Chapter 5: The Person Watching From Inside
The photograph on Daniel's phone burned into my mind.
Ethan.
Standing in the hotel lobby.
Alone for a moment.
A stranger had taken a picture of my son without anyone noticing.
Without security noticing.
Without Daniel noticing.
Without me noticing.
My first instinct was not anger.
It was fear.
A father's fear.
I looked down at Ethan.
He was still beside me, holding his notebook, completely unaware of how close danger had come.
I forced myself to stay calm.
"Daniel.""
My voice was low.
"Lock down the hotel.""
Daniel immediately nodded.
"Yes, sir.""
"No guests leave. No employees leave.""
His expression changed.
"Are you sure?""
I looked at him.
"Someone just threatened my child.""
That was all I needed to say.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
Within seconds, the calm executive floor transformed into controlled chaos.
He started issuing orders.
"Activate internal security protocols.""
"Check all cameras from the last hour.""
"Nobody accesses the private floors without authorization.""
I watched him carefully.
Every movement.
Every word.
Because now there was a question I couldn't ignore.
Could I trust him?
The letter in my hand felt heavier.
*The person you trust most is the person you should fear.*
I looked at Daniel.
He noticed.
"Sir?""
I folded the letter.
"Nothing.""
But it wasn't nothing.
Everything had changed.
A few hours ago, I walked into this hotel thinking I was dealing with an arrogant receptionist.
Now I was standing in a locked executive room, discovering my family had been hiding secrets for decades.
And someone wanted my son.
"Dad?""
I turned.
Ethan looked up at me.
"Why did that man take a picture of me?""
The question hit harder than anything else.
Children deserved honesty.
But they also deserved safety.
I crouched down.
"Sometimes people do things they shouldn't.""
"Is someone mad at us?""
I hesitated.
Then I smiled gently.
"No.""
It was a lie.
A necessary one.
"You're not in trouble.""
Ethan studied my face.
He was young.
But he wasn't clueless.
"You're worried.""
I smiled faintly.
"You know me too well.""
He hugged me.
And for a second, the entire world disappeared.
No Victor.
No secrets.
No threats.
Just my son.
Then Daniel's voice interrupted.
"Sir.""
I looked up.
He was standing near the door.
"We found something.""
I stood.
"What?""
"The photo was taken from inside the hotel.""
My expression hardened.
"I assumed that.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No, sir. I mean the person who took it had access to restricted areas.""
A cold silence filled the room.
"Meaning?""
"They weren't a guest.""
I looked at him.
"An employee?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
The word settled heavily.
Someone working here.
Someone wearing the same uniform.
Someone greeting guests.
Someone walking through these halls every day.
Someone who could get close.
"How many employees knew Ethan was here?""
Daniel looked at his tablet.
"Only a few.""
"Names.""
He hesitated.
Then handed me the device.
A list appeared.
Security.
Management.
Reception.
Housekeeping.
My eyes moved down the names.
Then stopped.
Madison Blake.
I frowned.
"Her?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because she was too obvious.""
I looked at him.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Madison was arrogant. Careless. Cruel.""
He paused.
"But she wasn't careful enough to hide something like this.""
I understood.
Whoever took the photo wasn't acting emotionally.
They were calculating.
Planning.
I looked back at the list.
"Who else?""
Daniel pointed.
"There.""
A name.
*Andrew Cole.*
"Who is he?""
"Our head of internal operations.""
"How long has he worked here?""
"Eight years.""
"Trusted?""
Daniel was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Daniel.""
He looked away.
"Answer me.""
Finally, he said:
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
"That doesn't sound like yes.""
Daniel sighed.
"Andrew was one of the people your father personally approved.""
The room became still.
"My father?""
"Yes.""
"Then why are you suspicious?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"Because yesterday, Andrew requested access to the original ownership archives.""
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?""
"He said it was for a historical report.""
"And?""
Daniel looked at me.
"He wasn't authorized.""
That changed everything.
"Bring him here.""
Daniel hesitated.
"Sir...""
"Bring him here.""
A few minutes later, security entered the room.
But Andrew Cole wasn't with them.
Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
"What?""
A pause.
Then:
"Where?""
He listened.
Then hung up.
I already knew something was wrong.
"What happened?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Andrew isn't in the building.""
"Where is he?""
"He left twenty minutes ago.""
"Convenient.""
Daniel didn't respond.
I looked at Ethan.
"Stay with me.""
He nodded.
Then I looked at Daniel.
"Find him.""
Daniel moved quickly.
But before he reached the door, I stopped him.
"Daniel.""
He turned.
"If you know something you're not telling me, now is the time.""
His face showed pain.
Not guilt.
Pain.
"Sir...""
"Tell me.""
He looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
"I was there the night your father died.""
Everything stopped.
I stared at him.
"What?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I was there.""
"You told me it was an accident.""
"It was reported as an accident.""
"That's not what I asked.""
His eyes filled with regret.
"I was twenty-seven years old.""
He sat down slowly.
"I was working for your family.""
I couldn't speak.
"Your father called me that night.""
"Why?""
"He said he had discovered something.""
"What?""
Daniel looked at the letter.
"The same thing Victor talked about.""
My heart pounded.
"Who betrayed him?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I don't know.""
I stepped closer.
"But you were there.""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"Your father was supposed to meet someone.""
"Who?""
"He never told me.""
"Then why were you there?""
"Because he asked me to follow him.""
I stared.
"Follow him?""
"He said if anything happened, I needed to protect you.""
The room went silent.
"You knew he was afraid?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"I tried.""
"Don't.""
My voice was sharper than I intended.
Daniel stopped.
I looked away.
Because anger was easier than dealing with the truth.
My father knew something.
He knew he was in danger.
And somehow, he still died.
"Why did you stay quiet?""
Daniel's eyes lowered.
"Because after he died, I found evidence.""
"What evidence?""
He looked at me.
"That someone close to your family had betrayed him.""
I froze.
"Who?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I couldn't prove it.""
"But you suspected someone.""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Who?""
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered:
"Your uncle.""
The words hit me like a blow.
"My uncle?""
Daniel nodded.
"Your father's brother.""
I stared.
That was impossible.
My uncle had been part of the family business for years.
He attended holidays.
Family dinners.
He stood beside us at my father's funeral.
He comforted me when I was a child.
"You think he killed my father?""
Daniel looked devastated.
"I think your father was afraid of him.""
Before I could respond, Ethan dropped his notebook.
The sound made both of us turn.
He was staring at us.
Confused.
"Dad...""
I immediately walked toward him.
"It's okay.""
But he looked at Daniel.
"Who is my uncle?""
I froze.
Because I realized something.
Ethan had never met him.
Not once.
And I suddenly remembered why.
My uncle disappeared from our lives shortly after my father's death.
Everyone said it was because of "family problems.""
I had never questioned it.
Until now.
Daniel's phone suddenly rang again.
He answered.
Then his face changed.
"What?""
A pause.
Then he looked at me.
"Sir...""
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"They found Andrew.""
I stepped forward.
"Where?""
Daniel looked terrified.
"At the old family estate.""
My expression hardened.
"The estate that was abandoned after my father died?""
Daniel nodded.
Then he said the words that made my blood run cold.
"He wasn't alone.""
I stared.
"Who was with him?""
Daniel looked at Ethan.
May you like
Then at me.
"Your uncle.""
