Chapter 2: The Man Behind the Name
Daniel Price ended the call.
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Then he straightened his jacket and looked at me.
“Mrs. Brooks…”
His voice had changed.
The sharpness was gone.
So was the confidence.
I adjusted Grace against my shoulder.
“Yes?””
“May I speak with you privately?””
Victoria frowned.
“Daniel, what's going on?””
He ignored her.
“Mrs. Brooks, perhaps we could move to the executive lounge.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
He hesitated.
“It's more comfortable.””
“Five minutes ago, you told me to take my newborn and leave.””
His jaw tightened.
“I understand that there has been a misunderstanding.””
“A misunderstanding?””
I touched my cheek.
“Did I misunderstand the slap?””
He glanced toward Victoria.
“Mrs. Whitmore, perhaps you should wait in the lobby.””
She stared at him.
“Are you serious?””
“Please.””
She let out an incredulous laugh.
“You know my husband is arriving in twenty minutes, don't you?””
Daniel didn't respond.
“My husband has a meeting with the hotel investors next week. Do you really want to embarrass me in front of him?””
Still nothing.
Victoria stepped closer.
“Daniel, I am speaking to you.””
He finally turned.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I need you to remain quiet.””
Her mouth fell open.
I had never seen anyone look so offended by a simple request.
But I wasn't interested in watching them argue.
I wanted answers.
“Who called you?””
Daniel glanced at his phone.
“The chairman.””
“Your chairman?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“I'm afraid I can't discuss the details here.””
“Then tell me something you can discuss. Why did you refuse to help me?””
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then looked toward the reception desk.
A receptionist named Emily had been watching us from behind the counter.
She stepped forward.
“Mr. Price, should I bring Mrs. Brooks's reservation file?””
Daniel turned sharply.
“Not now, Emily.””
“But her reservation—”
“I said not now.””
Emily looked down.
I recognized the expression.
She knew something.
And she was frightened of saying it.
I looked at her.
“Please. What is wrong with my reservation?””
Emily hesitated.
Then she quietly turned her monitor toward me.
“Your booking is confirmed, ma'am. Suite 1802. Two nights. Breakfast included.””
I stared at the screen.
“So I was entitled to check in?””
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped between us.
“Emily, return to your station.””
She obeyed, but not before I noticed another line on the screen.
A note.
VIP CORPORATE FAMILY — CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE.
My stomach tightened.
Corporate family?
I didn't understand.
Victoria, meanwhile, had recovered some of her confidence.
“This is ridiculous. Daniel, I want that woman removed immediately.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Mrs. Whitmore, please don't make this worse.””
She laughed.
“Worse? She's a nobody with a baby and a phone.””
I looked at her.
“My name is Naomi Brooks.””
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“I don't care.””
I took a breath.
“Then you should have no problem telling the police what happened.””
Her expression hardened.
“Are you threatening me?””
“No. I'm telling you what I'm going to do.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Let's avoid involving authorities.””
I turned toward him.
“Why?””
He lowered his voice.
“Because it could damage the hotel's reputation.””
I stared at him.
“My face is bruised, my baby was frightened, and you're worried about the hotel's reputation?””
He didn't answer.
That was when the phone rang again.
This time, Daniel looked almost afraid to pick it up.
The display showed the same name.
CHAIRMAN.
He answered immediately.
“Yes, sir.””
A deep voice came through.
“Put Naomi on the phone.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Sir?””
“Now, Daniel.””
He extended the phone.
I took it carefully, keeping Grace secure in my other arm.
“Hello?””
For a moment, I heard nothing but breathing.
Then my father's voice.
“Naomi, sweetheart. Are you still holding Grace?””
“Yes, Daddy.””
“Good. Is she comfortable?””
I looked at her sleeping face.
“Yes.””
“Then listen to me. I'm sending someone to help you. Don't let anyone touch you or the baby.””
“Dad, I don't want you to overreact.””
A quiet sigh.
“Your mother would be furious if she knew you were apologizing for being mistreated.””
That sentence nearly broke me.
My mother had died when I was seventeen.
She used to tell me that kindness wasn't weakness, and that a person could be gentle without allowing others to walk over them.
“I'm okay, Daddy.””
“I know you're trying to be brave.””
He paused.
“Did that woman hit you?””
“Yes.””
“While you were holding Grace?””
“Yes.””
His voice became very quiet.
“Then I need to see her face.””
I turned slightly so he could hear me.
“She's fine, Dad.””
“I wasn't talking about Grace.””
I almost laughed.
Almost.
“Daddy…”
“I'm coming.””
The call ended.
I returned the phone to Daniel.
He took it with both hands.
Victoria stared at him.
“Who exactly is this man?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“I'm asking you a question.””
He looked at her.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I strongly advise you to leave the lobby.””
She laughed loudly.
“You're going to throw me out because some woman called her father?””
Daniel's expression tightened.
“Please stop.””
“No. I want an explanation.””
She reached into her designer handbag and pulled out her own phone.
“I'm calling Richard.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“Mrs. Whitmore, don't.””
She pressed the call button.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
“Victoria?””
“Richard, darling, you'll never believe what's happening. Your hotel manager has suddenly decided to protect some nobody instead of his most important guests.””
There was a pause.
“What?””
Victoria looked at me.
“She claims someone assaulted her. She's making a scene, and now Daniel is behaving like a frightened schoolboy.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I could hear the man's voice more clearly now.
“Which hotel?””
“The Ashbourne Grand.””
Another pause.
“Put Daniel on.””
Victoria smiled triumphantly.
“You see? Richard will sort this out.””
She handed Daniel the phone.
He accepted it reluctantly.
“Mr. Whitmore.””
A loud voice came through.
“Daniel, what is happening?””
Daniel looked at me.
Then at the ceiling.
“Sir, there has been an incident.””
“What incident?””
“Mrs. Whitmore and a guest have had a disagreement.””
Victoria interrupted.
“Not a disagreement! She was disrespectful!””
Daniel held up a hand.
“Please, Mrs. Whitmore.””
Richard's voice grew louder.
“Daniel, I expect you to resolve this immediately. My wife has been staying at your properties for years.””
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes, sir.””
“And I don't want any complaints about her treatment.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Even now, nobody had asked whether Grace or I were safe.
I stepped forward.
“Excuse me.””
Richard's voice stopped.
“Who is that?””
“My name is Naomi Brooks. Your wife slapped me while I was holding my newborn daughter.””
A long silence.
Then Richard laughed.
Not loudly.
Just enough to make my stomach turn.
“I'm sure there's been some exaggeration.””
I looked at Daniel.
He looked away.
“I have witnesses,” I said.
“Then let the hotel investigate.””
“Your wife is still here.””
“Then perhaps you should leave.””
I blinked.
The same words.
From another man.
I tightened my hold on Grace.
“Thank you for making your position clear.””
I handed the phone back to Daniel.
Victoria smiled.
“Now can we finally get rid of her?””
Daniel didn't answer.
His own phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
He read it.
Then read it again.
His face lost every trace of color.
I noticed the message was from the chairman's office.
He slowly turned the screen toward himself.
I caught only a few words.
THE CHAIRMAN IS ON HIS WAY. DO NOT ALLOW MRS. BROOKS TO LEAVE.
Victoria saw his expression.
“What now?””
Daniel didn't speak.
She snatched the phone from his hand.
Read the message.
And laughed.
“Oh, please. Who does this woman think she is?””
She handed it back.
“Richard will make sure you keep your job.””
But Daniel was no longer looking at Victoria.
He was looking at the revolving doors.
A black sedan had just stopped beneath the hotel entrance.
A second vehicle pulled in behind it.
Then another.
Three men in dark suits stepped out.
One carried a leather folder.
Another spoke into an earpiece.
The third looked directly through the glass.
Straight at me.
Daniel whispered:
“Oh, God.””
May you like
And then the first man entered the hotel.
“Where is Naomi Brooks?””
