Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Betrayal
Robert Brooks stared at the name on Richard's phone.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Danielle had never seen her father look quite like that. She had seen him negotiate with billionaires, fire executives, and walk away from deals worth hundreds of millions without blinking.
But now his face had gone pale.
“Dad?”” she asked quietly.
Robert slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Richard, I want the regional director brought here. Immediately.””
“His office says he's unavailable.””
“Then tell him his position may not be available much longer.””
Richard nodded and stepped aside to make another call.
Danielle adjusted Grace's blanket.
“Who is it?””
Robert looked at his daughter.
“Ethan Cole.””
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Uncle Ethan?””
Robert nodded.
Ethan Cole had been Robert's closest friend for almost twenty-five years. He had stood beside him when Brooks Hospitality Group owned only two struggling properties. He had attended Danielle's graduation, visited her after surgery as a child, and delivered a speech at her wedding.
Danielle had called him Uncle Ethan for as long as she could remember.
She couldn't understand why his name was appearing beside suspicious financial transactions.
“That doesn't make sense,” she whispered.
“I know.””
“Ethan helped you build everything.””
“He did.””
“Then there must be an explanation.””
Robert looked toward the elevators.
“That's what I'm hoping.””
Richard returned.
“The regional director is on his way.””
“Good.””
Robert turned to Danielle.
“I want you and Grace to go somewhere comfortable. Helen can arrange a private suite.””
Danielle shook her head.
“No.””
“Sweetheart—”
“I've spent the entire morning being told where I don't belong. I'm not hiding in a room while everyone decides what happened to me.””
Robert studied her.
Then he nodded.
“All right. But if Grace needs anything, you tell me immediately.””
“I will.””
He kissed his granddaughter's forehead before walking toward the executive lounge.
Twenty minutes later, a man in a navy suit emerged from the elevator.
He was in his early fifties, with neatly combed brown hair and a silver watch.
His name was Peter Lawson, the regional director responsible for overseeing several hotels.
“Robert!”” Peter greeted him with a forced smile.
“I heard there was an unfortunate incident.””
Robert didn't return the smile.
“Sit down, Peter.””
Peter glanced at Danielle.
“Is that your daughter?””
“Yes.””
“I hope she's feeling better. These things can happen when staff members misunderstand a situation.””
Danielle looked at him.
“Misunderstand?””
Peter cleared his throat.
“I only mean that sometimes there are two perspectives.””
Robert leaned forward.
“My daughter was slapped. We have video evidence. Your manager ignored her complaint and ordered her out.””
Peter nodded.
“Of course, that should have been handled differently.””
“Should have?””
“I'll make sure the staff receive additional training.””
Robert stared at him.
“Is that your answer?””
Peter shifted in his chair.
“What would you like me to do?””
“Explain why your name appears in a series of financial approvals benefiting the Harringtons.””
The smile disappeared.
“What approvals?””
Richard placed a printed report on the table.
Peter glanced at it.
His expression changed.
“These are routine business development expenses.””
“Then why were personal hotel bills charged to the account?””
Peter folded his hands.
“Charles Harrington is an important business contact.””
“Was he paying for the services?””
“Not directly.””
“Then who was?””
Peter looked toward Richard.
“I'm not sure I understand the implication.””
Robert opened the report.
“Six months of waived room charges. Private dining expenses. Event reservations.
Transportation services. All associated with the Harrington family.””
Peter rubbed his forehead.
“Those arrangements were part of a relationship-building initiative.””
“Approved by whom?””
Peter hesitated.
“Ethan.””
Danielle felt her stomach tighten.
Robert didn't react.
“Did Ethan instruct you to approve these expenses?””
“Yes.””
“Did he tell you why?””
Peter looked down.
“He said the Harringtons were helping us secure a major investment opportunity.””
Robert leaned back.
“And what investment opportunity was that?””
Peter remained silent.
Richard opened another document.
“We found correspondence between Peter and Charles Harrington.””
Peter's head snapped up.
“You had no authority to access my private emails.””
Richard's voice remained calm.
“They were company emails stored on company servers.””
Peter turned toward Robert.
“This is getting out of hand.””
Robert stood.
“No, Peter. It has been out of hand for months. I simply hadn't been looking in the right direction.””
Peter rose too.
“Robert, please. Let me explain this privately.””
Robert shook his head.
“You've had six months to explain it.””
He turned toward Richard.
“Place Peter on administrative leave pending a complete investigation. Preserve all his correspondence and financial records.””
Peter's face reddened.
“You can't do that without a formal review.””
“I just ordered one.””
Peter looked toward Danielle.
“Miss Brooks, perhaps you could speak to your father. I'm sure you understand how damaging this could be to innocent employees.””
Danielle stared at him.
“Did you think about innocent employees when you approved those expenses?””
Peter's mouth tightened.
“I wasn't involved in what happened to you.””
“But you helped create the environment where certain guests believed they could do whatever they wanted.””
“That is an unfair conclusion.””
“Then explain the transactions.””
Peter looked away.
Robert motioned toward Richard.
“Please escort him to the administrative office.””
Peter gathered his papers.
As he walked away, he stopped beside Robert.
“You should be careful about what you uncover. Ethan has been doing things you know nothing about.””
Robert's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
Peter lowered his voice.
“Ask him about the acquisition agreement.””
Then he left.
For several seconds, Robert remained motionless.
Danielle approached.
“Dad, what acquisition agreement?””
Robert looked at her.
“I rejected the Harrington proposal three months ago. They wanted to purchase a controlling interest in our luxury hotel division.””
“And Ethan?””
“He was handling negotiations.””
“Could he have gone behind your back?””
Robert didn't answer.
He looked toward the lobby's enormous glass doors.
Outside, a black sedan pulled up to the entrance.
A familiar figure stepped out.
Ethan Cole.
He entered the hotel carrying a leather briefcase, smiling as he approached the reception desk.
Then he spotted Robert.
His smile widened.
“Robert! I heard there was some trouble.””
Robert didn't move.
Ethan shook his hand.
“Is everything all right?””
Robert looked directly into his eyes.
“That's what I'm trying to find out.””
Ethan's gaze shifted toward Danielle.
His expression softened.
“Danielle! My goodness. Look at you. And who's this little princess?””
He leaned forward as if to greet Grace.
Danielle instinctively stepped back.
Ethan noticed.
His smile faded slightly.
“What's wrong?””
Robert answered before she could.
“Ethan, we need to talk.””
“Of course.””
“About the Harringtons.””
Ethan's expression became unreadable.
“Ah.””
“And about a document you apparently authorized without my knowledge.””
Ethan slowly closed his briefcase.
May you like
Then he looked at Robert and said something that made Danielle's blood run cold.
“Before you accuse me of anything, you should know that the Harringtons have something that belongs to your daughter.””
