Chapter 2 - THE MORNING HE LEARNED HER NAME
At 6:58 a.m., Ryan walked out of the private elevator with Sabrina on his arm.
He looked furious.
Sabrina looked amused.
Neither looked frightened.
Not yet.
The lobby was quieter than the night before.
Fresh flowers had replaced the arrangements near the entrance.
Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows.
Charlotte sat alone in one of the cream-colored lobby chairs drinking coffee.
Same cardigan.
Same sneakers.
Ryan marched toward her.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Charlotte looked at her watch.
“Good morning.”
“Don’t play games.”
Sabrina crossed her arms.
“You’re still here?”
Charlotte sipped her coffee.
“Yes.”
Ryan lowered his voice.
“I told you to go home.”
“And I declined.”
He turned toward Ethan.
“Security.”
Ethan didn’t move.
Ryan stared.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes, Mr. Collins.”
“Then call security.”
“They’re already here.”
Two senior security officers stood near the entrance.
Ryan pointed at Charlotte.
“Remove her.”
Neither moved.
Ryan’s expression darkened.
“What is wrong with everyone?”
Charlotte set down her cup.
“Perhaps you should ask them.”
Ryan turned toward Ethan.
“You’re the manager.”
“Yes.”
“Then do your job.”
“I am.”
Sabrina sighed dramatically.
“This is embarrassing.”
Charlotte looked at her.
“You said that last night.”
Sabrina smiled.
“And somehow it’s even more true this morning.”
Then the executive elevator opened.
Marcus Harrison emerged first.
Maya Chen followed.
Then five Bennett Global directors.
Last came Adrian Bennett.
Charlotte’s uncle.
Gray-haired.
Elegant.
Expensive navy suit.
The moment Adrian saw Charlotte, his face changed.
Only slightly.
But she noticed.
“Charlotte.”
“Uncle Adrian.”
Ryan looked between them.
“You know her?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Sabrina’s smile disappeared.
Ryan laughed nervously.
“Adrian?”
Charlotte stood.
“Would you like to tell him?”
Her uncle stared at her.
“Not here.”
“Why not?”
“This is a family matter.”
Charlotte glanced around the Monarch lobby.
“No.”
“It became a corporate matter approximately twelve-point-six million dollars ago.”
Sabrina went white.
Ryan turned toward her.
“What is she talking about?”
Charlotte looked at Ethan.
“Would you bring me yesterday’s closing report?”
“Yes, Madam Chair.”
The words landed like a gunshot.
Ryan stared at Ethan.
“What did you call her?”
Nobody answered.
Ethan returned carrying a black folder embossed with gold lettering.
BENNETT GLOBAL HOSPITALITY GROUP — CHAIRMAN’S OFFICE
He handed it to Charlotte.
Ryan looked at the folder.
Then at her.
Then at Adrian.
“Madam Chair?”
Charlotte opened the folder.
“My full legal title is Charlotte Evelyn Bennett Collins.”
She paused.
“But professionally, I remained Charlotte Bennett.”
Ryan’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Charlotte continued.
“Chairwoman and controlling shareholder of Bennett Global Hospitality Group.”
She looked toward the chandelier.
“Which owns this hotel.”
Sabrina actually laughed.
A short, disbelieving sound.
“No.”
Charlotte looked at her.
“No?”
“This hotel belongs to Monarch International.”
“Monarch International is a wholly owned Bennett Global subsidiary.”
Sabrina looked toward Adrian.
He said nothing.
That silence told her everything.
Ryan stumbled backward.
“You told me your family had investments.”
“They do.”
“You said your father left you some properties.”
“He did.”
“How many?”
Charlotte considered it.
“Depends how you count resorts.”
Ryan stared.
Marcus handed him a document.
Ryan read.
Monarch Grand Hotel.
Title holder:
Bennett Global Property Trust.
Controlling beneficiary:
Charlotte Bennett.
His hands began to shake.
“This…”
He looked at her.
“This is yours?”
Charlotte glanced at the marble beneath his shoes.
“You threatened to have me removed from my own building.”
Sabrina slowly stepped away from him.
Charlotte noticed.
So did Ryan.
“Sabrina.”
She ignored him.
Charlotte reached into her pocket.
She removed the folded ten-dollar bill.
Ryan recognized it.
His face tightened.
Charlotte placed it on the reception desk.
“You told me I embarrassed you.”
“Charlotte—”
“You said I didn’t belong here.”
“I didn’t know.”
“No.”
Her voice became colder.
“You didn’t.”
Ryan swallowed.
“That matters.”
“It does.”
Hope appeared in his face.
Then Charlotte destroyed it.
“It means you only respect women when you know what they own.”
Silence.
Even Sabrina looked away.
Ryan stepped closer.
“I was angry.”
“You were cheating.”
“I can explain.”
“Not here.”
His shoulders dropped slightly.
“Thank you.”
Charlotte almost laughed.
He thought privacy meant mercy.
She looked toward the executive elevators.
“The board is waiting.”
Ryan froze.
“For what?”
“For you.”
“Charlotte…”
“And Sabrina.”
Sabrina snapped her head up.
“Me?”
Maya spoke for the first time.
“Monroe Strategic Advisory received twelve-point-six million dollars from Bennett subsidiaries.”
Sabrina’s lips parted.
Ryan stared at her.
“Twelve million?”
Charlotte watched him.
Interesting.
That surprise looked real.
Sabrina recovered quickly.
“Those were legitimate consulting fees.”
“For what services?” Maya asked.
“Brand development.”
“For which properties?”
Silence.
Maya waited.
Sabrina lifted her chin.
“I’d need my records.”
“You’ll have them.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“So will we.”
Adrian finally spoke.
“Charlotte, I think this needs to slow down.”
She turned toward him.
“Why?”
“You’re reacting emotionally.”
Ryan immediately seized the opening.
“Exactly.”
Charlotte looked at both men.
The husband who betrayed her.
The uncle who had approved millions to his mistress’s company.
For the first time, she wondered whether the two betrayals were connected.
May you like
She smiled faintly.
“Then it’s fortunate I brought accountants.”
