Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Vega POV.

I went home alone. After screaming at Ryan about what a douchebag he was and how he was wrong about my breath stinking. Long story short, I wouldn't be going to any club soon, and I hoped no one got it on video.

Ryan fucking Mickelson! I should have known it was him from the get-go but he'd grown up to even be more gorgeous than he was before. It was so unfair.

I stepped into my room and turned on the light as I kicked off my shoes. My phone rang and I answered when I saw it was Andrianna.

"What was that about at the club? Ryan is devastated".

"He should be!" I muttered under my breath, even tho I felt petty for holding a grudge for so long and exploding all in his face the first chance I got. "It's nothing. I was just drunk talking. What are you still doing there anyway".

"The night is still freaking young, and I'm just starting it, whoo!" She screamed over the music, then yelled at her bodyguard to let go of her.

Another voice came on the phone whom I recognized as one of the bodyguards that I was close with. "You don't have to worry miss Vega, we'll get her home unharmed".

"Thanks, Joey," I said, then ended the call and dropped onto the bed even tho I knew I should probably take a shower first.

I made to drop my phone on the table and paused, my brows furrowing. A novel sat on my desk and my eyes widened as I sat up sharply because I don't remember the last time I got a book and placed it by my bedside table, I don't even read, so there was no way it was mine and even tho I had Jake over sometimes, he never brought his books with him.

I picked up the book, flipping it open and my eyes widened as pictures of me and Ryan from the club stared right at me with words written across it that read, 'no one is allowed to touch what is mine.

I got up sharply, my head spinning as I stared at the images.

Someone had been watching me, the person had been in my house, in my freaking room. My gaze darted around as I waited for someone to freaking jump out at me. The walk-in closet was open but I didn't want to take any chances to go check and then risk getting stabbed to death by whoever the stalker was. I slammed it close instead, then locked it with a key. The eerie silence made my heart thump harder against my ribcage and I quickly grabbed my phone. Calling Andrianna was out of the question, so it had to be Jake. I just hoped he picked up.

I counted the seconds until he answered.

"This better be fucking important" he muttered sullenly.

"Someone was in my fucking room Jake and he left a note, I don't feel safe, I think he's still in the house" I gasped out.

"Calm down Vega, just lock your door and stay inside. I'll be there with Markus in ten minutes and if you feel threatened at all, call the cops ok" he instructed, his voice sounding more alert than it had been at the start.

I nodded frantically before my brain caught up with the fact that he couldn't see me. "Ok. I'll do that, but just to be safe, can you stay on the line with me".

"Of course," he said quickly and I heard him moving around frantically, then he was talking to Markus.

I stared around my room, looking for something that was out of place but everything was exactly how I'd left it, except for the book and the closet.

Was it Zach? It was fucking absurd to even think about it. In what world would Zach just turn up after five years and the first thing he does is stalk me and leave me a threatening note, if I could even call it that?

Time passed and I jerked as I heard the doorbell ring. Pushing myself to my feet from where I was crouched had my legs cramping. I rushed out of the room with the book and the picture and when I got to the door, I was out of breath.

Jake caught hold of me and hugged me tightly, his hands drawing a comforting pattern against my back until I was calm. When he let go, I looked around for Markus, and when I couldn't find him, I focused on Jake and he seemed to hear my unspoken question when he answered.

"He's checking around the house. You should really install a security camera or an alarm at least. In case you don't know, you're a billionaire, there are like tons of people out there who aren't happy with your success".

"I don't think that has anything to do with this," I said shoving the book into his hand.

Jake looked through the pictures until he stumbled on the one with the writings. "Ok, I guess I'd be scared if I got this, but when did you start going to the club, or burning up the dance floor with such a hot guy," he said, staring closely at the guy in the picture before glancing back at me.

"I only went because my last date ghosted me. I was feeling shitty and I wanted to let go for once, so I thought the club would be a place to let loose but it didn't work out, so I came home, then I found this.. who do you think will do something like this huh".

"Maybe one of the guys you dated is feeling salty after the breakup" he speculated and I shook my head because that was way more absurd than the thought of it being Zach.

"I never dated anyone of them, they usually left before we could even get to that".

Markus came around the corner. "Nothing looks out of place," he said, then snatched the pictures from Jake. "Whose the guy you're dancing with".

"Um, I don't know him. We just met tonight" I said, wondering why I even bothered with lying but since I was never going to see him again I guess I didn't have to give him much importance.

"But you never go to the club".

Oh for the love of God. "I don't understand what me going to the club has to do with this? Andrianna always goes to the club and y'all don't make a fuss about it".

"Do we call the cops?" Jake asked, and Markus looked at me.

"No, I don't want to blow this out of proportion cause it might just be someone messing with me, or playing a prank. I already have enough on my plate with work, I don't need to add more to it".

Markus's gaze lingered on me. "Fine, if that's what you want to do, but I'm going to have a friend of mine look into this, and I don't think you should stay here alone, at least not when you don't have any security in place".

"I guess I could stay with Andria for a few days, oh, I met the closet open".

"Did you check it out?" he asked and I shook my head.

"I locked it"

"I'll go check it out, you both should wait out here," he said in a voice that left no room for argument. We both nodded and watched him walk up the stairs, turn a corner, then disappeared out of our sight.

We waited for what felt like hours, then we heard a loud groan. I and Jake's gaze jumped to the other, and then we were running up the stairs.