Chapter 7 - THE GALA OF LIARS
The Solmere ballroom glittered with gold light.
Hundreds of guests gathered beneath white roses and suspended crystal stars.
Politicians, bankers, celebrities, and investors waited for Conrad Vale’s announcement.
None of them knew the hotel’s rightful owner was hiding inside a linen closet two floors below.
Nora cleaned the cut above Daniel’s eyebrow.
Mason stood near the door and monitored security radio traffic.
Charlotte changed into a black housekeeping uniform.
The name tag on her chest read AMY.
Daniel connected the memory card to a hotel tablet.
Rows of transfers appeared on the screen.
Money had been moved from Solmere accounts into construction companies that did not exist.
The funds had then passed through Laurent Capital.
“This proves theft,” Daniel said.
“It does not prove murder.”
Charlotte remembered her mother’s recording.
“The vault may contain both.”
Mason shook his head.
“Conrad controls the ballroom.”
“Then we take control of everything around it.”
Charlotte studied the service maps.
The Solmere had been designed with hidden corridors so staff could move without disturbing guests.
Her mother had made Charlotte memorize every route as a child.
Charlotte pointed to three locations.
“Nora, bring Elias to the projection booth.”
She turned to Daniel.
“Access the ballroom screens from the old communications room.”
Then she looked at Mason.
“Keep Adrian away from the power controls.”
“What will you do?”
Charlotte removed the AMY name tag.
“I am going to welcome my uncle.”
Conrad arrived beneath a storm of camera flashes.
He was sixty-two, silver-haired, and perfectly dressed.
Bianca stood beside him in her white gown.
Her father, Roland Laurent, walked on his other side.
Adrian whispered something into Conrad’s ear.
Conrad glanced toward the service entrance.
Charlotte was pushing a cart of champagne glasses through the crowd.
For one brief moment, their eyes met.
Conrad did not react.
He raised a glass and stepped onto the stage.
“Tonight, we begin a new era for the Solmere Empire.”
Applause filled the ballroom.
Charlotte moved closer.
Conrad announced a historic partnership with Laurent Capital.
Roland smiled.
Bianca remained still.
Charlotte noticed the black flash drive hidden inside Bianca’s bracelet.
Conrad lifted a gold pen.
A merger contract rested on the table.
The moment he signed, Laurent Capital would gain control of the hotel’s debt, properties, and voting rights.
Charlotte stepped onto the stage.
A guard grabbed her arm.
She removed the housekeeping cap.
The applause stopped.
Conrad looked into his niece’s eyes.
May you like
Charlotte spoke into the microphone.
“You cannot sell what you never owned.”
