Chapter 2: The Name That Changed Everything
"Mr. Brooks?""
Marcus said it so quietly that I almost didn't hear him.
He was staring at my phone.
I hadn't answered my father's question yet.
"Dad," I whispered, "what do you mean?""
My father exhaled.
"Danielle, I was hoping you would never have to learn about the business this way.""
Across the lobby, the two men in suits approached the reception desk.
The older one spoke briefly to Emily before walking toward Marcus.
"Mr. Reed," he said, "we need you to remain here.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Can I help you?""
The man extended his hand.
"James Porter. Executive security director for Brooks Hospitality Group.""
Marcus looked as though someone had pulled the floor out from beneath him.
Brooks Hospitality Group.
The company that owned the Sterling Crown.
The company whose founder and chairman was my father, Richard Brooks.
Victoria, however, didn't seem impressed.
She stepped forward, her diamonds flashing beneath the chandelier.
"Excuse me. This is a private matter. I'm sure the hotel can handle its own guests without outside interference.""
James turned toward her.
"Mrs. Hale?""
Victoria lifted her chin.
"Yes. And I expect you to address me respectfully.""
"I'm afraid you'll need to wait.""
She laughed.
"Do you know who I am?""
James's expression didn't change.
"Yes, ma'am. That's why I'm asking you to wait.""
I could hear my father speaking through the phone.
"Danielle?""
"I'm here, Dad.""
"James is there?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Put him on speaker, please.""
I did.
My father's voice filled the quiet space around us.
"James.""
"Good afternoon, Mr. Brooks.""
"Where is my daughter?""
James looked directly at me.
"She's beside the lounge seating area, sir. She's safe. Her infant daughter is with her.""
"Is she injured?""
"She has visible redness on her cheek. We're arranging medical assistance if she wants it.""
"Who struck her?""
James glanced toward Victoria.
"Mrs. Victoria Hale.""
My father's voice went silent.
Then he spoke.
"Don't let anyone leave until you've secured the relevant camera footage. I want the lobby recording preserved immediately.""
"Understood, sir.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Mr. Brooks, I sincerely apologize for the confusion.""
My father ignored him.
"Who is that?""
James answered.
"Marcus Reed, the hotel manager.""
"Is he the person who ordered Danielle to leave?""
"Yes, sir.""
Another silence.
Then my father said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Marcus, you have approximately thirty seconds to explain why you threw my daughter out of her own family's hotel after she was assaulted.""
Victoria's head snapped toward me.
"His daughter?""
She looked at me again.
This time, her eyes moved from my cardigan to my face.
Then to the phone.
Then back to James.
I could almost see her trying to rearrange everything she'd assumed about me.
"That's impossible," she said.
Marcus looked as though he wanted to disappear.
"Mr. Brooks, I didn't know—"
"That's the problem, Marcus.""
My father cut him off.
"You didn't know who she was, so you decided she didn't deserve to be treated fairly?""
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Victoria stepped forward.
"This is ridiculous. I didn't know she was related to the owner.""
I turned toward her.
"Would that have made it acceptable?""
She blinked.
"What?""
"If I weren't his daughter, would it have been okay to slap me?""
Victoria's lips tightened.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
She glanced at Marcus, expecting him to rescue her.
He didn't.
My father spoke again.
"Danielle, I'm coming upstairs from the parking entrance. Stay with James.""
"Okay, Dad.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Victoria gave a sharp laugh.
"Well, this is awkward.""
I stared at her.
"Awkward?""
She adjusted her bracelet.
"Obviously, there's been a misunderstanding.""
"You slapped me.""
"I was upset.""
"You called me someone who didn't belong here.""
"I was referring to your behavior.""
I shook my head.
"My behavior? I was sitting on a sofa holding my baby.""
Victoria's companion, a younger woman with dark hair, finally spoke.
"Victoria, you actually hit her. I saw it.""
Victoria turned on her.
"Olivia, don't get involved.""
"But you did.""
"Not another word.""
Olivia lowered her eyes.
I noticed her hands trembling around the shopping bags.
James approached me.
"Ms. Brooks, would you prefer to sit in a private office while we handle this?""
"No. I want to stay here.""
"Of course.""
I looked at Marcus.
"And I want the camera footage preserved. I asked him to check it before he ordered me out.""
Marcus nodded quickly.
"Absolutely.""
"Don't say absolutely because my father owns the hotel. Say it because it's the right thing to do.""
His face reddened.
"You're right.""
I wasn't sure I believed him.
A moment later, the elevator doors opened.
My father walked into the lobby.
Richard Brooks was sixty-one years old, tall, broad-shouldered, with silver hair and the kind of quiet authority that made people instinctively straighten their backs.
He wore a dark navy suit without a tie.
He wasn't surrounded by an army of assistants.
He didn't need to be.
My father saw me and immediately crossed the lobby.
"Sweetheart.""
I tried to smile.
He stopped in front of me, carefully examining my cheek.
"Oh, Danielle.""
His voice softened.
"Let me see.""
I turned my face slightly.
His jaw tightened.
"Did she hit you hard?""
"Hard enough.""
He looked at Grace.
"How's my little girl?""
Grace had stopped crying, but she was still making tiny hiccuping sounds.
My father gently touched her blanket.
"Grandpa's here, sweetheart.""
Then he turned toward Victoria.
"Which one of you is Victoria Hale?""
Victoria stepped forward.
"I am.""
My father looked at her for several seconds.
"Richard Brooks.""
She forced a smile.
"I know who you are. I've heard wonderful things about your company.""
"Apparently, you haven't heard enough.""
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"Mr. Brooks, I'm sure we can resolve this privately.""
"Privately?""
He glanced toward the guests watching from the lounge.
"My daughter was assaulted in front of half this lobby. Your definition of private is interesting.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"There was a disagreement.""
"You struck a woman holding a newborn.""
"She was being disrespectful.""
My father stared at her.
"What exactly did she do?""
Victoria hesitated.
"She—"
"Did she touch you?""
"No.""
"Threaten you?""
"No, but—"
"Did she raise her voice?""
Victoria glanced at Marcus.
He looked away.
"Not particularly," she admitted.
My father nodded slowly.
"So you hit her because you didn't like the way she looked.""
"That's not what happened!""
"Then explain what happened.""
Victoria's cheeks flushed.
"I thought she was a trespasser.""
My father turned toward James.
"Was she?""
"No, sir. The lounge is open to visitors. Emily confirmed that she had given Danielle permission to sit there.""
My father looked at the receptionist.
"Emily?""
The young woman stepped forward nervously.
"Yes, Mr. Brooks. I told Ms. Brooks she could use the lounge.""
"Thank you for telling the truth.""
Emily nodded.
Victoria shook her head.
"This is absurd. I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at this hotel over the years. I have business relationships with important people.""
My father didn't blink.
"That doesn't give you permission to assault people.""
Marcus finally found his voice.
"Mr. Brooks, I want to apologize. I made a poor judgment call.""
My father turned.
"Did you watch the incident?""
"Not yet.""
"Then why did you take Mrs. Hale's word over Danielle's?""
Marcus shifted his weight.
"I was trying to prevent a disturbance.""
"By punishing the person who was assaulted?""
"I understand how it looks.""
My father stepped closer.
"It looks exactly like what happened.""
The lobby had become completely silent.
A waiter stood motionless beside a table. Guests were watching from the restaurant entrance.
My father looked toward James.
"Get the footage.""
James nodded and walked toward the security office.
Then my father did something unexpected.
He turned to me.
"Danielle, would you like to go home?""
I looked down at Grace.
Part of me wanted to leave immediately.
But another part remembered the way Victoria had smiled when Marcus ordered me out.
The way she had laughed while my daughter cried.
The way every person in that lobby had watched.
"No," I said.
My father raised his eyebrows.
"No?""
"I want to know how often this happens.""
He studied me.
"To whom?""
"To people who don't have a father who owns the building.""
His expression changed.
For a moment, I saw something like pride beneath the anger.
"All right.""
He turned toward James's empty position.
"Then we'll find out.""
Before anyone could respond, a woman hurried through the lobby doors.
She wore a cream-colored blazer and carried a leather folder.
"Mr. Brooks!""
My father turned.
"Margaret?""
It was Margaret Ellis, the group's chief operating officer.
She approached quickly, looking between my father, Marcus, and me.
"Richard, I received your message. What's happened?""
My father pointed toward my cheek.
"Ask Marcus.""
Margaret looked at him.
Marcus swallowed.
"Mrs. Hale and Ms. Brooks had a disagreement.""
Margaret frowned.
"That doesn't explain the injury.""
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
"Margaret, thank goodness. You know me. Tell them this is all being blown out of proportion.""
Margaret looked at her.
Then she looked at me.
"Danielle?""
I nodded.
She placed her folder on the reception desk.
"Richard, before we discuss the incident, there's something you need to know.""
My father frowned.
"What?""
Margaret glanced toward Victoria.
"Mrs. Hale isn't simply a frequent guest.""
Victoria's expression changed.
Margaret opened the folder.
"She's the representative of the investment group currently negotiating to purchase a controlling interest in our hotel management subsidiary.""
My father slowly turned toward Victoria.
"You're the investor?""
Victoria lifted her chin.
"Among others.""
Margaret nodded.
"And the proposed transaction is scheduled for final review tomorrow morning.""
My father stared at the paperwork.
Then he looked at the woman who had slapped his daughter.
"Interesting.""
Victoria's confidence returned.
"Now that we've established there are business interests involved, perhaps we can handle this without unnecessary publicity.""
My father didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Margaret.
"Who approved the preliminary agreement?""
Margaret hesitated.
"Your signature is still required.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She lowered her voice.
"Daniel Mercer recommended moving forward.""
My father's expression hardened.
Daniel Mercer was his longtime chief financial officer.
A man who had worked beside him for nearly twenty years.
And suddenly, the incident in the lobby felt much bigger than a wealthy woman losing her temper.
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Because my father wasn't just looking at Victoria anymore.
He was looking at the possibility that someone inside his own company had given her a reason to believe she was untouchable.
