Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
She nodded and grasped Asher’s muscular forearm, holding on for dear life.
“Go ahead, Zach. We’re both listening.”
“Hey there, pretty girl. It was good to see you at the shower yesterday,” Zach said.
Asher rolled his eyes. “Quit the flirting and just tell us what you found out.”
Flattered, Nikki laughed. “It was good to see you, too, Zach.”
“Okay, so I have big news. And I hate that I have to be the one to tell you, but it was your model friend and your ex, Lance Freeman.”
“What? How is that possible?” she asked.
“Do they know each other?” Asher put an arm around her.
“They do. Through me. But they didn’t like each other and made it a point to tell me that often.” She pursed her lips and gave her own words some thought. “Which they would have done if they were working against me. But Lance and I have been apart for over six months. Wouldn’t he have acted sooner?”
“Not if they were playing a long game,” Zach said.
Asher met her gaze. “What do you mean?” he asked his brother.
“Okay, so you already said this Meg person was jealous of you, right? And if Lance was upset with you for some reason, they could have been working against you, setting you up. Don’t forget, if those photos surfaced six months ago, Lance would be the prime suspect. Waiting makes sense. As in playing the long game.”
Asher murmured in agreement with his brother.
Nikki, meanwhile, had chills from this whole conversation. “What did you find out?” she asked Zach. “How do you know it was them?”
“I put a PI friend on their trail. Turns out the studio where you had that fashion shoot and lost your keys? They had security cameras everywhere but the dressing rooms. And my friend was able to get ahold of the footage. He saw Meg digging through a bag that fit the description you gave me.”
She and Zach had talked. Rather he’d questioned her about anything he thought could be a lead to whoever had set her up, and she’d answered as best she could.
“A different camera caught her meeting a man matching Lance’s description by the front doors and handing him something. A couple of hours later? He returned that something to her. We didn’t see her putting anything back in the bag because it had been moved. But it’s pretty obvious she took your keys, he made a copy, and you can figure out the rest. The doorman confirms your boyfriend came and went after the date you said you two broke up. You hadn’t removed his name yet.”
“I forgot,” she whispered. “I did it at least a month after I ended things.” She put her face in her hands, and Asher ran his palm over her back.
“What matters is that we have them arrested for what they did,” he said, doing his best to keep her calm.
Zach’s groan traveled over the speaker. “And that leads to the not-so-good news. Depending on what they get charged with, we’re talking up to one year in jail and if there’s no criminal history? They may not even serve time.”
She let out a sigh.
“One way or another, they will pay. Just not for as long as we’d like.”
She lifted her head a blew out a long breath. “That’s so unfair.”
“But better than nothing,” he said. “So here’s the next question. How do you want to handle it? I can turn all the evidence over to the police. I’m sure they’ll take your statement, but eventually you can wipe your hands of the two dirtbags, let it go, and live your life. That is the best revenge.”
Asher nodded. “Their careers will be ruined and their reputations destroyed. That’s something, at least. Nikki? Your call.”
“Let the police deal with them,” she muttered.
“Agreed. Okay, kids. I’m going to walk the evidence into the police station myself. I’ll be in touch,” Zach said.
“Zach, thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.”
“My pleasure, pretty girl. Bye, Ash.” Zach disconnected the call.
Asher hit the end button on his phone. “The way he talks, you’d think he was the older brother. But he does get results.” He turned to her. “Are you okay?”
She managed a nod. “It hurts but at least I know. From Meg, it’s not as much of a shock as it is from Lance.” She might never know why he’d targeted her.
She tossed the covers off her lap and slid out of bed.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To shower and get ready to face my mother. I might as well do it when my adrenaline is pumping anyway.”
She walked through his room, picking out her clothing, Lucky watching her from his place on the floor. Facing her mother required she be herself, and she pulled out items that represented who Nikki Bettencourt was and not who her mother preferred she be.