Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Luxury Doors
The lobby became so quiet that I could hear the fire crackling.
My father looked at Emily.
"Explain what you mean.""
Emily glanced toward Victoria.
The manager immediately stepped forward.
"This employee is emotional. She's only been here six months, and she doesn't understand management procedures.""
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"That's not true.""
Victoria pointed at her.
"Go back to your station.""
My father turned toward James.
"Nobody is to intimidate this young woman. Let her speak.""
James moved beside Emily.
"You're safe. Go ahead.""
Emily took a shaky breath.
"Three weeks ago, a Black couple arrived with their two children. They had a reservation, but Victoria told the front desk to ask them for additional identification.""
My father frowned.
"Why?""
"She said they didn't look like the kind of people who usually stay here.""
Victoria interrupted.
"That's a ridiculous accusation.""
Emily continued.
"They showed their reservation confirmation. Then she said their payment needed additional verification.""
I looked at my father.
He didn't move.
Emily wiped her palms against her uniform.
"The couple waited almost an hour. Eventually, they left. Later, I saw their reservation had been canceled in the system.""
My father turned to Mark.
"Is that true?""
Mark's jaw tightened.
"I don't have those details.""
Emily shook her head.
"You do. You approved the cancellation.""
Mark stared at her.
"Be careful what you're saying.""
My father stepped forward.
"Mr. Ellis, I believe she has been careful enough.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"This is becoming absurd. We are discussing an isolated misunderstanding with Danielle, and now an employee is bringing up unrelated situations.""
I looked directly at her.
"Unrelated?""
She turned toward me.
"Yes.""
"You hit me while I was holding my newborn. And now you're saying other people may have been treated the same way?""
Victoria's expression hardened.
"I did not discriminate against anyone.""
Emily spoke again.
"You told us to flag certain reservations.""
Victoria went still.
"What?""
"Reservations made under names you considered suspicious.""
Mark looked at Emily sharply.
"That's enough.""
Emily's voice trembled.
"You told us to watch for people who looked like they couldn't afford the rooms.""
Victoria's face turned red.
"Those were security procedures.""
"No," Emily whispered.
"They weren't.""
My father motioned toward James.
"Please arrange for Emily to give a formal statement. Preserve the reservation records she is referring to.""
James nodded.
"Understood.""
I watched Victoria.
Her expensive coat suddenly seemed less impressive.
Her perfect hair, polished shoes, and confident posture could no longer hide the fear in her eyes.
But my father wasn't finished.
He turned to me.
"Danielle, do you remember why I asked you to come here today?""
I looked down at Amara.
"You said you wanted to see us.""
He smiled faintly.
"That was part of it.""
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.
"I was planning to tell you something after lunch.""
I looked at the paper.
"What is it?""
He handed it to me.
At the top was the Brooks Hospitality Group logo.
Below it was a list of properties.
Silvercrest Mountain Lodge was the first.
My father pointed toward the signature section.
"Three months ago, I transferred the controlling shares of this property into a new family trust.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because I want the next generation to have a say in how this company operates.""
He glanced at Amara.
"Especially this little one.""
I smiled despite everything.
"Dad, she's three weeks old.""
"She's already more qualified than some people I've hired.""
A few guests laughed nervously.
For the first time that afternoon, I almost laughed too.
But then my father turned toward Victoria.
"And there is another reason I wanted you here today.""
Victoria stiffened.
"Sir?""
My father handed the document to James.
"Read the second page.""
James opened it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked up.
"Mr. Brooks, this is the preliminary internal review of the lodge's guest-treatment complaints.""
Victoria took a step backward.
"What complaints?""
My father didn't answer her.
Instead, he looked at James.
"How many?""
"Eleven formal complaints in the last four months, sir.""
A murmur spread through the lobby.
Eleven.
Eleven complaints.
I looked at Emily.
She nodded slowly.
My father spoke.
"And how many were investigated?""
"Two.""
"How many were resolved?""
James hesitated.
"None, sir.""
Victoria immediately interrupted.
"Those complaints were exaggerated. Some guests were unhappy about our security policies.""
My father turned toward her.
"Then why were they never investigated?""
"We were short-staffed.""
"Why were complaint records marked as resolved when no investigation had taken place?""
Victoria didn't respond.
My father looked at Mark.
"Who authorized that?""
Mark's face was almost gray.
"Mr. Brooks, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
Mark glanced at Victoria.
She gave him a warning look.
He looked away.
"I followed the general manager's instructions.""
Victoria's voice rose.
"That's a lie!""
Mark flinched.
"You told me to close the complaints.""
"I told you to review them!""
"You told me the regional office didn't need to see them.""
"Mark!""
My father raised his hand.
"Enough.""
He looked at James.
"Bring the original records to my office. I want an independent review, and I want the relevant footage preserved.""
"Yes, sir.""
Victoria's confidence was completely gone.
She approached my father with both hands raised.
"Please. I understand this looks bad, but I've worked extremely hard for this property. I have a family.
I have a mortgage. I have responsibilities.""
My father looked at her.
"So did my daughter when you knocked her to the floor.""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Danielle, please. I'm sorry.""
I held Amara a little closer.
"You weren't sorry when I was sitting on the floor.""
She began crying.
"I made a mistake.""
I looked at her.
"A mistake is giving someone the wrong room key. You chose to hit a woman holding a newborn.""
My father nodded slowly.
"That's exactly right.""
Then he reached for his phone.
"I want the regional president here immediately.""
Victoria's eyes widened.
"Mr. Brooks, please don't do this in front of the guests.""
He looked around the lobby.
"You had no problem doing it in front of them when you thought nobody could hold you accountable.""
Nobody laughed this time.
A few minutes later, the property director arrived.
His name was Thomas Reed.
He was a tall man with glasses and a navy suit. He entered carrying a leather portfolio.
"Mr. Brooks, I came as soon as I received your call.""
My father nodded.
"Thomas, we have a serious problem.""
Thomas looked at me.
Then at my cheek.
His expression changed.
"Good heavens. What happened?""
My father answered.
"The general manager struck my daughter while she was holding her newborn.""
Thomas slowly turned toward Victoria.
"Is that true?""
Victoria shook her head.
"Thomas, this has been blown completely out of proportion.""
My father looked at him.
"I want an immediate review of the incident, the footage, the employee records, and the eleven unresolved complaints.""
Thomas nodded.
"Absolutely.""
Victoria stepped forward.
"You can't suspend me over an accusation.""
Thomas opened his portfolio.
"I'm not making any decisions until the evidence is reviewed.""
My father nodded.
"Good. And until then, she is not to supervise employees, access the complaint system, or interfere with any investigation.""
Thomas looked toward James.
"Please arrange that.""
Victoria's face crumpled.
"You can't be serious.""
Mark quietly stepped backward.
But my father noticed.
"Mr. Ellis, where are you going?""
Mark stopped.
"Nowhere, sir.""
"Then stay.""
My father turned to me.
"Sweetheart, I think it's time to get you and Amara somewhere comfortable.""
I nodded.
As James guided us toward a private lounge, Emily approached.
"Danielle?""
I turned.
She looked nervous.
"Can I tell you something privately?""
I glanced at my father.
He nodded.
"Of course.""
Emily leaned closer.
"There's a reason Victoria was so confident nobody would believe you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What reason?""
Emily looked toward the reception desk.
Then she whispered:
"She has done this before, and every time someone complained, the security footage mysteriously disappeared.""
I stared at her.
"Are you saying someone has been deleting recordings?""
Emily nodded.
"Yes. And I know who has been helping her.""
Before I could ask another question, Emily looked at Mark.
Then she said the words that changed everything.
"It wasn't just Victoria. Your father's own regional director has been protecting her for years.""
My father, who had been standing only a few feet away, heard every word.
He slowly turned.
"Which regional director?""
Emily swallowed.
Then she whispered a name.
"Jonathan Brooks.""
My father's older brother.
His own business partner.
The man who had helped him build the company from the beginning.
For the first time that afternoon, my father's expression showed something other than anger.
It showed shock.
And as he stared at Emily, I realized something terrifying.
Victoria Harris might have been the woman who slapped me.
May you like
But she might not have been the person who had made her feel powerful enough to do it.
*Someone much closer to my family had been protecting her.*