Chapter 3: Someone Had Paid Her to Humiliate Me
My father stared at the photograph on the tablet.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he turned toward the security director.
"Who is that man?""
"His name is Kevin Brooks. He's a temporary maintenance contractor.""
"Where is he now?""
"We're trying to locate him.""
My father placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Emily, do you recognize him?""
I shook my head.
"No. I've never seen him before today.""
Victoria suddenly laughed.
"Are we seriously investigating a maintenance worker because this woman claims I attacked her?""
My father turned.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I would strongly recommend that you stop speaking.""
She crossed her arms.
"I'm not afraid of you.""
"That's unfortunate. You should be more concerned about the consequences of your actions.""
Daniel Whitmore appeared at the entrance a moment later.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his late fifties, wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
His eyes moved from his wife to my father.
Then to my cheek.
He closed his eyes.
"Victoria.""
She immediately approached him.
"Daniel, thank goodness. Tell them what this woman is doing. She's making ridiculous accusations.""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at my father.
"Robert, I sincerely apologize.""
Victoria frowned.
"Daniel?""
He ignored her.
"I understand this looks terrible.""
My father gave a humorless laugh.
"Looks terrible? Your wife slapped my daughter while she was holding a newborn child.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"There's no excuse for that.""
Victoria grabbed his arm.
"Why are you apologizing to him? She's the one who should apologize!""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Do you know who Emily is?""
"Yes! Robert Ashford's daughter. Apparently.""
"No, Victoria. You don't understand.""
He looked at my father.
"Robert, may I explain?""
"Go ahead.""
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"Your daughter was supposed to attend our private partnership dinner this evening. The twelve-million-dollar investment was dependent on final approval from your family.""
My father didn't move.
"Correct.""
Daniel continued.
"But yesterday, someone contacted Victoria and told her that Emily would be arriving at the hotel this morning.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who contacted her?""
Daniel glanced at his wife.
"She told me it was a hotel employee.""
Victoria's face turned red.
"That's not what happened!""
Daniel opened the folder.
"Then perhaps you should explain the photograph.""
He pulled out a printed image.
It was me.
The photograph had been taken outside a hospital four days earlier. I was carrying Lily in her car seat, wearing the same sweatshirt I had worn today.
Across the top, someone had written:
*ROBERT ASHFORD'S DAUGHTER. MAKE SURE SHE NEVER REACHES THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.*
My hands began shaking.
"Where did you get that?""
Daniel looked at me.
"It was sent to Victoria yesterday.""
I stared at the paper.
"Why?""
Victoria snatched it from his hand.
"That's private!""
My father stepped between us.
"Give it back.""
She hesitated.
Then she dropped it.
My father picked it up.
"Who sent this?""
Victoria looked toward Brandon.
He immediately raised both hands.
"I had nothing to do with this, sir.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Victoria, tell him the truth.""
She glared at her husband.
"You're supposed to be on my side!""
"I'm trying to keep you from making this worse.""
My father turned toward Daniel.
"What exactly did your wife believe she was accomplishing?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he spoke quietly.
"She believed that humiliating Emily publicly would make you reconsider the partnership.""
I couldn't understand.
"Why would my humiliation affect the partnership?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Because Victoria has been pushing me to withdraw from the agreement unless you personally approve certain changes to the contract.""
My father frowned.
"What changes?""
Daniel opened another section of the folder.
"She wanted the hotel group to award her company exclusive management rights over three properties.""
Dad's expression became unreadable.
"That wasn't part of our agreement.""
"I know.""
"Then why is it in this folder?""
Daniel looked down.
"Because Victoria had someone prepare a revised proposal without my authorization.""
Victoria exploded.
"Daniel! Stop telling them everything!""
He finally turned toward her.
"You put our entire company at risk!""
She pointed at me.
"All I did was deal with an arrogant little girl who thought she could walk into a luxury hotel wearing pajamas!""
My father took one step forward.
"That's my daughter.""
Victoria's mouth closed.
"And that little girl," he continued, looking down at Lily, "is my granddaughter.""
He turned to Brandon.
"Effective immediately, you're suspended pending a full investigation into your handling of this incident.""
Brandon's face collapsed.
"Mr. Ashford, please. I made a mistake.""
"You had several opportunities to do the right thing. You chose the person wearing the most expensive necklace.""
Brandon lowered his head.
My father then turned toward Rachel.
"What's your full name?""
"Rachel Morgan, sir.""
"How long have you worked here?""
"Three years.""
"And you witnessed everything?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Thank you for telling the truth. I want you to report directly to the security director. Nobody is permitted to retaliate against you.""
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you, Mr. Ashford.""
I looked at my father.
He had always taught me that money could open doors, but character determined what happened after you walked through them.
Today, I finally understood what he meant.
Then the security director's radio crackled.
"Mr. Ashford?""
Dad turned.
"What is it?""
"We located Kevin Brooks.""
"Where?""
"Parking garage. He's attempting to leave.""
"Stop him. Do not let him destroy anything.""
The director hesitated.
"There's another issue.""
My father narrowed his eyes.
"Speak.""
"We searched his locker. We found a second photograph of Emily.""
I felt Lily's tiny hand move against my chest.
The director continued.
"And a printed copy of her hospital discharge paperwork.""
My blood ran cold.
"How did he get that?""
Nobody answered.
Then the director added one final detail.
"There's a handwritten note on the back of the photograph. It says, 'If the first attempt fails, make sure the baby is taken away.''"
I stopped breathing.
My father immediately pulled me closer.
Victoria suddenly looked terrified.
But it wasn't my father's reaction that frightened me most.
It was the fact that Daniel Whitmore looked at the note and whispered:
"Oh, God. They were never supposed to involve the baby.""
My father slowly turned toward him.
"Who are they, Daniel?""
Daniel's hands began shaking.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Emily, there's something about your husband's family that your father doesn't know.""
I stared at him.
"My husband?""
Daniel nodded.
May you like
And the next words he spoke changed everything.
"Your husband wasn't supposed to let you leave the hospital alive with that child.""
