Chapter 2: The Photograph That Started Everything
"GET THAT PHONE AWAY FROM HER!""
Victoria's scream made Lily cry harder.
I stepped backward, holding my daughter against my chest.
Brandon caught Victoria's wrist before she could reach me.
"Mrs. Whitmore, please!""
She jerked her arm away.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing? That woman is lying!""
My father's voice came through the speaker.
"Brandon, I suggest you stop allowing guests to interfere with my daughter's phone call.""
Brandon immediately straightened.
"Yes, sir. Absolutely.""
Victoria stared at him.
"You can't be serious.""
"Mrs. Whitmore," Brandon said nervously, "perhaps we should move this conversation to my office.""
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!""
I looked down at Lily.
Her tiny face was red, and her little fists trembled beside her cheeks.
I kissed her forehead.
"It's okay, sweetheart. Mommy's here.""
My father heard me.
"Emily, is Lily hurt?""
"No, Dad. She's okay.""
"Are you hurt?""
I hesitated.
"My cheek hurts.""
His breathing changed.
"Nobody touches you or that baby again. I'm coming.""
"Dad, you don't have to—"
"I'm already on my way.""
The call ended.
Victoria laughed nervously.
"Well, isn't that convenient? Suddenly, everybody's pretending you're important.""
I looked at her.
"You heard who he was.""
She lifted her chin.
"Names mean nothing to me.""
But her trembling fingers told a different story.
Brandon approached me carefully.
"Miss Ashford, I'm deeply sorry for the misunderstanding.""
I stared at him.
"Misunderstanding?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Perhaps we could discuss this privately.""
"No. You were happy to humiliate me in front of everyone. We can discuss it right here.""
A young receptionist behind the counter quietly stepped forward.
"Ma'am?""
Brandon turned sharply.
"Rachel, please return to your station.""
She ignored him.
"I saw everything. Mrs. Whitmore slapped her first.""
Victoria spun around.
"Excuse me?""
Rachel swallowed.
"You slapped the woman while she was holding her baby.""
"Watch your mouth, little girl!""
Rachel looked frightened, but she didn't step back.
"I also saw you push her.""
Brandon rubbed his forehead.
"Rachel, this is an internal matter.""
I looked at him.
"Then why did you make it public when you ordered me out?""
He had no answer.
Victoria suddenly pulled out her phone.
"I'm calling my husband.""
She pressed a contact and put the call on speaker.
"Daniel, you need to come downstairs. There's a situation.""
A man's tired voice answered.
"Victoria, I'm in a meeting.""
"Well, get out of it! The manager is letting some woman impersonate Robert Ashford's daughter.""
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Daniel Whitmore asked, "What woman?""
Victoria looked directly at me.
"Emily Ashford.""
The silence on the other end was immediate.
Then Daniel said something unexpected.
"Victoria, don't say another word.""
Her expression hardened.
"What?""
"Just listen to me. Don't touch her. Don't speak to her. And don't leave that hotel.""
Victoria lowered her voice.
"Daniel, why are you talking like that?""
"Because you have no idea what you've just done.""
He disconnected.
Victoria stared at her phone.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she turned toward me.
"Listen carefully. Whatever your father thinks he can do, my husband has connections too.""
I adjusted Lily's blanket.
"Then perhaps he should have taught you how to behave.""
Her eyes widened.
"How dare you?""
"You're the one who slapped a mother holding a newborn.""
Victoria stepped closer.
"You think you're better than me because your father owns a few hotels?""
I shook my head.
"No. I think I'm better than you because I wouldn't hurt a helpless woman just to feel powerful.""
Rachel looked down, hiding a small smile.
Victoria noticed.
"You're fired!""
Brandon immediately intervened.
"Mrs. Whitmore, you cannot fire our employees.""
"Then I'll make sure nobody here has a job tomorrow!""
A deep voice interrupted her.
"That won't be necessary.""
Everyone turned.
A tall man in a dark navy suit was walking through the revolving entrance.
My father.
Robert Ashford.
His silver hair was neatly combed, and his expression was colder than I'd ever seen it.
He crossed the lobby without looking at anyone except me.
Then he gently touched my cheek.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
His eyes moved to Lily.
"There's my beautiful granddaughter.""
I finally broke down.
He wrapped one arm around me while carefully supporting Lily's head with the other.
"I'm sorry, Dad.""
He pulled back.
"For what?""
"For causing trouble.""
His expression changed.
"Emily, you could never be trouble.""
Then he turned toward Victoria.
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
She straightened her dress.
"Mr. Ashford, I think there's been a terrible misunderstanding.""
My father glanced at my swollen cheek.
"Really?""
"Your daughter was creating a disturbance. I was simply trying to—"
"Trying to what?""
Victoria hesitated.
My father looked toward Brandon.
"Where is the security director?""
"On his way, sir.""
"Good. Because I want to see the footage.""
Victoria's face tightened.
"Surely that's unnecessary.""
Dad looked directly into her eyes.
"Then you shouldn't have any reason to fear it.""
At that moment, the security director hurried into the lobby carrying a tablet.
"Mr. Ashford, we have a problem.""
My father frowned.
"What problem?""
The director glanced at Victoria.
Then he turned the tablet around.
"Someone accessed the lobby camera system this morning and attempted to delete a recording.""
My stomach dropped.
Dad looked at the screen.
"What time?""
"Approximately 9:15 a.m.""
The director enlarged the footage.
A man wearing a hotel maintenance uniform appeared beside the security equipment.
I recognized him.
He had been standing near the reception desk when I arrived.
But the next detail made my blood run cold.
The man wasn't looking at the security cameras.
May you like
He was looking directly at me.
And in his hand was a photograph of my face.
