Chapter 5: A Family Secret Behind the Resort
Marcus Carter didn't move.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Darius.
“Say that again.””
Darius shifted in his chair.
“Your brother told me Naomi shouldn't be allowed into the resort.””
“My brother has been dead for three years.””
“I know.””
“Then explain how he gave you an instruction forty-eight hours ago.””
Darius rubbed his forehead.
“I didn't say he personally contacted me. I said I was told the instruction came from him.””
Richard stepped forward.
“By whom?””
Darius looked toward the window.
“I don't know if I should—”
Marcus slammed his palm against the table.
“Enough.””
Elijah stirred in his crib.
Naomi immediately stood and walked toward him.
“Dad, please. Not near the baby.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
The anger in his face softened.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.””
He stepped away from the table.
Richard moved closer to Darius.
“Who gave you the instruction?””
Darius finally answered.
“Evelyn.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Evelyn Reed?””
Darius nodded.
Evelyn had been Carter Meridian's executive finance director for nearly eight years.
She had worked closely with Thomas before his death and had maintained a position of considerable influence within the company.
Marcus had trusted her.
Perhaps too much.
“What exactly did she say?”” Marcus asked.
Darius took a breath.
“She said there was an old family directive concerning Naomi. She said Thomas had made arrangements to keep certain properties restricted from her.””
Naomi turned around.
“What?””
Darius looked uncomfortable.
“I was told it was part of an inheritance agreement.””
Naomi stared at him.
“My father is alive. Why would there be an inheritance agreement involving me?””
Marcus raised a hand.
“Darius, show me the documents.””
Darius opened his briefcase and removed a thin folder.
Richard took it.
The first page carried a Carter Meridian company logo.
The second page contained a scanned signature.
Marcus leaned forward.
His face changed immediately.
“That isn't my signature.””
Darius blinked.
“What?””
Marcus pointed at the document.
“I never signed this.””
Richard examined it.
“It's dated six months ago.””
Marcus looked at Darius.
“Where did you get it?””
“Evelyn sent it to me.””
“Did you verify it?””
Darius hesitated.
“No.””
Marcus gave a humorless laugh.
“You used a document you never verified to block my daughter from my own property?””
Darius looked down.
“I thought I was following a family instruction.””
Naomi walked closer.
“Darius, you sent me a baby gift last month.””
He looked up.
“I know.””
“You asked me how Elijah was sleeping. You told me to enjoy being a mother.””
“I meant it.””
“Then why did you help someone throw me out?””
Darius had no answer.
Naomi shook her head.
“I wasn't asking for money. I wasn't asking for special treatment. I just wanted to check into my room.””
Her voice cracked.
“And you made sure I couldn't.””
Darius looked genuinely uncomfortable now.
“Naomi, I'm sorry.””
She turned away.
“Don't.””
Richard took the documents into the adjoining office.
Marcus followed him.
When the door closed, Richard placed the questionable authorization under a desk lamp.
He studied the signature carefully.
Then he opened a second document from the company's secure archive.
“Marcus, look at the date.””
Marcus leaned closer.
The authorization had supposedly been signed six months earlier.
But the signature matched a version of Marcus's digital signature that had been retired nearly two years before.
Richard pointed to a small notation in the lower corner.
“This file was generated from an old corporate template.””
Marcus frowned.
“Could someone have copied my signature?””
“Yes.””
“Can we establish who created it?””
Richard opened his laptop.
“We can request the original electronic record, including account activity and document history.””
Marcus looked at the printed document again.
“Do it.””
Richard nodded.
Then he lowered his voice.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“Evelyn requested access to the resort's management system three days before Naomi arrived.””
Marcus turned.
“Why?””
“She claimed she was conducting a compliance audit.””
“Was she authorized?””
“Not for guest-level restrictions.””
Marcus walked toward the window.
Below, staff members were preparing the resort's private beach area.
Guests were still swimming.
Children were building sandcastles.
The world outside continued as though nothing had happened.
But inside that suite, his family's trust was beginning to collapse.
“Call Evelyn.””
Richard dialed.
The phone rang several times.
Finally, a woman answered.
“Richard?””
“Evelyn, Marcus would like to speak with you.””
There was a pause.
“Is this about the resort?””
Marcus took the phone.
“Evelyn.””
Her voice immediately became warmer.
“Marcus. I heard about Naomi. I'm terribly sorry.””
“Did you file an access restriction against my daughter?””
Silence.
Then Evelyn replied.
“I was trying to prevent an unfortunate situation.””
“By using my signature?””
“I don't understand.””
“Your department submitted an authorization bearing my name.””
Evelyn sighed.
“Marcus, there are complicated family matters involved.””
“Explain them.””
“Not over the phone.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Then come to the resort.””
“I have a board meeting.””
“Cancel it.””
“Marcus, I don't think that's necessary.””
He lowered his voice.
“Evelyn, my daughter was struck by a resort manager after someone deliberately flagged her reservation. I want to know why.””
Another silence.
Then Evelyn said:
“You should ask Naomi what happened before she booked the room.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“What does that mean?””
“I can't discuss it without the full documentation.””
“Then bring the documentation.””
The call ended.
Back in the living room, Naomi was sitting beside Elijah.
Darius had remained in his chair.
He looked smaller now.
“Naomi?””
She didn't turn.
“I know I made a mistake.””
She adjusted the baby's blanket.
“You didn't make one mistake, Darius.””
He swallowed.
“I believed what Evelyn told me.””
“You believed her without checking anything.””
“I thought she had authorization.””
“You had my reservation in front of you. You knew I was coming. You could have called me.””
Darius looked down.
“I should have.””
Naomi turned toward him.
“Do you know what hurt the most?””
He shook his head.
“You didn't even have to see me to decide I didn't belong.””
Darius closed his eyes.
For the first time, he seemed to understand the cruelty of what he had done.
“I am sorry.””
Naomi looked at him for a long moment.
“Then help my father find out who really did this.””
At 2:15 p.m., Evelyn Reed arrived.
She entered the suite carrying a black leather handbag and a thick envelope.
She was in her early fifties, with short silver-blonde hair and a perfectly tailored cream suit.
Her expression was controlled.
She greeted Marcus first.
“Marcus.””
He didn't offer his hand.
“Sit down.””
Evelyn looked at Naomi.
“I'm sorry about what happened.””
Naomi stared at her.
“Did you arrange it?””
Evelyn blinked.
“I'm afraid I don't understand.””
“The complaint. The restriction. Did you arrange it?””
Evelyn placed the envelope on the table.
“I authorized a review.””
Marcus opened the envelope.
Inside were several pages of correspondence, a family memorandum, and a photocopied letter.
The letter carried Thomas Carter's name.
Marcus read the first paragraph.
Then his fingers stopped moving.
The document stated that Naomi Carter was to be excluded from selected Carter Meridian properties until a family financial dispute had been resolved.
Naomi looked at the page.
“What financial dispute?””
Evelyn sat down.
“Your father and Thomas disagreed about certain assets.””
Marcus looked up.
“Thomas never told me about this.””
“He didn't want to upset you.””
Marcus laughed.
“Thomas and I argued about business every other week. He never hid a disagreement.””
Evelyn folded her hands.
“Perhaps he didn't want you involved in this one.””
Naomi took the letter.
She read the final paragraph.
Then she looked at Evelyn.
“Why does this say I owe the company $12 million?””
Nobody spoke.
Marcus took the page from her.
He read the number again.
Then he turned toward Evelyn.
“What is this?””
Evelyn's voice became defensive.
“It's a claim related to an old trust account.””
“What trust account?””
“The Carter Family Children's Trust.””
Marcus frowned.
“That account was established for the grandchildren.””
Naomi looked at him.
“Dad, I never received twelve million dollars.””
Marcus stared at the paperwork.
Neither had he.
Richard quickly took the documents and examined the attached financial summary.
Then he noticed a reference number.
He typed it into his laptop.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
“Marcus?””
“What?””
“This account was closed three years ago.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Why?””
Richard looked at the screen.
“Because the entire balance was transferred to another entity.””
Evelyn stood abruptly.
“This is an internal matter. We don't need to discuss confidential financial information in front of—”
Marcus raised his hand.
“Sit down.””
She froze.
Richard continued reading.
“The transfer was approved by Thomas Carter.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Thomas is dead.””
“Yes.””
“Who received the money?””
Richard scrolled.
Then he turned the laptop toward Marcus.
The receiving company had a familiar name.
*Reed Family Advisory Group.*
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
May you like
She had stopped breathing normally.
And for the first time since she entered the room, she looked afraid.