The paramedics examined Emily's knee and carefully helped her onto a stretcher. She tried to apologize to them for taking up their time.
One of them smiled gently.
"You don't need to apologize for being injured."
As they wheeled her toward the entrance, Emily turned her head.
Daniel was standing beside the reception desk, speaking to a woman from human resources.
He noticed Emily looking at him and gave her a reassuring nod.
She wanted to thank him.
She also wanted to ask why he had looked so angry when Richard mentioned her name.
But the doors closed before she could speak.
Daniel watched the ambulance leave.
Then he turned toward the reception manager.
"Where is Mr. Bennett?"
The manager swallowed.
"Mr. Bennett is in his office, sir."
"Ask him to come downstairs."
"Of course."
"And please tell him that Daniel Whitmore is waiting."
The receptionist's face changed.
It was subtle, but Daniel noticed.
Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. She looked toward the office corridor as if she had suddenly realized that the building had become a very dangerous place for certain people.
Richard noticed the reaction too.
He looked from the receptionist to Daniel.
"Whitmore?"
Daniel met his eyes.
"Daniel Whitmore."
For the first time since entering the hotel, Richard Hale said nothing.
He knew the name.
Everyone in his industry knew it.
Daniel Whitmore was the founder and chairman of Whitmore Hospitality Group, the company that owned the Grand Meridian.
Richard had spent the previous three months trying to convince a group of investors that his own company should acquire a controlling interest in several Whitmore properties.
He had arranged meetings with intermediaries. He had hired consultants. He had paid for research into the company's financial structure.
He had even prepared a presentation explaining why Whitmore's aging management culture needed to be replaced by more aggressive leadership.
And now he was standing in the lobby of one of Daniel Whitmore's hotels, having publicly humiliated and injured an employee.
Richard recovered quickly.
"Mr. Whitmore. I apologize for the misunderstanding."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Is that what we're calling it?"
"I think emotions got out of hand."
"Whose emotions?"
Richard's mouth tightened.
"Look, I'm happy to discuss this privately."
"Why privately?"
"Because this situation is becoming unnecessarily public."
Daniel glanced toward the guests who were still watching.
"It became public when you chose to behave that way in the lobby."
Richard lowered his voice.
"I can assure you that my company does business with some of the most influential people in this city."
"Congratulations."
"I think we can resolve this without making a spectacle of it."
Daniel studied him for several seconds.
Then he said something that Richard would remember for the rest of his life.
"The problem with people who believe money makes them untouchable is that they eventually forget that other people have eyes."
He turned away.
"Security will take your statement. Until the investigation is complete, you are not to contact Emily Carter or any other employee involved in this incident."
Richard stared after him.
For the first time that morning, he felt something approaching fear.
Not because he had hurt an employee.
Not because he might face consequences.
But because the man who owned the hotel had witnessed everything.
And Daniel Whitmore did not look like a man who could be intimidated.
CHAPTER FOUR: A PERFECT RECORD BUILT ON LIES
At eleven o'clock, Daniel entered the general manager's office.
Victor Bennett had occupied that office for eight years. He was a neatly groomed man in his late fifties who preferred dark suits, expensive pens, and meetings in which nobody disagreed with him.
He stood immediately when Daniel entered.
"Mr. Whitmore. What an unexpected pleasure."
Daniel did not sit.
"Where were you this morning?"
Victor smiled.
"Overseeing the daily operation."
"Did you see what happened in the lobby?"
"I heard there was an unfortunate incident."
"An employee was injured."
"Yes. Very unfortunate."
"And a guest verbally abused her before she fell."
Victor adjusted his tie.
"Guests can be difficult. Our staff are trained to manage challenging situations."
Daniel watched him.
"Is that how you describe it when a guest treats an employee like dirt?"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Of course not. I simply mean that we need to maintain professional standards."
"Whose standards?"
"The hotel's standards."
Daniel walked to the window.
Below them, the lobby looked almost peaceful. Guests crossed the marble floor, luggage carts rolled between the elevators, and the reception team continued working.
Everything appeared normal.
That was what troubled him.