Chapter 4: The Secret Company Behind the Hotel
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The woman in the dark business suit stood beside the reception desk, holding the folder open.
Her name was Angela Reed, the head of corporate compliance for Brooks Hospitality Group.
She had spent twelve years investigating financial misconduct, fraudulent contracts, and executive corruption.
She had seen people lie with tears in their eyes.
She had seen wealthy executives blame their assistants.
She had even seen employees destroy their own careers trying to protect someone who would never protect them in return.
But she had never seen a hotel manager look quite as terrified as Derek Collins did at that moment.
Malcolm took the folder.
“Explain what I'm looking at.””
Angela pointed to a document.
“Three companies received payments from the resort's operating account over the last fourteen months. One of them is registered to Mr. Collins.””
Derek immediately stepped forward.
“That is completely false.””
Angela didn't look up.
“Would you like me to read the registration details?””
“I have no idea what you're talking about.””
Angela turned a page.
“Desert Crown Consulting LLC. Registered address: a private mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona. Sole managing member: Derek Collins.””
James Bennett stared at the manager.
“Derek?””
Derek shook his head.
“This is ridiculous. I have a consulting business outside my employment. That's not illegal.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Then why is my hotel paying it?””
Derek opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Angela continued.
“Between February and October, the resort transferred approximately $286,000 to that company. The payments were recorded as guest relations, VIP accommodation services, and external management consulting.””
James looked horrified.
“I never authorized those payments.””
Angela glanced at her tablet.
“Your approval credentials appear on several of them.””
James frowned.
“That is impossible.””
“Someone accessed your account.””
Derek quickly interrupted.
“This is a misunderstanding. Those payments were for legitimate services.””
Malcolm closed the folder.
“What services?””
“Guest management. Private arrangements. Special accommodations.””
“Which guests?””
Derek looked toward Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
“Don't look at me.””
Angela turned another page.
“Mrs. Whitmore's name appears in twenty-three expense records.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“I'm a VIP guest. I receive special services.””
Angela nodded.
“Some of those services were complimentary. Others were charged to a company that does not appear to have any legitimate business operations.””
Vanessa looked at Richard.
“Tell them something.””
Richard didn't respond.
She grabbed his arm.
“Richard!””
He pulled away.
“Not now.””
Vanessa stared at him.
For the first time that afternoon, she seemed to understand that her husband's influence might not be enough to protect her.
Malcolm turned toward Angela.
“What's the total?””
Angela checked her notes.
“The preliminary figure is $286,400. That's excluding the disputed investment transfer.””
Malcolm looked at Derek.
“You've been stealing from this property?””
Derek shook his head.
“No, sir. Absolutely not.””
“Then explain the money.””
“I can provide invoices.””
“Provide them.””
Derek looked toward James.
“James, you know how these arrangements work. We have expenses that don't always fit standard categories.””
James's face turned red.
“Don't involve me in this.””
“You signed off on the budgets.””
“I approved legitimate hotel expenses. I did not approve payments to your private company.””
Derek lowered his voice.
“You need to remember who brought you into this position.””
James stepped closer.
“Are you threatening me?””
“I'm reminding you that you don't know everything.””
Malcolm raised his hand.
“Enough.””
He looked at Angela.
“Preserve every record. No deletions. No changes. I want the original financial logs, emails, contracts, and access records.””
“Already underway.””
“Contact external auditors.””
Angela nodded.
“I'm arranging that now.””
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
It was an uncomfortable, sharp sound.
“Are we seriously investigating a company because a manager made a few payments?””
Malcolm turned toward her.
“It's not your company.””
“I'm married to Richard Whitmore.””
“That doesn't make you immune to questions.””
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.””
Nia, who had been sitting quietly on a nearby sofa with her newborn, finally spoke.
“Neither did you.””
Vanessa turned toward her.
“What did you say?””
Nia looked directly at her.
“You didn't ask who I was before you hit me. You didn't ask whether my baby was okay. You just decided I didn't belong here.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“You're making yourself sound like a victim.””
Nia glanced at her father.
Then she looked back at Vanessa.
“I didn't have to make anything up. You did it yourself.””
The words were quiet.
But they landed.
Malcolm walked toward his daughter.
“Are you feeling all right?””
Nia nodded.
“I'm tired.””
“I know.””
“The baby needs his bottle.””
Malcolm looked at Emily.
“Could you please help us arrange a quiet room?””
Emily smiled.
“Of course. I've already prepared one.””
Nia thanked her.
As Emily approached with the room key, Derek stepped in front of them.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
Derek looked at Malcolm.
“I need to explain something privately.””
Malcolm's expression remained cold.
“Speak.””
Derek glanced toward Vanessa and Richard.
“Not here.””
“Why not?””
“Because there are things about Mrs. Whitmore's arrangements that you don't understand.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Derek, don't you dare.””
Derek ignored her.
“Mr. Brooks, I was instructed to provide certain accommodations. I was told the Whitmore family had a special arrangement with the previous ownership.””
Malcolm looked at Angela.
“Was there such an arrangement?””
Angela shook her head.
“Not in our records.””
Derek swallowed.
“I have emails.””
“Then produce them.””
“I can't access the system from here.””
Angela stepped forward.
“Your credentials have already been suspended pending investigation.””
Derek's face went pale.
“What?””
“Your access to financial systems and administrative records has been restricted.””
“You can't do that!””
Malcolm looked at him.
“I own the company.””
Derek's voice rose.
“I have worked here for six years!””
“And today, you chose to send an assaulted mother out of a hotel because you thought another guest was more important.””
Derek shook his head.
“I didn't know she was your daughter.””
Malcolm stared at him.
Then he asked a question that made the entire lobby go silent.
“If she had been an ordinary mother with no wealthy father, would you have treated her differently?””
Derek said nothing.
Malcolm nodded.
“That's what I thought.””
Richard suddenly stepped forward.
“This has gone far enough.””
He looked at Angela.
“You have no authority to question my company.””
Angela calmly replied.
“The payments originated from a Brooks Hospitality property. We have every right to investigate them.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Those payments were part of a legitimate arrangement.””
“Then provide supporting documents.””
Richard glanced toward Vanessa.
She looked away.
Malcolm closed the folder and handed it back to Angela.
“There's one more thing I want investigated.””
“What is it?””
“Who authorized the use of my electronic signature?””
Angela nodded.
“We're tracing that now.””
Richard's face changed.
“Malcolm, you don't want to take this any further.””
Malcolm studied him.
“Are you warning me?””
“No. I'm trying to protect both our companies.””
“Then cooperate.””
Richard looked around the lobby.
Several guests were still watching.
One woman held her phone at chest level, recording.
Richard noticed.
“Put that phone away.””
The guest lowered it slightly but didn't stop recording.
Vanessa moved toward her.
“Delete that video!””
The woman shook her head.
“No.””
“Do you know who I am?””
“Yes,” the woman replied.
“You're the lady who slapped a mother holding a baby.””
Vanessa stopped.
For once, she had no immediate response.
Nia looked down at her newborn.
His little fingers were wrapped around the edge of her blouse.
She gently kissed his forehead.
“Let's go upstairs, sweetheart.””
Malcolm nodded.
“Absolutely.””
But just as Emily began leading them toward the elevator, Angela's phone rang.
She answered.
“Yes?””
She listened.
Her eyebrows slowly rose.
Then she looked toward Malcolm.
“Mr. Brooks, we have a problem.””
Malcolm stopped.
“What now?””
Angela covered the phone.
“The payment investigation has uncovered a second bank account.””
“Whose account?””
Angela hesitated.
Then she answered.
“Your daughter is listed as the beneficiary.””
Nia looked up.
“My name?””
Angela nodded.
“Yes.””
Malcolm's expression darkened.
“That account has nothing to do with my daughter.””
Angela checked the document again.
“There's another detail.””
“What?””
“The account was opened using her personal information eleven months ago.””
Nia's face went pale.
She looked at her father.
“Dad, I never opened an account here.””
May you like
Malcolm took the document.
And when he saw the date of birth attached to the account, he realized someone had been using his daughter's identity long before she ever walked into the resort.
