Chapter 4 - SARAH'S MONEY PAID FOR THE PARTY
Ethan left Lily with a hotel nanny from the corporate security team.
Not Patricia.
Not anyone Victor selected.
Someone Ethan had known for years.
Before stepping into the hallway, he tucked Sarah’s letter inside his jacket.
Lupita followed him toward the elevator.
“You don’t have to come downstairs,” Ethan said.
“Yes, I do.”
He looked at her.
She surprised him.
“Why?”
“Because people like Mr. Hale are very brave when employees are alone.”
The elevator doors opened.
Ethan nodded.
“Then stay beside me.”
When they reached the mezzanine overlooking the ballroom, Ethan saw where Sarah’s missing money had gone.
Crystal installations hung from the ceiling.
Custom floral walls covered entire sections of marble.
A twelve-piece band played near a stage displaying the words:
THE FUTURE OF GRAND REGENT.
Ethan’s stomach turned.
Servers moved through the crowd carrying champagne.
Investment bankers.
Lawyers.
Hotel executives.
Private-equity representatives.
More than two hundred people discussing the future of a hotel its owner had not agreed to sell.
Victor spotted Ethan immediately.
He rushed toward him.
“Sir.”
“Where is Martin?”
Victor hesitated.
“He hasn’t arrived.”
“Wrong answer.”
“I mean, I’m not sure.”
“You’re the general manager hosting his unauthorized investor event.”
Victor lowered his voice.
“This is not unauthorized.”
“Show me my authorization.”
“I don’t personally handle corporate paperwork.”
“But you personally moved $2.9 million out of my wife’s employee fund.”
Victor’s face emptied.
Lupita inhaled sharply beside him.
“That accusation is completely inaccurate.”
“The transfers went into Regent Executive Events.”
“I don’t control corporate accounting.”
“Your electronic approval appears on twelve of them.”
Victor stared at him.
Ethan continued.
“Would you like another answer?”
Victor looked toward Lupita.
And there it was.
Not fear of Ethan.
Anger at the employee who had witnessed the conversation.
“You should be working,” Victor said.
Lupita stiffened.
Ethan stepped between them.
“She is.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“Sir, with respect, housekeeping staff should not be part of executive discussions.”
“With respect, the housekeeping employee was the only person in your lobby tonight who understood basic hospitality.”
Victor said nothing.
Ethan’s phone vibrated.
Adrian had found more.
The fund had paid for consulting agreements.
Executive retreats.
A luxury vehicle lease.
Private flights.
And tonight’s gala.
Sarah’s emergency fund had become a private expense account.
Ethan looked down at the ballroom.
Sarah had created that money for employees facing chemotherapy.
Children in hospitals.
Parents burying spouses.
Meanwhile, executives were drinking champagne purchased with it.
“End the gala.”
Victor stared.
“What?”
“Now.”
“You can’t.”
The words slipped out before Victor could stop them.
Ethan turned slowly.
“I can’t?”
Victor recovered.
“I mean, there are binding agreements. Investors. Legal obligations.”
“None signed by me.”
“You’re not the only shareholder.”
“I’m controlling owner.”
Victor looked at him strangely.
Almost pityingly.
Ethan noticed.
“What?”
Nothing.
“What aren’t you saying?”
Victor’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
And suddenly relaxed.
“Perhaps you should speak with Martin.”
Behind Ethan, applause began inside the ballroom.
The band stopped.
A man stepped onto the stage.
Martin Cole.
Ethan’s CFO.
His oldest business friend.
Martin smiled beneath the lights.
“Good evening, everyone.”
Ethan felt something cold settle inside his chest.
Martin continued:
“Tonight marks the beginning of a new era for the Grand Regent.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
The smallest smile appeared.
Ethan moved toward the ballroom.
Then Lupita grabbed his sleeve.
“Mr. Vance.”
He stopped.
She pointed toward the front desk below.
Patricia and Karla had cornered another housekeeping employee.
A security guard stood beside them.
“What’s happening?”
Lupita’s face went pale.
“They’re emptying my locker.”
Ethan turned.
Victor said nothing.
Lupita looked at him.
“You told them.”
Victor smiled.
“I told security we may have an employee stealing confidential property.”
Sarah’s letter.
They knew about it.
And suddenly Ethan understood.
May you like
His anonymous arrival had not started the crisis.
It had interrupted one already in progress.
