My cold-hearted Billionaire

Chapter 5 Barbara’s POV

I stumbled back home, tears streaming down my face, each drop a testament to the weight of my realization.

How was I supposed to know that he was the very person my boss and I had worked so tirelessly to partner with? It felt surreal; he was far too young for such a prestigious position! My life felt utterly shattered at that moment. What was I going to do now?

Then it hit me—I still had his number. Thank goodness for that small mercy. I resolved to call him and apologize.

I would swallow my pride and do it, because I couldn’t afford to lose my job over this mess when I had the chance to fix it.

I remembered the struggle, the late nights, and the relentless effort it took to land this job in the first place.

I wouldn’t let my pride be the thing that ruined it all. It was time to take action and make things right.

I was still crying in my room when Amelia walked in, her expression shifting to one of concern. “What happened, mama? Why are you crying?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

I didn’t want her to fret, but my mind raced for an excuse, and nothing came. So, I decided to lay it all bare.

“Remember the blind date you set me up with? He wasn’t really nice, like I told you earlier. I’m sorry I lied, but you were already having a bad day, and I didn’t want to add to it. The thing is, we got into this heated argument, and I stormed out. Then, I came to work today only to find out he’s the owner of the group of companies I’ve been slaving away for, day and night, trying to draft the perfect business proposal,” I confessed, my voice trembling.

Amelia’s eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively covered her mouth with her hands. “What? He is what? So what happened next?” she asked, her intrigue piqued by this unexpected twist.

“When he saw me, he refused to sign the contract, saying he couldn’t work with a company that has rude and ill-mannered employees.

And the worst part? My boss told me to fix this mess or else I’ll lose my job,” I finished, the weight of my predicament settling heavily in the air.

“Oh my goodness, this is really bad, Barbara! I feel so bad! This is all my fault, if I didn’t forc—” she began, her guilt spilling out, and this was precisely what I didn’t want.

I cut her off sharply. “No, it’s not! Don’t blame yourself for other people’s actions. You needed help, and I helped you. You would have done the same, too, so please don’t blame yourself.

What I need now are solutions, not someone to point fingers at. I need my job; I can’t lose my job. I can’t!” I insisted, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Have you tried calling him? You have his number, right? But really, what happened at the date?” she asked, her curiosity piqued, her eyes wide with anticipation.

“Well, my Uber broke down, so I had to get another one, and before I could get to the restaurant, I was late. He got mad at me and started scolding me like a child.

Of course, I wasn’t going to just sit there and take it; I scolded him right back for treating me like I was his kid too,” I explained, frustration bubbling up as I recalled the incident.

“Honestly, you did nothing wrong. What do you want to apologize for?” Amelia questioned, her tone laced with disbelief.

“Mel! Don’t you get it? My job is at stake here! I need to do whatever it takes to get him to sign that contract, even if it means apologizing for nothing!” I insisted, trying to make her see the gravity of the situation.

“Yes, you’re right. Let’s call him now,” she said, determination flashing in her eyes. I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring.

“Who is this?” he inquired, his voice sharp and demanding.

“Please, this is Barbara, sir,” I replied, my voice shaky and filled with trepidation.

“Who the heck is that and what do you want?” he shot back, his irritation palpable even through the phone. The call was on loudspeaker, and I could hear the annoyance echoing back at me. Amelia’s eyes widened in disbelief at his rudeness.

“Please, sir, this is Mr. Jackson’s secretary, and I am calling to—” but before I could finish my sentence, the line went dead. He had cut me off.

“Girl, what? He is so rude! What the heck?” Amelia exclaimed, her surprise evident. But his rudeness was the least of my concerns; I needed my job, and if it meant licking his boots, I would do it.

I tried calling him again, only to realize with a sinking feeling that I had been blocked.

“What am I going to do, Amelia?” I asked, my voice trembling with a mixture of devastation and distress. The weight of the situation felt like a heavy cloak draped over my shoulders, suffocating me with every passing moment.

“You said he was going to invest in your boss’s business, right? You should ask your boss for his office location and just go there to meet him,” Amelia suggested, her tone filled with a hint of optimism, as if she believed that a straightforward solution was within reach.

“But that’s not how it works, Amelia! You need to book an appointment before meeting with someone like that,” I countered, trying to emphasize the reality of the corporate world with its unyielding rules and protocols.

“Oh, I forgot how this office thing works,” she replied, a sheepish smile creeping onto her face. After all, Amelia worked from home as a virtual assistant, far removed from the bustling environment of corporate offices.

“But we don’t have much choice, do we? You have to go there and try. Make a scene that will draw his attention and show him you’re serious. Maybe even cry?” she urged, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.

She had a point; I needed to take action, to do something rather than wallow in uncertainty.

With a reluctant nod, I agreed to her plan. I realized I didn’t need to reach out to my boss for the name of the company; I could sift through the proposal I had and sort it out myself.

The resolve began to brew within me, a flicker of determination igniting as I prepared to face the daunting task ahead.

I arrived at the company, my heart racing as I walked straight up to the secretary's desk, desperation fueling my every step. “I need to see your boss,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

But, as expected, she looked up from her screen, her expression unyielding. “Do you have an appointment?” she asked, her tone flat and dismissive.

“No, I don’t,” I replied, my voice shaking as I tried to explain my predicament. I poured out my heart, detailing the urgency of my situation, but she refused to give me a listening ear, her eyes already drifting back to her computer screen.

Frustration welled up inside me, and before I knew it, tears began to spill down my cheeks. “Please! I need to speak to him!” I cried, calling out his name in a desperate plea.

Just then, I saw the secretary reach for her phone, signaling for security to come and remove me from the premises.

Panic surged through me, but before they could arrive, a young man entered the lobby, his presence commanding immediate attention.

“What’s the problem here?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

I began to narrate my ordeal to him, my voice trembling as I recounted everything that had led me to this moment, just behind him, a familiar figure was making his way through the entrance.