Free Alveus (ABC's Inc. Romance #1) by Lara Earlman Page A

need to get back to the hospital,” Lexi announced to the housekeeper. “I want
to have these chocolates tested for cyanide.”
    “Oh
my God, of course,” Bruna said. “The chocolate dipped fudge, no one else has
eaten them. Georg is busy in the garden. I can take you when I finish the
strudel.”
    “I
can take her if you like,” Frieda called from the hall where she was dusting
the hanging portraits.
     
    Lexi
sat watching Oma sleep, a German tabloid lying unattended on her lap. Frieda
had driven her to the hospital, but chose to wait in the lounge playing on her
phone. While the chocolates were taken to the lab, Lexi waited with Oma to hear
the results. The two women debated about who would have sent tainted candies to
the elderly lady. Not many knew they were her favorites. Exhausted, Oma had
finally surrendered to sleep. Lexi left the room to find Frieda, and was in the
waiting lounge when the doctor delivered the news. The chocolates had indeed
been laced with cyanide. He already reported their findings to the authorities.
    “I’m
sure the police will be getting in touch with you at Frau
Brighton’s residence. The nurse will be getting her ready for the night, if
you’d like to say your goodbyes.”
    “Thank
you doctor,” Lexi said. She turned to Frieda. “I won’t be long.”
    “Okay,
I’ll go on out and bring the car to the front for you. Take your time.”
    Lexi
went back to the room to share the news with Oma. Kissing her goodbye, she made
her way to the exit. It was evening, but the front of the building was lit up.
There were several vehicles lined up at the curb, although she didn’t see
Frieda’s car among them. As she searched the parking lot, Lexi was approached
from behind. Swiftly, she was strong-armed into the back of a waiting sedan!
    “Well,
princess, it seems you’ve been a naughty girl.”
     
    »ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«
     
    “What
would I ever do without you?” Dane gushed, giving his London office director a
kiss on the cheek. “Someday I’m going to whisk you off to our own private
island.”
    “Right,”
she answered dryly, “like I’m gonna put up with your shenanigans twenty-four
seven. You’d better get out of here if you’re going to catch that plane. Give Oma
my love; I’ll find out what’s going on at Alberton Technologies.” Dane started
out the door. “Oh, and boss,” she called out after him. “Thanks.”
     
    During
the short plane ride, Dane thought of what awaited him at his grandmother’s
home. Oma will have been released from the hospital and happily back at the
estate by the time he’d arrive. She’d been secretive, unforthcoming with
information about her illness the last time he had spoken with her.
    “It
will be easier to explain in person,” was all she would say.
    Dane
knew that he’d spent more time away than he had to. It wasn’t necessary to detour
to the London office, but he’d wanted to allow Brenda the time off she’d need
to help rid her two children of the flu. Admittedly, he was avoiding a reunion
with Aly.
    He’d
been kept busy enough in Hong Kong to keep memories of his last night with her,
at bay. It was always challenging working with the Chinese; there was so much
etiquette to be followed. With the amount of businesses involved, it was
practical to have an office in Hong Kong, but Dane was happy to entrust his
office director, Jun Cheng to manage things. As the CEO of Brighton Industries,
it was sometimes vital for him to deal personally with the businessmen – Chinese
value rank and status, but Dane depended on Cheng’s knowledge of Chinese
culture.
    The
entire blame for the delay couldn’t be put on him, Dane reasoned. After rushing
to get to the Hong Kong meeting, the L&W business executives delayed
further conference to consult with the stars. He’d wanted to visit the
automobile manufacturer’s assembly room to inspect the faulty engines himself,
but of course he couldn’t without an executive escort. Jun Cheng used the