Chapter 8 - The Last Account
Emily held the key above her palm.
Victor's expression became triumphant.
“Good girl.”
Roman's eyes narrowed.
“Let Bella go.”
“First the account.”
“Then?”
Victor smiled.
“You know how this works.”
Emily walked forward.
Every step echoed through the empty lobby.
She stopped beneath the balcony.
“Where is the account?”
Victor stared.
“You tell me.”
Emily smiled.
“No.”
Victor's expression changed.
“You have no leverage.”
Emily looked at Bella.
Then at Roman.
Then back at Victor.
“You do.”
She dropped the key.
Victor lunged for it.
That was the mistake.
Marcus, hidden behind the concierge desk, fired.
Victor's gun flew from his hand.
Bella ducked.
Roman moved.
Seconds later, Victor was on the marble floor.
But he was not the only threat.
A second gunman emerged from the service corridor.
Emily recognized him.
The former security chief.
The man responsible for intercepting her mother's phone calls.
He raised his weapon.
Roman pushed Emily aside.
A shot cracked.
Roman stumbled.
Emily screamed.
Marcus fired back.
The attacker fell.
Roman dropped to one knee.
Emily ran to him.
“Roman!”
He pressed a hand to his side.
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I've had worse.”
“Stop saying that.”
He looked at her.
“Are you crying?”
“Yes.”
“Then I definitely need to be fine.”
She laughed through tears.
Victor struggled on the floor.
Roman stood over him.
“Where is the last account?”
Victor smiled through blood.
“You'll never find it.”
Emily looked down.
The key had landed near the concierge desk.
Samuel Price appeared from behind the desk.
He picked it up.
“Maybe we don't need to.”
Roman turned.
Samuel held the key.
“The old management office.”
Roman frowned.
“My father used to keep a locked accounting room behind the presidential suite.”
“Yes.”
“It's been sealed for years.”
Samuel nodded.
“I opened it once.”
“When?”
“Twenty-two years ago.”
Samuel handed the key to Emily.
“I never forgot the shape.”
They went upstairs.
The hidden room was behind a portrait.
Inside was an old safe.
Emily inserted the key.
The safe opened.
Inside sat a single hard drive.
A stack of bank records.
And a letter.
Roman took the letter.
It was from his father.
My son,
I know there will come a day when you doubt everyone.
I hope you remember one thing.
The Bellini name means nothing if the people beneath it are afraid.
Roman read the next paragraph.
Your mother is innocent.
Rebecca Hayes is innocent.
Margaret Ellis is innocent.
Trust the people who stayed when leaving would have been easier.
Roman looked at Emily.
Her eyes filled with tears.
His father had known.
He had known who was trustworthy.
He had tried to protect them.
And Victor had buried the truth.
The hard drive contained everything.
Bank transfers.
Messages.
Signed contracts.
Security footage.
A recorded conversation between Victor and Keller.
And finally, proof that Victor had ordered Rebecca's death.
The police were called.
Victor was arrested.
The remaining conspirators were identified.
Keller surrendered.
The old security chief survived long enough to be formally charged.
The Bellini Grand did not collapse.
It changed.
Roman dissolved the fraudulent companies.
Returned misdirected employee funds.
Restored benefits.
Reinstated every worker who had been unfairly targeted.
Walter received a full pension adjustment.
Samuel became head of guest relations.
Luis was given an official translator-supported benefits position.
Henry retired comfortably.
And Emily?
She received an offer.
Not from housekeeping.
Roman asked her to join the executive office.
Emily laughed when he presented it.
“I’m not qualified.”
Roman looked at her.
“You found a hidden accounting system, survived a conspiracy, saved my employees, located a missing woman, exposed a family betrayal and opened a vault my father designed.”
He paused.
“You're overqualified.”
She smiled.
“What would I actually do?”
Roman stepped closer.
“Tell me when I'm wrong.”
“I already do that for free.”
“Then I'll pay you.”
Emily laughed.
For the first time in years, the Bellini Grand felt less like a fortress.
It felt like a home.
But one final problem remained.
Roman.
He had spent his entire adult life believing love made people vulnerable.
Emily had spent hers believing trust was dangerous.
Neither knew how to do this.
So Roman did something no one expected.
He asked.
“Dinner?”
Emily looked at him.
“Is this a business dinner?”
“No.”
“Then why are you dressed like you're buying a country?”
Roman looked down at his suit.
“I didn't know what people wear on dates.”
Emily smiled.
“A date?”
“I hope so.”
She stepped closer.
“Then yes.”
Roman's shoulders relaxed.
“Good.”
Emily touched the silver key around her neck.
“I'm keeping this.”
Roman smiled.
“You can keep it.”
“And the secret?”
“What secret?”
She leaned close.
“The fact that you fell first.”
Roman laughed.
“I absolutely did not.”
“You did.”
“I own the hotel.”
May you like
“And yet I won.”
For the first time, Roman Bellini surrendered without a fight.
