Page 16 of Billion Dollar Dispute

“No, but you’re all about work and Chad. Who is Jemima?”

“A business owner.” I grin proudly, shoving aside the tired version of me. “Speaking of, I better get into my office and get started.”

“Jem,” Danny calls out from his office, just as I’m pushing off Molly’s desk.

A shudder runs through me at the sound of the nickname, but I brush it off, turning and heading toward his doorway with a smile. “Hey, Danny.”

He smiles back. “A new client emailed; I forwarded it to you.”

My eyes widen, and I have to stop myself from running into my office and reading it. Instead, I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and smile. “Thanks.” Telling myself to slow down and not to get my hopes up, I take a breath.

“I also came up with some design concepts,” he adds yelling down the hallway as I walk to my office.

I take a seat in my cold leather chair and power on the computer to immediately read it.

A small baby shower. Cute. But I can’t help but be deflated. It's not going to make the money I need to rent a new apartment. A few extra items of food? Yes, and as if on cue, my stomach rumbles. I drink some water, knowing I don’t have a snack, only lunch, so I begin working. I’m picking up the books where I left them yesterday.

Hours later, Molly calls out.

“Jem?”

“Yeah,” I say, still reading the old invoice and typing it into the spreadsheet.

“Harvey’s on the line.”

Harvey?

Oh, fuck off.

I close my eyes and take another deep breath.

“Tell him I’m busy,” I reply, irritated.

“He seems adamant,” she calls back.

I shake my head, trying to focus on the task before me. “Just tell him I’ll call him back.”

“He’s got a hot voice.”

I scoff internally but keep my lips sealed at what he looks like in person.

“Like a phone sex operator.” Her voice interrupts my daydream.

It suddenly dawns on me; can he hear all this?

“Is he still on the line?” I rush out.

“Yeah, he’s on hold. Why, do you want to talk to him?”

Do I?

“No.”

Chapter 7

Harvey

I pinch the bridgeof my nose, attempting to settle the rising anger coursing through me. Why won’t she answer my calls? We’ve had one heated argument about me wanting to help her business, yet she refuses to even entertain the idea. She keeps shutting me down at every turn.

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