Chapter 2 - THE COLD ELEVATOR LOBBY
The green banknotes lay scattered like autumn leaves across the marble floor of the grand hotel lobby. A sharp draft from the revolving glass entrance caught a hundred-dollar bill, drifting it against the polished base of the gold-framed American flag. Samantha stood motionless in her sky-blue button-down shirt, her tan leather handbag hanging heavily from her shoulder as her dark hair stayed neatly tied back.
Julian didn't even turn his head to look back as he ushered the mistress toward the valet parking area. His arm remained comfortably draped around the woman's emerald green cowl-neck dress, his charcoal suit tailored to absolute perfection. They laughed softly together, their voices echoing off the gold-plated elevator doors as if Samantha were nothing more than a ghost.
Inside the quiet lobby, the chief security officer stepped out from behind the oak reception desk, his radio earpiece buzzing with high-priority static. He looked at Samantha's icy, unblinking eyes, recognizing the silent authority of the woman who held ninety percent of the property's voting stock.
"Ma'am, security teams have initiated a full lockdown of the subterranean parking garage as requested," the guard reported in a hushed, respectful tone. "The target's vehicle has been disabled at the primary exit gate."
May you like
Samantha slowly lowered her black smartphone from her ear, her face completely stripped of the anguish that had filled her moments earlier. The single tear that had traced down her cheek was dry, leaving behind a cold, unyielding resolve that radiated through the hall.
"Bring the hotel's general manager and legal counsel to the VIP conference room immediately," Samantha ordered, her voice cutting through the lobby's ambient classical music like a razor. "And tell the valet team to leave his dark blue sedan parked directly in front of the main entrance."
