They Humiliated Her Boyfriend — Not Knowing She Owned the Hotel
Chapter 8
Daniel was gone by the time security reached the hotel.
His office was empty.
His desk had been cleared.
His company phone had been turned off.
His car was missing.
Victoria claimed she had no idea where he went.
Olivia didn’t believe her.
Neither did Ethan.
James searched Daniel’s office.
Behind a cabinet, he discovered a safe.
Inside was a passport, several foreign bank cards, and another flash drive.
They opened the files.
Daniel had transferred millions of dollars to accounts overseas.
Olivia stared at the records.
“He was one of them.”
James nodded.
“But not the only one.”
A folder contained payments made to Victoria.
Another contained payments made to members of the hotel board.
Then Ethan noticed something.
One account was labeled BENNETT HOLDINGS.
Olivia went silent.
“That account belongs to my father.”
James examined it.
“It’s an old account.”
“Is it active?”
“No.”
“But money moved through it.”
Olivia shook her head.
“My father would never.”
Ethan put a hand on her shoulder.
“We don’t know what happened yet.”
She nodded.
They spent the next several hours reconstructing the timeline.
Five years earlier, the hotel had been struggling.
A group of investors offered help.
The hotel recovered.
Revenue increased.
Staff expanded.
But behind the growth, money was being diverted.
Olivia’s father discovered the scheme.
When he tried to stop it, the group threatened him.
His illness followed.
Then the ownership transfer.
Olivia suddenly understood.
“They wanted me to own the hotel.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
“To control me.”
James looked up.
“Or to make you the legal owner while they continued stealing.”
Olivia’s expression hardened.
“So they planned to use me as a shield.”
“Exactly.”
The next morning, Olivia called a press conference.
She had no intention of hiding anymore.
The hotel lobby filled with reporters.
Cameras turned toward her.
Olivia stood beside Ethan.
“Our hotel has been the target of a large financial fraud scheme.”
Reporters shouted questions.
“Who is responsible?”
“Was your father involved?”
“Did management steal money?”
Olivia remained calm.
“We are investigating.”
A reporter pointed at Ethan.
“Is this the boyfriend you brought into the hotel meeting?”
Olivia looked at him.
“Yes.”
Another reporter asked, “Was he involved in the investigation?”
Olivia smiled.
“He helped us discover evidence others missed.”
Questions continued.
Then one reporter shouted:
“Are you planning to fire your entire management team?”
Olivia answered.
“Anyone involved in misconduct will be removed.”
The next morning, the story exploded online.
But alongside it came another story.
A photograph of Ethan.
The headline claimed:
BILLIONAIRE HOTEL OWNER’S MYSTERY BOYFRIEND ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM HOTEL.
Ethan stared at the screen.
“What?”
Olivia took the phone.
The article claimed Ethan had manipulated Olivia into gaining access to company finances.
It included fake documents.
Fake emails.
Fake photographs.
Ethan felt sick.
“They’re framing me.”
Olivia’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“They’re trying to destroy me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the easiest target.”
Ethan looked at her.
Then he said something that surprised her.
“Maybe we should break up.”
Olivia froze.
“What?”
“They can’t hurt you through me if I’m gone.”
She stepped closer.
“No.”
“Olivia—”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“I spent my entire life surrounded by people who wanted something from me.”
She took his hands.
“You are the first person who wanted me.”
Ethan looked at her.
“I don’t care about your money.”
“I know.”
“I care about you.”
“I know.”
“Then let’s finish this.”
Olivia nodded.
Together, they decided to expose everyone.
But they didn’t know someone had already leaked their next move.
And that person was much closer than either of them realized.
