Chapter 2: The Silence of the Lobby
A suffocating silence descended upon the grand lobby. The soft jazz quartet playing near the lounge area came to an abrupt halt as the musicians looked over their instruments. The black-tie guests stood immobilized, glances darting rapidly between Victoria’s pale, frozen face and the young woman in the tank top.
Victoria let out a dry, forced laugh, though the tremor in her hands betrayed her sudden panic. "Owner? Are you insane? My father is the principal shareholder of the Sterling Hospitality Group! We own sixty percent of the operating equity in this building!"
Officer Wright stepped between them, his voice tight with deep authority and visible alarm. "Miss Sterling, please step back immediately."
"Wright, what are you doing?" Victoria demanded, her voice rising an octave. "Are you actually listening to this girl? Look at her! She’s dressed like a vagrant!"
"Her dress doesn't alter the land registry, Miss Sterling," Wright replied firmly, pulling out his radio. "Miss Mercer is Sienna Mercer. Daughter of the late Arthur Mercer. She holds ninety percent of the primary real estate trust, including the ground lease and the brand trademark."
Victoria’s jaw dropped. The diamond necklace at her throat rose and fell rapidly as her breathing shallow. She looked around the lobby, suddenly aware of the dozens of high-society eyes watching her. The very people she had been trying to impress minutes earlier were now staring at her with looks of horror and morbid curiosity.
Sienna reached into her brown leather bag and pulled out a small, black electronic keycard—a master bypass key issued only to executive trustees. She tapped it against the private elevator panel behind the reception desk. A soft chime rang out, and the indicator light turned green.
"Wright," Sienna said calmly, without turning her head. "Ensure the guests are escorted back to the main ballroom. And place a security hold on the lobby surveillance footage from the past fifteen minutes."
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"Right away, Miss Mercer," Wright replied, standing at attention.
"And as for Miss Sterling," Sienna added, pausing at the open elevator doors to look back over her shoulder, "her guest privileges are revoked. Effective immediately."
