Chapter 6
The auditor did not say Victor had taken every missing dollar.
She said the records showed enough to stop him from accessing the hotel’s systems while a full investigation continued.
Elijah told Victor that night.
Victor answered with a letter from his attorney, denying wrongdoing and accusing the hotel of trying to make him responsible for management’s mistakes.
Maya read the letter at her desk the next morning.
“My name is in here twelve times,” she said.
“Because he knows it frightens you,” I answered.
“He has some of my approvals.”
“And we have the original versions.”
She put the letter down.
I had come to the hotel to meet Simone and the auditor. Before we went upstairs, I asked Maya if she wanted to speak with Andre.
“I owe him more than an apology,” she said.
“You can start with one.”
We found him near the valet desk at the end of his shift.
Maya waited until the other staff had gone inside.
“I’m sorry for the way I spoke to Marcus,” she said. “You heard it, and I put you in an uncomfortable position at work.”
Andre looked surprised.
“You didn’t speak to me.”
“I assumed he was doing your job and treated that as a reason to talk down to him. That insulted you too.”
He studied her.
“I appreciate you saying it.”
“I also found your email about the hours. I forwarded it and didn’t follow up. I should have.”
“Yes,” Andre said. “You should have.”
She accepted it.
“The review is underway. I won’t ask you to trust a promise. I’ll make sure the results are shared with staff.”
Andre nodded and went inside.
Maya stood beside me in silence.
“He didn’t forgive me,” she said.
“You weren’t asking him to.”
“No.”
Upstairs, the auditor gave us a clearer picture. More than forty employees had lost pay through altered records. Some changes were small enough to be missed once. Repeated over months, they added up.
Elijah looked at the total.
“I signed reports saying our labor costs were stable.”
“Victor prepared those reports,” the auditor said. “You approved them.”
Elijah did not argue.
“We have to repay the employees,” he said.
“Yes,” I replied. “With a separate review so they can challenge the figures if they’re wrong.”
Simone added that the contractor charges required another investigation. The hotel’s owners agreed to cooperate with the proper authorities and preserve all records.
I set my investment proposal on the table.
“I’ll provide financing only after the staff repayment plan is funded and the board accepts independent oversight.”
Elijah read the conditions.
“You’re asking me to give up control of some decisions.”
“For a time.”
“This hotel is my life.”
“It’s also where forty people worked hours they weren’t paid for.”
He signed the preliminary agreement to proceed under those conditions.
Maya watched us.
“What about my role?”
“You’ll have to answer for the approvals you gave,” Simone said. “The records will also show which ones were altered afterward.”
“I’m prepared to.”
The hotel hosted a large event that evening. Maya stayed to supervise it. I had no reason to remain, but I wanted to see whether the closing schedule matched reality.
At midnight, servers cleared tables while Andre’s team managed the last cars. Maya recorded the time. She asked each manager to confirm who was still working.
At one in the morning, she sent the final list to payroll and the auditor.
It was a small act. It was also the first time the staff could see her checking.
As I left, Celeste stopped me near the elevator.
“Is Mr. Brooks really your father?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I knew your mother.”
I turned.
“From here?”
“From the old front desk. Naomi didn’t stay long, but she made sure new staff knew where the good coffee was.”
I smiled.
“She did that everywhere.”
Celeste touched my sleeve.
“She would like that you asked about the hours.”
Before I could answer, a commotion came from the lobby.
May you like
Victor had returned despite his suspended access. He stood beside the security desk holding a folder.
“I have copies,” he called to Elijah, who had just come downstairs. “If I’m going down, your daughter’s name goes with mine.”
