Chapter 5: The Secret in the Black Folder
Daniel immediately called hotel security.
"Lock down the exterior entrances. Nobody approaches my daughter without authorization.""
James stood.
"Understood.""
"Don't create a scene. I want Angela located safely.""
Naomi watched her father pace beside the conference table.
"Dad, that woman sounded scared.""
Daniel stopped.
"I know.""
"Maybe we should call the police.""
"We will. But first, I need to understand why someone is trying to stop you from coming here.""
Naomi looked down at Elijah.
His tiny fingers were curled around the edge of her blouse.
"I didn't even know these people.""
Daniel came over and sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, this isn't your fault.""
"Then why does it feel like everybody knew something about me except me?""
Daniel had no immediate answer.
He gently touched her shoulder.
"Because I've kept some parts of my business separate from your life.""
Naomi looked at him.
"How much?""
He hesitated.
"More than I should have.""
Meanwhile, in the lobby, Vanessa was sitting in a private lounge with Richard.
Her fuchsia dress was now creased at the waist. She had removed her sunglasses and was tapping her fingernails against a glass of water.
Richard stood near the window, making phone calls.
"Nobody is answering," Vanessa complained.
Richard held up one finger.
He continued speaking.
"Listen carefully. I need the original documents moved tonight. Not tomorrow. Tonight.""
He ended the call.
Vanessa stood.
"What documents?""
"Nothing you need to worry about.""
"Richard, I slapped the woman because you told me she was going to interfere.""
He turned sharply.
"Lower your voice.""
"You said Daniel would arrive after she was removed.""
"I said the situation needed to be handled.""
"You said his daughter was the problem!""
Richard looked toward the glass doors.
"Do you have any idea how much money is involved?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't care about the money anymore. His daughter has a photograph of my face all over that lobby.""
"Then stop talking.""
"Don't speak to me like I'm one of your employees.""
Richard grabbed his briefcase.
"You want to know what happens when people interfere with a deal worth thirty million dollars? They lose everything.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Is that what happened to the previous owner?""
Richard went still.
She noticed.
"Richard?""
He walked toward the door.
"Stay here.""
But Vanessa followed him.
"Tell me what you did.""
Richard stopped and turned.
"I told you to stay here.""
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely afraid of her husband.
Back in the conference room, James returned with a tablet.
"Mr. Carter, we found the corridor recording.""
Daniel stood.
"Show me.""
James opened the video.
The footage showed Richard entering the hotel through the service corridor.
He approached a storage room.
A hotel employee opened the door.
Richard handed him the black folder.
The employee disappeared inside.
Three minutes later, he returned with a different folder.
Richard examined it, nodded, and walked away.
Daniel frowned.
"Who is that employee?""
James enlarged the image.
"Thomas Reed. Assistant operations supervisor.""
"Bring him in.""
James nodded.
"There's another thing.""
He opened a separate document.
"We checked the hotel's internal records. There was a scheduled transfer of confidential property documents this afternoon.""
Daniel stared.
"What property documents?""
"Several acquisition files relating to the Ashford House redevelopment.""
Daniel slowly sat down.
"That project was never approved.""
"Exactly.""
James placed the tablet on the table.
"Someone accessed the project database using your authorization credentials.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"My credentials?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Impossible.""
"We're still investigating. But the authorization appears to have come from your executive account.""
Daniel looked at Naomi.
She was watching him carefully.
"Is that why they wanted me gone?""
He nodded slowly.
"I think so.""
Daniel turned back toward James.
"Show me the files.""
James opened the document.
It contained the details of a proposed property transfer.
Ashford House.
The building Daniel had spent four years restoring.
The hotel he had promised Naomi would someday become part of her inheritance.
The agreement listed a purchasing company registered under an unfamiliar name.
Daniel read the document twice.
Then he saw the signature.
His own.
But he hadn't signed it.
"This is a forgery.""
James nodded.
"We believe so.""
Daniel examined the date.
The agreement had been created six weeks earlier.
And the proposed transfer was scheduled for the following morning.
Naomi stood.
"Someone is trying to steal your hotel?""
Daniel looked up.
"Possibly.""
"Why would Richard want this building?""
Daniel turned the document toward her.
"Because the property is worth considerably more than the company valuation in this agreement.""
Naomi looked confused.
"What does that mean?""
"It means someone is trying to buy something worth fifty million dollars for a fraction of its value.""
James added quietly:
"And if the transfer goes through tomorrow, the company could spend years recovering the property.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Who approved the transfer?""
James pointed to the authorization section.
"Your executive account. And a second approval from the operations department.""
Daniel stared at the name.
Marcus Bennett.
The hotel manager.
He leaned back.
The pieces were beginning to connect.
Richard had not simply wanted Naomi removed because she was inconvenient.
He wanted Daniel distracted.
He wanted the hotel manager to control the lobby.
And he wanted the person who knew the building best to stay silent.
Daniel looked toward the door.
"Where is Thomas Reed?""
A security officer appeared.
"Mr. Carter, he's in the lobby.""
"Bring him here.""
Thomas Reed entered the conference room looking exhausted.
He was a thin man in his early thirties, wearing a hotel uniform with the top button undone.
He glanced at Daniel.
Then at James.
"Mr. Carter.""
Daniel pointed toward a chair.
"Sit down, Thomas.""
Thomas remained standing.
"I'd rather not.""
"That's your choice. But I need you to answer some questions.""
Thomas swallowed.
"I already told Mr. Bennett everything.""
Daniel looked up.
"What did you tell him?""
Thomas hesitated.
"That I didn't see anything.""
Daniel placed the footage on the table.
"Then let's start with this.""
Thomas watched the recording.
His face drained of color.
Daniel paused the video.
"Did Richard Whitmore give you that folder?""
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"What was inside?""
"I don't know.""
"Why did you exchange it?""
Thomas looked at the floor.
"Because Mr. Bennett told me to.""
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Marcus?""
"Yes, sir.""
"What was I supposed to find in that folder?""
Thomas rubbed his hands together.
"I don't know exactly. But I heard them talking about a signature.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Whose signature?""
Thomas looked toward Naomi.
Then back at Daniel.
"Yours.""
Naomi felt her stomach tighten.
Thomas continued.
"Mr. Whitmore said once the transfer was complete, nobody could stop it.""
Daniel's expression became cold.
"Who else was involved?""
Thomas hesitated.
Then he spoke so quietly that James had to lean forward.
"Your assistant.""
Daniel froze.
"Angela?""
Thomas nodded.
"She was the one who brought the original paperwork.""
The room went silent.
Daniel stood.
"You're telling me Angela Brooks helped them forge my signature?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know if she knew it was forged.""
"Then what do you know?""
Thomas looked directly at him.
"I heard her tell Mr. Whitmore that your daughter was the only person who could stop the transfer.""
Naomi looked at her father.
"Me?""
Thomas nodded.
"She said you had to be kept away from the building until the documents were signed.""
Daniel stared at him.
"Why would my daughter be able to stop a property transfer?""
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
Then he answered.
"Because the hotel isn't just owned by Carter Hospitality.""
Daniel's face changed.
"What?""
Thomas continued.
"There's another company listed on the original property deed. I saw it when I handled the documents.""
He looked at Naomi.
"The company is registered in your name.""
Naomi stopped breathing for a moment.
"What?""
Daniel slowly turned toward his daughter.
And suddenly, the reason for the entire afternoon became clear.
The hotel wasn't simply one of his properties.
It was something he had legally placed beyond the reach of his business partners.
Something Richard Whitmore desperately needed to acquire.
And Naomi was the one person who could prevent it.
Daniel took a long breath.
"James, get me the original ownership documents.""
"Yes, sir.""
Thomas stood.
"Mr. Carter, there's something else.""
Daniel looked at him.
"What?""
Thomas's hands trembled.
"Mr. Bennett told me that if the transfer didn't happen tomorrow, someone would make sure your daughter never came back to this hotel.""
Naomi tightened her arms around Elijah.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Who said that?""
Thomas looked toward the door.
"Mr. Whitmore.""
Before Daniel could respond, the conference room door opened.
A female security officer entered.
"Mr. Carter, we've located Angela Brooks.""
Daniel stood.
"Where?""
"Outside the building. She was waiting near the service entrance.""
"Bring her inside.""
The officer hesitated.
"There's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"She refuses to come in.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why?""
May you like
The officer looked toward Naomi.
"Because she says the person who ordered the assault is still inside the hotel.""
