Page 6 of Stuck with the Billionaire Celebrity

I force my feet to move, taking another step down the carpet, but my heart is pounding so loud it’s all I can hear.

Why is he here? Why is he doing this?

He’s never let me notice him before. Why is he showing himself today?

I try to signal Security, but my hands feel like they’re moving in slow motion. Everything around me feels too loud, too bright, and all I want to do is scream.

But I can’t. Not here, not in front of all these people.

He wants me to look crazy. I can’t give him the satisfaction of it.

Finally, I catch the eye of one of the security guards. I motion him over.

“That man… over there.” I point toward where my stalker is lurking. “He’s been following me. I’ve told the police. Can you make him leave?”

The guard looks in the direction I’m pointing, but his expression barely changes. “Where, ma’am? I don’t see a man. There’s a mom and her kid standing there.”

I whip back around in shock.

He was just there. He always does this.

My pulse quickens, and I shake my head, frustrated.

“He’s there in the shadows where he always is. He’s been stalking me and sending me threats. Can you make him leave without causing a scene?”

The guard shifts uncomfortably. “With all due respect, Ms. Grace, there are a lot of people here tonight. Are you sure you’re not overreacting? This is a high-security event; no one is allowed without clearance because of Mr. Rossi.”

I freeze at his words. My fingernails dig into the palms of my hands as I clench my fists tightly, curbing the urge to hit him.

Overreacting? Is he serious?

“I’m not overreacting, as you so callously put it,” I snap. “I’m not making this up. He’s been sending me messages and flowers and watching me. This is real.”

“I didn’t mean that you were overreacting about the situation, ma’am. I meant that I don’t see a man in the shadows.”

“Could you go look rather than saying that from five hundred feet away?”

He lets out a groan. He doesn’t seem convinced, but he does go to look. He returns, irritated and shaking his head.

“There’s no one there, like I said.

We’ll keep an eye out, but unless he’s causing a disturbance, there’s not much we can do.

Mr. Rossi has approved everyone, so we can’t make a valued guest leave without his approval.”

My throat tightens, and tears prick the corners of my eyes.

How can they not see the danger? How can they be so blind to what’s happening?

I look back toward where he was standing, but he’s gone.

Of course, he’s gone.

He always disappears when I try to get help. It’s part of his game: making me look crazy and making sure no one believes me. My text notification goes off.

“They’ll never see me the way you do, Precious. You can tell the police or whoever you want, but I’m for your eyes only.”

Bile rises in my throat. I close my eyes and try to slow down my breathing.

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