Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 22

*Shelby*

The soft fabric of my chiffon cocktail dress swished against my thighs as I made my way downstairs. I picked this particular dress because the stormy grey color complimented my red hair nicely.

The music was already thumping through the house from the back patio, making the windows rattle slightly. The infinity pool was illuminated, giving the entire party a slight glow.

The first place I headed was to the bartender, I knew it was going to take a lot to get through this night, and I needed all the help I could get.

“Would you like a Lauren Lemon Drop or a Todd Tequila Shot?”

“Are the only two things on the menu?” I asked. I shouldn’t be surprised that they had signature drinks named after themselves.

The bartender gave me a sympathetic smile, “Or we have the Marry Me Margarita.”

This was going to be a very long night.

“A margarita then…”

I walked away with my margarita in hand and joined a small group of people surrounding the life-size ice sculpture of Lauren and Todd.

A woman with dark hair flowing all the way down her back turned to me and asked, “So how do you know the couple?”

“Oh, I went to school with Lauren at NYU.” I figured it was best to leave out how I knew Todd.

“I didn’t realize that Lauren went to college. She never mentioned it at our photo shoot in Greece last year. That’s how we met,” she said with an air of superiority.

“What did you study at NYU?” a blond man said, entering the conversation.

“Oh, I got my Bachelor’s in history and I just graduated with my Master’s in political science. I’m going to Harvard for Law school in the fall.”

“That sounds absolutely terrible. I went for the first week of college and dropped out. They wanted me to show up for classes before, like ten in the morning,” the dark-haired woman said.

“Yeah, some of the classes can be pretty early,” I said, not knowing how to respond.

“So, are your parents making you go to law school or something? Does your dad own a law firm? I have a friend whose dad is making him become a lawyer so he can take over the law firm someday,” the blond-haired man asked me.

“No, I’m not being forced; I just have always wanted to be a lawyer. No one in my family owns a law firm, although I wish they did. That would make finding a job after I graduate a lot easier,” I answered with a nervous laugh.

The two gave me a strange look as though they had never met someone who willingly went to college to pursue a career simply because it was what they wanted.

“So you’re, like, smart,” the woman said in a patronizing tone.

They turned to each other and actually laughed at me while I was still standing next to them.

“Don’t tell me you are putting yourself through school too. Let me guess, you are a waitress or something,” the man said with a mean smile.

“I’m a bartender,” I said quietly.

This answer sent them both over the edge with giggles. They moved forward, effectively cutting me out of the group with their bodies.

I realized that I had nothing in common with these people and turned to leave. Tears stung the corners of my eyes, and I needed to get away from the thumping beat of the DJ’s speakers. I would not cry in front of these people.

I refused to give them the satisfaction.

I walked down the runway to the gazebo that jutted out into the ocean, so the waves crashed against all sides, drowning out the music and laughter from the party. I braced myself on the backrest of an iron bench, wiping away an escaping tear from my face.

I knew I didn’t belong here, and I couldn’t stand staying another day. I pulled my phone out of the clutch I was carrying and sent a quick text to Aubrey and Lin.

Shelby: I just got laughed at for wanting to become a lawyer. I need to get away from these people.

Aubrey: Do you want me to book you that flight?

Shelby: Yes, I’m ready to come home.

Aubrey: Bad news. The flight tomorrow is booked.

Shelby: When is the next flight out of here?

Aubrey: In two days.

Shelby: Book it. I will just find a way to hide out for one more day.

Lin: You can get through this! I will be waiting at the airport to pick you up.

Shelby: I can’t thank you two enough. What would I do without you? I miss you both, and I can’t wait to see you.

Aubrey: Your flight has been changed. We will see you in two days. Hang in there! We love you Shelb!

Lin: What Aubrey said. Just two more days!

Shelby: Love you girls too!

A hand gripped the top of mine on the bench and gave it a small squeeze.

“I have been trying to talk to you all day. Why have you been avoiding me?”

I looked down and was disappointed that it was not Michael’s tanned hand on top of mine. I ripped my hand out from under Todd’s and gave him an icy glare.

“What do you need?”

“I need to talk to you in private.”

“This is private enough,” I said, looking back at the party. I knew someone would hear me if I screamed loud enough.

“Just come back to my room with me.” Todd leaned in close and whispered, “I miss you.”

“You can talk to me here or not at all,” I said and took a large step back and away from him.

“You look amazing, baby cakes. I have never seen you wear a dress like that. It looks good on you and would look even better off,” he said with a sleazy smile.

“Do not call me that! Don’t think about me like that! Does your fiance know where you are?” I hissed.

“Of course, she doesn’t, and she doesn’t have to.”

“Does she know anything, Todd? Does she know about our past? Does she know that you dated me for years and how you were still dating me when you two met?” My breaths were coming in ragged gasps now.

I had never been so angry at Todd before. I could not stand the fact that he had not only thrown me over for someone else after I had wasted years of my life on him, but now he had the nerve to try and win me back at his engagement party.

“Of course, she knows,” he said quickly while looking away.

“You are such a liar!” My voice echoed against the pillars of the gazebo. Angry tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“Are you sure I’m the liar and not Lauren? What if she just invited you here to make you watch her get engaged to your ex? It sounds like just the kind of game that she and her rich friends would find so entertaining. They have been laughing at you behind your back this entire trip.”

“You’ve always been the liar, Todd. I wish I had seen that from the very beginning. You obviously don’t know Lauren. There is no way she would be that cruel. I never mentioned you by name to her when we were dating because she never seemed to care about my personal life. And if they’ve been laughing at me this entire time, why didn’t you tell me sooner? You’re just lying to save yourself.”

I hoped the words I said were true. It had been a long time since I’d spent this much time with Lauren, and she’d changed a lot. However, I couldn’t believe that she would purposely torture me.

“We have the chance to get back at her for humiliating you,” Todd said quietly.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, confused at the sudden shift in the conversation.

“Take me back. She never has to know that we made up. Everything could go back to the way it was.”

“Back to the way it was. Really, Todd? How exactly do you think that would ever work? I’m just supposed to be okay with the fact that you are marrying Lauren? Do you really think Lauren would be okay with her husband having a girlfriend on the side?” I asked, shocked at what he was asking of me.

“I would still marry Lauren, and we would have more money than we would even know what to do with. As soon as my dad makes me a partner, I will have to go on business trips all the time, and you could come with me. Lauren will never know that we are back together.”

“You’re ridiculous, Todd. It is all just about the money, isn’t it? You want everything that you can’t have, and you are only marrying Lauren for her money.”

“Well, she is not bad to look at either,” Todd said as though I was the one being ridiculous.

“I cannot believe I ever loved you. You are a horrible person. Just leave me alone, Todd.” I turned away from him and crossed my arms. I was exhausted from our conversation and realized that there was no way to make him see how horrible he was being.

“Take me back, Shelby, please,” Todd said, and he reached out and grabbed my arm.

“Do not touch me,” I said as I pulled away from him.

Someone cleared their throat at the entrance of the gazebo. Todd dropped his arm, that he had reached out to me, and he took a step back.

“Todd, Lauren is looking for you. I think it would be best if you went and found her.”

Todd didn’t answer and made for the exit quickly. I watched as he stopped in front of Michael, waiting for him to move so that he could leave.

Michael remained where he was standing, so Todd had to awkwardly shimmy past him. If I weren’t so furious and trying to hold back the tears still hot in my eyes, I would have laughed.

I let out a frustrated sigh that turned into a small sob. Michael was at my side in seconds.

“Are you okay?” Michael asked as he put a hand on each of my arms, rubbing them comfortingly.

“I’m fine,” I lied, trying to hide the few tears that had fallen down my face.

“Shelby, you’re shaking. You are not okay. Please come with me.” Michael held out his hand, and I took it.

“I don’t want to go back to the party.”

“We don’t have to go back to the party,” Michael said.

“Then where are we going?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“To my room.”