Chapter 6 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Four hundred people watched Charlotte enter the ballroom.
She could feel every eye.
She hated it.
Crystal chandeliers covered the ceiling.
A twelve-piece orchestra played near the stage.
Waiters moved between tables carrying champagne.
Charlotte wore an old black dress under her jacket.
Every woman around her looked like she belonged on a magazine cover.
Charlotte leaned toward Sebastian.
“I look ridiculous.”
“No.”
“I’m wearing forty-dollar boots.”
“Your grandmother wore work boots to our first bank meeting.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“Seriously?”
“She scared the banker.”
For the first time, Charlotte laughed.
Sebastian smiled.
Then Margaret appeared.
“There you are.”
Charlotte’s smile disappeared.
Margaret spoke quietly to Sebastian.
“The board is concerned.”
“The board has had champagne for two hours.”
“They’re concerned about her.”
Charlotte folded her arms.
“I’m standing right here.”
Margaret looked at her.
“Exactly.”
Sebastian stepped onto the stage before Margaret could continue.
The room applauded.
He reached the microphone.
“Thank you for celebrating seventy-five years of Valle Hotels.”
More applause.
Charlotte stayed near the stage.
Margaret stood twenty feet away.
Watching.
Sebastian spoke about his father.
His first hotel.
His late wife.
Then his voice changed.
“Tonight was supposed to be about the past.”
The room quieted.
“But sometimes the past walks through the front door and demands that you face it.”
Charlotte felt her stomach twist.
Sebastian looked directly at her.
“My daughter Olivia left this family twenty-five years ago.”
Whispers spread.
“I failed her.”
Silence.
“And because of that failure, I lost twenty-five years with someone I should have known from the day she was born.”
He extended his hand.
“Charlotte.”
She didn’t move.
He waited.
The room waited.
Finally, Charlotte walked onto the stage.
Cameras flashed.
Sebastian took her hand.
“This is my granddaughter, Charlotte Valle.”
The room erupted.
Some clapped.
Some gasped.
Some immediately reached for their phones.
Margaret looked furious.
Sebastian continued.
“And tomorrow morning, I will ask the board to appoint her to the Valle Foundation.”
Margaret’s face went white.
“What?” Charlotte whispered.
Sebastian squeezed her hand.
“Trust me.”
“No.”
He smiled for the crowd.
“Later.”
A waiter approached with two champagne glasses.
Sebastian took one.
Charlotte shook her head.
“I don’t drink champagne.”
“Smart girl.”
Sebastian raised his glass.
“To second chances.”
He drank.
Charlotte watched Margaret.
Margaret wasn’t looking at her anymore.
She was looking at the glass.
Sebastian’s smile faded.
His fingers opened.
The champagne glass shattered on the stage.
“Grandpa?”
He grabbed his chest.
Then collapsed.
Charlotte dropped beside him.
“Call an ambulance!”
Guests screamed.
Margaret pushed through the crowd.
“What did you do?”
Charlotte looked up.
“What?”
Margaret pointed at Sebastian.
“You came here tonight, and now he’s on the floor!”
Charlotte stared at her.
“You’re insane!”
Security surrounded them.
Sebastian’s eyes fluttered.
Charlotte held his hand.
“Stay with me.”
His lips moved.
She leaned closer.
He whispered two words.
May you like
“Blue room.”
Then his eyes closed.
