Page 43 of Claimed By My Billionaire Ex

"You were arrested?"

The look of shock on his face made me lean back. "That's what you're worried about right now?"

He pointed at the TV. "Jesus, Olive, this is a big deal."

"For what? Your shitty wanna be political career?" I jumped to my feet. "They have photos of Claire!" I lowered my voice. "They're implying that you're her dad, and she doesn't even know that yet."

He pressed his fingers against his forehead. "Not only that, but Jessie doesn't even know your real name yet."

"What the fuck?"

"What? I told you that this was going to happen, Olive. Yes, I didn't think it would happen this soon, and I was hoping we could get ahead of this, but apparently not. The arrest is going to be a problem."

"Wow, Lucas. I can't fucking believe you right now."

"I'm trying to protect you and Claire, Olive."

I glared at him. "No, you're trying to protect yourself and your career."

He pressed his lips together. "That's not fair."

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down at Mike's name, the photo of him and Adam from their wedding popping up. "If this was really about me and Claire, you would be asking me about the arrest. You wouldn't just be judging me for it."

I spun on my feel and stormed past him toward the guest room.

"I'm not judging you, Olive. I'm just trying to get ahead of this."

Nothing he could say would make a difference right now. I answered Mike's call as soon as the door to the bedroom closed.

"Mike?"

"Olive?" His voice was hushed, tense. "What the fuck?"

I closed my eyes. "I'm guessing you saw the news?"

"If you mean the news that is sitting outside our fucking house!"

"What?" My heart sank.

"I don't know, Olive. But they're asking for you. And your boyfriend Lucas? Adam's outside telling them to fuck off, but they're asking all these personal questions, and—"

"Mike?" Adam's voice called out in the background. "Who are you...did you call Olive? I told you not to! Hang—"

The call ended.

There was a knock on the door. "Olive, will you just come out and talk to me please?" Lucas asked.

"Lucas, I just need to be alone right now. Please."

This was what I was afraid of. Why hadn't I considered all these risks? My arrest felt like another life, and I'd gotten it expunged, so that was something that hadn't even crossed my mind. But the news harassing Adam?

And yet, at the core of everything, there was something deeper bothering me.

Fear welled in my chest. I couldn't pin point exactly what was getting under my skin. It had to be the idea of being indebted to Lucas. He'd paid off Claire's scholarship for fuck sake, and now, with my name out there, I would be connected to him for the rest of my life.

But something still didn't feel right.

My phone vibrated again, and another unknown number popped up. Lucas knocked again on the door, but this time, I didn't respond. I walked quickly to the guest bathroom and locked myself inside.

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