Page 133 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“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.

Chapter 32

Jeremy

An alarm sounds in my ear. Fuck my head hurts.

I wince as I turn my head and open my eyes. The bright lights make it so hard to see.

But the sirens don’t.

What’s going on? Why are there sirens? I remember being in the car with Nova.

Fuck. Nova.

I focus on the body beside me. She’s not responding. Her body’s limp in her seat. I try to move, but my head is screaming in pain.

I can’t recall what happened, other than work distracted me. Now I’m waking up with my girlfriend unconscious beside me.

I try to speak, but my throat hurts.

Fuck!

I jerk in my seat, frustrated that I don't hear my voice and am unable to move. I’m trapped.

A surge of panic courses through me. I’m trapped and so is Nova. I have to help her. This is all my fault.

“Sir, please, stay still; we are getting a stretcher. We need urgent scans to make sure there are no severe internal injuries.”

I want to tell her to focus on Nova and forget about me. That I deserve to die. She doesn’t.

But when I open my mouth, nothing but a rasp of air leaves my throat.

“I’m going to put a neck brace on now.”

I don’t bother responding because I can’t.

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