Merry with a Tycoon (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

PRESTON

The first rays of sunlight filter through unfamiliar curtains, rousing me from a deep, contented sleep. For a moment, I’m disoriented, but then the events of last night come flooding back.

Crystal. Mini-golf. That kiss. And everything that followed.

I turn my head, careful not to disturb her as she sleeps next to me. Crystal’s hair is splayed across the pillow, the soft morning light painting her skin in a warm glow, and I find myself mesmerized by the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the slight curve of her lips.

I resist the urge to reach out and touch her, to wake her with a kiss. Instead, I allow myself these quiet moments to simply observe, to bask in the warmth of her presence.

Last night was... magical. Not just the physical intimacy, though that was undeniably amazing. It’s something more, something I can’t quite put into words.

It’s a sensation I’ve never experienced before, not with Vivian, not with anyone.

Everything about her is enchanting. The way her eyes crinkle when she laughs, the passion in her voice when she talks about her shop, the gentleness with which she interacts with others. Even her competitiveness during our mini-golf game was endearing. She challenges me, surprises me, accepts me in a way I never thought possible.

Is it… no, am I…?

No, can’t be.

I’ve always shied away from the idea of falling in love. The thought of it used to terrify me. How could I ever measure up to the example my father set? The way he loved my mother was the stuff of legends in our family that I always feared I’d fall short, that I’d never be capable of that kind of devotion.

But with Crystal, those fears seem to melt away. For the first time, I’m not worried about measuring up or falling short. I’m just... here. Present. Happy in a way I can’t remember being before.

I glance at my watch and grimace. I have an early call at the office that I can’t miss. The real world is intruding on this perfect moment, and I feel a pang of resentment. I don’t want to leave this cocoon of warmth and contentment. I want to stay here in this bed with Crystal, in this space where I can just be myself.

But I can’t. I’ve got work to do.

Reluctantly, I ease myself out of bed, gathering my clothes as quietly as possible. As I dress, I can’t help but steal glances at Crystal as she sleeps. I’m already looking forward to the next time I’ll see her, already missing her even though I haven’t left yet.

I find a notepad in the kitchen and scribble a quick note. As my pen hovers over the paper, there’s so much more I want to say, but I’m not sure how. With a sigh, I leave the note on the pillow next to her and make my way to the door.

As I step outside, I’m not surprised to see my Aston Martin is gone. In its place, a familiar black SUV is parked across the street. Javi, ever-reliable, steps out as I approach and pulls open the passenger door.

If the women I dated ever realized we’re never truly alone whenever we’re out and about, I doubt I’d have a robust social life.

“Good morning, boss,” he says, his tone professional, his brow furrowed as I slip inside the SUV. “Have you checked your phone at all this morning?”

My good mood evaporates instantly. “What happened? Is Mother okay?”

“She’s fine,” he replies. “It’s the Square. There’s been a leak, but that’s all I know.”

As we pull away from Crystal’s apartment, I unlock my phone with a sense of dread. The screen is flooded with notifications – missed calls, texts, emails. But it’s the news alert that catches my eye:

HOLLISTER HEIR’S REVITALIZATION PLAN: A COVER FOR MASS EVICTIONS?

My heart sinks as I skim the article. Someone has leaked Teddy’s rent increase letter to the media, and they’ve twisted it into something sinister. I can feel a headache forming as I read through the sensationalized claims and half-truths.

“Not again,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose.

It’s always been like this. The media seems to have a special kind of venom reserved for the Hollister family. Every business decision, every personal relationship—it’s all fair game for their wild speculations and exaggerations.

Even Brogan wasn’t immune to the media’s distortions. When he decided to join the Navy, the press had a field day. They spun wild theories about family discord, painting Brogan as the black sheep rebelling against the Hollister legacy. Some outlets even suggested he was running away from legal troubles or a secret scandal.

The truth—that Brogan simply felt called to serve his country—was apparently too boring for the tabloids. They never let facts get in the way of a sensational story. It didn’t matter that Brogan’s decision was born out of a genuine desire to challenge himself and make a difference.

In the media’s eyes, a Hollister choosing military service over a cushy corporate job was too juicy a story to pass up.

I think back to how they treated Vivian, too, painting her as some kind of small-town-hating socialite. Sure, she never quite warmed to Love Beach, but that wasn’t entirely her fault. She was a New York girl through and through, and the quiet charm of our little coastal town was lost on her. The press had a field day with that, portraying us as some kind of modern-day “city mouse and country mouse” drama.

In the end, it was one of the reasons we split up. Location. Vivian wanted me to move to New York, arguing it made more sense for the company. “You’ll be where the action is,” she said. “You don’t have to travel so much like your father did.”

I actually don’t travel like I used to. With video calls and live feeds acceptable in business these days, I can manage our hotels from anywhere. I don’t need to be in New York or constantly on the road like my father had to. Love Beach is my home, and I’ve never wanted to leave it behind.

But as I stare at the article on my phone, a knot forms in my stomach. How will Crystal take this news? Sure, we talked about my revitalization project in broad strokes, but we never got into the nitty gritty details. Instead, I chose to discuss her latest crystal acquisition or debating the best strategy for conquering the windmill hole at Pirate’s Cover Mini Golf. Somehow, those conversations seemed far more important than any business plan.

And why shouldn’t they be?

Crystal and I were on a date.

I realize now that was a mistake. I should have been more transparent, should have laid out all the plans clearly. Not just to Crystal, but to all the tenants of Seaside Square.

“Javi,” I say, my voice tight, “get me to the office. Now. I need to get ahead of this before it spirals out of control.”

As we speed towards the office, my mind races. How do I fix this? How do I explain to Crystal that this isn’t what it looks like? That I’m not trying to force anyone out of their homes or businesses?

I think about last night—the laughter, the connection, the feeling of finally finding someone who sees me for who I am, not just my family name or bank account. The thought of losing that because of this misunderstanding... it’s almost unbearable.

But I won’t let that happen. I’ll find a way to make this right. I’ll explain everything to Crystal, to the tenants, to the whole town if I have to. I’ll show them that the Hollister name stands for more than just profit margins and luxury hotels.

As the familiar skyline of downtown Love Beach comes into view, I steel myself for the battle ahead. It’s going to be a long day, but I’m ready for it. Because now, it’s not just about protecting the family business or my own reputation.

It’s about protecting the trust Crystal has placed in me… and the future we might have together.

As Javi navigates through the morning traffic, my phone buzzes again. This time, it’s my mother. I take a deep breath before answering.

“Mother, I can explain?—”

“Preston!” Lorraine’s voice is sharp with panic. “What on earth is going on? I’m looking at the news right now. Mass evictions? A cover-up? Please tell me this is some sort of mistake.”

I rub my temple, feeling a headache coming on. “It’s a misunderstanding, Mother. Teddy sent out a rent increase letter without authorization. I’m on my way to the office now to sort it out.”

“Teddy did what?” She sounds incredulous. “And why would she do that?”

“She wanted to impress us with her business acumen and she missed,” I say as calmly as I can. “But she has since fixed her mistake.”

“What’s this about a revitalization project for the square? And these mass evictions?” she asks. “Why am I hearing about this from the news and not from you?”

I wince. In all the excitement of the past few days—of Crystal—I’d neglected to brief my mother on the project. “I’m sorry, Mother. I should have told you sooner. It’s a plan to update and improve Seaside Square. You and I have always known structural renovations are necessary, but we’re not evicting anyone. It’s all been blown out of proportion.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. When she speaks again, her voice is calmer, but I can still hear the underlying tension. “I see. Well, I’m flying back in two days.”

My stomach drops. “I thought you were spending Christmas in New York.”

“Change of plans,” she says crisply. “Oh, and Vivian will be accompanying me. She’s been such a dear, helping me navigate this social season in New York.”

For a moment, I’m speechless. Vivian? Coming back to Love Beach? With my mother?

“But… why? I mean why is she coming with you?” I manage to say.

“Given this current crisis, I thought it might be helpful to have her PR expertise on hand. She can handle the social media aspect of it. Damage control. You know she’s a pro,” she says.

“Mother, I don’t think you cutting short your visit to Aunt Beatrice is necessary. We have a perfectly capable PR team?—“

“Nonsense, Preston. We need all hands on deck for this. We’ll see you in two days. Do try to contain this mess until then, won’t you?”

Before I can protest further, she hangs up, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.

“Everything alright, boss?” Javi asks, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.

I let out a humorless laugh. “I wish. It seems we’re about to have company.”

As we pull up to the office, I feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me. The leaked letter, the media frenzy, my mother’s impending arrival, Vivian’s unexpected return... and through it all, the image of Crystal’s face this morning, peaceful in sleep, unaware of the storm that’s about to break.