanessa looked toward Richard.
“Richard Brooks.””
Another silence.
Then Jonathan spoke again.
“Put the phone on speaker.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Why?””
“Do it.””
She hesitated, then activated the speaker.
Jonathan's voice filled the lobby.
“Mr. Brooks, this is Jonathan Whitmore. I sincerely apologize for my wife's behavior.””
Vanessa stared at the phone.
“Jonathan!””
But he continued.
“Please allow me to come there personally. I would like to discuss this before matters become more complicated.””
Richard looked at his watch.
“You have thirty minutes.””
“Thank you, sir.””
The call ended.
Vanessa lowered the phone.
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
But Richard wasn't finished.
He turned toward David Lawson.
“There's something else I want to know.””
“Yes, sir?””
Richard pointed toward the security cameras.
“Who ordered the manager to remove my daughter before reviewing the footage?””
David looked at Marcus.
Marcus began sweating.
“Sir, I made a judgment based on the information available.””
Richard stared at him.
“Then perhaps you should explain why the information from an eyewitness was ignored.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“I can explain, Mr. Brooks.””
Richard turned.
“Your name?””
“Thomas Miller. I've worked here for eleven years.””
“What did you see?””
Thomas looked directly at Vanessa.
“I saw her slap Ms. Brooks. I told Mr. Reed, but he ordered me to stay out of it.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Thank you for speaking up.””
Thomas looked surprised.
Emily then emerged from behind the reception desk.
“Mr. Brooks?””
“Yes?””
She was visibly nervous.
“I also tried to tell Mr. Reed that we should review the cameras. He told me to return to my duties.””
Richard looked at David.
“Two employees tried to report what happened.””
David nodded.
“Yes, sir.””
“And both were ignored.””
He paused.
“Get me the footage.””
David turned toward the security officer.
“Officer Harris, take us to the control room.””
But as everyone began moving, Danielle noticed something unusual.
Vanessa wasn't following them.
She was standing near the entrance, staring at her phone.
Her face had become completely white.
“Vanessa?”” Marcus whispered.
She looked up.
“What's wrong?”” he asked.
Vanessa held out her phone.
On the screen was a message from her husband.
DO NOT SAY ANOTHER WORD. I JUST FOUND OUT WHO HER FATHER REALLY IS.
Below it was another message.
And Danielle Brooks isn't the only person Richard has been protecting.
Vanessa looked toward Danielle.
For the first time, her eyes were filled with something other than arrogance.
Fear.
Because the message ended with one final sentence.
May you like
There is something about that family you don't know. And if Richard reveals it, our marriage may be over.
*To be continued.*
