“I know him very well.””
For the first time that night, I allowed myself a small smile.
But before the moment could last, Daniel’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He stepped away and listened.
A few seconds later, he covered the phone.
“Mr. Vance…”
“What?””
His voice dropped.
“The security system shows someone entered your assigned room after it was prepared.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the screen.
Then he said something that made my entire body go still.
“It wasn’t housekeeping.””
The lobby became silent again.
“Then who entered?””
Daniel looked at the phone.
And slowly turned the screen toward me.
A security photo appeared.
A man standing inside my room.
A man I recognized immediately.
Because he wasn’t a stranger.
He was someone I had trusted.
Someone who knew exactly when I would arrive.
Someone who knew I would be traveling without security.
Daniel whispered the name.
“Marcus Bell.””
The image on Daniel’s phone stayed in my mind long after the screen went dark.
Marcus Bell.
My assistant operations manager.
A man I had personally promoted three years earlier.
A man who had sat across from me in meetings and talked about loyalty, leadership, and protecting the Grand Regent name.
Now he was standing inside my private room hours before I arrived.
Without permission.
Without explanation.
And according to the security footage, he had been there after my reservation was marked as cancelled.
I looked at Daniel.
“Find out exactly what he was doing.””
Daniel nodded immediately.
“Yes, sir.””
The receptionist and the clerk stood silently behind the desk.
They had stopped trying to defend themselves.
They knew the situation had become much bigger than a missing reservation.
I returned to Lily’s side and adjusted the blanket someone had brought from housekeeping.
She looked up at me with tired eyes.
“Daddy, are we staying here tonight?””
I smiled.
“Yes.””
“Good.””
She hugged her stuffed rabbit.
“Bunny doesn’t like the cold.””
My throat tightened.
“I know.””
She looked toward the roses.
“Can we put Mommy’s flowers somewhere safe?””
I glanced at the bouquet.
The roses that had survived the rain.
The roses Claire would have loved.
“Of course.””
I stood carefully.
Daniel was already speaking with security through his phone.
I walked toward him.
“Where is room 4217?””
“The executive floor.””
“Let’s go.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Sir, we should wait until security finishes reviewing the footage.””
I looked at him.
“Daniel.””
He knew that tone.
The tone I used when I had already made a decision.
“I’m not going there to confront him,” I said.
“Then why?””
“Because someone entered my room before I did.””
I glanced back at Lily.
“And I need to know what they were looking for.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
Because he understood.
Marcus hadn’t stolen a room.
He had interfered with a reservation.
There had to be a reason.
The private elevator opened.
Daniel gestured for me to enter.
As we stepped inside, the receptionist suddenly spoke.
“Mr. Vance.””
I turned.
She looked smaller now.
Not powerful.
Not arrogant.
Just nervous.
“I’m sorry.””
I studied her face.
“For what?””
She lowered her eyes.
“For the way I treated you.””
I waited.
She continued.
“I thought you were just…”
She stopped.
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Just what?
Poor?
Unimportant?
Someone who didn’t belong?
I pressed the elevator button.
“Your mistake wasn’t not recognizing me.””
Her eyes lifted.
“It was not recognizing a guest.””
The elevator doors closed.
The ride upward was quiet.
Daniel stared at the numbers above the door.
After a few seconds, he spoke.
“Sir, there’s something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Marcus has been making changes recently.””
“What kind of changes?””
“Staff schedules. Supply orders. Vendor contracts.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
Daniel paused.
“Because he handled them through operations.””
I frowned.
“That’s not an answer.””
Daniel sighed.
“You gave department heads authority because you trusted them.””
“I gave them authority to improve the company, not hide things.””
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
The executive floor was completely silent.
Unlike the lobby below, this area was designed for privacy.
Soft lighting.
Thick carpets.
Quiet hallways.
The kind of place where guests expected perfection.
Room 4217 was at the end of the corridor.
Two security officers were already waiting.
One of them approached.
“Mr. Vance.””
“What did you find?””
The officer looked at Daniel.
“Sir, we reviewed the footage.””
“And?””
“Mr. Bell entered the room at 7:12 p.m.””
“Alone?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Twenty-six minutes.””
I looked at the door.
“Did he take anything?””
The officer hesitated.
“We don’t know yet.””
I unlocked the door.
The room looked exactly as I remembered.
Perfect.
A luxury suite overlooking the city.
A place designed to make people feel cared for.
But something felt wrong.
I walked inside slowly.
The roses in my hand suddenly seemed out of place among the expensive furniture.
Daniel followed.
“What are we looking for?””
“I don’t know yet.””
I moved through the room.
The bed was untouched.
The luggage stand was empty.
The desk had a welcome card.
Everything appeared normal.
Too normal.
Then I noticed something.
The drawer beside the desk was slightly open.
I walked toward it.
Inside was a small envelope.
My name was written on it.
Not printed.
Handwritten.
“Ethan.””
Daniel looked surprised.
“Was that there before?””
“No.””
I picked it up.
The paper was thick.
Expensive.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
*You should have stayed away from this hotel.*
The room suddenly felt colder.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Sir?””
I handed him the note.
His expression changed.
“This is a threat.””
“No.””
I looked around the room.
“It’s a warning.””
“From Marcus?””
“Maybe.””
I turned the paper over.
Nothing else.
No signature.
No explanation.