Chapter 5: The Missing Guest
Julian’s hand instantly dropped to his side, his instincts taking over as he squared his shoulders. He motioned sharply for Claire to stay silent, holding up a finger to his lips. The soft, even breathing of little Lily from the armchair was the only reassuring sound in the room. Julian crept toward the heavy oak door of the parlor, his heart hammering against his ribs. He gripped the polished brass handle, turned it with agonizing slowness, and pulled the door open a mere two inches to peer out into the deserted corridor.
The hallway was entirely empty, bathed in the soft glow of wall sconces. However, a discarded white paper cup rested near the baseboard—a cup that hadn't been there when they walked down the hall moments earlier. Someone had been standing outside their door. Someone had been listening to every word of their painful confession.
Julian pulled the door open further, stepping out into the hallway to inspect the immediate vicinity. The luxury hotel was vast, boasting numerous exits, service stairwells, and private elevators reserved for high-paying guests and staff. If David’s associate had been lurking outside, they could have vanished toward the kitchens or the grand lobby within seconds. Julian retraced his steps toward the main ballroom corridor, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
Back in the parlor, Claire rushed over to the armchair, kneeling beside sleeping Lily to check her pulse and ensure the toddler was still undisturbed. When Julian returned a minute later, his expression was grim, etched with a new, immediate urgency.
“Someone was out there,” Julian said flatly, locking the heavy parlor door from the inside and throwing the deadbolt. “They heard everything. Your brother knows we’re onto him, Claire, which means the element of surprise is gone.”
Claire looked up at him, her eyes wide with terror. “If they know we know, what happens to Lily? What happens to us?”
“We don't wait to find out,” Julian declared, walking over to the mahogany desk and pulling out his encrypted satellite phone. His fingers flew across the glass screen, dialing a private security detail he retained for high-risk corporate audits. “We secure this room, we get local law enforcement involved right now, and we tear this hotel apart until we find whoever David has planted inside our wedding.”
“Julian, wait,” Claire said, standing up and placing a trembling hand on his tuxedo sleeve. For the first time since the confrontation began, Julian didn't flinch away from her touch, though his expression remained hard as stone. “If David has an inside man, it has to be someone with high-level access to the hotel’s security network. Someone who knew the floor plan, the guest lists, and the exact timing of the reception.”
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Julian stopped dialing, staring down at his wife as the puzzle pieces violently clicked into place. “Who, Claire? Who had access to all of that?”
Before Claire could answer, the overhead lights in the private parlor flickered once, twice, and then plunged the entire room into absolute darkness.
