Chapter 6 - The Red Carpet
At 6:45 PM, the main lobby of the Harrington Grand Hotel was a swirling sea of haute couture, flashing camera bulbs, and high-society laughter.
Three hundred of Manhattan’s elite had passed through the glass revolving doors. Diamond necklaces caught the golden light of the central chandeliers; tuxedos lined the wide marble staircases; waiter trays carrying crystal flutes of vintage champagne navigated smoothly through the crowd.
Standing near the grand entrance to the main ballroom, Victoria Crane was radiating cold, triumphant energy.
She smoothed the front of her cream silk suit, checking her reflection in a gilded mirror. The emergency audit report had been digitally flagged by corporate compliance; Harold Bennett’s access pass had already been quietly revoked at the staff security gate, and two hotel security guards were currently waiting near the service dock to escort the old man off the property the second the gala commenced.
Everything was executing with absolute perfection.
"Victoria!"
Victoria turned, her face instantly morphing into a warm, sycophantic smile as the Chairman of the Metropolitan Children’s Hospital Board walked over, holding a glass of scotch.
"Arthur!" Victoria purred softly. "What a magnificent turnout tonight. The floral arrangements were personally sourced from South America to match your foundation’s palette."
"Exquisite work, as always, Victoria," Arthur praised, looking around the breathtaking room. "Is it true Mr. Duca is attending personally tonight?"
"Yes," Victoria said, her chest swelling with pride. "He is upstairs finishing a private briefing. He will be making a brief appearance before the opening address."
"Fascinating man," Arthur mused. "Terrifying, but brilliant. They say he bought forty percent of the block across the street just to stop a construction crew from blocking the hotel's morning light."
"Mr. Duca values perfection," Victoria said smoothly. "Which is why I ensure this property operates with absolute discipline."
Suddenly, the grand glass elevators at the far end of the lobby chimed in unison.
The ambient chatter in the lobby dipped slightly—a subtle, collective hush falling over the room as four towering men in dark suits stepped out of the private elevator cab, forming a perimeter.
Out from the center of the security escort stepped Roman Duca.
He looked majestic, dangerous, and completely imposing in his dark tuxedo. Every eye in the lobby swung toward him. Men adjusted their ties nervously; women turned their heads to watch him pass; political donors held their breath.
Right beside Roman, walking comfortably at his side, was Natalie Brooks.
Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. Her brain short-circuited entirely.
Natalie was no longer wearing her tired staff blazer. She was wearing a stunning, elegant floor-length dark emerald evening gown that draped over her graceful frame with effortless perfection. Her dark hair had been restyled into a high, sophisticated chignon, exposing the elegant line of her neck. She carried a sleek silver digital tablet under her arm, walking beside Roman Duca with calm, absolute composure.
Victoria felt her stomach drop into an abyss of sudden, violent panic.
Why was the junior events coordinator walking beside the owner of the hotel?
Roman’s long strides carried him directly across the marble lobby, heading straight toward the entrance where Victoria and Arthur were standing. The crowd parted naturally before him like the Red Sea.
"Mr. Duca!" Victoria gasped, forcing her shaking lips into her practiced executive smile as she stepped forward, extending a hand. "It is an absolute honor to welcome you to the grand ballroom tonight. I have personally supervised—"
Roman did not look at her hand. He did not slow his pace. He passed her as if she were made of thin air, coming to a stop directly in front of the center stage where the orchestra was preparing their instruments.
He turned around smoothly, his broad shoulders framing the room, his grey eyes sweeping over the quieted crowd.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Roman’s deep, baritone voice echoed effortlessly across the grand ballroom without the need for a microphone.
The three hundred guests stood in absolute silence, hanging on every word.
"Before we begin tonight's festivities for the Metropolitan Children's Hospital," Roman continued, his voice calm and icy, "I have a brief administrative announcement regarding the management of the Harrington Grand."
Victoria, standing near the edge of the stage, felt cold sweat break out across her forehead. She cast a desperate, furious look at Natalie, who stood beside Roman, her face entirely serene.
Roman gestured toward Natalie with a small, elegant sweep of his hand.
"As of seven o'clock tonight, Miss Natalie Brooks has been appointed General Manager of the Harrington Grand Hotel," Roman announced clearly. "She assumes full operational authority over all facilities, staff, and financial compliance."
A ripple of low gasps and polite applause broke out across the ballroom. Arthur from the hospital board immediately began clapping enthusiastically.
Victoria’s face drained of every ounce of color. "What?" she gasped aloud, her voice trembling violently. "Mr. Duca, excuse me, there must be a mistake! I am the Events Director! She is a mid-level coordinator! She doesn't have the authority—"
Roman turned his grey eyes slowly toward Victoria. The absolute, freezing weight of his gaze locked her in place like a physical blow.
"Miss Crane," Roman said softly, his voice cutting through the quiet room like a razor. "Your employment with Duca Enterprises was terminated six minutes ago."
Victoria froze, her eyes wide with terror. "Terminated? On what grounds?"
Marco stepped out from the shadows near the entrance, holding a clear plastic evidence sleeve containing Victoria’s personal phone alongside a printed stack of bank wire receipts.
"On the grounds of corporate grand larceny, systematic forgery, and filing false criminal accusations against senior staff," Roman stated calmly.
Two uniformed New York City police officers stepped into the lobby from the front entrance, walking straight toward Victoria.
"No!" Victoria shrieked, backing away as the crowd gasped around her. "This is absurd! Natalie set me up! She's lying! You can't do this to me!"
"Take her outside," Marco ordered quietly to the officers.
May you like
As the officers grabbed Victoria by her arms, escorting her screaming and struggling through the glass doors into the rainy night, Roman turned back to the crowd as if nothing unusual had occurred at all.
"Please," Roman said smoothly, raising his glass of champagne. "Enjoy the evening."
