Clara walked slowly toward the glass elevator in the main foyer, her orange dress trailing over the floor.
She pulled her phone back out and dialed her family estate attorney, Arthur Vance.
Arthur: Clara? Did the board execute the emergency lease termination order?
Clara: Yes, Arthur. Julian is currently sitting on the sidewalk outside the front gates.
Arthur: Good. His father would be ashamed of what he turned that place into over the last six months.
Clara: How bad are the hotel financial books, Arthur?
Arthur: Worse than we thought. He transferred over eight hundred thousand dollars from the maintenance fund to his personal checking account.
Clara: I knew he was stealing. That's why he was so desperate to cover up the system payment glitch today.
Arthur: He was trying to force out long-term guests and double-charge luxury tourists to hide his embezzlement.
Clara: Did the state prosecutor issue the arrest warrant yet?
Arthur: The police financial unit is reviewing the bank wire logs as we speak. They'll be at the hotel within the hour.
Clara: Good. Make sure the local media stays away from the building. My daughter needs quiet rest.
Arthur: Understood, Clara. How is little Emma doing this morning?
Clara: Her fever is finally breaking, thank God. But she was terrified when Julian came pounding on our door at eight in the morning.
Arthur: He broke down the door lock, didn't he?
Clara: He brought two lock technicians and threatened to call the county sheriff if we didn't leave in five minutes.
Arthur: That constitutes felony harassment and illegal eviction under state hotel laws.
Clara: I want him held accountable for every single penny he stole, Arthur. No out-of-court settlement.
Arthur: He won't get a settlement, Clara. He is facing up to ten years in state prison for grand larceny.
The elevator doors chimed open on the penthouse floor, revealing a wide carpeted hallway.
Clara stepped out, hanging up the call as she saw her personal nurse, Sarah, waiting near the suite doors.
Sarah: Mrs. Sterling! Is everything alright downstairs? We heard screaming from the balcony.
Clara: It's taken care of, Sarah. Julian has been removed from the property permanently.
Sarah: Thank goodness. Emma was so frightened when he flipped our luggage over in the hallway.
Clara: How is she feeling right now?
Sarah: She's sitting up in bed drinking juice. The fresh cold water helped bring her temperature down.
Clara pushed open the heavy oak doors to the presidential suite, stepping into the sunlit bedroom.
Seven-year-old Emma was sitting propped up against white silk pillows, holding a small plush bear.
Emma: Mommy! Did the mean man in the blue suit go away?
Clara rushed to the side of the bed, kneeling down and wrapping her arms around her daughter.
Clara: Yes, baby. The mean man is gone and he is never coming back here ever again.
Emma: Did you tell him that this is our hotel?
Clara: I sure did, sweetie. Your daddy built this place so we would always have a safe home.
Emma: I missed Daddy today, Mommy.
Clara: I know, my love. But Daddy is watching over us, and he made sure we were protected today.