“You’re not welcome,” Mom emailed. “This is my resort.” I forwarded it: “Cancel her event—owner’s orders.”

Subject: Event Confirmation — Diane Patterson Retirement Weekend

My pulse skipped.

I opened it. It confirmed my mother’s reservation, detailed her selected package, and—what made my blood run cold—showed the event labeled “VIP APPROVED,” with a note: Override authorized.

Override? Authorized by whom?

I called Miles immediately. He picked up on the first ring.

“Harper,” he said, tense, “I was just about to reach out.”

“Explain,” I said evenly.

He sighed. “Someone claiming to represent ‘Seabrook Cove Partners’ contacted the front desk and finance. They instructed us not to cancel. They said your cancellation email was ‘emotional’ and invalid.”

My jaw tightened. “There is no ‘Partners.’”
Miles hesitated. “They provided documentation.”

“What kind of documentation?”

“A letter on legal letterhead,” he replied. “It states there’s a partial ownership transfer pending and that Diane Patterson has authority over events this weekend.”

My stomach dropped. “Pending transfer?” I repeated carefully. “Miles, nothing can be transferred without my signature.”

There was a pause filled with the faint background noise of the lobby—rolling suitcases, distant laughter, life moving on as mine felt like it was unraveling.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Miles said carefully, “but they also requested access to internal guest lists and reserved room blocks.”