Chapter 2: The Secret Behind The Smile
The next morning, I arrived at Bennett House before sunrise.
I always liked the restaurant before it opened.
No customers.
No noise.
Just the quiet sound of employees preparing for another day.
My mother used to tell me success was built in the hours nobody saw.
She was right.
I was checking inventory when Maya walked into my office carrying a folder.
“You didn’t sleep.””
I smiled.
“Neither did you.””
She placed the folder down.
“I checked everything from last night.””
“And?””
“Vanessa Parker wasn’t just applying for the hotel position.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were printed emails.
“She contacted three investors using your name.””
I frowned.
“My name?””
“Yes.””
The emails showed someone pretending to represent Bennett Holdings.
They promised investors early access to hotel opportunities.
But the account information led somewhere else.
A small company called Parker Elite Events.
Owned by Vanessa Parker.
I leaned back.
“She was using my reputation.””
Maya nodded.
“And she was doing it before she even met you last night.””
I looked out the window.
That bothered me.
Because it meant the restaurant encounter wasn’t random.
Vanessa didn’t recognize me and decide to mock me.
She came there knowing I would be there.
The question was why.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice spoke softly.
“Ethan Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“I need to warn you.””
I stood up.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“Someone who knows Vanessa Parker better than you do.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Maya noticed my expression.
“What happened?””
“I don’t know.””
I called the number back.
Disconnected.
An hour later, I received an envelope.
No return address.
Inside was one photograph.
My stomach tightened.
It showed Vanessa standing outside my mother’s old apartment building.
The same apartment above the broken laundromat where I grew up.
May you like
On the back of the photo were five words.
“She remembers everything, Ethan.””
