Call You Mine (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #4) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,55
along toward the steel and glass building. I’m wondering if we’re picking up Henry or Sophia. They come twice a week to check up on their corporation.
“We’re picking up a new toy for you,” he states as the doors slide open to the interior of the new and impressive building. The high ceilings, white and gray marble, and black and white decor throughout the floor are astonishing.
My heart pounds. It’s fear.
What can he possibly give me that he’s picking up at the corporate offices of Merkel Hotels & Spas?
Beacon’s favorite sport is to embarrass people. Practical joking is a real activity in his dictionary.
Pranking is one of his guilty pleasures.
He teases me but never pranks me. I’ve never been on the receiving end of his practical jokes. I don’t think I’m exempt from them either. There’s no written law stating that he’s not allowed to pull any of his antics on me.
It’s his nature.
“Toy?” I sound too scared.
Oh God, what did he do?
I can see him buying a huge dildo, an inflatable man, or the Fifty Shades of Sex beginner set. The one Seth shared with us last week. The same day he found out about my list. Everyone who belongs to our group chat knows about this dating exercise. Since Beacon is in exile, they’ve been cracking a lot of jokes.
My two brothers and the guys know that I’m heading to Baker’s Creek to…well, I said learn how to date. It doesn’t look like that’s the case anymore. We’re really dating, aren’t we?
I look at Beacon, wondering if we should discuss what’s happening. I stop overthinking when I notice his grin. He looks so happy, I smile. This is how I like to see him—relaxed. From the outside, he looks chill. Everyone thinks he gives no fucks about anything, but it’s obvious they don’t know him at all. He’s the most caring guy in the world. He’s always watching over everyone.
Beacon’s mission is to protect those around him. He never lets his guard down. Unfortunately, he’s also cynical. He has a hard time trusting those who have hurt him. My mission is to see him like this: happy, calm, and trouble-free.
This might be the result of not working for Dad. Is it his primary duty that keeps him stressed all the time? I need to figure out what he does on the side.
“Mr. Aldridge,” the receptionist greets him. “We have your package in the security room, as your brother requested.”
“Thank you, Monica,” he says, saluting her.
Though I stayed at some of the Merkel hotels worldwide, I’ve never been to their headquarters. I know they have a great security team in each location because Beacon makes sure he has access to them when either one of us is on tour. That’s the problem with traveling with a world-renowned celebrity. We have to make sure his groupies can’t get to him.
“There’s a security room here?”
“It’s actually more than just a room. You can monitor every hotel in the world from here,” he explains.
“How do you know? Have you told any of them about The Organization?”
He shakes his head and sighs. He tried to convince Vance to join us, not that he told him he’s part of The Organization. He said he’s okay without working for now.
“Vance is in charge of their security,” he explains. “He convinced Henry to centralize everything here.”
“He did?” I ask when I see his grin expand.
“Sure. I just gave him the information about a buddy who has the best equipment. This friend happened to consult with him and gave him some suggestions.”
“Indirectly, you sold him the equipment and set it the way you wanted.”
He nods and smirks like a child who played his big brothers.
“Yep. We actually convinced Henry to replace all his equipment around the world.” He gives me a mischievous look. “The Organization has access to everything. In theory, we just expanded our reach around the world. My brothers just don’t know it.”
“Not even Vance?”
He shakes his head. “They still think I’m just a stupid musician. I want it to stay that way.”
When we get to the room, he tilts his head toward the handle. “Try it.”
“It requires a code and fingerprint recognition.”
“Just do it,” he insists.
I humor him. The reader lights up after scanning my thumbprint. I enter my access code, and the locks open. I wiggle the handle and push the door wide open.
“How?”
“We set it so most of the agents in The Organization can use it,” he states.