Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Owned Nothing, Apparently
"The owner's?" I repeated.
"That's what the alert says," Patrick replied. "If you have a complaint, take it to corporate."
I was corporate. More precisely, the Vance Hospitality Trust held controlling ownership of the Bellwether Grand, and I was its chair. But my late husband, Daniel, had insisted on a management structure that kept our family out of the daily spotlight. We had agreed it would let employees work without looking over their shoulders.
It had also let someone put a false order in my name.
"Read me the exact language," I said.
Patrick tilted the screen away. "That's confidential."
Mateo cleared his throat. "We could take her to the lounge. The little girl's asleep."
"Not without a room charge," Karl muttered.
The woman in the red coat walked closer. "I watched the entire thing," she told Mateo. "This woman was polite."
"Thank you," I said.
"My name's Evelyn Shaw," she replied. "I'm a guest here."
Patrick frowned. "Ms. Shaw, this is a private matter."
"You made it public."
Lily woke at the sound of his sharp voice. She lifted her head, sleepy brown eyes searching my face. "Mom? Did we get the room?"
"Almost, sweetheart."
"Can we put Daddy's flowers somewhere safe?"
I kissed the top of her head. "Yes."
Patrick looked at the roses again, and for the first time he seemed embarrassed. But embarrassment did not stop him.
"Maybe it would be better to find another hotel tonight," he said.
"You canceled my room?"
"I didn't say that."
My phone vibrated inside my bag. A message from my assistant, Naomi: YOU'VE BEEN MARKED AS A TRESPASS RISK IN THE BELLWETHER SECURITY SYSTEM. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THIS.
May you like
I stared at the words, then at Patrick.
Someone had been waiting for me to walk through those doors.
