Comments flooded her screen: Call the police. Hotels need better security. This is so cringe.
Damon checked his vintage Omega: 6:47 p.m. His phone buzzed insistently against his chest. The caller ID flashed CFO Alexander Industries, but he declined without looking.
"I have a 7:30 dinner meeting," Damon said calmly. "Let's resolve this quickly."
Elena burst into mocking laughter. "Oh, he has a meeting! Probably at McDonald's drive-thru."
The crowd's amusement grew bolder. A teenage TikToker captured Elena's performance, already crafting the perfect caption: Hotel Karen Versus Mysterious Man, Part One.
Derek leaned against the counter, addressing his audience like a seasoned performer. "Sir, we'll need three forms of government ID, a bank statement, your mother's maiden name, and a blood sample before processing any financial instrument from people in your situation."
"His situation?" Damon's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You know exactly what I mean." Derek's smile turned predatory. "Individuals who attempt to use financial products significantly above their apparent socioeconomic bracket."
In his shirt pocket, the edge of a first-class boarding pass—Chicago to Tokyo, departing tomorrow morning—remained barely visible. None of the staff noticed.
Elena grabbed the card back from Derek, examining it under the lobby's bright lights. "This plastic feels cheap. Real Amex black cards have weight, texture. This is probably one of those prepaid cards with a black coating." She held it between her thumb and forefinger like something diseased. "I bet if we scrape this, we'll find a regular debit card underneath."
A distinguished elderly couple watched from leather armchairs nearby. The husband leaned toward his wife. "Probably stole it from his employer's wallet. These people have no shame."
Their conversation carried clearly across the marble floor. Damon's jaw tightened imperceptibly, the first crack in his composed facade. His phone buzzed again. This time, the screen showed: Board Meeting: 15 minutes. He declined silently.
At Luxury Lifestyle, Bree's viewer count hit 1,200. Her comments section exploded: This is racist AF. Where's hotel security? Someone help this man. This is why I don't stay at cheap hotels.
But she kept filming, her voice breathy with excitement. "I've never seen anything like this before. The staff here is absolutely destroying this guy. Should I intervene? Let me know in the comments."