Merry with a Tycoon (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

PRESTON

The next twenty-four hours are a blur of meetings, phone calls, and endless cups of coffee. I barely sleep, my mind constantly churning with strategies to fix this mess. I wanted so badly to see Crystal but she’s been avoiding my calls. When I drove by her shop yesterday afternoon, it was closed.

At least, I’ll set things straight at the press conference I’ve scheduled at the square. Then I’ll get to see her again. Maybe even get her to smile.

As my car pulls up to Seaside Square, I take a deep breath, straightening my tie. This is it. Time to set the record straight.

“You ready for this, boss?” Javi asks from the driver’s seat.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, stepping out of the car.

I nod, my eyes scanning the crowd gathered in front of the makeshift stage. I see familiar faces, tenants who’ve made Seaside Square what it is today, a reminder of the quaint beach town Love Beach used to be, before big businesses swept through the boardwalk and every corner, our family business included.

Even Teddy is there, chewing on her nails anxiously. She swore up and down she had nothing to do with the leak, assuring me that she’d hand-delivered every letter and apologized in person.

As I gaze at the crowd, my heart skips a beat when I spot a familiar copper-haired figure near the back.

It’s Crystal, wearing a colorful striped cardigan over a white top and jeans. She’s standing by her shop door, the afternoon sun catching the fiery hues of her hair, making it glow like embers against the backdrop of the busy square.

For a fleeting moment, the world around me fades into a blur as my focus centers on her. The space between us feels like miles, and I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms and lose myself in her hazel eyes.

The burst of a camera flash blinds me as reporters surge forward and I’m thrust back to reality. I paste on my best CEO smile and make my way to the podium.

“Good morning,” I begin, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. “Thank you all for coming. I’m here today to address the recent rumors and misconceptions about the Seaside Square Revitalization Project.”

I launch into my prepared speech, emphasizing our commitment to the community and our plans for improvement without displacement. As I speak, I can’t help but glance at Crystal periodically. Her face is unreadable, and it kills me not knowing what she’s thinking.

“I want to make one thing absolutely clear,” I say, my voice firm. “There will be no mass evictions. No one is being forced out of Seaside Square. This project is about growth and improvement, not displacement.”

I can see the tension in some faces start to ease, but others, like Mr. Goldstein from the bookstore, still look skeptical.

“We value the unique character of Seaside Square,” I continue. “It’s not just a collection of shops—it’s a community. A community my father believed in, and one that my family and I believe in, too.”

For the next hour, I field questions from reporters and concerned tenants alike. I explain the miscommunication about the rent increase letter, apologize for the confusion, and outline our plans for involving the community in every step of the revitalization process.

Finally, as the formal part of the press conference winds down, I step away from the podium. My eyes immediately seek out Crystal, and I start making my way towards her through the crowd.

“Crystal,” I call out, my heart racing as I get closer. “Can we talk?”

She turns, her hazel eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. But before she can respond, a commotion near the entrance to the square catches everyone’s attention.

“Mr. Hollister! Is that your mother arriving? And isn’t that Vivian Hult with her?”

My blood runs cold as I turn to see my mother and Vivian stepping out of a sleek black car. Mother is beaming, waving regally at the gathered crowd, while Vivian is looking directly at me, a smile playing on her lips that I know all too well.

“Preston, darling!” Mother calls out, making her way towards me with Vivian in tow. “Wonderful speech. We caught the end of it as we arrived.”

I force a smile, all too aware of the reporters now swarming around us, and of Crystal, still standing just a few feet away. “Mother, Vivian. This is... unexpected.”

“Well, we couldn’t miss such an important day, could we?” Vivian says, sliding her arm through mine with practiced ease. “I’m so proud of you, taking charge like this. There was no way we were going to miss seeing this so your mother and I decided to fly in a day early.”

The flashes are blinding now as photographers capture what I’m sure they think is a touching family moment. But all I can think about is Crystal. I turn, desperately trying to catch her eye, to somehow convey that this isn’t what it looks like.

But she’s gone, the door to her shop closed, its blinds drawn and a Closed sign swinging from inside the glass.

“Mr. Hollister! Is this a sign that you and Ms. Hult have reconciled?” “Mrs. Hollister, what do you think of your son’s plans for Seaside Square?” “Vivian, are you moving to Love Beach to support Preston’s project?”

The questions come rapid-fire, and I find myself swept up in a media frenzy. Mother is in her element, charming the reporters with practiced ease. Vivian plays her part perfectly, the supportive ex-girlfriend who’s still on good terms with the family.

And me? I’m stuck, playing a role I thought I’d left behind. All the while, my eyes scan the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of the woman who saw the real me.

But Crystal is nowhere to be found.

As the impromptu interview session finally winds down, I manage to extricate myself from Vivian’s grip. “I need to speak with some of the tenants,” I mutter, not meeting her gaze.

“Of course, darling,” she purrs, her hand touching my cheek. “We’ll catch up later.”

I make my way through the square, shaking hands with shop owners, answering questions, trying to reassure everyone that their livelihoods are safe. But my mind is elsewhere. Where did Crystal go? What must she be thinking?

Finally, I find myself in front of HarmonyWorks. The ‘Closed’ sign hangs in the window, mocking me. I press my forehead against the cool glass, closing my eyes.

“Everything okay, boss?” Javi’s voice startles me.

I straighten up, running a hand through my hair. “No, Javi. I don’t think it is.”

He follows my gaze to the closed shop. “The crystal lady, huh? She seemed upset when she left.”

“You saw her leave?” I ask, hope flaring in my chest. “Did she say anything?”

Javi shakes his head. “Nah, but her face said plenty. Look, boss, I know it’s not my place, but... maybe you should go after her. Explain things.”

I sigh, looking back at the chaos of the square. Mother and Vivian are still holding court with a group of reporters. The tenants are gathered in small groups, discussing the press conference. I can see Mr. Goldstein gesticulating wildly, clearly not fully convinced by my assurances.

“I can’t, Javi. Not right now. There’s too much at stake here.”

He nods, understanding but clearly disapproving. “Car’s ready whenever you are.”

As I make my way back to the center of the square, my CEO mask firmly back in place, I can’t shake the image of Crystal’s shop, closed and dark. It feels like a metaphor for something, but I’m too tired, too overwhelmed to puzzle it out.

This isn’t how I imagined this day going. True, I’ve somehow handled the mess that was the rent increase being leaked, but I hoped to speak to Crystal and tell her in person. Assure her that everything I said about the project then was real, and not part of damage control.

But as Mother waves me over, Vivian at her side, I realize that’s going to be easier said than done… just like everything else in my life.