Chapter 3

After a few rounds, things in the private room got even wilder.

Tyler got a call and said he had to head over to the next room to handle some "business".

My heart skipped a beat.

That so-called "business" was actually the main event of the night.

But as soon as Tyler walked out, Jessica started causing a scene.

"Oh no!" Jessica suddenly shrieked, frantically checking her fingers. "Where's my diamond ring?

"That's my anniversary ring. It's worth over 1.5 million dollars!"

The music stopped dead. Everyone panicked, scrambling around the floor and digging through the couch cushions. But after searching everywhere, they still came up empty-handed.

"Stop looking," Jessica sneered, pointing right at me in the corner. "There's only one person here who can't keep her hands to herself.

"I knew something was off when you agreed to clean my husband's shoes earlier. Turns out you just wanted an excuse to swipe something!"

Her logic was total bullshit, but everyone else jumped in to cover their own asses. "Sarah, if you took it, just give it back. We're all classmates here. No need to blow this up."

I sat in the shadows, shooting them a cold look. "I didn't take it."

"You think saying you didn't take it makes it true?" Jessica stormed over and snatched my canvas bag. "Let me check for myself."

Before I could even react, she yanked it hard.

The cheap canvas bag couldn't take it and split open with a loud rip. Everything inside spilled out onto the floor.

My Driver's License, keys, and a few crumpled bills were scattered everywhere.

There was also a black notebook and a voice recorder.

Jessica's eyes zeroed in on the recorder. "Well, well, you even brought a voice recorder?

"What's your game? Trying to catch us using company money for booze and food, so you can snitch? Or maybe you're planning to squeeze us for cash?

"You're seriously twisted, Sarah."

She raised her stiletto and slammed it down on the recorder. The plastic crunched under her heel.

My heart sank.

That recorder didn't only have tonight's conversation, but it also held key evidence from my earlier stakeouts.

That was my proof. Damn it!

My eyes flashed with anger, and I instinctively started to get up to stop Jessica.

But Jessica's next move totally floored me.

She fished a massive diamond ring out of the lining of my busted canvas bag, acting like she'd just "found" it.

The whole room went wild. "What? It was really Sarah who stole it!"

"Caught red-handed. How shameless she is."

So that was it. This was all planned out ahead of time. A total frame job.

Jessica tore my bag apart just to slip the ring in and make it look like I stole it.

She held up the ring. "Sarah, what do you have to say for yourself now?

"This isn't about money anymore. I'm sending you to jail.

"Your life is over!"

Jessica whipped out her phone and dialed the police right in front of me, putting it on speaker for everyone to hear. "Hello, I'd like to report a theft. It's happening in Room 888 at the Regal Club.

"Yeah, the ring's worth over 1.5 million."

I watched the whole scene unfold, and instead of freaking out, I couldn't help but find it amusing.

My grin threw Jessica off, making her uneasy for no reason. "What are you laughing at? Have you lost your mind?"

I pulled up a chair and sat down, slow and deliberate. My gaze was chillingly calm. "Alright, go ahead and call the police. In fact, why not have the serious crimes unit come over? And bring the narcotics team as well."

Jessica was momentarily stunned by my attitude, but she quickly snapped back to her usual swagger. "Still acting tough, huh? Let's see if you're still smiling when the police get here."

While we waited for the cops to show up, Jessica told a couple of the guys to block the door, like she thought I'd try to make a break for it.

About ten minutes later, the door swung open. But it wasn't the cops. It was Tyler.

His face was sullen. He was clearly pissed off about whatever "business" he'd just been dealing with, or maybe he'd caught wind of the drama going down here.

When he saw the mess in the room and the diamond ring lying on the floor, his frown deepened.

"What the hell is going on here? Who called the cops?" Tyler's voice was low, with barely concealed rage.

For guys in their circle, having the police show up was the absolute worst.

Even if it was just a minor theft, once the cops stepped through that door, they'd start sniffing around, and no one knew what else they'd dig up.

Jessica, completely unaware of Tyler's sour mood, was still trying to impress him. "Honey, I caught this thief red-handed. I already called the cops. This time, she's gonna rot in prison."

Slap! This time, Tyler slapped Jessica.

It was way harsher than the one he'd given me earlier.

Jessica was left speechless, clutching her cheek and staring at Tyler in disbelief. "Honey... Why did you hit me?"

"You idiot!" Tyler growled. "Who told you to call the cops? Are you trying to screw things up for me?"