Page 21 of Billion Dollar Mistake

This morning I went to the gym then the florist to pick up some red roses and bring my mom her favorite bouquet. I don’t have a lot of money, but I find enough to buy my mom flowers. Small things can bring you happiness during dark times.

“I went to the gym, and no one handed it in. Went to where I box, nothing was there. Then I went to the florist, same thing. It wasn’t there, and the sales assistant hadn’t seen it. It wasn’t at my parents either.”

“So, you’re tearing the sofa apart, hoping it’s here because?”

The hint of humor in her voice makes me giggle. “I don’t know. I’m losing my mind. I need my phone.” I sigh.

“Do you?” She says with a smirk forming on her face.

I roll my eyes. “I’m going to keep looking in my room until Chelsea’s home.”

Ever since I started texting Jeremy, I look forward to our interactions. I can’t admit that to Summer, but I really need my phone to keep talking to him. I’m not going to fall in love with him. No, I can’t do that. His rich lifestyle is the opposite of mine. I don’t have anything to offer a billionaire. It’s just he’s the first guy to genuinely care about my deep-rooted pain when it comes to my dad. I usually keep it buried. But I feel at ease sharing it with him. He's going through something similar so it’s a connection I didn’t expect and didn’t know I desperately needed.

At this rate, I’m going to have to accept I won’t have my phone on this trip. I just hope I find it because I can’t afford to buy a new one; it has everything on there. Photos, messages, and most importantly memories.

“Looks like you won’t have a chance to keep looking for your phone,” Summer says, and I peer up to see Chelsea enter the house. I sigh.

“What’s happened?” Chelsea asks, obviously the stress written across my face.

I follow her into the kitchen and see it next to the coffee machine.

My tired brain clearly forgot I made a coffee today.

“There it is.” I scoop it up and wave it in the air.

“Alright then. We’re all set, let's go,” Summer announces with so much enthusiasm, I wonder if I should make another coffee for the road.

If I thought that was the end of my phone drama, I was wrong. Upon reaching the cabin, the girls organized a hiking expedition. The mountain trail led to the most stunning waterfall. But disaster struck when my sweaty palms dropped my phone, and it landed on a rock and cracked. Now I have an unresponsive screen and because it’s an old phone, it’s not worth repairing.

I spent the rest of the trip without a phone. Despite calling my parents, who wished me a good time, the inability to contact Jeremy weighs heavily on me.

I wish I had memorized his number, but I didn’t. And I can’t help the way that crushes me inside.

During my girls’ weekend, I kept wondering if he texted me at all or wondered where I was. Thankfully, I start my new job today, so I can stop thinking about all the different scenarios for a bit.

I arrive at the office ten minutes earlier than needed because I wanted to get settled before Dalton and Poppy came in. The nerves are choking me, but I try to focus on this great opportunity. I’m working in the career I tried so hard to get. This is a huge company and I have to make a good impression to keep my job longer than the contract.

I’ve still not been able to replace my phone and I can’t ask Dalton to give me Jeremy’s phone number. I don’t have a phone to call him from anyway and I don’t want Summer and Chelsea to share theirs with me. But with my first paycheck, I’ll buy myself a new phone.

“Well, hello hello,” Dalton says. I swivel in my chair to the sound of his voice.

“Already kissing ass,” Poppy mumbles.

“Hey Dalton. Hey Poppy,” I say, my eyes flicking between them.

“You ready to work?” Dalton asks.

My face splits wider at his question. “Born ready.”

“God. So cheesy,” Poppy mutters and walks off toward her desk.

“Oh yeah. I lay it on thick,” I call back with a smile.

Dalton places his hands on the desk, wearing a goofy grin. “She’ll warm up. She’s a hard bitch on the outside, but I promise she is really sweet, and you’ll get along so well.”

I doubt that…

“I’m new, I get it. She had a relationship with the previous girl, right?”

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