Chapter 2 - The Signature They Tried to EraseRichard Ashford didn't move.
For several seconds, nobody in the lobby breathed.
Then Victoria turned toward her father.
"Dad?"
Richard's eyes remained fixed on Charlotte.
"Everyone out."
No one moved.
Victoria looked confused.
"But Dad..."
"Now."
The command echoed through the lobby.
Hotel employees immediately began ushering guests toward the exits.
Charlotte watched Richard carefully.
He had aged since the last time she saw him.
Or perhaps guilt had finally begun to weigh on his face.
"Charlotte," he said.
She smiled coldly.
"You don't look surprised."
"I am."
"No."
Charlotte stepped closer.
"You were terrified."
Victoria's face reddened.
"How dare you speak to my father like that?"
Charlotte looked at her.
"Five minutes ago, you dragged me across your hotel floor."
Victoria swallowed.
"You were trespassing."
"Your hotel?"
Charlotte laughed.
That single word made Victoria uncomfortable.
Richard stepped between them.
"Come to my office."
Charlotte shook her head.
"You had eighteen years to invite me into that office."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"I suggest you stop before you make accusations you can't prove."
"I have proof."
The lobby went still again.
Richard's face tightened.
Charlotte reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small black flash drive.
Daniel's expression changed.
"What is that?"
"Your future."
Charlotte held it up.
"I spent three weeks reconstructing the financial transfers from Solmere Holdings."
Richard stared at the drive.
"You broke into company servers?"
"No."
Charlotte smiled.
"Your accountant did."
Richard's jaw clenched.
Charlotte walked toward the reception desk.
"Three shell companies received payments from Solmere over seven years."
She plugged the drive into the public display terminal.
Financial records appeared across the enormous screen.
Gasps rose from the remaining employees.
Charlotte continued.
"All three companies trace back to the same private trust."
Daniel stared.
"That's impossible."
"Look closer."
He did.
His face went pale.
Richard stepped forward.
"Turn it off."
Charlotte ignored him.
"The trust transferred money into accounts controlled by members of the board."
She clicked again.
"Those accounts then purchased shares in Solmere."
Victoria stared at the screen.
"You're saying my father stole from the company?"
Charlotte looked at her.
"I'm saying someone did."
Richard exploded.
"Security!"
No one moved.
The head of security looked at Charlotte.
Then at Richard.
Then at the screen.
His expression became uncertain.
Charlotte noticed.
Good.
Fear was changing sides.
Daniel approached the display.
"Charlotte, where did you get these records?"
"My mother."
That silenced him.
"What?"
"Eleanor knew."
Daniel looked stunned.
Charlotte continued.
"She knew the board had been manipulating the ownership structure."
Richard's voice dropped.
"Your mother was sick."
"She wasn't dying from illness."
The lobby became deathly quiet.
Charlotte pulled another document from her bag.
"A toxicology report."
Richard froze.
"That report was never released."
"Exactly."
Charlotte held it toward Daniel.
"You signed the original death certificate."
Daniel stared at the paper.
His hands began shaking.
Richard suddenly grabbed Charlotte's wrist.
She didn't flinch.
"You should leave."
Charlotte looked down at his hand.
Then back at his face.
"You should let go."
Richard tightened his grip.
"You don't understand what you're playing with."
Charlotte leaned closer.
"I understand perfectly."
She whispered.
"You killed my mother."
Richard released her.
"I did nothing."
"Then why are you afraid?"
Before he could respond, a phone rang.
Daniel answered.
"Hello?"
His face changed.
Charlotte watched him carefully.
"What happened?"
Daniel stared toward Richard.
"Security found something in the executive archive."
Richard's expression collapsed.
"What?"
"A safe."
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother's name is on it."
Charlotte's heart stopped.
"Take me there."
Richard stepped forward.
"No."
Charlotte looked at him.
"You don't get to tell me no."
Then every light in the lobby suddenly went out.
A second later, the emergency lights came on.
Red.
Flashing.
Someone had triggered the hotel's lockdown system.
A hotel employee screamed.
The elevators stopped.
The doors automatically sealed.
Daniel whispered, "This isn't a malfunction."
Charlotte looked at Richard.
He wasn't surprised.
And that terrified her more than the blackout.
Richard quietly said four words.
"She's not supposed to be here."
Charlotte's blood ran cold.
Because he wasn't talking about her.
He was looking toward the locked service corridor.
May you like
And from somewhere behind that door...
came the sound of a woman screaming.
