Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 59

*Michael*

As the doors opened and I exited the Express Air building, the cold air hit me in the face. I made my way across the slushy sidewalks to my car, which was already waiting for me. Bruce, the head of my security team, sat in the front seat, so I slid into the passenger seat next to him.

“It is surprising to see you here, Bruce. I was expecting Lance or one of the other drivers today. It is nice to see you all the same.”

“I sent Lance to pick up Shelby in Cambridge, sir. I didn’t think that it would be prudent to have her take the train on her own again, especially since circumstances have recently changed. I hope that is okay with you, sir.”

“What do you mean circumstances have changed?” I asked, confused.

“I just got word today that someone posted Blaine’s bail sometime last week. He has been out of jail this entire time,” Bruce responded.

“Oh, I see,” I said, shocked. “Yes, that was a good decision on your part, Bruce. Thank you.”

My head started racing at the thought that Blaine could be out there following me, or Shelby, at this very moment.

“Do you know if he has any restrictions in place? Is he on house arrest or anything like that?” I asked.

“I have put a request in to gain access to that information. I will let you know as soon as I replace out, sir,” Bruce answered. “Until we have that information, I think it would be best for me to accompany you around the city.”

“Very well, I just needed to do a bit of shopping today. I know the stores are going to be crazy, just three days away from Christmas, but I need to replace the perfect gift for Shelby.”

“Of course, sir,” Bruce said, putting the car in drive and pulling into traffic.

The streets were packed with shoppers and their bags of purchases. I made my way through store after store, with Bruce never far behind me. I picked up a set of pearls, admiring them, and then setting them down again.

“Still not sure what to get her?” Bruce asked me.

“No. These would be nice,” I said, gesturing to the pearls. “I am sure she would like them, but they just don’t seem like her. Shelby is so much different from the other women I have dated. She is not….”

I paused, trying to replace the right word.

“Materialistic?” Bruce provided for me.

“Exactly,” I laughed. “It honestly would be so much easier to shop for a real sugar baby than it is to pick out something for Shelby. She truly doesn’t care about the money.”

Bruce let out one of his rare chuckles.

“What is so funny?” I asked lightheartedly as I scanned the jewelry counter displays.

“It’s just that not many men would complain about their girlfriends not wanting their man to spoil them with gifts. It is usually the opposite,” Bruce said.

I smiled, “You’ve got me there. What did you get for your wife this year, Bruce? Please, I’m desperate.”

“I have been married for a long time, Michael, and I have learned one thing about Christmas presents.”

“I’m all ears.”

“It is not about how much the gift costs. It is about the amount of thought that you put behind the gift. Make it something personal; pick a memory of the time you spent together and give her something that reminds you of that time. It works every time,” Bruce explained.

“Wow, Bruce, I had no idea you were such a romantic. That is really sound advice.”

I turned my attention back to the jewelry case, scanning row after row of diamonds, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. My eyes landed on a small pair of earrings.

“Excuse me, can I take a closer look at this pair?” I asked the sales clerk.

She pulled out the earrings for me, a white gold seashell with a dainty white pearl at the base. I was instantly pulled back to Shelby, picking up a shell off the beach, when we saw the dolphins together and how she carried it with her for the rest of her trip. She left it on her nightstand when she left, and when we were on our last vacation, we decided to collect them together.

“I will take this pair.”

The sales clerk seemed disappointed in the small sale, but my heart felt so much lighter knowing I had a gift that would truly be meaningful for our first Christmas together.

I walked out of the store, bag in hand, and headed straight for the car. I needed to hide the earrings at my house before Shelby arrived. Just as I crossed in front of a large set of doors leading into an expensive department store, I felt Bruce’s shoulder pushing me through the opening.

“What is going on?” I asked Bruce as he tried to guide me off the main street inconspicuously. We ended up between high shelves of shoes before Bruce stopped.

I looked out the display windows and caught a glimpse of Blaine walking down the street from the direction we just came.

“Was that Blaine?” I asked, not trusting my own eyes.

“Yes, sir. I am sorry for the abrupt change in direction, but I noticed a man in a black hoodie leave the last store at the same time we did. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a coincidence.”

“Well, that was no coincidence,” I said, shaking my head in frustration. “Had he been following us the entire time?” I asked.

“No, I only noticed him as we left.”

“I wonder how he found me at all. It is not like I spend much time in women’s jewelry stores.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I think it might be best to go back to the office and figure out our next plan of action,” Bruce said.

“No, take me back to my penthouse. I already have a plan. Something Blaine won’t expect.”

The drive back to my penthouse was long and far from our normal route. Bruce took unexpected turns, all while watching in the rearview mirror to make sure we weren’t being followed. I used the extra time to call my driver, Lance, and tell him to take Shelby directly to the airport rather than coming to the penthouse. I made it clear he was not to let Shelby in on these changes of plans.

Once Bruce was sure we weren’t being followed, he came up to the penthouse with me.

“Bruce, I am sure that I am safe now; you can return back to the office. I will call you once I get everything organized.”

“I don’t think that would be wise, sir. A wounded animal is the most dangerous. That is exactly what Blaine is. You wounded him, so the next time he strikes, he may be going for more than just your reputation,” Bruce explained.

“How long do you intend to stay by my side, Bruce?” I asked.

“Until I can be sure you are safe, sir.”

“Well, then you need to call your wife, Bruce. Tell her to pack warm. I am not taking you away from your wife on Christmas, but I refuse to spend Christmas here.”

Bruce nodded, a small smile breaking through his serious exterior. I walked into my bedroom and pulled a suitcase out of my closet. I pulled out my phone and dialed Reggie’s number.

Reggie had been my intern for the past few years, and in that time, I had struck up a friendship with him. I trusted him almost as much as I trusted Bruce.

“Hello?”

“Reggie, I have something I need you to do. I need this to take precedence over all your other work right now, and you can’t let anyone know what you are doing, not my assistants or receptionists, no one.”

“Okay, sir. I can do that, but I have to ask, is everything okay?” Reggie asked, and I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Blaine was released on bail. I didn’t think that would cause much concern until Bruce noticed him following us today. We got away without Blaine noticing, but I refuse to spend my first Christmas with Shelby feeling like I have to watch over my own shoulder continuously,” I explained.

“I understand. What do you need me to do?” Reggie asked.

“I need you to completely clear my schedule until after the holidays. Also, I need my private jet to be ready at our hangar filled with enough fuel to get to Colorado. Reach out to my cousin Lucille and explain the situation. Tell her to meet us at the airport; she will be coming with us.”

“Of course, sir. Would you like me to send a car for Lucille?”

“That would be best. I don’t think that Blaine will have her followed, but tell the driver to take back roads to the airport. Also, collaborate with Bruce to have someone from security ensure that she is not being followed.”

“Will do, boss,” Reggie said.

“Thank you, I’m glad that I have you in my corner.”

“I always will be, sir. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.”

“You too, Reggie.”

I hung up my phone and stuffed it into my pocket. I took a deep breath and scanned my closet, taking what I needed for a quiet Christmas in the mountains.

I piled my essentials and Shelby’s Christmas present into the suitcase and zipped it closed.

We would be spending Christmas at my private cabin in Vale.