Page 70 of Taming Her Temptations

But as I head to the front door, I realize that Levi, Asher, and Dean were a delightful surprise compared to who I see now. Two officers with yellow F.B.I. insignias on their bulletproof vests wait at the door.

My heart drops and icy dread coils in my stomach.

It’s all happening.

I take a deep breath.

They just want to ask some questions about the phone call. That’s all.

“Ruby Rivers?” The taller agent with a receding hairline asks me. The other agent is a shorter woman who looks me up and down appraisingly.

“Yep, that’s me! If you don’t mind, I’ll just get into something a little better to-”

“Ms. Rivers, you're under arrest for aiding and abetting fraud.” The officer continues to speak, but I just stand there in shock.

Levi, Asher, and Dean have now come to the door.

“What is this all about?” Dean says angrily.

“Ma’am. You need to come with us.” The female officer explains.

“Can I just-” I look down at myself. I still have the damn hair removal cream on my legs. I’m wearing a flower robe I bought in the 9th grade.

“You need to come with us or you’ll be charged for resisting arrest.” She says without even looking apologetic.

“I’m sure you can just let her get into pants and a shirt?” Asher pleads.

“She walks out of our sight, then we have the right to enter with force.” She says flatly.

“Okay!” I say, putting my hands up. “Okay, I’m coming.”

I don’t want to put anyone else here at risk for my stupid embarrassment.

I walk to the door and the female officer lifts my wrist to put handcuffs on me, as if I didn’t feel degraded enough.

I look back at my four favorite guys staring at me with confused looks.

“Gemstone…” My dad starts, but he doesn’t have anything to say.

“What the hell is going on Ruby?” Levi asks.

I shake my head. I don’t understand it either. I haven’t spoken with anyone since that night with Steven. So even if hypothetically, I was the person to take the money out of the investment account and that’s somehow illegal; I haven’t even admitted to anything.

“It will all be okay,” I put on my best fake smile as the last lock clicks into place around my wrist. “Please go to the gala without me. Have fun.”

They shake their heads in disbelief and that’s the last thing I see as I’m pulled toward a black SUV.

“Please,” I beg Agent Park, a stern faced man in a suit and a tie that sits across the interrogation table from me. “All I need is a few paper towels and access to my legs, and then, like magic, I’ll stop complaining and sing like a canary.”

I never thought I’d be negotiating my future based on hair removal cream, but the damn stuff is starting to sting.

He just raises an eyebrow at me.

“Do you know how many chemicals are in this stuff? I could probably burn my way through the locks on these doors if I shoved some in there. Do you want to be responsible for me getting third-degree burns?”

He sighs and then turns around to signal something into the two-way mirror. A moment later, the door cracks open and he walks over to grab a handful of bathroom paper towels.

“You have two minutes,” he says, uncuffing me from the table.

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