Chapter 4 - The Mark of Aurelia
Arthur had seen the symbol only three times in his life.
The first was carved above the fireplace in the private residence of Aurelia Beaumont, founder of the hotel.
The second was engraved inside a silver bracelet belonging to Aurelia’s granddaughter, Celeste.
The third had been tattooed onto the shoulder of a six-year-old girl named Emilia Beaumont on the day before she vanished.
Arthur crossed the lobby with the speed of a much younger man.
“Stop immediately.”
His voice cut through the crowd.
Beatrice’s hand fell from Clara’s shoulder.
Daniel turned.
“President Vale, I can explain.”
Arthur did not look at him.
He looked only at Clara.
Her dark hair had partly fallen from its neat bun. Her face was flushed with humiliation. A thin silver chain hung around her neck, and at the end of it was a small key-shaped pendant.
Arthur’s knees nearly failed him.
The tattoo could have been copied.
The pendant could not.
He had given it to Emilia himself on her sixth birthday.
Arthur stopped in front of Clara.
She tried to cover her shoulder.
“I’m sorry about the uniform.”
Arthur’s eyes filled with tears.
“Where did you get that necklace?”
Clara touched the pendant.
“My mother said I had it when I was found.”
“Found where?”
“Near Tampa. Eighteen years ago.”
The lobby seemed to tilt beneath Arthur’s feet.
He bowed deeply.
Gasps moved through the crowd.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Clara asked.
Arthur raised his head.
“We have been searching for you for eighteen years. You are the real owner of this hotel.”
Silence followed.
Then Daniel laughed nervously.
“Sir, perhaps we should discuss this privately. The young woman is clearly confused.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“I am not speaking to you.”
Daniel’s mouth closed.
Beatrice folded her arms.
“This is absurd. Anyone can have a tattoo.”
Arthur turned toward her.
“Anyone can have a tattoo. Not everyone can have the pendant designed by Aurelia Beaumont and placed around the neck of her only great-grandchild.”
Clara rose unsteadily.
“You think I’m related to the Beaumont family?”
“I know you are.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Your birth name was Emilia Rose Beaumont. Your mother was Celeste Beaumont, chairwoman of the Aurelia Group. Your father was Dr. Nathan Cole. You disappeared from a private family residence in 2008.”
Clara felt the room move around her.
The name Emilia struck something deep inside her.
A staircase.
Orange blossoms.
A woman singing.
A man saying, “Emilia, come back inside.”
Clara gripped the edge of a table.
“No.”
Arthur stepped closer but did not touch her.
“You had a small scar beneath your right knee from falling beside the garden fountain.”
Clara’s breath caught.
She had that scar.
“You hated strawberries but loved strawberry ice cream because you said frozen fruit tasted different.”
Clara stared at him.
No one knew that except Evelyn.
“You called me Uncle Arthur, even though I was your grandmother’s cousin.”
The memories came as fragments, too fast and bright to understand.
Clara heard a child laughing.
She saw a woman in a blue dress.
She smelled smoke and rain.
Then she remembered a voice saying, “Don’t tell them your name.”
Clara stepped back.
“I need air.”
Arthur signaled to a security officer.
“Clear the lobby.”
Daniel immediately objected.
“Sir, the Harrington reception is still taking place.”
“The reception is over.”
Beatrice’s face reddened.
“You cannot end my event over the claims of a waitress.”
Arthur looked at her wine-stained dress.
“This waitress may be the majority owner of every Aurelia property in the world.”
Sophia lowered her phone.
Arthur turned toward the head of security.
“Lock the executive offices. Secure all company records. No employee is to leave the property without authorization.”
Daniel’s face became white.
“Why would that be necessary?”
Arthur finally looked at him.
“Because Emilia Beaumont did not simply disappear.”
May you like
He paused.
“She was taken by someone who wanted control of her inheritance.”
