Darien opened the email from Jenny and turned the screen toward Jerome. The guard read the time and location, then the sender's name and company. It looked legitimate. He glanced toward Adam at the desk, silently asking for help. But before either man could propose a simple verification, Victoria stepped forward again.
"I am a guest of this hotel, and I am telling you I do not want this person near me," she said. "Do I need to complain to your general manager?"
Nathan straightened at the threat. He was twenty-six, new to the position, and anxious to prove he could handle difficult people. "Sir, we need you to step away from the meeting," he told Darien. His hand hovered near the radio on his belt, not quite aggressive but clearly intended to signal authority.
"I'm willing to step away," Darien answered. "I would prefer that you confirm my invitation first."
"There isn't an invitation," Victoria said. "I don't know why we're still discussing this. People like him need to learn there are boundaries."
For the first time, Klaus spoke loudly enough for the bystanders to hear. "Victoria, he has told you his name. Why won't you check?"
"Because I recognize a scam when I see one," she answered. "And because this conversation is embarrassing."
Stefan, who had until then remained silent, looked directly at Darien. "I'm sorry," he said. "This is not how a professional meeting should be conducted."
Darien inclined his head slightly, grateful for the acknowledgment without wanting another stranger to have to rescue him. He had made his decision. Continuing to argue would create more footage of an increasingly humiliating scene, and nothing Victoria could say now would restore the trust she had destroyed. She placed no value on his statements because she placed no value on the person speaking them. An investment of half a billion dollars required more than an eventual recognition of his name.
"I'll leave," he said. "There's no need for an escort."
"There certainly is," Victoria replied. "Walk him all the way outside, and make sure he doesn't try to sneak back through another entrance."
Jerome's jaw tightened. He wanted to tell her that she did not own the lobby and could not simply order hotel security to remove someone without cause. He also knew she was willing to complain to management, and he had seen colleagues disciplined for less. He turned to Darien. "Sir, would you come with me? We can sort out the reservation at the desk."
"It's all right," Darien said. His eyes rested on Jerome's face long enough to communicate that he understood the position the guard was in. "I won't be returning for the meeting."
Nathan walked on his other side as the three men crossed the lobby. The distance was barely sixty feet, yet every step seemed to acquire an unwanted audience. A couple near the elevators stopped talking. Eleanor kept filming, torn between speaking up and preserving a clear record of what had happened. At the desk, Adam watched Victoria turn away before Darien had even reached the doors.