Chapter 6: The Reservation That Was Never Supposed to Exist
I stared at Jonathan.
“Richard tried to cancel my reservation?””
Jonathan nodded.
“Not exactly. He requested that your suite be reassigned and that your booking be transferred to the standard guest floor.””
My father frowned.
“On whose authority?””
“The request was submitted using an executive hospitality account.””
“Whose account?””
Jonathan checked the document.
“Richard Whitmore's corporate account.””
I looked at Dad.
“Why would he do that?””
My father didn't answer.
He took the tablet and read the request carefully.
The reservation had originally been created three weeks earlier.
The suite was number 1802.
It had been reserved under my name and marked as a chairman's family booking.
Then, two days before my arrival, someone had submitted a request to downgrade the reservation.
The reason was written in a small box.
SPECIAL GUEST PRIORITY.
I felt a cold sensation move through my stomach.
“Was that why Victoria was angry when she saw me?””
Jonathan shook his head.
“We don't know yet.””
My father handed the tablet back.
“Find out who approved the change.””
Jonathan checked the history.
“Daniel Price.””
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
“Of course.””
I looked at him.
“Daddy, did you know Richard?””
“Professionally.””
“Were you friends?””
He shook his head.
“We've done business together. I've never considered him a close friend.””
“Then why does he have access to your family's reservation?””
“Because we have a hospitality partnership with several corporate clients. Their executives can request certain accommodations.””
I looked at the screen again.
“Could he have known I was coming?””
My father nodded.
“If he accessed the booking records.””
Jonathan interrupted.
“There's something else.””
My father looked at him.
“Go on.””
“Your daughter's reservation was created through the chairman's office, but the guest profile was not visible to ordinary reception staff. Only the executive hospitality department could see the full details.””
“So Daniel knew it was a family booking?””
“Yes.””
“And he approved the downgrade anyway?””
Jonathan nodded.
My father looked toward the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he turned to Jonathan.
“Bring Daniel here.””
Jonathan left.
I shifted Grace into her carrier.
She was beginning to fuss, and I wanted my hands free.
My father watched me.
“Are you tired?””
“A little.””
“Then we can stop.””
I shook my head.
“I want to know why this happened.””
He nodded.
“Then we'll find out.””
I looked at him.
“Dad, do you think someone wanted me to be treated badly?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he sat beside me.
“Naomi, I don't know. I won't invent an answer just because we're frightened or angry. But the records suggest someone deliberately interfered with your booking.””
I swallowed.
“And the slap?””
“That's a separate matter. Victoria is responsible for her own actions.””
A knock came at the door.
Daniel entered.
His suit was no longer perfectly arranged.
His tie hung slightly loose.
He looked like a man who had spent the last hour watching his career disappear.
“Chairman.””
My father gestured toward a chair.
“Sit down.””
Daniel remained standing.
“I'd rather stand, sir.””
“That's your choice.””
Jonathan placed the tablet on the table.
“Mr. Price, did you authorize the downgrade of Naomi Brooks's reservation?””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“Yes.””
My father waited.
“Why?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I was instructed to prioritize another guest.””
“Who?””
“Mrs. Whitmore.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Victoria wanted my room?””
Daniel glanced at me.
“She wanted the executive suite.””
“Why?””
“She said her husband was expecting an important business associate and needed the room.””
My father raised an eyebrow.
“Then why was Naomi's booking moved instead of assigning another available suite?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Because the hotel was close to capacity.””
Jonathan checked the availability records.
“That's not correct. There were four comparable suites available.””
Daniel said nothing.
My father leaned forward.
“Try again.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Mrs. Whitmore said she had been promised the suite.””
“By whom?””
“Mr. Whitmore.””
“And who told you to change my daughter's reservation?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Mrs. Shaw.””
My father looked toward Jonathan.
“Eleanor?””
Daniel nodded.
“She told me the request had been approved at regional level.””
“Did you verify it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because Mrs. Whitmore threatened to complain directly to Mr. Whitmore if I refused.””
My father stared at him.
“So you sacrificed a guest's confirmed reservation because another guest threatened you.””
Daniel's face reddened.
“I made a poor decision.””
“You made several.””
Daniel nodded.
“I know.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you know I was the chairman's daughter?””
He looked at me.
“No, ma'am.””
“But you knew I had a confirmed reservation.””
“Yes.””
“You knew I was holding a newborn.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Victoria had hit me.””
His eyes dropped.
“Yes.””
I felt my voice grow quieter.
“Then what difference would my surname have made?””
Daniel looked up.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely ashamed.
“It shouldn't have made any difference.””
“No,” I said.
“It shouldn't.””
He rubbed his hands together.
“Mrs. Brooks, I'm sorry.””
I looked at him.
“I believe you're sorry now.””
He nodded.
“But when I needed help, you didn't care whether I was telling the truth. You cared whether Victoria would complain.””
Daniel's eyes filled.
“I was afraid of losing my position.””
I looked at my father.
Then back at Daniel.
“And what about the people who lost their jobs? The people who paid for your decisions?””
He didn't answer.
My father stood.
“Your access to the hotel's systems will remain suspended. Human Resources will conduct a formal review, and you will have an opportunity to respond to every allegation.””
Daniel nodded.
“Understood, sir.””
He turned to leave.
But Jonathan stopped him.
“One more question, Mr. Price.””
Daniel looked back.
“Did Mrs. Whitmore know the chairman's family reservation was under Naomi's name?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.””
My father frowned.
“How?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Mrs. Shaw showed her the reservation details.””
I felt my heart beat faster.
“Why would she show Victoria my personal booking information?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“I don't know.””
My father stepped forward.
“Was that before or after the downgrade request?””
“Before.””
Silence.
Then Daniel added something that made the room feel colder.
“Mrs. Whitmore asked whether the guest was really coming alone.””
I stared.
“What?””
“She asked whether you would arrive with anyone from the chairman's office.””
My father looked at him sharply.
“What did you tell her?””
“I told her the booking was for one adult and one infant.””
I couldn't move.
Victoria had known I was coming.
She had known I was alone.
And she had known there was a connection between my reservation and the chairman's office.
“Why?”” I whispered.
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
My father turned toward Jonathan.
“I want the original booking request, every access log, and every communication between Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Price, and Richard Whitmore.””
Jonathan nodded.
“Understood.””
Daniel was escorted out.
For a while, nobody spoke.
I looked down at Grace.
She was sleeping peacefully.
I brushed a finger over her tiny cheek.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“What if Victoria knew exactly who I was?””
My father looked at me.
“Then we need to find out why she wanted your reservation changed.””
I swallowed.
Jonathan returned with another document.
“Chairman, we found the original request.””
He placed it on the table.
My father read it.
His expression became unreadable.
“What is this?””
Jonathan pointed to the bottom of the page.
“It's the instruction sent to the regional office three days before Mrs. Brooks arrived.””
I leaned closer.
There was a handwritten note beneath the approval signature.
I recognized the name immediately.
Richard Whitmore.
But it wasn't the note itself that frightened me.
It was the sentence beneath it.
*DO NOT INFORM THOMAS BROOKS THAT NAOMI WILL BE STAYING AT THE ASHBOURNE GRAND.*
My father read it twice.
Then he looked at me.
“Naomi, did you tell Richard you were coming here?””
I shook my head.
“No. I've barely spoken to him.””
Jonathan turned another page.
“Chairman, there's an attached message.””
My father read it silently.
Then his hand tightened around the paper.
“Who sent this?””
Jonathan looked at the sender information.
“Richard Whitmore.””
My father turned the page toward me.
The message contained just two lines.
*She must not meet Thomas before the shareholders' meeting.*
*If she discovers what happened to Daniel Brooks, everything could fall apart.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Daniel Brooks.
My late husband.
I looked at my father.
“Daddy…”
His eyes were fixed on the message.
I had never seen him look so frightened.
“What does Richard know about my husband?””
My father slowly folded the paper.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Something I prayed you would never have to discover.””
