*Shelby**4 Months Later*“That’s a cute bikini. I’ve said it once, and I will say it again. Michael is one lucky man,” Lin said as I folded a light blue bikini top in my suitcase.“Do you think he will like it?” I asked as my cheeks warmed at the thought of an entire week alone with Michael.We had been surviving the long-distance relationship with late-night phone calls and short weekend trips to see each other. Michael had begged me to take a vacation with him during my Thanksgiving break, but the guilt of leaving my grandfather home alone over the holiday put an end to that daydream. “Shelby, Michael would like you in just about anything. I don’t know why you’re worried about what you’re wearing anyway. If I had an unbelievably rich silver fox that was taking me on a week-long vacation to Maui, I’m pretty sure I’d be naked the whole trip,” Lin responded with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.I wadded up a pair of shorts I was just about to pack and c
*Shelby*I gladly took the glass of champagne from Michael as he guided me up the steps of his private jet, his hand gently resting on the small of my back.The cabin was decorated in cool tones accented by black leather seats and couches. The shades were halfway drawn on each of the windows, and the lights slightly dimmed, giving a romantic glow to the space. I stood in the center of the cabin, unsure of where to sit or how to behave on a private flight. “Make yourself comfortable, and I will let the pilot know that we are ready to take off,” Micheal said. Before walking away, he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for another slow kiss. The smell of his sandalwood cologne enveloped me, and I instantly felt at ease.I took a seat on one of the couches, embellished with a caramel-colored fur blanket over the armrest. I took a sip of the champagne, and Michael returned, taking the seat next to me. “We are about ready to go. We will b
*Michael*Shelby squeezed my hand tightly when the wheels hit the tarmac. I could tell that flying made her nervous, so I reached out and placed my hand on her thigh. She looked up at me with a weak smile which I returned.“You are absolutely going to love this resort. I stayed here on business, and since we started dating, I have been thinking about how much you would enjoy it here,” I said, hoping to distract her from the jet landing.“I can’t wait to see it. Can we explore the island a little tomorrow? I have always wanted to visit Hawaii. The wildlife here is so diverse. I really hope we get a chance to see some in the wild,” she said.I wasn’t sure if she realized that the jet had fully landed and was pulling into the hangar.“We can do whatever you like tomorrow. I know a guy who funds a bird sanctuary here; maybe we could stop in if you are interested.”“That sounds amazing,” Shelby said with a bright smile.With the plane on the ground, I stoo
*Shelby*I woke to a soft breeze dancing across my face, the open windows letting the sunlight stream into the giant space of the bedroom. I lay there awhile, enjoying Michael’s warmth next to me and watching the curtains drift lightly, each gust of wind brought in the clean smell of the ocean air.Michael started to stir next to me, and eventually, he opened his eyes and greeted me with a sleepy smile.“Good morning, beautiful. I could get used to this,” he said.“Get used to what exactly,” I pushed, even though I knew what he was talking about.“Waking up next to you every morning,” he said as he brushed his hand up my exposed thigh.“I could get used to it, too,” I said, leaning down and letting our lips brush lightly together. “What is for breakfast?” I asked, my lips still touching his. “How about you go make yourself comfortable on the back deck, and I will call room service,” Michael said, kissing me again.I wrapped a satin robe ar
*Shelby*“Would you care for another drink, miss?” one of the maids asked.“I would love one, thank you,” I said and then turned my attention back to the book I was reading. I’d spent the last hour on the back deck next to the infinity pool, reading the book Michael gave me. The past few days, we’d spent our time exploring different hiking trails across the resort, swimming in the ocean, and relaxing by the pool. The heat was starting to get to me, so I set down my book, slipped off my coverup, and eased myself into the pool's refreshing water. I waded around for a few minutes, careful not to get my hair wet.Michael took me to a fancy restaurant every night, and I wouldn’t have time to get my hair dry again before it was time to leave.“I will just set your drink on the table. Oh, and miss? Your phone is ringing. Would you like me to bring it to you?” the maid said as she set a fruity drink down next to my things.“Oh, would you mind?” I asked wad
*Shelby*“Shelby, I didn’t hear you come in,” Micheal said softly.“Yeah, obviously,” I said in response, my eyebrows knitting together in concern.“Where would you like to go for dinner?” he asked, clearly trying to change the subject. “I have been wanting to try that barbeque place that is at the far end of the resort.”His phone started ringing in his pocket; he pulled it out, silenced it, and shoved it back into his pocket.“Who were you just talking to? It sounded pretty intense. Are they calling you again?” I asked, taking in Michael’s frustrated expression. I had heard him be stern over the phone before, usually with the higher-ups of his company, Express Air. However, I had never heard him so angry. He also never kept things from me. Usually, he would get off those phone calls and tell me exactly what was upsetting him. He would tell me the entire situation and ask for my opinion on how to respond to the situation. What was he hiding from me
*Shelby*“That is where we are having dinner,” Michael said, referring to the small island we were coming up on.Michael went back to the wheel and left me to watch as we got closer and closer to the island. A weathered dock floated on the water, and a pebbled pathway led further onto the island. Michael expertly docked the boat, and by the time we disembarked, the sunset had faded, and darkness was creeping into the sky. The pathway was lit by tiki torches on each side, illuminating our pathway.“How did you get this set up so fast?” I asked, awestruck.“Don’t ruin the magic,” Michael said and leaned down for a kiss. My fingers intertwined with his, and we walked side by side down the pathway. Within five minutes, the path gave way to a clearing with a wooden table set up in the center. A stream bubbled off to one side down a series of mini waterfalls. The entire clearing was illuminated by the light of tiki torches. “This is unreal,” I w
*Michael**Earlier that morning*“How long have you made it a habit of sleeping with my friends?” Lauren’s voice sounded on the other end of the phone.My heart sank, and I took a few steps back to make sure Shelby was still on the deck reading. Fortunately, she was out of earshot of my conversation. “What are you talking about, Lauren?” I asked, fishing for more information.“I know you were hooking up with Shelby on the yacht. Leave it to that slut to not only ruin my engagement but also to sleep with my father,” Lauren said with disgust.“Lauren, your engagement fell apart because he was a cheater. It had nothing to do with Shelby.”“It had everything to do with Shelby; if she weren’t there, his entire focus would have been on me,” she continued in a whiny voice that always grated on my nerves.I sighed loudly and rubbed my temple. Lauren had been sending me texts all morning asking for money. I was glad that Shelby had decided to spend the a
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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,
*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
*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
*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
*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