Chapter 4: The Person Who Wanted Her Gone
The elevator doors closed, but Marcus Carter couldn't take his eyes off the email on Richard Lawson's phone.
Someone inside his own organization had filed a complaint against Naomi before she arrived at the resort.
Not after the confrontation.
Not after Victoria slapped her.
Before she even walked through the doors.
Marcus read the message again.
*URGENT: GUEST ACCESS RESTRICTION — NAOMI CARTER.*
Below it was an instruction to flag Naomi's reservation, delay her check-in, and contact resort management if she attempted to access the property.
The complaint had been submitted forty-eight hours earlier.
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
“Who authorized this?””
Richard scrolled through the email.
“The sender is listed as the executive office of Carter Meridian Hospitality.””
“Whose executive office?””
“That's what I'm trying to establish.””
Marcus handed the phone back.
“Find out.””
Naomi stood beside him, holding Elijah against her shoulder.
“Dad?””
He immediately turned toward her.
“I'm listening, sweetheart.””
“Why would someone file a complaint against me before I arrived?””
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
He had spent thirty years building Carter Meridian Holdings. He had negotiated with governments, confronted hostile investors, and survived business partnerships that collapsed overnight.
He understood betrayal.
But he had never expected it to involve his daughter.
“I'm going to find out,” he said.
Naomi looked down at her sleeping son.
“I don't want this to become some huge business war.””
Marcus gently touched her shoulder.
“You didn't start anything. You booked a hotel room.””
The elevator opened onto the resort's private executive floor.
A woman in a navy uniform waited outside.
“Mr. Carter, we've prepared the presidential suite. The medical team has also arranged everything for the baby.””
Marcus nodded.
“Thank you.””
Naomi looked around.
The hallway was quiet, with soft lighting and enormous windows overlooking the ocean.
It was beautiful.
But she felt strangely uncomfortable.
“Dad, can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“Did you buy this place because you thought I would come here?””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“No. We acquired it two years ago as part of a larger hospitality portfolio.””
“Then why is my reservation flagged?””
His expression changed.
“That's what concerns me.””
Inside the presidential suite, Naomi placed Elijah in a portable crib beside the sofa.
The baby stretched his tiny fingers and yawned.
Marcus watched him for a moment.
Then he turned to the medical team.
“Please make sure my daughter gets everything she needs.””
The doctor nodded.
“We've documented the facial injury. Her son appears healthy. We'll provide the examination notes shortly.””
“Thank you.””
When they left, Naomi sat near the window.
She could hear the waves crashing against the beach below.
For the first time since the incident, she was somewhere quiet.
But her hands were still shaking.
Marcus noticed.
He poured her a glass of water.
“Drink something.””
Naomi accepted it.
“Dad, I feel stupid.””
Marcus pulled a chair closer.
“Why?””
“Because I thought I could have one normal vacation.””
“You can.””
“Everyone was laughing at me.””
His expression softened.
“Not everyone.””
Naomi looked at him.
“Some people helped. Emily did. That older woman did.””
“Then remember them.””
Naomi looked toward the crib.
“I keep hearing the slap.””
Marcus sat quietly.
Then he said something he had told her when she was a little girl.
“You never have to earn the right to be treated with dignity.””
Naomi's eyes filled.
She reached across the table and held his hand.
“I know.””
“Do you?””
She nodded.
Marcus squeezed her fingers.
“Good.””
His phone vibrated.
Richard was calling.
Marcus answered.
“What did you find?””
Richard's voice was serious.
“I've identified the person who submitted the restriction.””
“Who?””
“Your nephew.””
Marcus became completely still.
“Darius?””
“Yes.””
Naomi looked up.
She recognized the name.
Darius Carter was Marcus's younger brother's son. He was thirty-four and served as a senior regional operations executive at Carter Meridian Hospitality.
He had attended family holidays.
He had sent Naomi expensive baby gifts.
He had even called her after Elijah was born.
Why would he do something like this?
Marcus stood.
“Put him on the phone.””
Richard hesitated.
“There's another issue.””
“What?””
“The restriction was submitted using your executive approval credentials.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“My credentials?””
“Yes. The system shows your authorization.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
“That is impossible.””
“I know.””
“Someone used my signature?””
“Apparently.””
Marcus looked toward Naomi.
The situation was no longer just about an abusive resort manager.
Someone had deliberately used his authority to target his daughter.
And they had made it look as though he approved it.
Forty minutes later, a black SUV arrived at the resort's rear entrance.
Darius Carter stepped out wearing a tailored gray suit and polished brown shoes.
He was handsome, confident, and accustomed to getting what he wanted.
A resort employee hurried toward him.
“Mr. Carter, thank you for coming.””
“Where's my uncle?””
“Executive suite, sir.””
“Is Victoria still here?””
The employee hesitated.
“She's been suspended.””
Darius stopped walking.
“Suspended?””
“Yes, sir.””
He frowned.
“Who authorized that?””
“Mr. Carter.””
Darius exhaled sharply.
“Of course.””
He walked toward the elevator.
When he reached the executive floor, Richard was waiting outside.
“Darius.””
“Richard.””
“Your uncle is expecting you.””
Darius straightened his jacket.
“What's this about?””
Richard didn't answer.
He opened the suite door.
Marcus stood beside the window.
Naomi sat on the sofa with Elijah.
Darius's expression changed when he saw her.
“Naomi?””
She looked up.
“Hi, Darius.””
He approached with a concerned expression.
“God, I heard something happened. Are you okay?””
Naomi stared at him.
“You heard?””
“Of course. The regional office called.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“Sit down.””
Darius looked at his uncle.
“Uncle Marcus, I think there's been a misunderstanding.””
“Sit.””
Darius slowly took the chair.
Marcus placed the printed email on the table.
“Did you file this complaint?””
Darius glanced at the document.
Then he looked up.
“I did.””
Naomi's stomach tightened.
“You did?””
Darius turned toward her.
“Naomi, please let me explain.””
Marcus interrupted.
“Explain why you used my credentials to restrict my daughter's access to a property she had already paid to visit.””
Darius frowned.
“I didn't use your credentials improperly.””
Richard placed another document on the table.
“The authorization came from your office account.””
Darius glanced at it.
“That account is shared by several senior executives.””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Not with my signature.””
Darius leaned back.
“Look, we received information suggesting Naomi's reservation could create a security concern.””
Naomi stared at him.
“What security concern?””
Darius hesitated.
“Your father is a public business figure. We have to be careful about family members using private properties without proper coordination.””
Naomi laughed bitterly.
“I paid for the room.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't. You knew I had a reservation.””
Darius looked at Marcus.
“Uncle, I was trying to protect the business.””
Marcus studied him.
“From what?””
Darius didn't answer.
Richard placed a final page on the table.
It was a transaction record showing that the access restriction had been requested from Darius's personal company terminal.
Marcus tapped the page.
“You have five minutes to tell me the truth.””
Darius's expression hardened.
Then he said something that made Naomi's blood run cold.
“I was told you didn't want her at the resort.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Who told you that?””
Darius swallowed.
“Your brother.””
Marcus slowly lowered his hand.
May you like
His younger brother, Thomas Carter, had been dead for almost three years.
And suddenly, the entire room felt colder.