For the first time, Derek had no immediate answer.
Then he tried a different approach.
“Look, I'm willing to compensate her.”
Emily stared at him.
Derek reached into his jacket.
He pulled out his wallet.
“How much do you want?”
Richard's expression hardened.
Derek continued quickly.
“Ten thousand dollars? Twenty? I'll pay for whatever salon treatment she needs.”
Emily's face flushed.
“Put your wallet away.”
Derek looked at her.
“I'm trying to settle this.”
“You can't buy your way out of what you did.”
He sighed impatiently.
“Everyone has a price.”
Richard took one step forward.
The movement was small, but Derek instinctively retreated.
“My daughter isn't for sale.”
Derek swallowed.
Richard continued.
“And neither is justice in this hotel.”
At that moment, Daniel approached.
“Mr. Whitmore, the police are on their way. We've secured the surveillance footage, and several guests have offered to provide statements.”
Derek looked toward the entrance.
His confidence began to collapse.
“Police? Seriously?”
Daniel extended one hand.
“The clippers, sir.”
Derek hesitated.
“Those aren't even mine.”
“Then you shouldn't have been using them.”
Derek looked around desperately.
No one was smiling now.
No one was offering to make the problem disappear.
He reluctantly handed over the device.
Daniel placed it inside an evidence bag.
Emily watched.
The movement seemed strangely important.
For the first time since the assault, she felt that someone was treating what had happened as a real crime rather than an inconvenience.
Richard returned to her side.
“Let's get you checked by a doctor.”
Emily nodded.
But before they could move, Derek spoke again.
“You're making a huge mistake.”
Richard stopped.
Derek lifted his chin.
“My company is putting eighty million dollars into your new resort project. You think my father will be happy when he hears how you've treated me?”
Richard turned.
“Your father?”
Derek seized the opening.
“Yes. Charles Langford. You know him.”
“I do.”
“Then you know what that partnership means.”
Richard reached into his pocket.
He took out his phone.
Derek frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling your father.”
The change in Derek's face was immediate.
“Wait.”
Richard selected a contact.
“Let's clear up this misunderstanding.”
“No, hold on—”
The phone connected.
“Richard!” a cheerful older voice answered. “Good to hear from you.”
“Charles. I apologize for calling unexpectedly.”
“Not at all. Everything all right?”
Richard looked directly at Derek.
“Your son is standing in the lobby of my Chicago property.”
There was a pause.
“Derek?”
“Yes.”
Charles sighed.
“What's he done now?”
Richard's expression did not change.
“He assaulted one of our employees.”
Silence.
Then Charles spoke.
“What?”
“He grabbed a young woman and used electric clippers to shave part of her head without her consent.”
A long silence followed.
Derek's face drained of color.
Richard continued.
“The young woman is my daughter.”
Charles inhaled sharply.
“Richard, I...”
“I wanted you to hear it from me before the police report becomes public.”
“Is Emily all right?”
“She is receiving medical attention.”
Charles sounded genuinely shaken.
“Richard, I am deeply sorry.”
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
“Thank you.”
“I don't know what to say.”
“I'm not calling to ask you to say anything.”
Richard glanced toward Derek.
“I'm calling because Derek seems to believe our partnership protects him from consequences.”
Charles was silent for a moment.
Then his voice became hard.
“Put him on.”
Derek shook his head immediately.
Richard held out the phone.
“Your father wants to speak with you.”
Derek hesitated.
“Dad?”
Charles's voice was loud enough for those nearby to hear.
“Tell me this isn't true.”
Derek swallowed.
“It got out of hand.”
“Did you touch that woman?”
“Dad, listen—”
“Did you use those clippers on her?”
Derek looked at the floor.
“Yes, but—”
“Then there's nothing to discuss.”
“Dad, it was a joke.”
Charles's reply came like a hammer.
“You are thirty-two years old. You assaulted someone because you were angry about a hotel check-in?”
Derek's shoulders slumped.
“It's not that simple.”
“It sounds painfully simple.”
Derek lowered his voice.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“You used my name to threaten people. You embarrassed our company. And you hurt someone who had done nothing to you.”
Derek clenched his jaw.
“Are you taking their side?”
Charles gave a bitter laugh.