Chapter 2 - The Man in the Gray Tie

I put myself between Ellie and Cole before my mind finished naming the danger.

"Who is your mother?" I asked.

"Nora Bennett. She worked for you."

I knew the name. Nora was a former financial analyst at the Vale Foundation. Her husband, Aaron, had been a security supervisor at one of our warehouses until a highway accident killed him last winter. "Where's Nora now?"

Ellie's eyes filled. "I don't know."

"Daniel!" Vanessa clutched my arm. "I'm the one who's pregnant. Why are you interrogating a child while I need help?"

I called the hotel's medical team anyway. "We can take you to Northwestern," Priya said. "They can check you and the baby."

"Absolutely not," Vanessa replied too quickly. "My own doctor handles everything."

Priya's expression flickered. "Then call your doctor."

Cole stepped closer. "Daniel, the estate documents must be signed tonight. Your father's contingency provision expires at midnight. We can't let some child derail a hundred-million-dollar transfer."

"My fiancee is supposedly hurt," I said. "And you're talking about money?"

"I'm talking about protecting your family."

I looked at the paper in Ellie's fist. "Rosa, take Ellie to the private lounge. Stay with her. No one else goes in."

Rosa hesitated. "She won't be safe there alone."

"You'll be with her. I'll send my security chief."

"Not the hotel guards," Rosa said. "Not tonight."

Before I could ask why, Vanessa tried to grab Ellie's arm. "Give me that paper. It belongs to me."

Ellie recoiled. Rosa caught her and moved toward the service corridor, fast enough to make the tray rattle behind them.

I followed, but two donors crowded in, asking about the disturbance. By the time I pushed free, Rosa and Ellie were gone.

Cole stood at the hall entrance, speaking softly into his phone. His eyes tracked the service doors.

"Who are you calling?" I demanded.

"Transportation for Vanessa."

"Then why did you just say, 'Get the girl before the elevators'?"

He lowered the phone. A muscle jumped in his cheek.

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From the corridor came a child's short, terrified scream.

I ran.