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Chapter 149 : The Test
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Bab terkait
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 150 : The New Associate
*Shelby**Five Months later*I sat staring out the small window in my office. It was nowhere near as impressive a view as Michael's top-floor CEO office, but I liked the fact that it was mine. I’d been an attorney at Stockton and Associates for five months now, and just last month, I was promoted from my tiny cubicle in the corner to my very own office.I’d framed photographs of Michael and me at our wedding, at a castle in Ireland on our honeymoon, and of us in Greece from our most recent vacation. I couldn't help but imagine another picture frame of a beautiful little baby, swaddled up tight in a hospital bassinet sitting next to the rest. Michael and I had taken a more active approach to try to have a baby. I took my temperature every morning to track my fertility window, and our bathroom was littered with boxes and boxes of ovulation tests. It seemed like the majority of my free time I now spent thinking of our future family. I even had an entire nursery planne
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 1 : Lauren Has a Yacht–and a Boyfriend?
*Shelby*As soon as the soles of my worn-out converse hit the wood of the dock, I knew I was underdressed. My old roommate, Lauren, invited me to spend a few weeks with her on her father's boat. However, it was not just a boat. An enormous white yacht was docked at the end of the pier. The yacht's sides were lined with three stories of windows reflecting the ocean's crystal clear water.From where I was standing, I could make out a double staircase leading to an upper deck with a circular swimming pool large enough to land a helicopter in. Men and women in matching black and white uniforms paced the decks, preparing the ship to leave the marina.When Lauren had invited me, I had no idea the vacation would be so extravagant. If I had known, I would have packed something nicer than my department store shorts and tank tops. Truthfully, I didn't own anything that wouldn't make me feel undressed on a yacht that likely cost more than a private island.“Wow,” I sai
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 2 : Unexpected Encounters
*Shelby*“Todd?” I said, completely dumbfounded by the fact that my very recent ex-boyfriend was standing in front of me with his arm around Lauren.“Yes, I’m Lauren’s boyfriend. Lauren told me one of her old roommates would be joining us.”“Um, yes. I’m Shelby.” I responded awkwardly. At first, I didn’t understand why Todd would act like he didn’t know me, but then a lump formed in my throat. Lauren said they had been together for four months.“Shelby, you should go get changed, and we can all go up to dinner together. We are eating on the rooftop deck tonight.” Lauren said, completely missing the strangeness of my interaction with Todd. She snapped her fingers again at another member of the yacht staff.“Will you show Miss Shelby to her room?”“Of course, Miss Lauren. If you will follow me, Miss Shelby,” the woman said and started walking towards the double doors leading into the ship. I glanced back at Todd and Lauren and quickly wished I h
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 3 : The Maid
*Michael*I was walking down the hallway on my way to the upper deck when I heard a loud burst of laughter. I sighed in frustration; this was supposed to be a quiet escape from work, yet my yacht was full of a bunch of twenty-year-olds. I had invited Lauren, my daughter, as a way to spend a bit of time together this summer, partly out of guilt for not being around much when she was younger. Lauren asked if she could bring her new boyfriend along, and I agreed without much thought. I had met Todd earlier in the week over breakfast, and he seemed like a good kid. He worked in finance for his father’s financial firm in New York, so we immediately had so much to talk about. He was very complimentary of my recent purchase of Explore Air, the second airline that I now owned. It truly was a good purchase, and I had big plans for expansion. I was impressed that Lauren had picked someone who was putting down roots, and he seemed like a stable choice. Lauren had n
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 4 : Mr. Astor
*Shelby*“Are you okay, miss?” the attractive man said after I’d run directly into him.“Yes. I’m just heading back to my room, uh, sir.” “Oh, right,” he said, clearly lost in thought. He paused for a few seconds and then continued.“Before you do that, would you head up to my stateroom and unpack my luggage? I am afraid it has been delivered rather later than usual. I had some business I had to attend to before leaving port, and I did not get here as early as I would have liked.”“Oh…I am… Uh…” I stumbled over my words. I was mortified that he clearly thought I was a member of the staff rather than a guest on the yacht. However, I supposed I looked nothing like the typical guests.“Yes,” I finally said, deciding it was easier than trying to explain the mix-up. He thanked me and continued standing there staring at me, probably making sure I was actually going to go unpack for him. I quickly turned and headed back down the long hallway. I must hav
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 5 : Breakfast of Secrets
*Shelby*I woke up the next morning refreshed and excited about my first day on the ocean. Sometime during the early morning hours, someone had slipped an itinerary under my door. I couldn’t help the pang of dread I felt reading that Lauren planned the whole day out for me and that I would be spending all day with Todd.At least I had a few hours before I was expected at the poolside brunch starting at 10:00. So I called down for coffee to be sent to my room, and as I waited, I went to the sliding door to the balcony and opened it to let the sound of the waves take over my room. I got dressed in a pair of jean shorts and my favorite forest green tank top. Before I had time to finish my makeup, there was a knock at my door announcing my coffee had arrived. “Good morning, Miss Shelby,” said the pool boy Lauren had snapped at the day before. He was carrying a coffee tray holding a glass coffee decanter, cream and sugar, and a plate full of fruit. I loved that each
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 6 : She’s Not a Trust Fund Baby
*Michael*As I rounded the corner, I was surprised to see Shelby’s red hair flowing off the back of the lounge chair. She looked so relaxed that I felt guilty invading her solace, but I couldn’t leave now. If she noticed me leaving, I’d make an even bigger fool of myself than I’d done the night before. “It looks like you found my hiding place. You must have had the same idea," I said, and her gray eyes fluttered open. “Mr. Astor!” she said, sitting up and turning to look at me.I sat down on the lounge chair next to her and laid back. I was taking full advantage of the moment to make a better impression. “Shelby, you can call me Michael.”“Mr. Astor, I don’t know if…” Shelby started.“Please, I insist,” I said before she could finish.“Alright,” she answered with a small smile. “I am so sorry if I took your hiding spot. I needed some time to myself, so your intern, Reggie, told me how to get here.”“You can stay as long as you’d like. D
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 7 : Dolphin Catamaran
*Shelby*I woke up on the fourth day of our trip to a fantastic view. I wrapped a robe around myself and made my way to the balcony. The yacht was no longer moving; we must have come into port sometime during the night. We were docked at a tropical island with white sand beaches lined with palm trees. I could barely hold back a squeal of excitement; Lauren told me yesterday that we would be going on a private luxury catamaran dolphin tour. I was finally going to get my wish of seeing a dolphin in the wild. It would even be worth being stuck on a smaller boat with Todd all day.I had become very creative in finding ways to avoid Todd each day. I still attended every planned activity but managed to sneak away and spend some time relaxing. On a few occasions, Reggie would save me from talking to the other members of the group. I’d also had a few decent conversations with Alison, the woman in our group with short black hair. I liked her far bett
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Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 150 : The New Associate
*Shelby**Five Months later*I sat staring out the small window in my office. It was nowhere near as impressive a view as Michael's top-floor CEO office, but I liked the fact that it was mine. I’d been an attorney at Stockton and Associates for five months now, and just last month, I was promoted from my tiny cubicle in the corner to my very own office.I’d framed photographs of Michael and me at our wedding, at a castle in Ireland on our honeymoon, and of us in Greece from our most recent vacation. I couldn't help but imagine another picture frame of a beautiful little baby, swaddled up tight in a hospital bassinet sitting next to the rest. Michael and I had taken a more active approach to try to have a baby. I took my temperature every morning to track my fertility window, and our bathroom was littered with boxes and boxes of ovulation tests. It seemed like the majority of my free time I now spent thinking of our future family. I even had an entire nursery planne
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 149 : The Test
*Shelby***One Year Later**“To you, my amazingly talented, intelligent, and beautiful wife,” Michael said, holding a glass of wine in the air over our cozy two-person table.I clinked my glass on his and took a small sip of the wine as I looked out over the dark blue sky littered with thousands of tiny bits of starlight. The lights of the city shone brightly below, illuminating the blue dome roofs over the buildings. The waves crashed against the cliff faces below, sending bits of seawater into the air, making everything smell like salt.We’d been in Greece for the last few days and were currently eating dinner in a quaint little restaurant toward the top of the city, with an amazing view. For the past month, we’d been touring Italy and Greece on our yacht. I’d recently graduated from NYU with my law degree, and Michael planned the trip as a way to celebrate. I’d been interning at a law firm called Stockton and Associates, and I was surprised by their o
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 148 : The Wedding Day
*Shelby*I woke up and stretched across the king-size bed. It felt so strange to be in such a large bed all by myself. I lay there, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings of the hotel room. Then the realization hit me; it was my wedding day. The day I was going to become Mrs. Shelby Astor.I sat bolt upright, and let my feet hit the floor. In one swift motion, I was up and taking leaps across the room with a little squeal. I swung open the door and rushed into the main room of the hotel suite.“Aubs! Lin! Get up! I’m getting married today!” I squealed.Within a few seconds, Aubrey was up, rubbing her eyes as she opened the door to her private room. All we heard from Lin’s room was a sleepy moan, which made me laugh loudly.“I know that some brides get cold feet on their wedding day, but something tells me we don’t have to worry about that with you,” Aubrey said, yawning a little.“I can’t believe it’s actually here, Aubs. I mean, after all that we’ve gone t
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 147 : Wedding Plans
*Shelby*After a hasty breakfast, Lauren’s words still lingered in my mind. The click of the coffee pot being pulled off of the warmer snapped me back to reality. I set my phone down on the counter and flashed Michael a soft smile. He grabbed a travel mug from the cupboard and poured the remainder of the dark liquid into his cup. While he screwed the lid into place, he leaned over and kissed me quickly on the lips.“I’m so sorry I don’t have time to say much in the way of a goodbye, but thank you for breakfast. I had an emergency meeting with investors pop up last minute,” Michael said, slipping his arms through his sport coat.“That’s okay, I understand. Will I see you for dinner?” I asked.“Yes, you will. I’ll make sure I’m home by five at the latest. What are your plans for the day?” Michael asked.“I’m going to the country club to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow,” I answered.A huge smile took over Michael’s face, “Well, that sounds like a great way to spend
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 146 : Irredeemable
*Shelby*Lauren looked… humbled.Even her clothes were telling. She wore a long, demure skirt and a blouse that didn’t show a hint of cleavage and covered her arms down to her elbows. No big brand names or luxurious accessories. Her hair also needed a wash.I’d never seen her dress so modestly or look so run-down, and I had an inkling of what she was trying to accomplish by coming here. I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. I wasn’t sure Michael would want to see her, and part of me didn’t want Michael’s day to start off with a fight. On the other hand, I couldn’t make those decisions for him.“Come in,” I said, stepping aside to let her pass. I closed the door and gestured for her to sit in the adjacent living room, just as I heard Michael’s quick steps running down the stairs. “What smells so good? My mouth is watering! Shelby, honey—” He froze when he saw Lauren sitting on the couch. She gave him a smile and a quick wave.Michael’s eyes focused on me,
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 145 : An Unexpected Visit
*Shelby*Ever since that kiss in the elevator, my body ached for Michael. When he whispered into my ear, a shudder ran down my spine, turning me on.He gave me a taunting look, and his eyes wandered around the park. “Michael…” I said, “what’s going on in your head?”He chuckled and leaned closer to me. “It wouldn’t be the first time we made love out in the open,” he said in a low voice.I almost spit out the coffee I’d just sipped.“But we were alone on the beach! Well, the second time, anyway. This place is full of people.”“There are some dark places…” He smiled mischievously at me. “And you’re not making it easier for me.”His eyes wandered to my chest, where my dress hung really low and gave him a great view of my breasts thanks to the way I was leaning toward him.I felt his leg caressing mine under the table, and I pretended to scowl at him.“You aren’t making it easier either,” I said. He took his phone out of his pocket and grinned, informing me that the
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 144 : The Prenup
*Michael*When Shelby walked into the office, I could tell she was dying to tell me something. Her excitement was written all over her face.“I suppose the hunt for a dress went well?” I said, and she immediately ran around the desk and gave me a kiss. “I’ll take that as a yes,” smiling at the joy on her face.“I found the perfect one,” she said as she sat in the chair across from me. “I just wish I could show you or tell you about it, but you know how that goes.” “You could wear a T-shirt and jeans, and you’d still be the most beautiful bride to walk this earth,” I said dramatically, eliciting a giggle from Shelby. I would never tire of hearing her laugh.“I thought your lawyer would be here already,” she said, looking at her watch.“Aren’t we going home?” I had no idea what she was talking about.“Did you really forget?” Shelby laughed. “Only you could forget that we’re going to sign our prenup today.”The truth was that it had completely slipped my mind. Shelby was
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 143 : Wedding Dress Shopping
*Shelby**One Month Later*“I can’t believe it’s the end of the summer already,” Lin said with a sigh.I pushed open the door to the salon and was instantly enveloped with the smell of cucumbers and ocean salt.“I know. It seems like it went so fast, but I’m so glad we get to spend more time together before you have to go back to Cambridge,” I said.“Damn, this place is so posh,” Lin said rather loudly.I chuckled, “Shush, Lin. Just pretend that we come to places like this all the time.”“Oh, right,” she responded, a small smirk on her lips.We walked up to the front desk where a woman with purple hair greeted us. Once she found our appointments, she took us back to a private room to get our pedicures. The lights were dimmed and soft piano music played from an indistinguishable place in the room. She handed us each a glass of champagne before leaving us to wait for the nail artists.“So what are we having done today?” Lin asked me as we slip
Longing for the Beach Billionaire Daddy Chapter 142 : Good Dad or Bad Dad?
*Shelby*I’d just slid the baking tray, with two salmon filets and vegetables, into the oven when I heard the front door open. It abruptly closed with a shutter that echoed through the house.“Michael?” I called down the hallway.“It’s me, Shelby,” he called back, and my heartbeat slowed at the sound of his voice.“You’re just in time. I just put dinner in the oven, and it should be ready soon,” I said as Michael walked into the kitchen.I looked up to see him wearing a very serious expression on his face. The corners of his mouth were tugged down in concern, and there was a strange expression in his eyes—a mix of sadness and anger.“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I asked, my heartbeat speeding up again. “Is Bruce okay? Lucille?”“Everyone’s fine. I just had a very unpleasant conversation is all,” Michael said, sliding onto one of the barstools.“With who?” I asked, picking up and folding a dish towel with nervous anticipation.“I went
