Chapter 7 - Access Revoked
At seven the next morning, Juliet entered the resort’s administrative system.
She reviewed the list one final time.
Thirty-seven family accounts.
Twenty-nine unpaid balances.
Fourteen false promotional classifications.
Eight unauthorized cards.
She selected every account connected to Beatrice’s family celebration.
Suspend access.
Require payment authorization.
Remove complimentary services.
She pressed confirm.
At eight fifteen, Beatrice arrived at the spa.
The red light appeared.
By eight twenty, relatives were calling the front desk.
By eight twenty-five, several room accounts had been frozen.
At eight thirty, Juliet sat in the marble lobby with her laptop.
She chose the location carefully.
She wanted the confrontation to happen in public, but not because she wanted to humiliate them.
She wanted witnesses.
Beatrice marched toward the table after the spa employee rejected her for the fourth time.
“You did this,” she said.
Juliet continued typing.
“I corrected the accounts.”
Malcolm approached with the other relatives behind him.
“Juliet, restore the cards.”
“The cards will be restored when the outstanding balances are paid.”
“This is my birthday.”
“The date does not change the debt.”
Beatrice pointed toward the lobby entrance.
“Security should remove her.”
The security director did not move.
Instead, he turned toward Juliet.
“Would you like us to clear the area, Ms. Beaumont?”
Beatrice froze.
Malcolm stared at the man.
“Why are you asking her?”
The resort manager arrived carrying the billing folder. Samuel Harris followed with a second folder containing the trust documents.
Juliet closed her laptop halfway.
“Because I am the controlling owner of Beaumont Lake Resort.”
No one spoke.
Beatrice laughed first, but the sound was unsteady.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Samuel opened the trust agreement.
“It is legally confirmed.”
Malcolm looked at Juliet.
“You own the resort?”
“Mother did. Then she left it to me.”
“And you planned to reveal this by embarrassing us?”
“No. I planned to reveal it by giving everyone an opportunity to pay.”
May you like
Juliet pushed the billing folder toward him.
“You chose embarrassment when you refused.”
