Page 469 of His Virgin Romance Series

SETH

“Where’s Ben?” I demanded, just as he turned the corner. “Ah never mind, he’s here. Where have you been?”

“There was a situation by the west pool,” he said darkly. I could tell by his expression that he was upset by it.

“What happened?”

“Mr. Beaumont,” Ben told me. “He’s one of the tycoons who arrived a few days ago with his wife. He was ordering cocktails all morning by the pool and got drunk.”

“How drunk?”

“Drunk enough to get a little fresh with Nakoma, the waitress who brought him his ninth cocktail.”

“I assume his wife was not around?”

“She was at the spa, getting a full body massage,” Ben replied. “She doesn’t know about the incident.”

“Is it handled?”

“Brie’s seeing to Nakoma now,” he said. “She’s a little shaken up. She’s young, and this is her first job.”

“And Mr. Beaumont?” I asked, with distaste.

“The cad’s too drunk to hold a conversation,” he replied. “I cut him off and escorted him back to his suite. Once he sleeps it off, I doubt he’ll remember much.”

I sighed. “I wish there were a manual on how to deal with unruly guests.”

“If only,” he sighed, then he looked around as we entered the massive lobby together. “Have they arrived yet?”

“I’m told the Japanese delegation has arrived,” I told Ben. “I’m going to need you to welcome them on my behalf. I need to see to Trent Davis and his group; they just arrived via helicopter.”

Ben nodded. “The Davis party has been jotted down for three rooms.”

“He’s bringing some friends,” I nodded. “Ah, there they are.”

Ben nodded to me and headed off to welcome in the Japanese delegation, while I made my way towards Trent. Trent had gone to college with Jason and me. Even though we weren’t very close, we had partied together enough times to qualify as friends. Since graduation, I had run into him only a few times, but we’d always supported each other’s business ventures, which was why I assumed he was here.

It had been over two years since we’d last met, and I realized that time had not been kind to him. He had a visible potbelly and was balding slightly. He was still an impressive-looking man, but I knew that in a few years he would look like the spitting image of his overweight and bald father.

“Trent,” I greeted, shaking his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you,” he said excitedly. “Man, you haven’t changed a bit.”

“Can’t say that I can say the same about you,” I teased.

He patted his belly. “What can I say?” he laughed. “We can’t all look as svelte as you.”

“Trent,” a skinny blonde said, appearing next to him. “Introduce us to your friend.”

“Fuck, right,” he said. “Everyone, this is my friend and the owner of this fine establishment, Seth Dubois. Seth, these are my friends from work, Ella, Jimmy, Trey, Dominic, and Jennifer.”

As my eyes fell on Jennifer, I felt a little spasm of surprise combined with instant dread. She looked the same. She still had a great body, good tan, long blonde hair, and seductive eyes that she had highlighted with just the right amount of makeup. She was wearing high heels, paired with a bright slinky dress that had tropical vibes about it.

“You don’t have to introduce us, Trent,” Jennifer said, and her tone was slightly biting. “Seth and I go way back.”

“Oh?” Trent said as his eyes went wide with interest as he looked between us.

I kept my face calm and composed as I gave Jennifer a smile. “That’s right; we’re old friends.”

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