"What are you typing Gabby?" Ivy asked as she peered over her friend's shoulder. She was shocked at the words on the computer screen.

"Alexis Reyna is a whore. She needs to leave Dr. Ryder alone. I HATE HER!!!"

"Uh...Gabs?"

Gabby was trying to come up with another comment to type out. She looked back at Ivy, "What?"

"When Mack called and asked that we get listeners riled up about Alexis and Chace, I don't think he meant in a negative way."

Gabby and Ivy had met Mack two years ago at a party Alexis was hosting. He was a bit unconventional but passionate about his job. Once he had found out that Deandra, Gabby, Ivy, and Alexis were best friends, he saved all of their numbers and would occasionally text them about upcoming events the radio station was having. Yesterday he had bribed both Gabby and Ivy into helping him promote Alexis and Chace as a couple in exchange for some concert tickets.

"He said to get people talking," Gabby lightly tapped her fingers against the keyboard.

"He didn't say to start rumors. Delete it Gabby. I can't believe you typed that in the first place."

"Fine," Gabby muttered, "Deandra would have sided with me." She deleted her post about hating Alexis.

Ivy scoffed, "No she wouldn't have."

Gabby ignored that comment, "What about something about her being pregnant? Or a secret marriage?"

Ivy covered her face in her hands, "Oh I can't believe we agreed to do this for some Maroon 5 tickets."

"Ivy, they're front row tickets! Besides, we're helping Alexis and her show become more popular."

Ivy groaned, "We're probably going to Purgatory for this. Write the one about the secret marriage."

Gabby giggled, "But why would they keep their marriage a secret?"

Ivy contemplated that, "Fine, scratch that. Ooh I know! Type out that they're secretly engaged!"

Gabby and Ivy locked eyes and both of them smiled and said, "Perfect."

--------------------

"What in the world?" Alexis was in her study, reading her e-mails. She was getting an influx of congratulations in regards to her recent engagement to Dr. Chace Ryder.

"Hey sis," Nicholas came strolling into her study, a tablet in his hands, "Are you getting married?"

"What?" Alexis was surprised even Nicholas was aware of the engagement rumor.

Nicholas showed her his tablet which had the local society page up. Alexis groaned, "This isn't in the newspaper is it?"

Nicholas shook his head and answered, "No. This is too new so it's just online. Are you and Chace engaged?"

"Yeah right Nicholas. Do you actually think I would get engaged and not tell you?"

Nicholas shrugged, "I don't know. It kind of hurt my feelings...thinking you would keep it a secret from me. This sounds bad but I'm glad you're still one of those old single crazy cat ladies that no one will marry."

He grinned and Alexis scowled, "First of all, I'm not old. Second...I don't have any cats!"

"But you admit to the crazy part, right?"

"Nicholas!"

He smirked and walked forward, wrapping Alexis in an unexpected hug, "I'm sorry Alexis. I just...I just want you to be happy and safe."

"Where is this coming from all of a sudden? Are you okay Nicholas?" Alexis asked.

Nicholas released her and gave a soft smile, "I'm fine. I just want you safe."

Alexis cocked her head to one side and studied her brother, "Are you on drugs?"

He laughed, "What? I can't care about my sister?"

"Of course you can. But what's with all the 'I want you safe' talk?"

Nicholas shook his head, "Nothing. It's just with everything that's been going on like the break in, Deandra's death, and now your crazy clients...I just want you safe."

"Well you'll be happy to know that I came to a decision yesterday regarding my practice."

"What?"

"I think I'm going to rent an office to see clients in. After what happened yesterday, I don't' want to take the chance of them invading my personal space anymore." Alexis didn't tell Nicholas about the cut up roses she found on her bed. She figured it was another prank of Larry's.

"My sister is finally seeing the light! Did you want me to go with you to look for your new office space?"

"No thanks. Chace already recommended a location to me."

"And we're back to Chace," Nicholas smiled. "Did you just blush Alexis? Is my sister blushing?"

Alexis laughed, "I'm not blushing! I'm too old to blush about a guy"

"Ahhh so you admit you're old?" Nicholas said wiggling his eyebrows up and down, causing Alexis to lightly hit him on the arm.

"I'm not old!"

Nicholas laughed and changed the subject, "So did you hear anything about that Larry French guy?"

Alexis shook her head, "Not yet. The police are supposed to keep me updated. Can you imagine? If he's been the guy sending me notes, weird texts, and worst of all the person that killed Deandra?"

"Don't dwell on it too much Alexis. There's no way you could've known."

Alexis was going to respond when her cell phone rang. It was Mack. As soon as she picked up, he began talking, "Listen Alexis. I did it for the show. I'm really sorry but your fans are eating it up, right now."

"Are you also responsible for all of the engagement rumors, Mack?"

He didn't respond and Alexis groaned, "Mack how could you? I'm pretty sure this is some sort of harassment. And what were you thinking about...getting some creep to follow me and Chace around on our date? I thought someone was stalking us! Do you know how scary that was?"

"I'm sorry Alexis. I wanted pictures for the website. It doesn't matter anyway since you two deleted everything he had."

"If you do something like that again- I don't care how long we've known each other Mack. I won't forgive you!"

"Okay...okay. I won't use anymore subterfuge to promote Chalexis."

"Mack, I'm serious," Alexis warned.

She could hear Mack sighing on the other end, "Fine! I won't hire people to secretly take your picture with Chace anymore."

"People? Did you hire anyone else Mack?"

"What do you take me for Alexis? Of course not. It was just the one guy and he failed. If there are Chalexis pictures floating around...it's not my doing."

Alexis sighed and she and Mack disconnected the call.

"What was that about?" Nicholas asked.

Alexis began rubbing small circles against her temple, "You don't want to know."

Nicholas chuckled and then changed the topic, "By the way, I'm almost done cleaning the attic out. Are you sure you don't mind me using it as my studio?"

"Of course not. Did you find a lot of junk up there?"

Nicholas shrugged, "A lot of old papers, clothes, trophies...stuff like that."

"Old papers?"

"Yeah about our adoptions and newspaper clippings. Just stuff."

"Adoption papers aren't just stuff Nicholas. They're important."

"Well I have it all stored away. Just let me know if you need it."

They both walked to the kitchen and Nicholas rubbed his stomach, "All this talking has made me hungry. I'm gonna go pick up a pizza. Is that cool with you?" Alexis nodded and Nicholas left the house.

A sense of relief washed over Alexis as she thought of her stalker being behind bars. In actuality, Larry had probably already been released from police custody but at least now she had a face to the man that was harassing her. If he truly did hurt Deandra he would eventually be in jail and now Alexis knew she had enough evidence to apply for a restraining order.

She thought of her conversation with Nicholas. He mentioned finding adoption papers in the attic. Alexis wanted to see those papers. Fifteen minutes later, she walked upstairs and towards the attic's entrance. It was amazing. He had really cleaned the place up.

Alexis walked over to his desk and rummaged through the drawers. A small part of her discouraged her, reminding her that this was her brother's space and she wouldn't appreciate him going through her office drawers.

She spotted an unlabeled box to the left of his desk and opened it up. It was full of papers. "Bingo," she whispered.

The corner of a bright red envelope at the bottom of the box caught her attention. It was hidden behind a bunch of other papers but she was able to easily pull it out.

Her heart stopped as she recognized the familiar red envelope. For a moment, she thought Nicholas had kept one of the envelopes her stalker had left. "No, those are still in my room," she reminded herself.

Alexis slowly opened the envelope to find pictures. Pictures of her from the past few weeks. She gasped as she saw a picture of herself at Deandra's funeral. There was another picture of her having lunch with Ivy, Deandra, and Gabby. The last picture was of her and Chace leaving the paintball place.

She instantly felt nauseous. Why did Nicholas have these pictures?

She was so engrossed in the pictures, that she didn't see her brother standing in the doorway of the attic. She jumped when she saw him, "Nicholas!"

"What are you doing Alexis?" his eyes were on the red envelope in her hands.

"I was looking for the adoption papers. I found these," Alexis explained holding up the red envelope of pictures, "Nicholas did Mack hire you to take pictures of me?"

Nicholas slowly shook his head and walked forward, "No. Mack didn't hire me."

Alexis took an unsteady step backward, "Then why do you have these pictures Nicholas?"

Nicholas took another step closer and asked, "Why do you think?"

Alexis didn't know what to think. As far as she knew, her world had just turned upside down.