The Contract With Her Father's Billionaire Rival-Chapter 84. The Safehouse.

"Are you alright?"

Suzie’s soft voice pulled Nicolette out of her thoughts. She shuffled on her feet and tucked her phone into her pocket.

"Yes, I’m fine," Nicolette said with a forced smile.

She couldn’t begin to tell Suzie about Lucian’s message. Not without making her worried and tense again. And definitely not with Richard still standing there.

"Sorry about that," Richard said, sliding a hand into his jacket pocket. "I apologize for my aunt’s behavior."

Nicolette turned to him, extending the smile. "It’s okay."

But it really wasn’t.

Clara had humiliated her in front of everyone, and Nicolette couldn’t shake the sting of it. She hated that Clara was still trying to torment her.

At least she had stood her ground. She had finally made it clear that she wasn’t someone to be fucked with.

"And," Richard said, stepping forward, "how do you feel? You know, your body and all... I saw the clip..."

"I feel good. Anna helped with... my wounds," Nicolette replied with a nod.

She was grateful that a small part of the truth was out there. If Richard could understand that she and Lucian had nothing to do with each other, maybe others would start to believe it too.

She could only hope Alaric believed her.

Her body shuddered with need as she remembered him.

She couldn’t believe how much she missed him—his body, his presence. He hadn’t been gone that long, yet she craved him.

And now, she was angrier at him than she was guilty. He still didn’t want to hear her explain, and that sucked.

She lowered her gaze, hiding the longing burning inside her for Alaric.

"Thank you so much," she added softly.

Richard nodded. Then his gaze shifted to Suzie, now back to her somber mood. "Is everything alright?" he asked, brow lifting in concern.

Nicolette exhaled.

Moment of truth.

She stepped closer. "Suzie’s ex has been stalking her. He found her hotel room and trashed it. He’s crazy, and she and her baby aren’t safe, so I brought her here."

Richard immediately went to Suzie’s side, his voice turning gentle. "Are you okay? Is your boy okay?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Suzie nodded, rubbing Walt’s back.

"I’m so sorry you have to go through that," Richard said before turning to Nicolette. "How can I help?"

Gratitude and relief surged through Nicolette. "Thank you so much, Richard. She needs somewhere safe for her and her son."

"I’m going to the police station tomorrow. I need to be sure my baby and I are safe after," Suzie added quietly.

Richard nodded, lips pursed in thought. "I know what to do. I have a safe house in town. Let’s go."

Suzie and Nicolette exchanged glances. "Right now?"

"Yes," Richard said, already moving toward Suzie’s suitcases. He barked out orders to the bodyguards.

Suzie stepped closer to Nicolette, her eyes wide with excitement. "What’s happening?"

"We’re getting help," Nicolette said, her voice thick with emotion.

Suzie squeezed her hand. "You’re the best."

Nicolette hugged her briefly before Richard joined them.

"We’re all set," he said with a warm smile. "Ready?"

Nicolette was moved by how quickly Richard wanted to help. It filled her with joy. "Thank you, Richard. I... don’t know what else to say."

Richard chuckled. "Then don’t say anything. You’re family now, Nicolette. And this is how families show up for one another."

She nodded, overwhelmed by the emotions swelling inside her.

Richard turned to Suzie. "Let’s go, ma’am."

Suzie smiled at Nicolette, though she was clearly holding back tears. "See you soon, Lettie."

"She can visit once the coast is clear. We don’t want the ex finding her. The fewer people who know, the better," Richard explained.

"I understand," Nicolette nodded. "Just call me, okay?" she told Suzie.

"Definitely," Suzie replied.

They all stepped outside, and Nicolette was surprised to see a fleet of cars waiting for Richard.

Anna joined her, and together they watched as the cars left.

Then a thought crossed her mind. "How did Richard know we were home?"

"I called him," Anna said. "I know how Ms. Allens can be, and I got scared she would try to throw you out."

Nicolette huffed, anger rising as she remembered Clara. "If she thought she could, she wouldn’t have brought those men with her."

"She would’ve gotten violent... and I was terrified," Anna admitted. "I didn’t want her... you know..."

Nicolette turned to Anna with a grateful smile. "You did well. Thanks for calling him."

Anna nodded, though fear still lingered in her eyes.

Nicolette sighed, finally allowing herself to feel everything. Suzie and Walt were safe. That was what mattered now.

She turned toward the door and walked inside with Anna.

"Should I make you something to eat?" Anna asked gently.

"Sure," she replied.

When they reached the living room, Nicolette’s jaw clenched as her eyes scanned the mess.

She couldn’t believe Clara had the nerve to try to throw her out.

"I’ll take care of this, ma’am," Anna said, gesturing to the mess.

Nicolette didn’t respond. She just walked to her room, her anger flaring.

She was tired of Clara’s behavior and needed to let Alaric know. She pulled out her phone as she entered her room and dialed his number.

As expected, he didn’t answer.

"Damn," she muttered through gritted teeth.

Then she paused.

Was she calling him because of his mother’s insult, or because she just wanted an excuse to hear his voice?

The truth sank in, and she collapsed into her bed.

Her anger faded immediately as her heart ached.

She missed him.

She missed his body.

That was why she felt like this.

She hated that he could stay away this long and not miss her at all.

She groaned, kicking off her shoes.

Why wouldn’t he just talk to her?

Why wouldn’t he lash out instead of staying distant and cold?

The weight of the day settled over her, from Hillary and their weird plans, to the new developments with the police, to Suzie and Walt, and then Lucian.

She needed Alaric.

There was no denying that. She needed his advice. His touch.

She sighed at the thought, drifting to Lucian’s event. She straightened and picked up her phone.

Was it a good idea to see what the media was saying about her?

She dropped the phone, shaking her head.

She was not going to do it.

She didn’t care what they had to say about her.

But Richard being on her side brought her joy, and curiosity began to rise.

What had changed Richard’s mind? What had he seen to support her?

The curiosity got the better of her and she reached for her phone. She braced herself, determined not to be broken by anything she read about herself.

The first article she clicked was awful. It accused her of leaving her honeymoon to be with Lucian just because he named a building after her.

Her body tensed at the claim, but she kept reading.

Then she saw that her fall had gone viral.

They had turned her into a meme.

But beneath the mockery, people were seeing the truth.

If she had wanted to be there, why would she have been thrown out?

Her tension eased as she continued reading.

One article even mentioned Lucian forcing her out the back door.

She leapt from the bed, excitement rushing through her.

The media believed her. They did!

Her eyes landed on a video about her father. She played it, and her heart skipped.

"What do you have to say about constantly forcing your daughter to be with Lucian Crawford?" a reporter asked.

Ronald grabbed the microphone and threw it. "Fuck off!"

The video ended.

Delight surged through Nicolette. Ronald never lost his temper in public, and that video said everything.

She paced the room, connecting the dots.

Ronald’s plans had backfired. The media wasn’t insulting her the way he had hoped. So he gave Rachel her mother’s painting just to try to fix it.

"My goodness!" she exclaimed, laughing.

Ronald had failed, and now he was desperate.

Her phone rang. It was Alaric.

Anger surged through her, which surprised her.

If only he had watched the news or let her explain, she wouldn’t be this pissed.

She declined the call.

Let him sweat.

But shortly after, it rang again. This time it was Detective Hector.

Her heart dropped. "Hello, Detective."

"Hello, Mrs. Allens," Detective Hector said.

"How is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Sally was very helpful. With her description and the sketch artist’s work, we were able to check the cameras and we found her."

"Her?" Nicolette swallowed hard. Anxiety twisted in her gut.

A woman was responsible for the gallery fire?

"Yes, ma’am," the detective said. "We got a name. She’s an artist and goes by the name R.J."

Nicolette stood frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs.

No. It couldn’t be.

R.J. was Rachel Jones!

The same woman who had stolen her mother’s paintings and claimed them as her own!

A scream rose in her throat, but it didn’t escape. The shock hit her hard, shattering her reality.