Page 12 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“Where’s your ID?”

She wasn’t able to look around, but she mumbled that it was on the passenger seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the police officer that was restraining her nod to another officer. The man moved quickly over to the open driver’s side and reached across, picking up her purse.

The blond woman, the one that had been screeching, and apparently named Blaire, stepped out of the house, smirking at the scene. “The clothes she’s wearing are stolen as well!”

The police stiffened at the woman’s words and Clarissa felt a deep, searing pain starting in her chest. Not to mention in her shoulders and wrists since the police officer tightened the handcuffs to the point they were pinching her skin.

“This identification says your name is Clarissa Donata.”

In the back of her mind, she heard the sound of another vehicle, but she was too scared at the moment to respond. “That’s me,” she replied, her voice quivering despite her efforts to remain calm. “I’m Clarissa Donata.”

“The registration says the SUV belongs to an Arthur Fuque.”

Clarissa nodded, but before she could speak, Blaire stepped forward and claimed, “That’s my daddy. She tried to steal my daddy’s car. And those clothes! She somehow broke into our house and stole my mother’s clothes.” She sneered. “They don’t even fit her!”

A deep voice broke through the other voices. “What the hell is going on here?”

Levi! Oh, this was perfect! Just perfect! Her humiliation was now complete!

Obviously, the police officers recognized him. Their tone was immediately deferential as they said, “Mr. Harris! What are you doing in this part of town?”

“I’m here to check on Arthur Fuque’s daughter.”

There was a tense silence as everyone waited a beat. “Who is Mr. Fuque’s daughter?” another voice asked.

Levi sighed. “The one in handcuffs, officers.”

A quiet groan went around the group and the officer pressing her face and body into the hot metal hood of the vehicle loosened his hold. Her face and chest still burned, both from the heat of the morning sunshine as well as the humiliation.

“This is Ms. Fuque?”

Clarissa lowered her lashes, too embarrassed to look at the man.

“That is Ms. Clarissa Donata, officer. She never took Fuque’s last name. He wasn’t in her life until he left the house and everything in it to her.”

“That’s not true!” Blaire burst out, rushing forward, only to be held back by Chad. “That bitch isn’t any relation to us!”

Chad hissed something in her ear and Blaire stopped fighting against his grip. But she continued to glare at Clarissa. And apparently, Blaire wasn’t finished with her rant. “Officer, I want that woman arrested for stealing!”

Levi turned, angry now. “Stealing what?” he snapped. “She owns everything here! She even owns the cars you two are driving!”

There was a brief moment of silence. After a hiss from Blaire, Chad yelled, “She does not!” However, there was a flash of nervousness in his eyes and the lock of hair he’d so meticulously manicured over his forehead now looked limp and pathetic.

“Would you like the officers to check the registration on those vehicles?” Levi challenged. He waited a heartbeat before he said, “And let’s just peruse the inventory list in the willClarissa’s father,” he emphasized those two words, “left behind. I’m guessing that there are several other items missing from the house.”

Blaire and Chad looked chagrined, but they stopped arguing with the officers.

Suddenly, Clarissa’s wrists were freed and the officer carefully turned her around. “I apologize for the misunderstanding, Ms. Fuque. Your father has always been a generous donor to the police officer’s fund.”

Clarissa nodded, but didn’t speak as she rubbed her wrists.

“I don’t think we need to take this any further, do we?” Levi suggested. But his tone implied that it wasn’t a question.

“Not at all, Mr. Harris. We apologize for the confusion.”

Five minutes later, the officers were gone and Clarissa felt as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

“Clarissa?” Levi’s rough voice called out.

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