Chapter 3: The Employee They Silenced
I stared at the photograph.
The young man looked barely older than twenty.
His white shirt was soaked with what appeared to be spilled coffee. Glass fragments covered the floor around his shoes.
Victoria stood above him, pointing toward his face.
The photograph was dated August 14.
Three months earlier.
"Who is Ethan Miller?"" I asked.
Daniel sat down again.
"Former food-service employee. He worked at this property for approximately eleven months.""
"Why was he fired?""
"According to the report, he was dismissed for misconduct involving a VIP guest.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"She attacked him too?""
"We don't know the complete circumstances yet.""
I turned toward Marcus.
He was standing behind the reception desk, pretending to review a computer screen.
"Marcus!""
He looked up.
"Yes, Miss Brooks?""
"Who is Ethan Miller?""
His face changed.
"That was a personnel matter.""
"Was he fired because of her?""
"Miss Brooks, I don't think this is the appropriate time to discuss former employees.""
"Then when is the appropriate time?""
Marcus glanced toward Daniel.
Daniel answered for him.
"Now would be a good start.""
Marcus straightened his tie.
"Mrs. Hale filed a complaint alleging that Mr. Miller had behaved disrespectfully toward her. We investigated the matter and took appropriate action.""
I pointed at the photograph.
"Is that what you call appropriate action?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"The employee had a history of poor performance.""
"Then why does the report say he was terminated following her complaint?""
"Because the complaint was the final incident.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Can we contact him?""
Daniel nodded.
"I'll ask human resources to locate his current contact information.""
I turned back toward Marcus.
"Did you ever investigate whether Mrs. Hale was telling the truth?""
His eyes narrowed.
"Miss Brooks, I have managed this hotel for seven years. I know how to handle difficult situations.""
"Apparently, you don't.""
His face flushed.
Before he could respond, Victoria approached.
"Are we still discussing that ridiculous incident?""
She had moved closer while I was looking at the tablet.
Her diamonds caught the chandelier light.
She looked furious.
"Marcus, I want this woman removed from the property immediately.""
I stared at her.
"You really haven't understood what's happening, have you?""
Victoria laughed.
"I understand perfectly. Your father has money, and you're using it to bully people.""
"No," I said.
"I'm asking why a woman who slapped a mother holding a newborn was protected by the hotel manager.""
She folded her arms.
"I barely touched you.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Mrs. Hale, please keep your distance.""
She ignored him.
"Do you have any idea how much money my husband spends here?""
I looked at her.
"How much?""
She seemed surprised.
"What?""
"How much money does your husband spend here?""
She lifted her chin.
"More than you could imagine.""
"That's interesting.""
I adjusted Grace's blanket.
"Because apparently, that amount is enough to make a manager ignore an assault.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Miss Brooks, I must insist that we maintain professionalism.""
I turned toward him.
"Then start.""
The receptionist beside the desk lowered her eyes, but I noticed the small smile she was trying to hide.
Victoria noticed too.
"You!"" she snapped at the young woman.
"What's so funny?""
The receptionist immediately straightened.
"Nothing, ma'am.""
"Then stop standing there like an idiot.""
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
"Do your employees regularly receive that kind of treatment?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Victoria threw her hands up.
"This is unbelievable. I'm leaving.""
She turned toward the entrance.
Then stopped.
"Actually, no. I'm not leaving because I'm being forced out by some girl with a rich daddy.""
I looked at her.
"Nobody is forcing you out.""
"Good.""
"But I am asking the company to review your conduct here.""
She laughed.
"Review my conduct? You think you're going to blacklist me?""
Daniel opened his folder.
"Mrs. Hale, your status as a preferred guest is not relevant to this investigation.""
She pointed at him.
"You'd better be careful. My husband knows people on the board.""
"That is also not relevant.""
For the first time, Victoria seemed unsure of herself.
She looked toward Marcus.
He avoided her eyes.
I turned back to Daniel.
"I want the security footage preserved. Every camera. I want the incident report, the employee complaints, and the records showing who approved their closure.""
"Understood.""
"And I want to speak to Ethan Miller.""
Daniel nodded.
"I'll arrange that.""
A moment later, my phone vibrated.
A message from my father appeared.
*I'm five minutes away. Don't sign anything.*
I smiled faintly.
Then another message arrived.
*And Danielle, ask Daniel to check the executive complaint archive. There may be something else you should see.*
I frowned.
Something else?
I showed Daniel the message.
He read it, then looked toward Marcus.
"Do you have access to the executive complaint archive?""
Marcus's expression became guarded.
"Why?""
"Because Mr. Brooks has requested that we review it.""
Marcus hesitated.
"I'd need authorization.""
Daniel gave him a cold look.
"I'm the regional legal director. I'm authorizing the review.""
Marcus slowly turned toward the computer.
Victoria suddenly looked nervous.
"What is this about?""
Nobody answered her.
Marcus typed something into the system.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
He stopped typing.
Daniel stepped closer.
"What's wrong?""
Marcus looked at the screen.
"There's an archived complaint.""
"From whom?""
Marcus swallowed.
"An employee.""
"Name?""
He hesitated.
Then turned the monitor slightly.
The name appeared.
*Samantha Reed.*
I looked at Marcus.
"Is she related to you?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel leaned closer to the screen.
The complaint was dated almost a year earlier.
It included a written statement alleging that Victoria Hale had demanded that a hotel employee remove a Black family from the breakfast area because she believed they were not paying guests.
The employee had objected.
Victoria had threatened to contact the owner.
And the complaint had been closed without investigation.
The final approval carried Marcus Reed's electronic signature.
I looked at him.
"Who is Samantha?""
Marcus's lips parted.
"She's my daughter.""
The room went quiet.
I stared at him.
"Your daughter worked here?""
He nodded slowly.
"She was a front-desk supervisor.""
"What happened to her?""
Marcus looked down.
"She resigned.""
"Why?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Mrs. Hale complained to the general manager. Samantha was accused of making a scene in front of guests.""
"Was the accusation true?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Victoria stepped forward.
"That girl was rude to me. I simply reported her behavior.""
I looked at Marcus again.
"Did you investigate your daughter's complaint?""
His voice dropped.
"Danielle, please.""
"Did you?""
He finally looked up.
His eyes were wet.
"No.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
"Why?""
"Because Victoria's husband was threatening to withdraw a major corporate account. I thought I was protecting the hotel.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Instead, you allowed an employee's complaint to be buried.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I didn't know this would happen.""
I looked at him.
"You didn't know a manager was supposed to protect people?""
He had no answer.
Then my phone rang.
My father.
I answered immediately.
"Hi, Dad.""
"I'm outside. Where are you?""
"In the lobby.""
"Good. I'm coming in.""
I glanced toward the glass entrance.
A second black SUV had pulled up.
My father stepped out.
He was sixty-two, tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal suit. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he carried the same old leather briefcase he'd owned since I was a little girl.
He entered the hotel with two senior executives behind him.
The moment he saw me, his expression softened.
"There's my girl.""
I walked toward him carefully, keeping Grace close.
He kissed my forehead.
Then he noticed my cheek.
His expression changed.
"Who did this?""
I pointed toward Victoria.
My father turned.
Victoria immediately straightened.
"Mr. Brooks, I believe there's been a misunderstanding.""
Dad looked at her.
"Did you slap my daughter?""
Victoria opened her mouth.
"She was being—"
"That wasn't my question.""
She fell silent.
My father looked toward Marcus.
"Richard Brooks," he said quietly.
"Chairman of Brooks Hospitality Group.""
Then he turned toward Daniel.
"Show me the footage.""
Daniel nodded.
But before he could move, another employee hurried toward us carrying a printed document.
"Mr. Brooks?""
My father turned.
The employee looked frightened.
"I think you need to see this before you make any decisions.""
He handed over the paper.
Dad read the first few lines.
His jaw tightened.
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Why," he asked slowly, "does this hotel have a confidential complaint involving my daughter from six years ago?""
My heart stopped.
"Me?""
Dad looked at me.
"Danielle, did you ever tell me what happened here when you were twenty?""
I shook my head.
"I don't understand.""
He turned the paper around.
At the top was my name.
Below it was a date.
And underneath that was a complaint I had never known existed.
*A young woman was denied access to a private hotel event despite being listed as the guest of honor.*
I looked at my father.
"That was the night Grandpa's charity foundation gave me that award.""
Dad nodded slowly.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
May you like
Then he looked at Marcus.
"And I remember exactly who was responsible.""
Related Stories
