Page 23 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“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.

Chapter 8

Jeremy

I’ve been texting Nova for the last three days, but I’ve had no response.

Has she ghosted me?

She could’ve told me to back off. But I didn’t get that feeling from her. She seemed interested in our conversation. To have her disappear and be unresponsive leaves me a little rattled. If she wasn’t anyone of importance, I would’ve forgotten about her and focused on my work. Work is usually the one consuming me, not a woman.

Nova’s interesting, and there’s a lightness in my chest when we talk. We have so many common interests.

But since she hasn’t responded, I haven’t been able to concentrate on a single project. Even hearing Blue Morgan on the damn radio this morning on my drive into work reminds me of her and the time we texted while we discussed our love of Million Dollar Baby.

“When will the final pricing contract be ready?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“We’re almost done,” he replies easily. I can imagine him reclining back in his chair all casual.

“What’s almost done?” I rebut, annoyed.

“How about you come in tomorrow for a meeting to go over it. I’m sure it will be done.” He tries to sound convincing, but I’m not.

“What time tomorrow?” I ask as I open the calendar on my laptop. Casting my eyes over the day.

I could do it at 7a.m., but it sounds like they’ll need the day to organize the paperwork.

“How about 5?”

“P.M.?”

I could move the meeting with the local hospital. It just means I’ll need to eat when I get home.

“Yeah. I’ll have dr—water or coffee.”

I’m grateful he remembered I prefer not to drink alcohol during work meetings.

“Water.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be in your office at 5p.m. sharp, don’t be late, Mr. Spencer.” Turning in my chair, I’m ready to hang up after moving meetings for him.

“I won’t,” he says.

I want to sign the contract to buy his micro instruments. I need the details of the instrument and the prices on paper. It will take some time for them to be manufactured and then delivered to each hospital. So I want to secure this contract and get the production started asap.

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