The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

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“She spent three years in rehab, trying to get clean,” Sheila said. “It’s such a shame that she backslid now, and in front of such important business partners too.”

“She’s lying,” I said, finally finding my voice again.

Jason looked at me, and a lump rose in my throat. his eyes, I could see.

He was actually considering her words.

Jason’s POV

I had thought Sheila full of it up until she mentioned that three year absence. That absence had coincided with Laila’s disappearance, which had been one of the reasons I had suspected Vanessa of being Laila. Now that I had the DNA evidence that Vanessa couldn’t be Laila, that did leave the question of what Vanessa had been doing in that three year absence.

I’d always known Vanessa to be a keen businesswoman, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a dark past or an illness of her own that she was trying to fight. An illness like alcoholism.

I also knew that Vanessa was under a great deal of stress, both at work and with Ava, and she was determined to take on all of that without any outside help. That could have been enough to drive someone to the bottle, if she found herself in a moment of weakness.

But…

Sheila was not a woman who should be trusted, and Vanessa didn’t look drunk, even if she smelled like vodka. Her eyes were clear, her posture straight, her appearance formal and neat.

Rather than Vanessa having an alcoholic relapse, it seemed much more likely that Sheila was attempting to stir up trouble for her again. And with an accusation as serious as this, Vanessa could be facing harsh ramifications if Sheila was believed.

I almost spoke up on Vanessa’s behalf, but bit my tongue at the last moment to keep quiet, remembering that Vanessa hadn’t wanted my help. She wanted to take care of her problems on her own.

Despite the knowledge that she wasn’t Laila, I still had a protective urge to shield her and her daughter. Standing by while her character was being trashed was no easy matter for me.

Still, for Vanessa, I did it.

I didn’t have to wait long for her to defend herself.

“Sheila, you are out of line,” Vanessa said, her eyes turning to iee as she sliced her gaze over to her co–worker. “I am not an alcoholic. I have never been in rehab. And I’m certainly not drunk right now.”

“You reek of alcohol,” Sheila said.

“From a bottle you poured on me just now as I was about to enter the meeting room.”

“That’s quite the accusation,” Sheila said.

“So is calling me an alcoholic,” Vanessa replied.

Sheila lifted her chin. “Well, if you think I did that, why don’t you prove it?”

“I will. We can check the security footage.”

“You can’t,” Sheila said. “Did you forget? That camera is broken.”

How convenient. I grit my teeth together, biting back a growl that rose in my throat. If Sheila had done what Vanessa was accusing her of which seemed likely, even without video proof then she was an absolute snake. Even worse than I had

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