Chapter 2 - A Signature From an Empty Room
Elise stared at the screen until the numbers stopped looking like numbers.
3:12 A.M.
Two hundred eighty thousand euros.
Destination: Azure Coast Advisory.
Founder authorization: E. MOREL.
"I was on a night train from Lyon at three twelve," she said.
Antoine's fingers hovered over the keyboard. "The system requires a physical Founder badge and a second credential."
"Mine was in my bag."
Victoire folded her arms. "Convenient."
Elise turned. "You should be more careful when you're relieved."
Victoire's face tightened.
"What?"
"You looked terrified when I arrived. You look relieved now because the system points at me."
Before Victoire could answer, a man's voice came from the mezzanine.
"Elise?"
Sébastien Morel descended the staircase in a charcoal suit, his expression arranged between concern and disbelief.
Elise did not move.
"You could have called."
"I did. For two months."
"I mean before staging a lockdown in front of guests."
"I didn't stage the missing money."
Sébastien glanced at the screen.
His expression barely changed.
Too barely.
"That transfer was approved by your credential."
"You know I wasn't here."
"I know what the system says."
Elise stepped closer.
"And I know this hotel has been bleeding cash while you kept telling me everything was fine."
A few staff members had gathered near reception. No one spoke.
Sébastien lowered his voice.
"Unlock the property. We can discuss this upstairs."
"Not yet."
"You are frightening employees."
From behind the concierge desk, a young receptionist muttered, "We're already frightened."
Silence.
Victoire snapped toward her. "Camille."
The receptionist dropped her eyes.
"What are they frightened of?" Elise asked.
No one answered.
Then Antoine clicked into the authorization log.
His chair rolled backward.
"Ms. Morel."
"What?"
He pointed.
The 3:12 transfer was not the first Founder-level action.
There were seventeen.
Each one carried Elise's name.
The oldest was dated six weeks earlier.
And one entry was worse than the money.
FOUNDER ACCESS REQUEST: PRIVATE ARCHIVE - DENIED.
Elise looked at Sébastien.
Her father's sealed archive sat beneath the original 1928 wing.
May you like
Only a Morel could open it.
Someone had been trying.
