Page 22 of A Baby For Her Billionaire BFF

She departs with a wink, leaving me with my thoughts and the new environment that’s still making my head spin.

“Eighty hours,” I whisper to myself as I take a seat behind my new desk.

Oliver has always been driven, but when we were in college, he at least had an end in sight. He talked about a day when he would finally be able to work less when he had achieved a certain amount of success that would allow him to kick back.

But this? Eighty hours a week? It’s insane.

I sink into my chair, feeling the soft leather embrace me. Did his success really demand such sacrifice?

I recall late-night conversations under a sky full of stars, our dreams spilling out as easily as the laughter that accompanied them. He wanted it all, but not like this — not at the cost of his soul.

“Maybe that’s why he stopped returning my calls,” I muse aloud, tracing the edge of a contract with my fingertip.

I force myself to focus on the task at hand, going over the contracts that are already on the desk waiting for me. Legal jargon leaps out at me, demanding attention, but my mind is elsewhere, sifting through memories tinged with loss and longing.

As I annotate a particularly dense clause, I realize something: perhaps it’s not too late. Maybe beneath the layers of contracts and closings, the Oliver I knew still exists.

But even if he does, it’s not my responsibility to encourage him to come forth. Oliver made his choices in life, just like we all did. I can’t change him.

Even if I miss him more than I care to admit.

CHAPTER 11

OLIVER

The clack of keyboards is like a metronome in my office, the sound somehow comforting and familiar. It’s late, but the glow of my screen doesn’t bother me. I’ve always been at home in the hum of business, the steady beat of progress.

But now there’s a new element in this familiar symphony. Nora.

She sits across from me, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pores over the legal documents I’ve handed her. It’s only been a few days since she joined my team, yet her impact is undeniable. She brings with her an air of competence that seems to elevate everyone around her.

Maybe it’s the lawyer in her, or just Nora being Nora, but whatever it is, I’m glad for it.

I catch myself staring at the way her fingers dance across the pages, making notes with a precision that’s almost artistic. The memory of those same fingers brushing mine, years ago, sends an unbidden warmth through my chest. I shake my head slightly, trying to dislodge the resurgence of a college crush that has no place here, not now.

“Oliver, do you have a moment?” Ben’s voice snaps me out of my reverie, and I nod, swiveling in my chair to face him.

“Of course, what’s up?”

“Prep for tonight’s meeting. We should go over the final points before the buyer arrives.” He’s right; this deal could be big for us — a game-changer even.

“Let’s gather the team.”

As we convene in the conference room, I notice the ease with which Nora fits into our dynamic. She asks pointed questions and offers sharp insights, and when she disagrees with a strategy, she does so with a diplomacy that even the most seasoned of us could learn from. Her presence is invigorating, challenging, and I find myself having to refocus more often than I’d like to admit.

“All right, everyone,” I begin, trying to shake off the distraction. “Let’s walk through the presentation one last time. Remember, this buyer is precise and detail-oriented. We need to anticipate their questions and have clear, concise answers ready.”

The meeting progresses smoothly. Ben leads the charge, his charisma working as well in the boardroom as it does anywhere else. I chime in with specifics about the property, leveraging the rapport I’ve built with the buyer over weeks of careful negotiation. And then there’s Nora, her input razor-sharp, her legal expertise providing a reassuring backbone to our strategy.

As we wrap up, I feel a surge of anticipation for the meeting ahead. This is it — the culmination of months of work. And thanks to my team — thanks to Nora — we’re ready.

“Good work, everyone. Let’s close this deal.”

The whole meeting, adrenaline thrums through my veins, a reminder that tens of millions of dollars are on the line. The moment the buyer’s pen hits the final page of the contract, sealing the deal, a ripple of energy surges through the room. I’m already on my feet, shaking hands vigorously. The pent-up tension from months of negotiations releases in a sudden burst, and my heart is racing like I’ve just crossed the finish line of a marathon.

“Congratulations, Oliver.” The buyer grins at me. “Your team has done an exceptional job.”

“Thank you.” I turn to look at Nora, her eyes bright, reflecting a shared sense of accomplishment. Ben claps me on the back, his grin wide enough to split his face.

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