Chapter 3: The Chairman's Daughter
The man who entered first was tall, silver-haired, and dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit.
He didn't look like a hotel employee.
He didn't look like a security guard.
He looked like someone who was accustomed to having doors opened before he reached them.
Two men followed him.
A woman carrying a leather portfolio came in last.
Daniel immediately hurried forward.
“Mr. Hayes.””
The silver-haired man barely acknowledged him.
“Where is she?””
Daniel pointed toward me.
“Mrs. Brooks is here, sir.””
Mr. Hayes approached.
His expression softened when he saw Grace.
Then he looked at my cheek.
“Mrs. Brooks, my name is Jonathan Hayes. I work in the chairman's executive office.””
I nodded.
“Hello.””
“Your father asked me to make sure you and the baby are comfortable.””
I looked at the three people behind him.
“Thank you. But I don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal out of this.””
Jonathan glanced at Daniel.
“Because this is a very serious matter.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Excuse me. Who are you?””
Jonathan turned.
“Jonathan Hayes.””
“And what exactly do you do?””
“Executive director of the Ashbourne Hospitality Group.””
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
Then she smiled.
“Oh. Well, perhaps you can explain why this woman is being treated like royalty when she's the one causing problems.””
Jonathan looked at her.
“Mrs. Whitmore, are you the person who struck Naomi?””
Victoria's expression changed.
“I beg your pardon?””
“Did you strike her?””
“That's none of your business.””
“Actually, it is.””
She folded her arms.
“Do you know who my husband is?””
Jonathan nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then perhaps you should remember that before speaking to me like that.””
He glanced toward the manager.
“Daniel, is that the woman?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes, sir.””
Jonathan nodded once.
Then he turned to the woman carrying the portfolio.
“Please document that.””
Victoria stared.
“Document what?””
“The identification of the person involved in the assault.””
Her mouth opened.
“You cannot be serious.””
Jonathan didn't respond.
Instead, he turned to me.
“Mrs. Brooks, your father has asked that we take you to the private family suite. A doctor is also on his way.””
I shook my head.
“I don't need a doctor.””
“Your father specifically requested one.””
“Daddy worries.””
Jonathan gave a faint smile.
“He has been calling every few minutes.””
I looked down at Grace.
“She's okay.””
“We'll make sure of that.””
I glanced toward Daniel.
“What happens to my reservation?””
Jonathan's expression became firm.
“Your reservation remains exactly as confirmed. In fact, I believe your father arranged it personally.””
I frowned.
“My father?””
“Yes, ma'am.””
I looked at the screen Emily had shown me earlier.
The corporate family note suddenly made more sense.
But I still didn't understand.
“Why would he arrange a hotel room for me?””
Jonathan paused.
“Perhaps he thought you might need a break.””
I stared at him.
“My father doesn't own hotels.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Victoria laughed.
“Oh, this is getting ridiculous.””
She looked at Jonathan.
“Whatever little performance you're putting on, it won't work. My husband has invested millions in this industry.””
Jonathan nodded.
“I am aware.””
“Then you understand that I expect an apology.””
“From whom?””
“From her.””
Victoria pointed at me.
“She has embarrassed me in front of everyone.””
I looked at her.
For the first time, I felt something other than fear.
Disbelief.
“How can you say that?””
“Because you brought this upon yourself.””
Jonathan stepped between us.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I would advise you not to approach her again.””
Victoria turned toward Daniel.
“Are you going to allow this?””
Daniel said nothing.
She took another step.
“I said, are you going to allow this?””
Jonathan's voice remained calm.
“Mr. Price, please arrange for security to escort Mrs. Whitmore away from the family lounge.””
Victoria's face turned red.
“You can't remove me!””
Jonathan looked at her.
“I'm afraid we can.””
She laughed.
“Richard will have your job.””
Jonathan checked his watch.
“Then perhaps you should discuss that with him.””
He turned to me.
“Mrs. Brooks, shall we?””
Before I could answer, a voice came from behind us.
“Naomi?””
I knew that voice.
I turned.
And there he was.
My father.
Thomas Brooks.
He was sixty-one, with silver hair, broad shoulders, and a face that had grown more serious over the years.
He wore a dark navy suit without a tie.
His eyes moved from my face to Grace.
Then back to my face.
For a moment, he said nothing.
He simply walked toward me.
“Daddy.””
He opened his arms.
I stepped into them carefully, keeping Grace between us.
He kissed my forehead.
Then he touched my cheek.
His fingers barely brushed the skin.
“Who did this?””
I looked toward Victoria.
My father followed my gaze.
His expression changed.
Not dramatically.
He didn't shout.
He didn't make threats.
He simply looked at the woman who had hit his daughter.
“Was it you?””
Victoria lifted her chin.
“I was defending myself.””
My father nodded slowly.
“From a woman holding a newborn?””
“She was being disrespectful.””
He looked at Grace.
Then at me.
“Naomi, did you touch her?””
“No.””
“Did you threaten her?””
“No.””
“Did you raise your voice?””
I hesitated.
“I told her I had a reservation.””
He nodded.
Then he turned toward Daniel.
“And you?””
Daniel stood straighter.
“Mr. Brooks, I sincerely apologize for the unfortunate misunderstanding.””
My father looked at him.
“Misunderstanding?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I should have handled the situation differently.””
“You should have?””
“Yes, sir.””
My father glanced at Jonathan.
“Is the security footage being preserved?””
“Yes, Chairman.””
Victoria went still.
“Chairman?””
My father didn't look at her.
“Every camera in this lobby. Every available angle. I want the original recordings preserved, not edited clips.””
Jonathan nodded.
“Already arranged.””
“Witness statements?””
“Being collected.””
“Medical assessment for my daughter?””
“The doctor is on the way.””
My father nodded.
Then he turned back to me.
“Come with me, sweetheart.””
I followed him toward the private lounge.
Victoria suddenly called out.
“Wait!””
We stopped.
She walked toward my father.
“I'm sure we can resolve this without making it bigger than it needs to be.””
He looked at her.
“Can we?””
She gave a nervous smile.
“I'm Victoria Whitmore. My husband is Richard Whitmore.””
“I know.””
“Then you know we have an important relationship with this hotel.””
My father nodded.
“I'm aware of your husband's business interests.””
Victoria relaxed slightly.
“Good. Then perhaps you understand that this was a misunderstanding between two women.””
My father looked at her for several seconds.
Then he said:
“My daughter is twenty-eight years old. She has a three-week-old baby. She came here to rest, not to fight with strangers.””
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“She shouldn't have spoken to me that way.””
My father took a breath.
“Mrs. Whitmore, you struck her while she was holding my granddaughter.””
“She provoked me!””
My father's voice remained quiet.
“Then you should have walked away.””
Victoria's lips tightened.
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.””
He finally smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
“Actually, Mrs. Whitmore, I think you are the one who doesn't know.””
He turned toward Jonathan.
“Please explain.””
Jonathan opened the leather folder.
“Mrs. Whitmore, the Ashbourne Grand is owned and operated by Ashbourne Hospitality Group. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brooks International Holdings.””
Victoria stared.
Jonathan continued.
“Mr. Thomas Brooks is the founder, majority shareholder, and chairman of the parent company.””
Silence.
The reception desk seemed suddenly very far away.
Victoria looked at my father.
Then at me.
Then back at Jonathan.
“That's impossible.””
My father said nothing.
Jonathan turned another page.
“Mr. Brooks also personally oversees the company's executive appointments, including the appointment of this hotel's general manager.””
Daniel lowered his head.
Victoria's lips parted.
I looked at my father.
“Daddy?””
He turned toward me.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart. I should have told you more about the family business.””
I stared.
“You own this hotel?””
He gave a small nod.
“And several others.””
I looked around the lobby.
The chandeliers.
The marble floors.
The reception desk.
The enormous flower arrangements.
All of it suddenly felt different.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
He touched my shoulder.
“Because I wanted you to have a life that belonged to you. Not a life where everyone knew your surname before they knew your heart.””
I swallowed.
“You could have told me.””
“I know.””
For years, I had believed my father was a retired businessman who spent his days reading, traveling, and occasionally complaining about the stock market.
I knew he had money.
I knew he had once owned several companies.
But I had no idea the business was this large.
And I certainly hadn't known he owned the hotel where I had just been humiliated.
Victoria took a step backward.
“This is a joke.””
Jonathan remained silent.
She turned toward Daniel.
“You knew?””
Daniel looked miserable.
“No, Mrs. Whitmore.””
“Then why did you let this happen?””
He looked at her.
“I didn't know who Mrs. Brooks was.””
My father heard him.
He slowly turned.
“And that is the most important thing you've said today.””
Daniel's face tightened.
My father stepped closer.
“Let me ask you something. If you had known who Naomi was, would you have treated her differently?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“Would you have helped her if she had been carrying a famous actress's baby?””
Silence.
“A politician's child?””
Nothing.
“My daughter was entitled to the same respect as every other guest in this building. You didn't need to know her surname to understand that.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“Yes, sir.””
My father turned to Jonathan.
“Take him off guest-facing duties pending a formal investigation. Preserve all records, and have HR review every complaint involving his conduct.””
Daniel's head snapped up.
“Sir, please. I have worked for this company for twelve years.””
My father looked at him.
“And how many people have you treated this way because you thought they couldn't do anything about it?””
Daniel's mouth opened.
No answer came.
My father continued.
“Your employment will be reviewed fairly. But your position does not give you permission to humiliate people.””
Jonathan made a note.
Then my father turned toward Victoria.
“Now, Mrs. Whitmore, I believe you owe my daughter an apology.””
Victoria looked around.
Several guests were watching.
Her husband was still on the phone.
She glanced at the security guards.
Then at the man who owned the hotel.
Finally, she looked at me.
“I'm sorry.””
The words came out like stones.
I didn't respond.
My father did.
“Look at her when you say it.””
Victoria's eyes flashed.
But she looked at me.
“I'm sorry I slapped you.””
I studied her face.
There was no genuine regret there.
Only fear.
I wasn't interested in making her suffer.
I wanted her to understand what she had done.
“You didn't just slap me,” I said quietly.
“You frightened my baby. You made me feel unsafe when I had done nothing wrong. And then you laughed when I asked for help.””
Victoria looked away.
My father placed a hand on my back.
“That's enough, sweetheart.””
I nodded.
Then Jonathan's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“Chairman, it's the board office.””
My father frowned.
“Why?””
Jonathan answered the call.
Listened.
Then looked at Victoria.
“Richard Whitmore is requesting an emergency meeting.””
Victoria immediately straightened.
“Good. Put him through.””
Jonathan held the phone to his ear.
“Sir, there's another issue.””
My father turned.
“What is it?””
Jonathan hesitated.
“Mr. Whitmore isn't calling to defend his wife.””
Victoria's smile vanished.
Jonathan continued.
“He's calling because he has just learned who was assaulted.””
My father extended his hand.
“Give me the phone.””
Jonathan did.
My father answered.
“Richard.””
A frantic voice came through.
“Thomas, thank God. I need to explain something.””
My father looked at Victoria.
“I'm listening.””
Richard spoke quickly.
“Whatever happened, I had nothing to do with it. I wasn't there. I don't want this damaging our business relationship.””
My father said nothing.
Then Richard added something that made his expression change.
“Please, Thomas. You know Victoria has been under a lot of pressure. There's something you need to understand about her behavior.””
Victoria's face tightened.
“Richard, don't you dare!””
My father raised one hand.
“Go on, Richard.””
The voice on the phone became quieter.
“Thomas, your daughter isn't the only person Victoria has treated this way.””
My father's eyes narrowed.
“What are you talking about?””
Richard took a breath.
Then he said:
“There are three previous complaints. And one of them involved another newborn.””
My father looked at me.
I felt Grace stir against my chest.
And suddenly, I understood that what had happened to us might not have been an isolated incident.
It might have been something Victoria had done before.
And someone had been protecting her.
May you like
Someone inside the hotel.
Someone whose name was about to change everything.
