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

Chapter 31

A few days later, I’m typing out a report that should”ve taken me half an hour to complete, yet I’ve been at it for two hours and I’m still going. The numbers aren’t flowing, and it makes me second-guess everything I’m writing. I’ve rewritten and triple-checked everything and I’m still not happy. I’m blaming this uneasiness on my lack of sleep last night. I kept waking up to check my phone to see if Jeremy called. Every single time I found nothing.

I get up and make a coffee in the break room and return to my desk.

“Mr. Spencer,” I say when I walk back to my desk to find him perched on it with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Nova, the report was due an hour ago. I see you haven’t finished.”

His eyes drop over to the computer. He read it while I wasn’t here.

“I’m sorry. I’m making sure it’s perfect,” I admit.

“I don’t need it to be perfect. I need it done.”

His angry tone has panic filling me. I can’t lose this job.

“I’ll have it for you in the next hour.”

“Not a second longer. I hate having grumpy clients.”

I nod.

He exits the room and I exhale heavily, taking a sip of my coffee and sitting down.

“Is everything okay, Nova?” Dalton asks.

“I’m struggling to finish this report. Any chance you can help?”

He grimaces. “I can”t. I have a meeting to get to.”

“That’s okay. I need to learn.”

“I can help,” Poppy”s voice calls out.

My eyes widen at the fact she’s willing to help me. Now this is progress.

“Yes. I’d love some help,” I reply desperately.

Her heels click and I know she’s making her way over. I get up and grab her a chair. She stands close and I take her in. Her hair is pulled into a sleek pony and her black suit fits her so well. She is every bit sophisticated. To have her help me means more to me than she will ever know. She takes a seat in the chair and moves closer to the computer screen. I’m about to explain what I need help with when Dalton speaks.

“Look at you two being besties.” Dalton winks.

“Go away,” Poppy says, not bothering to turn to look at him.

“I’ll see you two when I get back.” He walks off.

“Bye,” I call and then explain to Poppy what I’ve done and where I’m stuck. She reads through everything, then sits back in the chair and shifts to face me. “This is really good. Very thorough. Way more than you need?”

“Should I delete some?” I ask.

“No, I think to shut Bentley up, send it as is,” Poppy says as she stands.

“Thanks for helping,” I say.

She nods and walks back to her desk. “You”re good, Nova. Get out of your head.”

I pinch my lips together. She has no idea how much I’ve been in my head today and it isn’t about work. No, my head is filled with thoughts of Jeremy.

A few hours later, I’m sitting outside on a chair in the crisp New York air. No one is up here. Workers tend to go to the break room or walk to a local bakery and eat lunch. I’ve come here to be alone and make a phone call.

“Hello Mom,” I say as soon as she answers.

“Hi, love. Are you on your lunch break?”

“Yeah, I called as soon as I could.”

She sent a message to call her when I got the chance. I needed to finish and email the documents to Bentley in order to keep my job.

“No rush. I just had a question.”

My brows pull together. “Yeahhh.” I draw out.

“Did you pay our mortgage?”

“No, I transferred you the money you need for the week. Did you get it?” I ask, with a sudden rush of panic. I’m about to hang up and check my banking app.

“Yes, we got the money, but when we tried to pay, we had issues. I called the bank who informed us that the mortgage had been paid in full.”

“No...” I grip the phone tighter. What’s going on?

“Yeah. I’m wondering if you had anything to do with it?”

It wasn’t me, but I suddenly knew who did.

“Maybe, let me call you back. I need to check something.”

I hang up and see a message from Summer.

Summer: Did you pay a year’s worth of rent today?

Nova: No, but I think I know who did.

Summer: I need a sugar daddy.

I grimace. I hate that she thinks of Jeremy like that because it hasn’t been like that. But I need to find out if he did pay off my parents’ mortgage and our rent.

I dial his number. His deep voice answers. “Hey, baby.”

His nickname for me makes my muscles weak but only momentarily. “Hi.”

“I’m still really sorry. The Boston Emergency has been a nightmare.”

I take this as another chance to be honest.

“You should’ve called.”

“I fucked up, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry. It will never happen again, I promise.”

The genuineness in his voice makes it hurt less, but I can’t give in. I need to wrap up this phone call.

“Did you pay my parents’ mortgage?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Yes.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “And my rent for a year?”

“Yeah, that too.”

I’m stunned silent for a beat before I open my eyes and sit up. “Why?”

“Why not,” he argues.

“Jeremy.”

“Nova,” he mimics.

I sigh. “Why?”

“Because I can. It’s nothing to me. But it”s everything to you.”

“I was doing it.”

“You were, baby, but you weren’t living your life. I want you to spend your money on you. You work hard.”

“I do.”

“Now you can spend the money on whatever you want. Investments, savings, a house, a new car.”

“It’s too much,” I breathe, squeezing my eyes shut.

“For you, it’s never enough. I want to give you the world.”

I stare out at the courtyard flowers. “I don’t need the world.”

“I need you.”

I hang my head as my eyes prick with fresh tears.

“I have to go,” I say and hang up.

Later that night, it’s five thirty and I’m curled up on the sofa in sweats under a throw blanket watching Million Dollar Baby.

Summer isn’t home from college yet and Chelsea is at work.

I’m alone feeling sad and sorry for myself.

A knock on my door sounds and I throw off my cozy cream blanket and walk to the door.

I suck in a sharp audible breath. It’s Jeremy. He’s here. I take in his appearance as if I haven’t seen him recently. My gaze starts at his brown styled hair and travels down over his navy suit that accentuates his broad shoulders and black dress shoes that complete the look.

The sight of him sends my stomach into a frenzied somersault, excitement bubbling within me at seeing him again.

In his hands, he holds a big bouquet of red roses. I run my hand over my sweater, making sure it’s clean and that it didn’t have any chocolate stains on it.

“Hi,” he says.

I frown and look over his shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“I was thinking we could have dinner tonight. I could make it up to you,” he offers.

“So you can bail on me again?”

He winces. “I deserve that.”

I accept the red roses and turn, leaving the door ajar so he can close it behind him. “Was there a shortage?” I tease, throwing away the week-old red roses and arranging the fresh ones in the vase. I had meant to get new ones for both my mom and me, but I hadn’t been in the mood to do it.

“As a matter of fact, there was. I wanted a big bouquet and most had sold out,” he explains, and I find myself biting my lip in response.

“Are you laughing at me?” he asks, walking over to close the distance between us.

“Never,” I reply, turning to place the vase on the counter, attempting to put some distance between us.

“I should’ve put you first. I’m not asking you to forgive me.”

“Then what’s the point?” I question, my tone guarded.

“I want another chance. I want to show you that I can be the partner you deserve. I’m serious about making things right.”

When I asked for space, it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. Yet. here he stands, with those pleading puppy dog eyes, and it tugs at something inside me. I want actions not words. And he’s here.

He deserves a chance.

“Fine, but let me get ready.”

“You look beautiful.”

I roll my eyes. “Sit on the sofa. The remote’s there. I won’t be long.”

I’m showered, dressed and back downstairs in half an hour.

I’m about to open the door when he stands in front of me. He takes my hand in his. I drop my head and look at how well we fit together.

I feel the weight on my shoulders drop as I tip my head up. He leans forward, brushing his nose with mine. God, I’ve missed him. I’ve missed him so damn much. My hand immediately grabs the lapel of his suit to bring him closer to me. His aftershave is so strong and his presence stronger. He tips his head, so his mouth crushes on mine. He’s freshly shaved, and I can’t help the whimper that leaves my mouth the moment his tongue glides inside my mouth.

“Let’s go, baby. I’ll kiss you so much later, your lips will be bruised with my apologies tonight.”

His hand settles on my lower back and guides me to the car. The simple touch ignites my body.

He opens the passenger door. I put my seat belt on, and he opens his driver door and takes his seat.

“You’re driving today.”

“I am. Is that a problem?”

“No, the opposite. It means your hands are busy but mine aren’t.”

His head whips to me in a flash. Surprise stretches across it before his dark gaze sends a shiver down my spine.

“Yes,” I say with pure excitement running through my veins.

My hand glides over to his thigh resting on it as he starts the car.

“Where are we going?”

“A surprise.” A guttural growl leaves his chest when my hand moves up his thigh.

I bite on my lip, loving how I have power over him right now. It’s not often I have it, so whenever I can get it, I take full advantage.

The sun is setting, and he drives us through the city. The radio plays softly in the background. And this simple drive fills me with so much love.

His phone beeps. My back muscles tense. Work. I expect him to grab it. So I bring my hand back to my lap. I have my favorite red lipstick brAVE and my rose scented perfume on.

He punches the hang up button furiously.

“Is everything okay?”

“No, the progress I made with the Boston hospital is falling apart. But I told them not to disturb me.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a building delay because they can’t get building materials. Pushing the project out six months.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I offer. Maybe I can type while he drives.

“No, I”ll ignore it, and when we stop, I’ll switch it off.”

“Do you want me to drive so you can answer it?” I offer, seeing his pinched expression.

“No. I’ve got it. They’re not important.”

I love that he”s trying hard to make this right. I at least want to meet him halfway. I don’t expect him to never work with me around. I understand. Work is important to me too. It was more important than anything, except my family. I never wanted love or a partner. I was all about work. I needed the money. But now that I’m with Jeremy, he’s more important. And that’s how I want him to make me feel.

We’re at a set of traffic lights waiting for them to turn green. We’ve been driving for fifteen minutes, and I have no idea how much longer we have until we reach our destination.

His phone buzzes again, and he opens the message. “Fuck off!” He slams his fist on the steering wheel. It makes me jump in my seat.

As the lights change colors, he doesn’t see the car that’s running a red light. He hits the accelerator and I scream as headlights come at me.

And everything goes black.