Page 91 of The Rebel Billionaire

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

CHARLIE

Marissa Archer was broughtinto police custody and charged with attempted breaking and entering. Attempted because she never managed to use the crowbar to get mydooropen.

After reviewing the cameras at Jacob's penthouse, the police and the Sinclair team were all confident that she was responsible for leaving the photographs there, as well as at Magnolia'shouse.

Her son quickly and quietly had her put in permanent psychiatric care. She wouldn't be leaving any more creepy pictures. She wouldn't be doing much of anything. Since she'd told me the killer was still out there, she hadn't spokenaword.

Toanyone.

Not the police, not her son, not herlawyer.

Noone.

Problem solved. Everyone seemed satisfied that Marissa was my stalker. It made sense. She could have hired someone to leave the note and spray paint my house. She could even have been the one who jumped me, though she could have hired that outaswell.

She wasn't young, but she was tall and wiry. Apparently, she played a lot of tennis at the club when she wasn't terrorizing myfamily.

Lucas had been gone almost all day, leaving me alone at my house. He warned me to keep the alarm on while I was inside, but with Marissa in custody, everyone was less worried about mysafety.

I'd told him he didn't have to come to the benefit with me. I still didn't know if he was coming as my bodyguard or my date. I was leaning toward date since he didn't seem to think I needed a bodyguard and had insisted he wascoming.

Maggie brought my dress from Winters House and stayed long enough to help me do my hair and grill me aboutLucas.

Despite the upheaval of Aiden's announcement that Gage was missing, Maggie hadn't missed the tension between Lucas and me atdinner.

In between twisting and pinning my chin-length curls into a simulation of an updo, she peppered me withquestions.

"So, he's still going to the benefit with you?" she asked, toocasually.

"He says he is,"Isaid.

"What's the deal? He was all growly and protective last night, and everyone seems to like him. Are you still just friends withbenefits?"

"Do I have to talk about this?" I asked. Magnolia Henry was my best friend. If I was going to talk about this with anyone, it would be her. But I didn't want to talk about Lucas. Not even withMaggie.

Proving yet again why she was my best friend, she gave my shoulder a squeeze and said, "No, Charlie, you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. Did I tell you about my dress fortonight?"

Grateful for her change of subject, I said, "No. Why? What are youwearing?"

"I was going to wear something I already had," she said. "But Vance surprised me and took me shopping, and then he talked me into buying this dress . . . I'm going to be blushing all night, Iswear."

"Why? Is it really short?" Maggie had a bombshell figure, all curves. She rarely dressed to showthemoff.

"No, it's actually pretty long, but it's got a slit up one leg, and a deep V neckline . . ." Shetrailedoff.

"Cleavage?" I asked. Maggie had a lot to offer in the cleavage department, even if she usually kept itcoveredup.

"Yes. A lot of cleavage. Not tacky cleavage, but still. A lot. And he bought me these crazy shoes. I don't know what he was thinking. On top of that, he made me promise to wear myhairdown."

"Like the night you got engaged?" Iasked.

"Exactly," sheconfirmed.

"I bet he drags you out of there before it's halfway over." I didn't have to look at Maggie's face to know she wasblushing.

"I'm not gonna takethatbet."