Kevin walked in, saw me, and sighed like I was the problem. "Come on, Susannah Seymour, don't make a scene. You could've just told me you were coming."

He wiped his forehead, already sweating.

Then Lillian latched onto his arm, throwing me a smug glare. "So it's Ms. Seymour. She said she was your sister—I figured she meant future sister-in-law."

I inhaled slowly. 'So that's what this is.' No wonder she felt untouchable.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Kevin glanced at her. "Maybe... give her a discount?"

My heart dropped. "Kevin, what policy lets the hotel fine guests? What regulation backs this up? Otherwise, it's straight-up illegal."

Lillian scoffed. "Our boss is the policy. Every tree, every brick here costs money. You sat here soaking in the vibes, trying to snag a rich guy. I let it slide, and now you're pushing it? I'm the manager. What I say goes. Not a cent less!"

I turned to Kevin. He braced himself. "Enough, Susannah. Stop making a scene. Just pay."

He said I was making a scene?

He knew I was here to inspect the hotel, and now he had the nerve to say that?

I almost laughed from how mad I was.

"Kevin, do you even KNOW who owns this hotel? And you're seriously talking to me like that?"

Lillian giggled behind her hand. "Please. Everyone knows who owns it. You think it's YOU?

"Our boss? Young, smart, loaded—of course girls fall for him. But stirring up drama just to get noticed? That's straight-up sad."

She slapped the bill on the table. "Here's the deal. Either pay, or say this out loud three times: 'Sorry, I'm a gold digger, I came to take photos.' Then I'll drop it. Call it a warning to the rest—stop throwing yourselves at rich guys. I get it, marrying up sounds cute. But not like THIS."

Pure venom.

And the way people looked at me? It shifted. Fast.

Demi lost it. "Do you even know who she is? She's—"

Kevin cut in, yelling. "Enough! If you still respect me, pay $100,000 and we're done!"

I couldn't believe it.

The same guy who once begged me to save this hotel—now fining me?

I stood.

Lillian flinched. "What are you doing? I'm warning you, hitting someone's a crime!"

"I'm not hitting anyone. I'm paying. But on MY terms. I want a full receipt. And to everyone here—sorry your meal got hijacked. Please line up and collect $1,000 from my assistant. Put everything on my tab. Just give me a moment to sort things out."

Every head turned.

It was obvious now—I wasn't here to argue over money. I had it, and I'd spend it how I wanted.

Guests stood. Demi sent each of them $1,000 on the spot.

Once the lobby emptied out, Kevin started to sense something was off.

"Susannah, you..."

"Let's settle up," I cut in. "What's the total?"

Lillian still hadn't gotten the memo. She told the servers, "Put every tab in the lobby on hers."

Came out to about $620,000.

I paid without a word and asked her to issue a receipt. Once it printed, I checked the total and laughed, turning to the phone next to me.

"Check this out. This is my bill for one meal at our own hotel—$620K. And $128K of that? A fine."

The boardroom looked like someone dropped a grenade. My mom didn't skip a beat. "Kevin Daley, you've got some nerve!"

Kevin bolted over, eyes bugging out. "Susannah, you—you actually—"

"I called the board. Like I said—if I don't have your resignation in ten minutes, I lose."

Lillian dragged him back, snickering at the screen. "She's really out here flexing with a bunch of geezers and grannies. What a clown.

"Why're you even talking to her?

"This hotel's Kevin's family legacy. Him quitting? Hilarious."

Kevin snapped. "Watch it. That's my mom."

Lillian froze, then slapped on a fake smile. "Ma'am, you're Kevin's mom? I'm so sorry—I thought you were his sister!

"Honestly, it's her fault. Sitting in a prime lobby seat, eating her own bread? Totally ruined the hotel's vibe. I was just trying to keep standards up.

"If she's family, I'll refund her right now. We can move on."

My mom cut in. "That girl's my daughter. Kevin, fix it. You know what happens if you don't."

Then she looked at me. "We're done here. Susie, take full control. All hotel reports are in. If this happens again, that hotel's gone."

She hung up and texted me: [Don't hold back.]

I laughed. Like I ever would. People like this don't learn from a slap on the wrist.

They need to feel real fear. Real regret.

I knocked on the table. "You all heard her. Now explain. These fines—what was the approval process? How many meetings? Who was there? Where are the minutes? Was it during work hours? Where's the signed authorization?

"No full paper trail, no excuse. And you know how my parents are."

Kevin didn't say a word. Sweat broke out across his forehead.

I made the call. Demi leaned in. "Ms. Seymour, they're here."

I nodded. "Let them in."

Kevin turned, saw the group, and went ghost-white. "Susie, what are you doing?"

'Susie?' I scoffed. Cold and smug one second, and now he's playing nice?

"Obviously, we're auditing. What else?"

About ten people from HQ walked in—auditors, legal, the whole crew.

Security had locked down the hotel.

Guests in private dining got comped and were politely asked to cooperate.

The servers looked rattled—until they spotted Mr. Spector, our in-house counsel.

Lillian didn't recognize him. When she saw guests coming out, she panicked and charged at me.

"What do you think you're doing?! Susannah, right? I don't care who in the Seymour family you are or what you are to Kevin—this hotel's off-limits!"

She turned to Kevin. "Say something!"

I looked at Kevin.

He clenched his fists. "Susannah, get out. Take your people and leave!"

I flicked my hand.

Mr. Spector stepped up. "Ms. Susannah Seymour is CEO of Horizon Group with full authority over all hotels.

"As of today, Royalton is under investigation for major violations. No one leaves. HQ staff will conduct a full audit. Employees to the right, guests to the left. Thanks for your cooperation.

"Every guest will receive a compensation gift after the investigation."

Kevin was spiraling.

Lillian blinked hard. "What did he just say? CEO?! Kevin, didn't you say you were the chairman's son? How is she in charge?"

I smirked. "Because he's not even their real kid."