Page 481 of His Virgin Romance Series

SETH

Iwas in my office, discussing the situation with Ben when Brie walked in. Her expression was serious but calm, and I wondered how she felt about the whole thing.

“Seth, Ben,” she said, addressing both of us. “I need to talk to you.”

“Where is Alani?” Ben asked.

“I asked her to sit outside for a moment,” she replied. “I wanted to talk to the two of you first.”

I came forward. “You spoke to Alani?”

“I did,” she nodded.

“And?” I asked. “What’s her story?”

“Her story is simple,” Brie replied. “She didn’t do it. And, I believe her.”

Her conviction made me believe, too, and I let out a little sigh of relief. However, Ben looked skeptical. “We need more than just your word,” he reminded both of us. “We need proof.”

“She’s been framed,” Brie said.

Ben and I exchanged a glance. “Framed?” I repeated.

“Someone planted the choker in her room.”

“Hold on,” Ben said, holding his hands up. “You mean, she’s admitting to you that she actually has the choker.”

“She has,” Brie nodded.

I felt my belief slip away in light of the new information, and I looked at Brie carefully. “Brie,” I said gently. “Do you think that maybe you’re letting your friendship with Alani cloud your judgment a little?”

“No, I’m not,” Brie insisted. “I know Alani. She wouldn’t do something like this. She wouldn’t risk her job for a chain.”

“It’s a valuable piece of jewelry,” Ben pointed out.

“So the Beaumonts say,” Brie said. “Personally, I don’t buy it.”

“What makes you so sure they’re trying to frame Alani?” Ben asked. “What’s their motive?”

“Mr. Beaumont certainly has a motive,” she said. “Revenge.”

“Revenge?” I repeated. “For what?”

“For the fact that Alani rejected him repeatedly,” Brie explained.

“He was hitting on her?” I asked.

“It was sexual abuse, plain and simple,” she said firmly. “He had her come up to his suite while his wife was out, then he grabbed her and kissed her. He might have done more had Mrs. Beaumont not walked in and interrupted him.”

“His wife saw all this?”

“Alani told me he backed off before the door opened,” Brie said. “The likelihood is that she didn’t see… If anything, she only suspects. She should know her husband is a sleazeball by now, though.”

I looked towards Ben. “What do you think?” I asked. “Does it sound plausible that Mr. Beaumont might be framing Alani?”

“He’s rich, and men like him don’t handle rejection well,” he said. “It’s possible.”

“Mr. Beaumont tried to woo Alani,” Brie continued. “He cornered her by the pool one day and offered her the choker as a gift. Alani saw it as the bribe it was and turned him down. That was two days ago.”

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