Page 63 of Stuck with the Billionaire Celebrity

He nods, though I can see the frustration in his eyes. He wants to do more to fix this, but he knows I won’t budge.

There’s a pounding at the door, and my heart leaps into my throat. Theo grabs me tighter, clutching me against him.

“Mr. Rossi! Miss Simmons! Open up!” a muffled voice shouts from the other side.

Theo is already depositing me on the bed and out of it before I can fully register what’s happening. The sheets slide off his body as he grabs a pair of lounge pants from the floor.

He throws me a look.

The security guard opens the door and barrels inside. I clutch the sheet to my chest.

“We need to go. Now,” the guard says, averting his eyes as he takes in Theo’s state of undress and the tousled sheets behind him.

“Get dressed, both of you. I’m getting you out of the building.”

“What the hell is going on?” Theo demands, stepping in front of me instinctively.

“There’s no time to explain everything,” the guard says, his voice clipped. “Tad just called. The back door of the building was found propped open. We think the stalker’s inside. “

The high-pitched wail of the fire alarm pierces the air.

The guard grimaces. “Damn it,” he mutters under his breath. “I didn’t know that was coming. Must’ve been the stalker trying to create chaos or isolate her.”

Theo curses under his breath and turns to me. “Grace. Clothes. Now.”

My body moves on autopilot, and I throw on the first items I find—a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Theo pulls on a T-shirt and shoves his feet into sneakers.

My hands are trembling so badly that I fumble with the hem of my shirt, but Theo gently grabs my wrist, steadying me.

“Hey,” he says, his voice soft despite the urgency in his eyes. “You’re okay. We’ve got this.”

I nod, swallowing hard—the security guard motions for us to follow him, already heading toward the emergency exit.

“Hurry,” he barks. “The fire alarm must be a distraction. I think he’s trying to corner or force her back to her room.”

Theo’s jaw tightens. “Not happening.”

We burst into the stairwell, the shrill alarm echoing off the walls. My legs feel like jelly as we race downward, Theo’s hand on my lower back, urging me to keep moving.

The guard is ahead of us, his head swiveling constantly, scanning for threats.

Halfway down, we pass a custodian heading up the stairs. He’s wearing a navy jumpsuit and carrying a mop. His expression is strangely calm, almost indifferent, despite the blaring alarm.

I barely have time to react before I collide with him, the impact jarring me backward.

“Sorry—” I start to say, but Theo’s already there, grabbing the man by the arm and shoving him against the wall.

“What the hell are you doing?” Theo growls, his grip iron tight.

The custodian raises his hands, his face a mask of surprise—or maybe annoyance. “Just trying to do my job, man. What’s your problem?”

Theo doesn’t let go, his eyes narrowing as he looks the man up and down. “You shouldn’t be here.”

The guard calls back to us. “Theo! Grace! Let’s go!”

Theo releases the custodian with a warning glare, and we continue our descent. My pulse is racing, and adrenaline coursing through me makes everything feel surreal.

We finally burst out into the parking lot, and the cold night air hits me like a slap.

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