Chapter 5: Chapter 13-14-15
Chapter 13
As February 2023 approached, Michael's now affectionately known as Mike friendship with the Hadid sisters deepened. Gigi and Bella quickly became part of Mike's inner circle, and the banter between them became commonplace, as if they were long-lost siblings.
One sunny day, Mike was invited to a casual get-together at Gigi's house. She was excited to introduce him to her daughter, Khai, and knew Mike would hit it off with the little girl.
"Khai will love you!" Gigi said, beaming as she prepared a snack.
When Mike arrived, he was immediately greeted by Khai, who was playing with her toys.
"Hi, little one!" he said, bending down to introduce himself. "I'm Mike! Do you like toys?"
Khai looked at him curiously, before smiling and holding out her favorite toy, a teddy bear. "That's Teddy!" she exclaimed, holding him tightly.
"That's so cool, Teddy! I have a friend named Teddy too!" Mike replied, playing with the little girl. He made an exaggerated expression, as if Teddy were a superhero. "Together, we can save the world!"
Gigi and Bella, who were watching closely, laughed at the interaction. "He's amazing with kids," Gigi commented, amazed at how easily Mike connected with Khai. "I think you've found your new best friend."
After a few minutes of banter, Mike turned to Gigi. "You never mentioned that Khai is so much fun! I wonder why you didn't bring her along on our adventures sooner."
Khai, always full of energy, pulled Mike to play with her. "Let's play hide-and-seek!" she said excitedly.
"Hide-and-seek? My specialty!" Mike replied, pausing dramatically. "But you have to count to ten before you come looking for me, right?"
As Khai began to count, Gigi and Bella laughed, watching the scene with obvious affection. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy.
After a few rounds of hide-and-seek, Gigi brought out snacks, and as everyone sat down to eat, the Hadid sisters began asking questions about Mike.
"How do you feel about being in LA right now?" Gigi asked as she poured them juices.
"It's great! The people are amazing and I'm having a great time," Mike replied, taking a bite of a sandwich. "And I'm still learning about this new life. It's a good challenge."
Bella, always playful, asked, "And what's the best part so far? Hailey or the adventures with us?"
Mike laughed, raising his hands in defense. "I can't choose! You're both like my sisters now. But I can't deny that the adventures with you guys are pretty memorable."
"That's right!" Gigi exclaimed. "We have to plan more dates. You and Khai could be a great team!"
Khai, still full of energy, jumped up and down with excitement. "Yes, I want to play with Mike more!"
The connection between Mike and the Hadid sisters grew stronger with each encounter. They shared stories, laughed together, and most importantly, created bonds that seemed to last forever. Mike soon felt like part of the family, and this new phase in his life was turning out to be richer than he could have ever imagined.
As the day progressed, they continued to play and talk, and Khai became the center of attention, charming everyone with her smile. For Mike, it was a new experience, and he realized that finding new connections and friendships was becoming an essential part of his life in Los Angeles.
Chapter 14
As February progressed, the media began to investigate more about Michael, or rather Mike. One day, a tabloid published an explosive story with leaked photos of him alongside several politicians, heads of state and presidents during his missions in the Middle East. The images portrayed important and historic moments, revealing a side of Mike that few knew.
The photos showed Mike posing alongside world leaders, including meetings with influential figures at international summits and security conferences. One of the most striking images showed Mike at an event alongside President Obama, all smiles, clearly in a relaxed atmosphere. Another photo captured a tense moment at a meeting with high-ranking officials, where Mike displayed his usual serious and focused look.
Social media was quickly flooded with reactions. "Who is this man who has met all these powerful people?" and "The face of someone who has faced life or death situations!" were just some of the messages that appeared.
The hashtag #MichaelTheLegend began to circulate, accompanied by praise and speculation about Mike's military past.
The media quickly picked up on the thread. Gossip and entertainment sites began to do their own digging, trying to find out more about Mike's life.
"Is he a retired Navy SEAL? What secrets does he keep?" were some of the questions that arose.
Justin and Hailey, upon seeing the backlash, couldn't help but comment.
"This is insane," Justin said, shaking his head. "I never thought he was this famous."
Hailey, with a nervous smile, said, "It seems like fame comes with the territory. But do you think he's ready for it?"
"He seems to be handling it well," Justin replied. "But maybe we should talk to him and see how he feels about all this."
The next day, they met with Mike for coffee. When he walked in, Mike was already aware of the leaked photos.
"So, it seems like my past is coming to light," he said, with a half smile but a serious look in his eyes.
"Are you okay with that?" Hailey asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I guess. It's just a part of my life that I never expected to be exposed," Mike replied, shrugging. "I did my job and met important people, but I didn't seek out this attention."
"You know people are going to start speculating more about you, right?" Justin added. "And that can be both good and bad."
"I know. But what matters is who I am now, right?" Mike said, his confidence starting to shine through. "I'm not on the battlefield anymore. I'm here to live my life and be a part of the family."
Hailey smiled, relieved by Mike's positive outlook. "You have our support. If you need anything, just let us know."
As the weeks passed, the media attention only increased. Mike began to adjust to the stares and comments, and while some aspects of fame were uncomfortable, he also discovered that the new connections and opportunities could bring good things.
Over time, his new life in Los Angeles became more vibrant, full of challenges and joys. Mike was learning to adapt and embrace new experiences, surrounded by supportive friends. And while his past continued to resonate, the future seemed bright and full of possibilities.
Chapter 15
On a lively February evening, Michael, Gigi, Bella, Justin, and Hailey decided to go out for dinner at one of the hottest restaurants in Los Angeles. The mood was light and fun, and everyone was eager to enjoy each other's company.
As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, they were greeted with curious glances and whispers, as Mike's presence was drawing attention.
"You're a celebrity now!" Bella joked, winking at him as they settled into their table.
"Don't call me a celebrity, please," Mike laughed, shaking his head. "I'm just Hailey's cousin."
"But a really cool cousin," Gigi added, patting him on the shoulder. "We're glad you're here with us."
During dinner, the laughter and stories flowed easily. Mike shared some of his experiences from life in the military, and although there was a serious tone, he knew how to keep it light and fun.
"And here I am, trying to defuse a bomb on a mission, and one of my friends yells, 'Mike, if you don't do this quick, you're going to be late for dinner!'" He paused dramatically, and everyone laughed.
As they enjoyed their meal, the Hadid sisters asked Mike a series of questions about his life, his career, and what he hoped for in the future in LA. "What do you want to do now that you're here?" Gigi asked.
"I want to enjoy every moment," Mike replied, looking around the table. "And of course, make new friends and live life differently."
At that moment, camera flashes began to pop up outside the restaurant. Paparazzi noticed the group and quickly began snapping pictures, while the media was buzzing about Mike's recent leaked photos.
When the photos began circulating on social media, the reaction was immediate. The hashtag #HadidAndMike began trending, and fans began commenting on their dynamic.
"They look so much fun together!" and "I love how Mike gets along with the Hadid family!" were just a few of the compliments that popped up.
The next day, the tabloids wasted no time. "The Navy SEAL and the Hadid Sisters: A New Alliance!" read one headline. Another gushed: "Hailey Bieber's cousin Michael Baldwin is not only winning the media, but also our hearts!"
Meanwhile, back home, Hailey and Justin were watching the news on TV. "Look at this, they're really making a big deal out of it," Hailey commented, laughing as she saw the photos of Mike with the Hadid sisters.
"It's funny how people get hung up on these things," Justin replied. "But honestly, did you see how much fun he had? That's what matters."
"Exactly," Hailey said with a satisfied smile. "He deserves to be happy and have fun, and so do we. I hope he doesn't get caught up in the negative side of it all."
The dinner was a success, and it further cemented the bond between Mike and the family. As media attention grew, he was determined to stay true to himself and those who supported him. The future looked bright, full of new adventures and friendships that could last a lifetime.
New stories in my Patreon
This story is already complete there
[email protected]/SHADOWGHOST07
Just replace the @ with an a