Richard.
"Okay, come with me." I muttered, waiting for Ms Sinclair to lead the way as we walked back into my boutique whilst people watched us with scrutinising gazes.
Alphas Stormborn and Ms Blackthorne looked like they were about to implode as well, but I didn't pay them much attention.
Not like they deserved it.
At the moment, my entire world revolved around the silver-haired woman in front of me. And goddess, I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
I was bewitched by the way her pale skin gleamed under the lights, by the very tiny freckles scattered across her slender nose, and the small almost imperceptible gold rings floating around her purple eyes like some gem.
For a while now—over three weeks— I've been looking for ways to get to meet her… to engage in a conversation with her or to even get to look at her. And trust me, it wasn't just because she was pretty—that was what had drawn me to her until I discovered how much of a genius she was. And now, even though I wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with her, I also wanted to rope her into my company.
I sighed, turning to the closest security guard. "Get the footage."
Mark, the security guard, didn't bother arguing, not when he could literally lose his job for breathing the wrong way right now, and then walked off into the back of the store.
By the time he arrived moments later, clutching what we all needed in his hands, the room had descended into chaos.
Ms Blackthorne was visibly sweating. Alpha Kael and Caelum looked smug, pining Leilani who didn't even bat an eyelash with disgusted glares.
Obviously, they all had a backstory going on but I didn't care. All I cared about was doing what Leilani wanted, and getting what I wanted from the situation.
A computer system was soon turned on and Mark inserted a flash drive into it.
And for the next few minutes, everyone held their breaths as he combed through several footages until we found what we were looking for.
And then…
Chaos.
Utter chaos ensued when everyone got to see what had actually happened. It wasn't until the moment a scene showing how Ms Blackthorne continuously picked on Leilani played before us that I finally noticed the small relieved smile on Leilani's face.
And when we watched as Ms Blackthorne knocked over the dresser, everyone turned to her.
"You lied?" Kael growled, visibly perplexed. "Why?"
"I-i… i didn't mean to," she stuttered tearfully, and then turning to Leilani, she stuttered; "…you provoked me!"
Leilani rolled her eyes, and I… stupid me found that insanely attractive.
I looked away.
"Everyone can see now that you came for me. And that even when I tried to walk away from you, you didn't allow it… so stop with the act, sister. I didn't provoke you. Hell, I don't even give a shit about you."
Sister?
Wait… what?
Are they related?
I was snapped out of my reverie when a red faced Chalice glanced around in panic, and when she noticed the hostile looks being thrown at her by everyone, she covered her face with her hands and cried. "I didn't… I really didn't."
"Chalice, this was the last thing I expected from you. How could you? How could you stoop to Leilani's level?" Alpha Caelum snapped, causing Leilani to scoff before turning to glare at him.
Her gaze was cold. So cold, it made shivers run down my spine— and she wasn't even looking at me. She spat; "You're stupid."
For a moment, I was momentarily stunned. I wondered if she realized he was an Alpha. If she knew the implications of insulting an Alpha in public but she didn't seem to care.
Caelum visibly foamed at the mouth from rage, but surprisingly, he didn't retaliate like I had expected him to. He didn't even seem to care that she'd just insulted him.
There is something going on here…
Something that I needed to uncover.
Something that—
"I told you I'll make you all pay if I am found innocent, and trust me, I'll make do of that threat." Ms Sinclair seethed, causing my head to snap up to look at her.
And goddess, she was… exquisite.
So so hot now that she was dishing out threats and insults like Santa on Christmas Eve.
She turned to me briefly, bowed and whispered; "Thank you Alpha Landry for your help today. I'll definitely repay your kindness one of these days."
But before I could respond, Alpha Caelum beat me to it. He snapped; "Of course you would! Isn't that your specialty these days? Repaying men in 'kind'?"
The crowd gasped. Leilani's eyes were as hard as stone.
A moment passed and then two, and the next minute…
*Crack!*
A deafening silence settled over us and my eyes widened when I saw Leilani standing in front of him with her hands still raised. Her handprints stood out against his face like blood on snow. She had been so fast… moved like lightning and instinctively, I rushed to stand between her and Caelum.
"Maybe before you say words like that to me, you should check on your fiancée first, and ask her why she's looking to land a job in my company using the same tactics you just mentioned." She seethed, and at that, everyone gasped.
Kael and Caelum were dumbfounded. And I?
My respect for this woman soared.
She smiled politely at me— but I could tell that it didn't reach her eyes— and then she turned and left, leaving everyone stunned.
Leaving me tingling from my head to my toes.
When I turned to look at Ms Blackthorne, she had a horrified look on her face. Her eyes were swollen from crying so much. Her lips trembled with barely concealed panic.
She turned to Caelum and Kael, her body shaking and cried; "You don't believe her. Do you? We all know how much Leilani lies. You cannot possibly believe her, right? Right?"
I saw the conflict on the men's faces before Kael finally sighed. He pulled her into his arms, his breath fanning the hair on her crown as he murmured; "I don't. I would never."
"She's always been jealous of you, and we all know that."
I was dumbfounded. These men had just watched her lie right in front of everyone. Her scheme had just been exposed; yet, they still treated her like some fucking saint.
I watched in irritation as tears streamed down her face and in annoyance I turned away, but before I could walk out, I vaguely heard Caelum say;
"I personally do not care about what happened here today. All I know is that I'll never believe that murderer, Leilani, over you. Okay? Whatever happened here today is her fault and that's all I care about. Do you hear me?"
I froze.
A murder-what? Leilani, a murderer?
My hands fumbled against the doorknob as I struggled to open the door, and when I turned back briefly to look at both Alphas and their woman, I stilled.
A weird chill ran down my spine.
And to top it all, Chalice was staring at me— not just staring, she was glaring at me.
My blood ran cold as I glared right back.