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

Chapter 14

He offered me an accounting position at his work, but I could never take it. I couldn”t work for someone I had feelings for or that I’m attracted to. It”d be a conflict of interest. Whether he feels that or not, I couldn”t accept his offer.

Would it be better to work for his company than Bentley”s? Of course, but working for him is not an option. I need to focus on being here. Not worry about another job opportunity.

Since I started, Bentley has been better. He’s much more professional. His eyes stay on my face and there’s no flirty behavior.

As I stand there, I look at my wardrobe, wondering what the heck I”m going to wear to this work celebratory yacht party.

Like seriously, who the hell throws these types of things?

Bentley Spencer does.

His description of attire was casual. I can’t dress casually at a work event. Even though the way Mr. Spencer describes it is less work and more play.

I get confused by Mr. Spencer. My dad always taught me, bosses are not lenient and carefree ever, and they often have very strict rules. Plus, I like structure. It makes sense to me. His way comes with added stress.

Even though Dalton and Poppy both insist I go casual, and that Mr Spencer is serious when he says it’s a celebration.

Dalton is wearing black skinny jeans and a white shirt and sneakers, of course. Poppy said she”s wearing a flowy dress and some wedges. She still barely looks in my direction or says more than a few sentences, but it’s more than what I got when we first met.

My eyes run across every single item hanging in my closet and then I prowl through drawers of clothes. Nothing. I”m not happy with anything in my wardrobe. I typically don”t wear dresses. You’re more likely to find me in jeans and a top. Or shorts and a top.

But now I”m second-guessing myself.

As I take the stairs, I’m hit with a rich buttery smell. Eggs and bacon. I inhale deeply as I hit the final step and enter the kitchen.

“Good morning,” Summer says.

“Morning,” I say, twisting my hands together. “Can I ask a favor?” I add.

She turns her head from the stove. She’s still stirring briefly to look at me. “Yeah, what”s up?” she says.

I walk closer and she turns to stir the eggs once more before switching off the burner.

“You know how I have the yacht party for the celebratory drinks for Mr. Spencer selling 200 million dollars worth of product?” I explain.

“Yeah. What about it?”

“I don”t have anything to wear and since you’re the most fashionable and fun friend I have…Will you help?”

Summer rolls her eyes. “Stop trying to kiss my ass.”

My brows rise and a grin stretches across my mouth. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, I’ll help your lost cause.”

She brings the pan to the plate and looks at me, lifting it higher as if to offer me some. I shrug. “Please.”

She grabs another plate and then serves me some as she answers, “Don’t stress. I’ll help you find something to wear, but let’s eat first.”

“You’re the best. I knew you were the right one to ask.”

I turn to get some forks out for us but pause to ask, “Where’s Chelsea?”

“She stayed at the douchebag”s house,” Summer spits.

We sit down across from each other with our plates of food.

I get her hesitation, so I can’t blame her for the attitude. “Ah, right. Well, I hope for her sake, he’s treating her better.”

Summer looks at me like I”ve got rocks in my head. “People don’t change. And definitely not him. He needs a new personality,” she mutters.

I can’t help but agree with her.

“So anyway, what are you going to do with your hair and makeup?” She shifts the subject back to the party.

“My usual,” I say, already having that part figured out.

“Nice. But wear your red lipstick.”

I smile. I love the red lips too. And the fact people think it’s a me thing makes me happy.

My mind suddenly goes to Jeremy. He bought me a brand new one, in the exact shade I like. Now, I can’t help but think of the way his fingers grazed my hands every single morning when I put it on.

Summer narrows her gaze at me. “Something’s up with you.”

“Nothing’s up with me.”

“Chelsea can lie about being happy in that relationship all she wants, but you… You can’t lie straight to my face.”

I sigh. It would be amazing to finally share something about Jeremy with my best friend.

“Last week, I ended up stuck in an elevator for two hours with one of our richest clients. That’s usually not a big deal, but in this case, it was. Because we had been flirting through text for days before that,” I blurt.

Her fork hits the plate with a bang, and I wince at the sound.

“Sorry. What? Who?”

“Jeremy.” I’m unable to help the smile that forms on my face, remembering the electricity we had.

She makes a tut sound. “I can’t believe you kept this from me. Now, you’re not leaving until you tell me every single detail.”

I laugh and explain, “I freaked out in the elevator, so he held me and calmed me down.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “What happened after you were out?”

“We had dinner together.”

I return to eating before it goes cold.

“Did you kiss him?” She wiggles her brows.

“No.”

“Did you want to?”

I’m chewing eggs, so I nod. “Mmhmm.”

Her shoulders shake as she laughs.

I swallow. “Stop laughing at me.”

There”s this weird attraction I have to him, but even with our few commonalities, our lives are too different.

“Sorry. Tell me more.”

“He found out I lost my phone and broke my lipstick, so he bought me new ones.”

Her mouth opens and closes before she murmurs, “He’s generous.”

I look down at my food.

“You’re not happy?” she says.

I can’t deny it, my silence and disapproving look gave it away.

“I’m trying to be, but I can’t help feeling slightly offended.”

“What did he say when he gave it to you?”

I frown, wondering why that matters.

“That he wanted to talk to me.”

She quirks a brow at me. “He seems caring. It’s better than dating someone like Bobby.”

The mention of Chelsea’s boyfriend makes my skin crawl. He doesn’t buy her anything. Ever. Not even a card or gift for her birthday, their anniversary, or Christmas.

“True…”

“Do you think he’s buying you all this stuff just to sleep with you?” She winks.

My teeth scrape my bottom lip as I ponder. “I don’t know.”

“Does it matter? You could just have some fun.” She wiggles her brows.

I laugh at her insinuation. “I could use some fun.”

“That’s my girl.”

I shake my head. “I need to be cautious, but it’s a nice distraction.”

“So he’ll be there tonight?”

“Yeah.” I bite the corner of my lip.

She smirks. “Then you better wear something hot.”

We finish eating, clean up, and head into her room.

I’m suddenly feeling lighter having told someone about Jeremy.

After a shower, I walk out and find her opening her wardrobe and pulling out a couple of dresses. As she is about to grab more, I wave my hands out in front. “Stop. stop. stop. This is plenty,” I say.

“We can never have too many options.”

“Can we just start with what we have here? I just don”t want to get overwhelmed and I”m on a time crunch. I”ve got to be on the yacht by six.”

“Of course. Let”s just start with this one. I feel like your red lip, dark hair, hazel eyes and the green and white summery dress will look beautiful together.”

My mind immediately drifts to Jeremy. He”s going to be there, and I’m hit with a sudden adrenaline rush. I smooth down my top, ready to find the perfect outfit. A mix of sophistication yet sexy. I picture the way his eyes will linger on my lips and then drop over my body. I already know if he kissed me tonight, I would kiss him back. I’m so attracted to him and I’m ready to live a little.

It dawns on me that he”s not going to be wearing a suit. And then I wonder what he is going to be wearing.

Getting to see him in casual clothes excites me.

He excites me.

“Yep, let me try this on,” I say, heading to my room to quickly change.

Once the dress is on, I look at myself in the mirror and smile. I run my hands over my hips, loving how soft the fabric is.

Summer comes beside me. “It looks amazing on you,” she says with a pause. “Even better than it looks on me. Which is so not fair,” she adds with humor.

I giggle, which then turns into a sigh. “Nothing looks better on me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, shut up. You really don”t know how gorgeous you are. Jeremy won’t know what to do with himself when he sees you,” she says with excitement.

“I feel like I want to vomit.” I start, before she spins me around to fix my hair on our way to the bathroom.

“I get it, I do Nova, but it doesn”t mean you can”t live. After everything you”ve been through this year, you deserve to have a good time, give yourself permission, just this once.”

I douse myself in my rose-scented perfume and carefully add my red lip.

“You are going to a party on a big yacht, with a guy you happen to be attracted to. Please, don’t fuck this up. I”m so excited.”

“Glad you are. I’m shitting myself,” I say, taking a seat on my bed. “He’s rich and can have anyone he wants. I don”t get why a man like him would want me. I have nothing to offer,” I say.

She sits down beside me, running her hands up my arms. “Nova, I will not let you talk about yourself this way. Just because a guy has money doesn’t mean he’s better than you.”

“I know but—”

She shakes her head. “No buts. You’re one of the kindest, most generous people I”ve ever met. I can see exactly why he would fall for someone like you.”

“No one said anything about falling.”

“Yes, but a crush can turn,” she adds.

“I know but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

We hug and she whispers in my ear, “Well, you’re all ready to go. So there’s only one way to find out. Nova, please go have some fun. Go celebrate and maybe get to know your colleagues a bit better.”

“One of them hates me. I”m sure of it.”

“Well, then tonight let them get to know you the way we know you. Show them how fun Nova can be.”

I smile. “Thanks, Summer. I really needed this chat. But please, don”t say anything to Chelsea. I don”t want to discuss him with anyone unless it is something, you know…I don”t want to get my hopes up. I think that”s what I”m trying to say.”

“I totally get it. You can tell her whenever you”re ready. It”s your business. But please keep me updated. This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me all week.”

“I better get going,” I say, checking the time. I want to call my parents on the way to check in and maybe I”ll go see them tomorrow night.

“I”ll be home late tonight so don”t wait up for me.”

“Maybe you”re going to have such a good time that you won’t come home at all,” she says, wiggling her brows at me.