Page 28 of Billion Dollar Mistake

The usual flirty banter that we used to share feels like a distant memory, replaced by an unspoken weight that hangs in the air.

“Where did you go, Nova?” I ask, my voice steady but laced with threaded concern.

Her eyes widen slightly, and she bites her lip shyly before meeting my gaze.

“Nova. You could’ve said something. This makes things—” I start, but she cuts me off as her hand lands on my chest.

“I’m so sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you,” she rushes out, her desperate plea for understanding.

Her response has me breathing easier, but I’m still confused about her whereabouts. I know I shouldn’t care. But fuck. I do.

“Then what happened?” I demand, searching for answers that seem to have slipped through the cracks of her hesitation.

A touch of pink touches her cheeks, but there’s sadness in her eyes that doesn’t match the playful banter we once shared.

“I dropped my phone,” she confesses, and the gravity of her words pull me in.

“You smashed the screen?” I ask, inching closer.

She shakes her head slowly. “Not just the screen. But it’s an old phone so it’s not worth fixing.”

“Did you buy a new one?”

Her hand reaches around to grab the back of her neck, rubbing it.

“I can’t a—”

“There you are.” Bentley’s voice booms.

I close my eyes and take in a deep breath at his timing.

He’s interrupting us. I needed to know that she was about to confirm what I suspected, which is that she can’t afford one.

“Sorry, Mr. Spencer. I bumped into Mr. Lincoln, and we got talking,” she says sheepishly.

“My fault. I held her up,” I add.

I don’t want her to lose her job on my account.

Bentley waves. “Come on, let’s go to my office.”

He ambles off. Nova dips her head and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she passes me. She follows behind Bentley, clutching the papers and her bag tightly.

I can’t help but twist my head and watch her.

I pull out my phone and text my driver, requesting a new lipstick and phone.

My driver texts back, a lipstick, sir? Are you sure?

I type back, Absolutely. Make sure it’s the color BRAVE.

I send him an image I find online.

After I hit send, I stride toward the office. Inside, I see Bentley sitting down behind his desk. Across from him, Nova sits tensely, waiting for me to take my seat beside her.

I drag the chair out to accommodate my long legs. Sneaking a glance at Nova, I see she’s focused on Bentley and refusing to look my way. I like the professionalism she exudes. She clearly wants to impress Bentley. I grind down on my molars. Deep down, I wish it was for me. Leaning to the side of the chair, I position my body toward both of them.

“Have you amended the spec sheet?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level, knowing she had to fix the mess. I don’t want her to think I’m blaming her.

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