Page 480 of His Virgin Romance Series

“That bastard,” I exclaimed, horrified.

“I tried to stop it; I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t stop. I was really starting to panic when we heard someone at the door. He pushed me away just before his wife walked into the suite. I was freaking out, but I was also so grateful for the interruption. I was so scared he was going to… He was going to...”

“Hey, it’s okay,” I said gently, stopping Alani from having to complete the sentence. “It didn’t happen.”

“After that, I ignored Mr. Beaumont any time he summoned me. I was polite, but I ignored him,” Alani explained. “He was persistent, though. He approached me one day at one of the indoor pools. We were alone, and he managed to corner me.”

“Did he try to hurt you…or come on to you again?”

“He said he was trying to apologize,” Alani replied. “That was when he gave me the choker.”

I sighed. “He was trying to bribe you into sleeping with him.”

“I think he thought that if he gave me jewelry, then I would turn to putty in his hands and he could have his way with me.”

“What did you do?”

“I refused to accept the choker,” she said. “I told him point blank that I wasn’t interested in him and I could lose my job if I was found to be having a relationship with a guest. I also pointed out that if I got involved with him, we would be committing adultery. Not that he cared very much about either point, though.”

“What did he say when you refused the choker?”

“He insisted I take it,” she replied. “I refused again and walked away from him.”

I frowned. “Wait, if you refused to accept it then why did you tell me the choker was with you?”

Fresh tears slipped from Alani’s eyes. “After the accusation was made and Ben informed me of what the Beaumonts were saying I did, I went back to my room and… Oh, Brie, I found the choker in one of my drawers.”

“You mean—”

“I think he’s trying to frame me,” she sobbed. “He’s trying to get back at me for rejecting him.”

“Fuck,” I said, using the word I knew Seth would have used in my place.

“You do believe me, don’t you?” Alani asked desperately. “I was so scared to tell anybody—especially one of my superiors. No one ever believes the staff. And, why would anyone believe me once the choker is found in my possession?”

“Is it still with you?”

“I wanted to get rid of it this morning—”

“Don’t,” I said. “I think I have a way to prove that you’re innocent.”

“How?” she cried. “The choker—”

“Was found in one of your drawers,” I said. “And if you didn’t put it there, that means someone did. And we’re going to find out who that is.”

“But—”

“Remember when I told you to trust me?” I said. “Now would be the time to start.”

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