Page 80 of My Grumpy Billionaire Soccer Star

He nods, looking over me. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s call the police and report this first. They can help track down Archie.”

“Right,” I say, grateful for his calm demeanor. Together, we go inside, his presence grounding me amid the madness.

We have a short walk to the team’s office. I take out my phone to dial the police, and Vaughn stands silently by my side. I tell them my cat is missing, and my house was broken into.

After I hang up, Vaughn looks at me. “They will send someone out to do a report. In the meantime, let’s think—who could have done this? Who would want to hurt you or Archie? Anyone come to mind?”

I shake my head, and tears well up again. “I don’t know. I can’t think straight. It feels so personal, as if someone wanted to hurt me.”

Vaughn steps closer, his expression softening. “Rachel, you’re not alone in this. We will figure it out together. I promise.”

His words soothe some of the tension in my chest, washing over me like a balm. I nod gratefully. I’ll hold onto that promise for now.

I sit in the stadium office, waiting for the police to arrive, an eerie feeling filling me. It’s quiet here, with muffled sounds of cheers from practice filtering through the walls. Tension lingers in the air as Vaughn speaks on the phone, trying to gather information about Archie or the break-in.

I look through the small window facing out to the locker room area. When Collins comes in, I see him, and my heart skips a beat. There’s something that’s not quite right. I can’t shake it. Recently, he’s been acting weird, and I wonder if it’s because of all the chaos surrounding Vaughn.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I lean closer to the window. What is he doing here? I’m nervous about the way he’s looking around. Then I watch him reach into his bag and take out something small—a packet. I know what it is, and my stomach drops.

“No, no, no,” I whisper to myself, disbelief flooding through me. I grab my phone quickly, hitting record, the camera recording the scene unfolding in front of me.

One final time, Collins looks around to make sure no one is watching before he slips the packet into Vaughn’s locker. I watch the betrayal happening right in front of me, and my heart races. I can’t let this happen. Collins is destroying everything Vaughn has worked for, and I won’t let it be on my conscience.

As I’m about to step out and face him, Collins suddenly turns, and our eyes meet. He goes from being surprised to angry, and I feel panic welling up.

“Rachel!” he barks, his voice low and threatening. “What are you doing here?”

I quickly rush away from the window, my heart pounding as I sprint toward the exit. I can’t let him catch me. I need to get out of here and warn Vaughn.

“Stop!” Collins yells, his footsteps pounding behind me. I can hear him right behind me, adrenaline launching through my veins and making me run as fast as I can. He’s making me fly.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I run through the hallways toward the exit. Collins’s footsteps get louder in the narrow corridor. I can hear him gaining on me. Desperately, I burst through the main doors and out into the parking lot.

“Rachel, wait!” he calls, but I don’t stop. I can’t let him catch me. I fumble with my phone, trying to dial Vaughn’s number.

“Come on, come on,” I mutter under my breath as I run toward my car. In the distance, I can see my vehicle, but the thought of Collins closing in on me sends a fresh wave of panic through my body.

I fumble for my keys, my heart pounding in my chest, adrenaline surging. Collins’s footsteps are behind me, and I know I have to get away.

I jumped into my car, slamming the door shut and locking it just as Collins shouts in frustration. “You think you can escape?” he growls, his voice low and menacing. “You’re making a huge mistake!”

The engine roars to life as I turn the key in the ignition. Collins is already at my window, his face is a dark storm cloud. He yells angrily, his eyes filled with fury. “You can’t just run from this!”

“Get away from me!” I back out of the parking spot, screaming, my voice shaking.

Just as I press the gear into Drive, I see Collins shoot off to the side, his movements almost too quick. I can feel my heart racing, and I realize he’s trying to prevent me from leaving. I slam my foot on the accelerator, and the tires screech as I speed out of the lot.

“Rachel, no!” he shouts. I hear it, but I can’t stop now. I have to get away from Collins.

I drive through traffic, heart pounding in my ears, looking through the rearview mirror. His car weaves in and out of lanes, trying to catch up. Panic grips me, and I have to focus on the road in front of me.

I accelerate, and the streets blur past, trying to get as much distance as I can between us. I can see Collins’s car inching closer with every passing second. He is gaining ground. Adrenaline courses through my veins, a combination of fear and determination.

“Come on, come on,” I mutter to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I need to think of a plan. I can’t let him catch me.

I turn down a side street, going as sharply as possible, hoping to lose him in the maze. With the tires screeching and my heart pounding, I glance in the mirror once more. Somehow, Collins is still behind me, relentless and determined.

I press down on the accelerator, and in response, the engine roars. The world outside goes blurry as I concentrate on the road, but I can sense Collins’s pursuit like a shadow behind me.

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