Chapter 4: The Woman In The Records
The photograph changed everything.
It wasn't a threat anymore.
It was proof.
Someone had been close enough to take pictures of my daughter.
Close enough that security never noticed.
I spent the night reviewing camera footage.
Every hallway.
Every entrance.
Every employee.
At 3:00 a.m., I found something.
A staff member entering a restricted area.
A woman.
She wasn't hotel staff.
She had a visitor badge.
The name printed on it was:
Emily Carter.
I recognized the name immediately.
My old assistant.
Richard's assistant.
Marcus looked at the screen.
"Who is she?""
I didn't answer.
Because I was remembering the past.
Emily was there the night Richard betrayed me.
She knew everything.
The next morning, I asked security to bring her in.
But she never arrived.
She had disappeared.
Again.
Then Claire appeared outside my office.
"Mr. Brooks?""
I looked up.
She held a folder.
"I found something.""
I was surprised.
She placed it on the desk.
"When I checked your reservation last night, I noticed someone accessed the system before me.""
My expression changed.
"Someone?""
She nodded.
"Someone searched your name.""
"Who?""
She opened the file.
"I don't know.""
For the first time, Claire looked genuinely afraid.
"I thought I was the one who made the mistake.""
She looked down.
"But I think someone wanted you to come here.""
That possibility had already crossed my mind.
Someone had arranged everything.
The storm.
The reservation.
The timing.
The public humiliation.
It wasn't random.
It was a trap.
I stood.
"Claire.""
She looked up.
"Why are you helping me?""
Her eyes lowered.
"Because I know what it feels like to judge someone too quickly.""
I waited.
She continued.
"My father was a janitor. When I was younger, people treated him like he was invisible.""
Her voice shook.
"And yesterday, I became the person I hated.""
That answer surprised me.
Not because it erased what happened.
It didn't.
But because she finally understood.
I nodded.
"Thank you for telling me.""
Before she left, my phone rang.
Ethan.
His voice was urgent.
"Mr. Brooks, we found Emily Carter.""
"Where?""
A pause.
"She requested a meeting.""
"With who?""
Another pause.
May you like
Then he said:
"With your daughter.""
