Billion Dollar Mistake: An opposites attract billionaire romance: (The Lincolns Book 1)

Chapter 7

“Where are we going?” I ask, tearing my place apart looking for my phone.

“Away,” Summer says, standing at the door watching me.

“That’s not helpful,” I reply, standing up with my hands on my hips and peering around the room.

“Where else have you been today?” she asks. “We don’t have much time; Chelsea will be back soon, and we need to hit the road.”

I want to ask again where we’re going, but it’s pointless because she”s tight-lipped.

I start work on Monday, so I have three days off and my friends have decided to organize a spontaneous trip away. I’ve already packed, but I lost my phone. And for the life of me, I can’t remember where I left it. The last thing I remember was messaging Remy last night and saying goodnight.

We’ve tried to call it, but it’s on silent.

This morning I went to the gym then the florist to pick up some red roses and bring my mom her favorite bouquet. I don’t have a lot of money, but I find enough to buy my mom flowers. Small things can bring you happiness during dark times.

“I went to the gym, and no one handed it in. Went to where I box, nothing was there. Then I went to the florist, same thing. It wasn’t there, and the sales assistant hadn’t seen it. It wasn’t at my parents either.”

“So, you’re tearing the sofa apart, hoping it’s here because?”

The hint of humor in her voice makes me giggle. “I don’t know. I’m losing my mind. I need my phone.” I sigh.

“Do you?” She says with a smirk forming on her face.

I roll my eyes. “I’m going to keep looking in my room until Chelsea’s home.”

Ever since I started texting Jeremy, I look forward to our interactions. I can’t admit that to Summer, but I really need my phone to keep talking to him. I’m not going to fall in love with him. No, I can’t do that. His rich lifestyle is the opposite of mine. I don’t have anything to offer a billionaire. It’s just he’s the first guy to genuinely care about my deep-rooted pain when it comes to my dad. I usually keep it buried. But I feel at ease sharing it with him. He”s going through something similar so it’s a connection I didn’t expect and didn’t know I desperately needed.

At this rate, I’m going to have to accept I won’t have my phone on this trip. I just hope I find it because I can’t afford to buy a new one; it has everything on there. Photos, messages, and most importantly memories.

“Looks like you won’t have a chance to keep looking for your phone,” Summer says, and I peer up to see Chelsea enter the house. I sigh.

“What’s happened?” Chelsea asks, obviously the stress written across my face.

I follow her into the kitchen and see it next to the coffee machine.

My tired brain clearly forgot I made a coffee today.

“There it is.” I scoop it up and wave it in the air.

“Alright then. We’re all set, let”s go,” Summer announces with so much enthusiasm, I wonder if I should make another coffee for the road.

If I thought that was the end of my phone drama, I was wrong. Upon reaching the cabin, the girls organized a hiking expedition. The mountain trail led to the most stunning waterfall. But disaster struck when my sweaty palms dropped my phone, and it landed on a rock and cracked. Now I have an unresponsive screen and because it’s an old phone, it’s not worth repairing.

I spent the rest of the trip without a phone. Despite calling my parents, who wished me a good time, the inability to contact Jeremy weighs heavily on me.

I wish I had memorized his number, but I didn’t. And I can’t help the way that crushes me inside.

During my girls’ weekend, I kept wondering if he texted me at all or wondered where I was. Thankfully, I start my new job today, so I can stop thinking about all the different scenarios for a bit.

I arrive at the office ten minutes earlier than needed because I wanted to get settled before Dalton and Poppy came in. The nerves are choking me, but I try to focus on this great opportunity. I’m working in the career I tried so hard to get. This is a huge company and I have to make a good impression to keep my job longer than the contract.

I’ve still not been able to replace my phone and I can’t ask Dalton to give me Jeremy’s phone number. I don’t have a phone to call him from anyway and I don’t want Summer and Chelsea to share theirs with me. But with my first paycheck, I’ll buy myself a new phone.

“Well, hello hello,” Dalton says. I swivel in my chair to the sound of his voice.

“Already kissing ass,” Poppy mumbles.

“Hey Dalton. Hey Poppy,” I say, my eyes flicking between them.

“You ready to work?” Dalton asks.

My face splits wider at his question. “Born ready.”

“God. So cheesy,” Poppy mutters and walks off toward her desk.

“Oh yeah. I lay it on thick,” I call back with a smile.

Dalton places his hands on the desk, wearing a goofy grin. “She’ll warm up. She’s a hard bitch on the outside, but I promise she is really sweet, and you’ll get along so well.”

I doubt that…

“I’m new, I get it. She had a relationship with the previous girl, right?”

He nods. “Nailed it,” he says, pushing off the desk.

“Let me check emails and then let’s make coffee in the break room and catch up on our weekend before we start talking work. I need some time to wake up on a Monday morning.”

“But what about Bentley? Won’t he want us to start on time?”

“He’s easy going. As long as you get your work done on time, you’re alright.”

That knowledge baffles me.

“How long have you worked here?”

“Five years,” Dalton says.

“Too long.” A grumble sounds from behind Poppy, and it makes me giggle.

Dalton tilts his head to look over in her direction, calling out, “Oh, don’t be like that. You secretly love it and wouldn’t work anywhere else.”

She mumbles, “Whatever.”

He turns with a smirk. “Told you,” he whispers.

“I heard that,” she barks back, and I pinch my lips together holding in a laugh.

“Let me get settled and I’ll come grab you afterwards.”

“Okay,” I say, returning to my computer.

It’s new, but fairly easy to use. I play around and open my email to find a new one from Mr. Spencer.

To Nova,

I hope you’re settling into your desk. HR and your colleagues will answer any questions. I’ll check in with you later.

I have a project you need to get started on, and if you need help Dalton and Poppy will be able to assist you.

I’ve attached everything you could possibly need, but I require a well-contracted pricing agreement. I already have the spec sheet, so you don’t need to worry about that.

This is to impress a hard client.

Bentley Spencer

Spencer Health CEO

I blink rapidly at the words. An empty feeling in the pit of my stomach settles as I’m delivered my first official task. There’s so much new information to consume that I’m afraid to fail. I need to write the perfect pricing contract because I don’t know if Bentley allows employees to make mistakes. I trust my gut and my abilities as an accountant, but the fear of getting fired still consumes me.

Hitting the reply button, I quickly type out.

Good morning, Mr. Spencer,

It’s been a lovely morning, thank you. What information about the client do you think would be useful for me to know about before I get started on this project?

Sincerely,

Miss Lee

I hit send and try to shake my nerves out of my hands and open the attachment on the email. Scanning the contents, I see it’s fairly basic, but I print it out and begin making notes. My head is buried in the papers for ages before a throat clears and I look up into the eyes of Dalton. “You’re going to make us look bad if you finish your work before morning coffee.”

I bite my bottom lip. “It’s an important deal for Mr. Spencer.”

“Call him Bentley. He’s not that serious. He’s a chill guy.”

I don’t remember feeling ‘chill’ with Bentley, but if Dalton says to call him that I guess I can. He’s been here longer than I have.

“Are you ready for a coffee?”

I check the time and I’m surprised I’ve been working for three hours without even realizing I haven’t had my coffee yet.

“I’d love to.”

I stand and we walk off.

“Wait up you two,” Poppy calls out. And knowing she wants to join, warms my heart a little. Maybe I can get her to like me. I don’t think she hates me. She just doesn’t know me. I’m just the person replacing her friend. But I’m going to prove myself. I need this job. It’s important to me and my family. More than they know.