Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 94

*Shelby*

The next day at my internship went so slowly as I waited for the clock to strike 5:00. As I sorted through countless files, all I could think about was the story the blackmailer was threatening to leak. It was a lie about how Todd and I had stolen the answers to multiple tests back when we were at NYU.

The blackmailer claimed that Todd had approached him with the story explaining that I made him break into the professors’ offices to steal the test answers to make sure I passed all my classes. He did it because we were dating, and I threatened to leave him if he didn’t help me.

A story like this would not only ruin my reputation, it would get me kicked out of school. All day I felt like I was watching over my shoulder, waiting for someone to tell me to go pack my bags.

When Michael first told me about the threat, I immediately thought Todd was behind it as some sort of revenge for breaking up his engagement with Lauren. However, as the day went on and I thought about the situation more, I realized that Todd had just as much to lose as I did.

There was only one person that could be behind all of this–Lauren.

I packed my bag before leaving the townhouse that morning, knowing I would head straight back to Cambridge as soon as my internship was over for the day. I told Michael that I had to go back to campus to study for an extensive test I had on Monday.

I didn’t tell him the real reason I wanted to return home early. I was going to be at Lauren’s party that night, and I planned on confronting her about working with Blaine and blackmailing not only me but her father as well.

The end of the day finally came, and I rushed downstairs to meet the car waiting for me in front of the building. My bag was already packed in the trunk, and within minutes, we were on the highway heading back toward Cambridge.

The driver dropped me off right in front of our red brick house in the gated community. I rushed up the steps and threw the door open. I had to hurry if I wanted to make it to the party on time. Lin met me in the entranceway, a startled look on her face.

“What’re you doing at home? I thought you were staying in New York all weekend,” Lin said, putting her hand on her chest.

“Sorry I didn’t think you’d be home. I thought you had a date,” I said looking at her in her sweats. “Don’t you have a date?”

“Um I sort of ended up canceling the one for tonight,” Lin said sheepishly.

“Does that have something to do with someone else asking you out?” I asked with a knowing smile.

“Jerrick and I are going out tomorrow,” Lin said, her cheeks flaming.

“Good! He spent the entire two days at our internship asking me questions about you. Don’t worry, though. I didn’t tell him anything embarrassing,” I said.

“Did he really?” Lin asked, her cheeks glowing brighter.

“Of course, he did. I can already tell he’s really into you, but we can talk about that later. Right now, I need you to go get ready. You’re coming with me to a party,” I said, rushing up the stairs toward my bedroom.

I took extra time getting ready, putting in way more effort than I usually did. I picked out a tight black dress, slipped into a pair of matching heels, and spent extra time curling my hair. Just as I was putting on some red lipstick, Lin wandered into my ensuite.

“Damn, Shelby, you’re pulling out all the stops,” Lin said.

She’d picked out a mini skirt and matching crop top, which made her look like a bombshell.

“Thanks, you look great too!” I said with a smile.

“No, like, Shelb, you look beyond great. Why are you going to have so much trouble if Michael won’t even be there?” Lin asked.

“I’m going to make sure that Lauren knows she can’t push me around anymore. If I show up looking like this, she’ll know she can’t back me into a corner. She can’t make me hide anymore,” I said, feeling confident.

“I like your plan,” Lin said, and I knew she was excited to watch me finally take her down.

Our heels clicked on the pavement as we walked a few blocks past campus, our bodyguards trailing right behind us. Lin kept blowing k****s back at them and giggling as they kept their composure.

“Lin, leave them alone. They’re just doing their job,” I said trying to hide a small laugh.

“It’s too much fun, though. I’m going to get one of them to crack one day,” she said.

We walked up to a large three-story house illuminated by bright lights shining back at the building from the ground floor. The house was bright white and looked like a miniature mansion hidden in between the giant sorority houses.

“Of course, she lives in a place like this,” Lin said with an eye roll.

“The real question is, how is she paying for all of it? Michael refused to help her get into Harvard. I know he didn’t fund this house either,” I said as we walked through the front door.

I immediately grabbed a shot from one of the full tables as music bumped through the house. It was so loud it rattled the windows. I turned around, and Jerrick was standing at Lin’s side, somehow replaceing her in the madness of the party in the few seconds I’d been away.

I walked back up to them, and the flirty smile on Jerrick’s face fell as he looked at me.

“Shelby, what’s wrong?” he asked me, dropping his hand from Lin’s waist.

“Nothing that won’t be fixed soon,” I said, grabbing another shot and downing it before he could ask me any more questions.

I spotted a flutter of blonde hair being flipped over a woman’s shoulder, and I immediately knew it was Lauren. I marched into the room and grabbed her elbow.

“We need to talk now,” I said and pulled her out to the quieter backyard.

“Shelby, what’re you doing? It’s freezing out here. Why’d you drag me out here with you? Let’s go back to the party,” Lauren said, refusing to meet my eyes.

“I always knew you were a terrible liar. You know exactly why we’re out here. I know it’s you making threats to run that fake story about Todd and me. I know that you’ve been working with Blaine, and not only have you been blackmailing me, but you’ve been blackmailing your dad as well.

“Your dad told you that he wouldn’t help you cheat your way into Harvard, yet here you are. The question is, how’re you paying for all of this? Is your mom involved in the blackmail too? How much did Blaine pay you to be a part of this, Lauren?” I asked, my breath coming in clouds as I made the accusations.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Blaine didn’t offer me anything. I would never work with my dad’s half-brother,” Lauren said, but as I said, she was a horrible liar.

“If Blaine didn’t come to you, how do you know how he’s related to your dad? Michael never told you who Blaine was, Lauren. I know that you’re lying. If you want to become a lawyer so bad, you really need to get better at not giving yourself away,” I said angrily.

“I needed a way to pay for Harvard after my dad failed me. Plus, this plan only hurts you, and you deserve every bit of it. Blaine promised to help me get you away from my dad,” Lauren snapped back.

“Are you really that thick, Lauren? This plan isn’t just ruining my reputation. Have you not seen the news articles slandering your dad, claiming he’s abusive? This made-up story about me cheating my way through school won’t just hurt me; it’ll get Todd in trouble too. Yeah, he’s an a*****e, but he doesn’t deserve this either. You’re causing so much damage!”

“That article was supposed to get you to leave my dad. I don’t want you to end up with him!” Lauren screamed at me.

“Why? Would it really be the worst thing if your dad was happy?” I asked, frustrated.

“Of course, it would. My dad never told me no for anything until you two got involved,” Lauren snarled.

Anger flashed across my vision.

“Are you serious? You’re blackmailing your father because he told you no? This is all about money to you, isn’t it? You’re such a spoiled little brat that you can’t see past your own wants to realize that your dad was trying to teach you a valuable lesson that you can’t buy your way through life. I can’t believe you, Lauren. I could just….”

“Just what? What’re you going to do about it, Shelby? You have no power,” she snapped at me, a cruel look in her eyes.

I took a deep breath before continuing. I kept my voice as steady as I could, even though my heart was pounding with the fury I felt.

“Oh, but I do. Michael and I are engaged. We’re getting married, Lauren.”

Lauren looked at me disgusted, “So what? Do I have to call you Mom now?”

“You don’t get it, Lauren. Michael doesn’t know about this, but I can change that in seconds. What do you think you’ll be able to get out of him if he knows you teamed up with the man who has been trying to ruin his life for years? He’ll never forgive you for this. He’ll cut you out of his will; I’ll make sure of that. You can k**s your trust fund goodbye,” I said with venom in my voice.

A moment of fear flashed across Lauren’s face, so I continued while the realization was still raw.

“You need to leave, Lauren. You’re going to withdraw tomorrow. You need to be gone by the end of the weekend, or I’ll tell him everything,” I threatened.

“Are you serious?” Lauren asked, tears pooling in her eyes.

“I can promise you that you’ll never see another dime from your father if you don’t give up everything you cheated to get.”