Chapter 6: The Man Who Used the Chairman's Name
Richard didn't speak for several seconds.
He stared at the screen displaying the unauthorized login.
Then he looked at James.
"Are you certain?""
James nodded.
"The account credentials were valid, but the access originated from a device registered to Whitmore Capital.""
Daniel immediately stood.
"That's impossible.""
Richard turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because my company has no access to your hotel's internal systems.""
James spoke carefully.
"That's not what the records indicate.""
Daniel pointed at the screen.
"Anyone can spoof an account. You're making a serious mistake.""
Richard looked at his legal counsel.
"Preserve the digital evidence. Nobody deletes anything.""
"Understood.""
Vanessa looked increasingly panicked.
"Daniel, what is happening?""
He ignored her.
Instead, he addressed Richard.
"I demand an independent technical review. I will not allow your employees to make accusations against my company without proof.""
Richard nodded.
"Agreed.""
Daniel seemed surprised.
Richard continued.
"An independent forensic specialist will examine the access logs. Our legal team will cooperate. Your company can provide its own representative.""
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
"Good.""
"But until that review is complete, the partnership remains suspended.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"You can't do that.""
"I can.""
"We have a signed preliminary agreement.""
"Not a final investment contract.""
Daniel looked toward the folder on the table.
Richard followed his gaze.
"Especially not now.""
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Richard turned toward Patricia.
"Where is Marcus?""
Patricia checked her phone.
"He has been asked to remain in the administrative office.""
"Bring him here.""
A few minutes later, Marcus entered the room.
His face was pale.
He looked at the screen, then at Richard.
"Sir.""
Richard gestured toward a chair.
"Sit down.""
Marcus remained standing.
"I would prefer to explain this privately.""
Richard shook his head.
"That opportunity has passed.""
Marcus glanced at Daniel.
Daniel looked away.
Richard opened the incident report.
"Why did you ask security to remove my daughter?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Mrs. Whitmore was upset, and I was trying to prevent the situation from escalating.""
"Did you see her strike Danielle?""
"No, sir.""
"Did you interview witnesses?""
"No.""
"Did you review the cameras?""
"No.""
"Did you ask my daughter what happened?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Yes.""
"And what did she tell you?""
"That Mrs. Whitmore slapped her.""
Richard leaned back.
"So you knew she was reporting an assault, but you threatened to remove her.""
Marcus lowered his eyes.
"I made a judgment call.""
Richard nodded.
"Now explain why you attempted to delete the footage.""
Marcus looked startled.
"I didn't delete anything.""
James turned his laptop toward him.
"Your account attempted to access the archive.""
"That wasn't me.""
"Your credentials were used.""
"Someone could have accessed my computer.""
Richard looked at him.
"Who?""
Marcus said nothing.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Mr. Carter, I think we should focus on the unauthorized access to your chairman's account. That's a far more serious matter.""
Richard turned toward him.
"We will.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then perhaps we can stop this unnecessary examination of my wife's behavior.""
Richard stared at him.
"Your wife's behavior started this entire incident.""
Vanessa slammed her palm against the table.
"Enough!""
Everyone turned.
She stood, her fuchsia dress catching the light.
"I am tired of being treated like some criminal because I corrected a woman who was wandering around a hotel where she clearly didn't belong!""
Danielle, who had quietly entered the conference room with Amara after receiving permission from her father, stood near the doorway.
She heard every word.
Richard looked at Vanessa.
"Corrected her?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"Yes. She was careless. She bumped into me, and I reacted.""
Danielle finally spoke.
"I never touched you.""
Vanessa turned.
"Stay out of this.""
Richard stood immediately.
"Do not speak to her that way.""
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"You're all acting as though I committed a murder.""
Danielle looked at her.
"No. You slapped a woman holding a three-week-old baby. Then you tried to have her thrown out.""
Vanessa pointed at her.
"You should be grateful your father arrived when he did.""
Danielle's eyes narrowed.
"Grateful?""
"Yes. If he hadn't been the owner, nobody would have cared.""
Richard's expression changed.
"That's enough.""
But Danielle gently touched his arm.
"Let me finish.""
Richard stepped aside.
Danielle moved closer to the table, holding Amara securely.
"You keep talking about who belongs in this hotel. You keep talking about money and status. But you never once asked whether my baby was hurt when you slapped me.""
Vanessa looked away.
Danielle continued.
"You never asked whether I was okay. You never apologized. You only became worried when you discovered who my father was.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Well, obviously. This is a business environment.""
Danielle shook her head.
"No. It's a hotel lobby. People come here to celebrate weddings, visit family, attend meetings, and make memories. You don't get to decide that someone is beneath you because they aren't wearing what you expect.""
For the first time, Vanessa had no immediate response.
Richard looked at his daughter with quiet pride.
Then he turned toward Patricia.
"Let's discuss the other issue.""
James opened a second report.
"Mr. Carter, our technical team has identified the device associated with the unauthorized chairman account.""
Richard nodded.
"Who owns it?""
James glanced at Daniel.
"The device was registered to an executive assistant at Whitmore Capital.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"I don't know anything about that.""
"Her name is Lauren Pierce," James continued.
Daniel's face changed.
Vanessa looked at him.
"Lauren?""
Daniel said nothing.
James displayed another document.
"There's also a series of communications between this device and the hotel's administrative account.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Show me.""
The screen displayed several messages.
The first read:
*The chairman's account needs to approve the guest removal before the event.*
The second:
*Make sure the incident report is filed before he arrives.*
The third:
*Marcus knows what to do.*
Richard read them carefully.
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Do you know anything about these messages?""
Marcus's hands began to shake.
"No, sir.""
James opened another attachment.
"This is the most recent message.""
The room became silent.
Richard read it aloud.
"Once the girl is removed, make sure nobody connects the incident to the Whitmore account.""
Daniel stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.
"That's fabricated!""
James remained calm.
"The messages are part of the forensic review. We have not established who authored them.""
Richard nodded.
"Good. Continue investigating.""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
"Why is Lauren involved?""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Stop asking questions.""
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
"You told me she was handling the hotel arrangements.""
Daniel's face went rigid.
Richard noticed the exchange.
"What hotel arrangements?""
Vanessa looked down.
For several seconds, she appeared to be deciding whether to speak.
Then she said something that changed the atmosphere in the room.
"Lauren was supposed to make sure Danielle never reached the ballroom.""
Danielle froze.
Richard slowly turned toward Vanessa.
"What did you just say?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"I mean—"
"Why would your assistant be concerned about my daughter reaching the ballroom?""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
He was staring at her with an expression that Danielle had never seen on anyone before.
Fear.
Not embarrassment.
Not anger.
Fear.
Daniel stepped toward his wife.
"Vanessa, don't say another word.""
Richard moved between them.
"Don't threaten her.""
"I'm not threatening anyone.""
"Then step away.""
Daniel stopped.
Danielle's heart was beating faster.
"Why didn't you want me to reach the ballroom?"" she asked.
Vanessa looked at her.
Then at the baby.
Then at Richard.
Finally, she whispered:
"Because of what was going to happen tonight.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"What was going to happen?""
Vanessa's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face turned completely white.
Danielle noticed.
"Who is it?""
Vanessa tried to hide the phone.
Richard held out his hand.
"Let me see.""
"No.""
The phone vibrated again.
A message appeared on the lock screen.
*LAUREN: THEY FOUND THE FIRST FILE. DESTROY THE ORIGINAL GUEST LIST BEFORE THE CHAIRMAN SEES WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.*
Richard read it.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"What guest list?""
Vanessa began crying.
Daniel closed his eyes.
And Danielle suddenly remembered why she had come to the hotel in the first place.
She hadn't simply wanted to surprise her father.
She had been invited to tonight's charity reception as a special guest.
But according to the invitation, there was another reason for her appearance.
A reason her father hadn't yet explained.
Danielle looked at Richard.
"Dad, what was I supposed to announce in the ballroom tonight?""
Richard's expression softened.
He looked at his daughter.
Then at Amara.
And finally, he said:
"Your name was supposed to be announced as the new president of Carter Hospitality.""
Danielle stared at him.
"What?""
Richard nodded.
"I planned to introduce you to the entire company tonight.""
Vanessa's tears stopped.
Daniel looked up sharply.
And Richard added one more sentence.
"But apparently, somebody knew about the announcement before I had a chance to make it.""
He turned toward James.
"Find Lauren Pierce. Immediately.""
James nodded.
Richard looked back at Danielle.
May you like
"Because if they were trying this hard to keep you out of the ballroom, sweetheart, then this was never just about a slap.""
And somewhere inside the hotel, the woman who had arranged the evening's guest list had just disappeared.
