All Chapters of THE HEIR BEHIND THE CREST: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
18 chapters
Chapter 01: The Bellhop and the Shadows of Power
The revolving glass doors of The Imperial Crest Hotel spun without rest. Beneath the chandeliers, guests glided across marble that shone like still water, their laughter echoing through the lobby. Silver carts rattled, perfume mingled with coffee, and the sound of wealth filled the air.John Raymond pushed a luggage trolley toward the elevator, his uniform pressed but worn, the colour faded from too many washes. Sweat gathered at the back of his neck even though the lobby was chilled. He moved quickly, quietly, never speaking unless spoken to. The other bellhops called him “the ghost,” because he worked harder than any of them yet left no trace of himself behind.He glanced once at the reflection in the mirror near the elevator, tall, lean, and tired. The navy cap sat low over his dark hair, shadowing eyes that were a shade of blue people rarely noticed. He forced a polite smile as a couple walked past, their laughter slicing through his thoughts.“Mind the corner, boy,” the man said.
Chapter 02: The Man in the Shadows
Rain fell again that evening, the kind that painted the streets in silver threads. The city’s pulse slowed after dusk, yet the air around the abandoned train terminal throbbed with quiet tension. The Imperial Crest glimmered miles away, untouched by the weather, a world of chandeliers and laughter. Here, the concrete walls were streaked with rust and graffiti, and the wind hissed through broken windows.John Raymond stood under the half-collapsed roof of the platform, his hands buried in the pockets of his worn jacket. Each sound made him alert: a distant car horn, dripping water, a train’s faint echo from far down the line. He checked his watch. It was nine o’clock exactly.He did not know why he had come. Curiosity, perhaps, or desperation. Maybe both. The voice on the phone had carried authority, calm and deliberate, and something inside him had whispered that ignoring it would mean silencing the last chance to understand who he truly was.A beam of light sliced through the darknes
Chapter 03: The Man in the Shadows (continued)
The next morning, the Imperial Crest returned to its polished rhythm. The lobby sparkled, the air thick with perfume and wealth. John moved through it with practiced calm, yet every sight felt altered. The chandelier’s crystals no longer dazzled him; they looked like cages made of light.Rita stood behind the reception desk, laughing softly with Jerry, who leaned across the counter. John watched from the corner of his eye as Jerry handed her a wrapped box. She giggled and pressed her hand to his arm.John walked past them, keeping his expression neutral. Jerry’s voice followed him, lazy and amused. “Hey, Raymond. Carry my luggage up later, will you? Don’t scratch the leather this time.”John turned slightly. “Yes, sir.”The old response came automatically, but this time the words carried no submission. In his mind, he was already somewhere else, standing in the storm with the truth in his hands.By evening, the routine ended. He clocked out, changed clothes, and waited outside near th
Chapter 04: Echoes Beneath the Crest
Morning sunlight spread across the city, painting the skyline in gold. The Imperial Crest Hotel shimmered in the early light, its glass walls reflecting a perfection that only money could maintain. To the guests arriving that day, it was a sanctuary of elegance. To John Raymond, it had become a chessboard.He arrived through the staff entrance before seven, wearing his bellhop uniform once more. The familiar scent of polish and detergent greeted him. Everything looked the same, yet every detail felt different. Each sound, every order barked by a supervisor, every whisper of gossip among the workers—he absorbed it all. For the first time, he saw not routine but structure: a living system of control, loyalty, and corruption.Mr Harrison stood near the reception desk, inspecting the staff with his usual grim expression. He noticed John at once. “Raymond,” he said, voice cutting through the noise. “You are assigned to assist the finance office today. They are short-staffed for the upcomin
Chapter 05: Preparation For The Audit Visit
The day began with tension thick enough to taste. By sunrise, the Imperial Crest was already a hive of movement. Cleaning carts rattled through corridors, telephones rang without pause, and voices whispered under the hum of air conditioning. The first day of the audit had arrived.John Raymond buttoned his uniform, adjusting the collar until it sat perfectly straight. Every movement was deliberate now, every expression controlled. Behind the mirror of his calm eyes, thoughts churned like hidden machinery. He had been waiting for this day. The game had truly begun.Downstairs, Mr Harrison barked orders across the lobby. “Check the registers again! Not one error, do you understand?” His voice carried like thunder. Staff scattered, each desperate to avoid his wrath.John moved quietly among them, carrying files, serving guests, and listening. He caught fragments of conversation from managers huddled near the elevators. The external auditors were already in the boardroom, comparing last q
Chapter 06: The Audit of Shadows
The next morning brought fresh storms of anxiety. Harrison summoned the finance team at dawn. He stood by the window of his office, staring out at the rain.“Someone in this department is incompetent,” he snapped. “Documents do not vanish on their own.”Miss Anabel spoke carefully. “Sir, I have the ledgers ready for recheck.”“I asked for the receipts, not ledgers,” he said coldly.At that moment, John stepped in holding a folder. “Excuse me, sir. I found these behind one of the cabinets in the archive room.”Harrison spun around. “What?”John handed him the folder. “They must have fallen behind during filing.”Harrison snatched it, flipping through the papers. His expression flickered between relief and suspicion. “How convenient,” he murmured.“I thought you should have them immediately,” John said.Harrison stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Good work. You may go.”John turned to leave, but he could feel the man’s gaze burning into his back. He had just placed th
Chapter 07: The Lion Awakens
The wind pressed against the tall windows of Harrison’s office. The city beyond glimmered under a thin veil of fog, and the only sound inside the room was the quiet ticking of a clock. John sat across from the man who had once terrified him. Now, the fear had burned away, replaced by something sharper.Harrison’s fingers drummed against the desk. “You are too calm for someone under suspicion,” he said. “That worries me.”John kept his eyes steady. “I have nothing to hide.”“Everyone hides something.” Harrison leaned forward. “I built this hotel on control. People who forget that tend to vanish.”John smiled slightly. “Then you will have to keep a closer watch on everyone, sir.”For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Harrison’s mouth curved into a thin smile. “I underestimated you. That was my mistake.”“You still can,” John said quietly. “That would be your second.”The older man’s eyes gleamed. “Careful, Raymond. The higher you climb, the colder it gets.”John rose from the chair. “T
Chapter 08: The Vault and the Secret
The night wrapped the Imperial Crest in silence. Rain had stopped hours ago, leaving the streets below slick and shining. Inside, the hotel glowed under soft amber lights, a sleeping giant unaware of the man moving quietly through its veins.John Raymond wore plain black; the uniform jacket was replaced with a dark shirt. The silver key card Shack had given him rested in his hand, its emblem catching faint reflections from the hallway lights. The air was cool, humming faintly with the sound of distant generators. Every footstep seemed too loud.He reached the basement service corridor, where only a few cleaning staff worked this late. He passed unnoticed, carrying a maintenance clipboard as a disguise. The elevator to the lower vault level required executive clearance; he swiped the card. A green light blinked, and the doors slid open.When they closed behind him, the descent began. The elevator moved more slowly than usual, humming through layers of concrete. His reflection in the me
Chapter 09: Before the Storm
The Imperial Crest glimmered beneath the noon sun, every window polished, every tile immaculate. The entire staff moved with frantic precision. The announcement of a coming inspection had turned the hotel into a pressure chamber. Every manager barked orders, every worker obeyed without question. On the surface, it looked like routine maintenance. Beneath it, it was war.John Raymond stood near the service elevator, clipboard in hand. He watched the commotion unfold with quiet satisfaction. This inspection was no accident. Shack’s network had arranged it—a full corporate review under the board’s authority. In three days, the empire that had enslaved him would face its reckoning.From the mezzanine, Mr Harrison’s voice boomed across the lobby. “Everything must be perfect! If I see one flaw, one mistake, there will be consequences!”He stalked between staff, his eyes sharp and restless. His skin looked pale, his movements quicker, like a man fighting invisible enemies. He passed John wit
Chapter 10: The Day of Reckoning
The morning sun spilt through the tall glass windows of The Imperial Crest, painting the marble floors in streaks of gold. The lobby had never looked more perfect. Every chandelier gleamed, every uniform shone. The scent of polished wood and jasmine candles filled the air. Yet beneath that immaculate beauty lay tension so thick it hummed.The board’s inspection had begun.John Raymond stood near the rear of the grand hall, dressed in a crisp black suit. He looked nothing like the bellhop he once was. His hair was neatly brushed back, his expression unreadable. The staff hurried about, whispering nervously as the members of the corporate board entered one by one. Among them was a tall, silver-haired man in a grey suit—Mr Shack, now officially representing the audit committee.Harrison moved to greet them, his smile too wide. “Gentlemen, welcome to The Imperial Crest. It is an honour to host you.”The chairman, Mr Dalton, nodded curtly. “We hope this visit will reaffirm our trust in you