The hallway was quiet, the air smelling of old wood polish and rain from the open window at the far end.

I walked back down the stairs, my mind racing through the next steps of the plan.

Preston’s flight was scheduled to depart at 3:15 PM.

He would be at the boarding gate right now, thinking he had won.

He would be checking his phone, waiting for the notification that fifty million dollars had cleared into his offshore account.

Instead, he would find his accounts frozen and his corporate credentials deactivated.

I reached the ground floor and stepped out into the lobby once more.

Daniel Price was waiting near the reception desk, his hands clasped in front of his grey suit.

He looked at me, his eyebrows raised in silent question.

I gave him a single, firm nod.

Daniel exhaled, a visible wave of relief washing over his face.

“The car is waiting for you at the side entrance, Mrs. Hayes,” Daniel said, keeping his voice low.

“Thank you, Daniel,” I said. “For everything.”

“It was my pleasure,” he said. “Your family has always treated this hotel, and its staff, with respect.”