Begin Again novel Chapter 27

Eden was at Anderson Logistics, bright and early Monday morning. Her orientation was scheduled for 10:00 AM, but as usual, she was early.

Now that she was familiar with the place, she had a spring in her step as she waltzed inside the building. She stopped to chat with the security guards stationed at the entrance.

Jim and Ted were super friendly, and in ten minutes they'd exchanged names, shook hands and shared the company's well-kept secret: all the food Eden should avoid from the canteen menu. It was a shockingly long list, and it left her deeply disappointed. She had high hopes for the staff canteen, especially since all their meals were free.

"Is there anything they can cook?" She asked with a laugh, and Jim's very large face wobbled with distaste as he shook his head.

Eden moved along when two very lost-looking interview candidates interrupted their chat.

She went to the reception to announce her arrival. After making a quick phone call, one of the five Sandys asked her to take a seat. Mrs Gibson was somewhere in the building, sorting out her access, she'd be with her shortly.

Eden dutifully sat in the waiting area and read through the dozen Business Insider magazines scattered on the coffee table. They were all snoozefests, and the only thing worth looking at was the man on the cover.

As she traced a finger over Liam's face, she wondered if Aiden will still look like him when he's older, or if her son's features will change, and he'll resemble her more.

She checked the time on her phone.

9:30 AM.

She still had another half hour to go, so she called Brenda.

"Everything's fine Eden, don't worry about us. Have a good first day at work."

"What's Aiden doing? Can I chat to him quick?"

"Sure, hold on a second," Brenda said, and she was back with Aiden moments later, and Eden spent a few minutes cooing at him.

"Bye, baby. Mom loves you!" She cried into the phone, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Mom, Bye-bye!" Aiden gurgled on his end.

Brenda came back on and promised to call if she needed anything from her.

Eden spent the next ten minutes spaced out, her gaze fixated on the waterfall behind the receptionists. They still hadn't warmed to her.

Annoyed by their cold treatment, she went to play with her new toy, and she tried once more to access the 36th floor. Her attempts were blocked again.

A low, deep-voiced drawl interrupted her little game, "Ms McBride."

It's been two years, but she would have remembered his voice even if a hundred years had flown by.

She stood up straight and fixed her outfit before turning around, her heart threatening to jump out of her chest as she gazed into Liam's gorgeous denim eyes. For a terrifying moment, Eden thought she was going to pass out right there and then. Surprisingly though she didn't, even when her wobbly legs threatened to give out on her any second now. Heart racing at an unhealthy pace, her new white blouse stuck to her sweaty back like a second skin, Eden forced herself to plaster the biggest, brightest smile on her face.

"Hi," she said breathlessly, fluffing up her limp hair, silently praying she doesn't look like the hot mess she was when they first met.

Liam had a blank look on his face though, no hint of recognition at all.

"You must be the new assistant," he said in a voice devoid of emotion.

Yep, Eden thought sadly. He doesn't remember me.

The realisation hit her like a punch in her midsection, almost as if someone had pumped their fists into her gut in quick successive blows. It left her floored, breathless almost, rendering her speechless.

For two years Liam is all she's thought about. How could she not when she had a mini version of him living with her? But it seemed he forgot her the moment she ran from his house.

In that crazy minute, maybe two, of her trying to process and make sense of everything, she didn't know if she should laugh or cry, and she couldn't help but hate Sienna a little for her foresight.

Her friend had warned her this would happen.

But, like the stubborn idiot she is, she'd stupidly thought she could avoid running into the one man her heart desperately called out to, the one man she had no right to miss because he was now married and very likely had a family of his own.

"Yes, I am," she said at last when she miraculously managed to find her voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr—?"

"Liam Anderson," he murmured as he extended his large hand and she grasped it firmly in her tiny one. A familiar tingle rushed through her body when their fingers touched. She'd only met him once, hadn't seen him up close like this in two years, but her body was alive at his touch, humming with excitement.

"Follow me," he said hoarsely.

"But the elevators are that way," she said, pointing in the opposite direction. She knew this place better than she knew her neighbourhood now, thanks to the nifty map.

The five Sandys behind the reception desk gasped and gawked when Liam suddenly paused. He turned and glared at her. She'd committed a grave mistake.

"I mean, I saw them back there, but if your way is qui–" She tried to backtrack, and was about to say if he knew a quicker route she'd gladly follow him, but his frosty gaze killed her smart suggestion very quickly. She bit her tongue and held on to the thin strap of her handbag tightly as if her very life depended on it.

"I don't have the whole day, Ms McBride."

"Yes, Mr Anderson," Eden bowed and curtsied, hating herself a little more for treating him like he's royalty. But then again, in here he is the king, and this impressive thirty-six story building, his castle.

"Keep up!" He barked over his shoulder, and Eden wished her legs were a little longer so she could match his gigantic steps as she followed him through the turnstiles.

This side of the building, not open to the general public, was noticeably quieter.

Liam called the lift. The doors flew open within seconds, and another ripple of excitement sizzled through her body when he touched the small of her back as he gently pushed her inside.

How was she so aware of him, and he remained passively cool?

It helps if you have amnesia I guess, she mused silently, fuming at the realisation that she truly was nothing but a meaningless hookup, one of the thousands of women he'd bedded that year. How many more had there been since their night?

"—Ms McBride?"

Eden snapped out of her daze and blinked up at Liam from behind her glasses. "I'm sorry, I didn't get what you said," she flushed and stared at her feet. Her new Louboutins, courtesy of Lydia and Cassandra to help her step into her very bright future at Anderson Logistics, were far friendlier and less menacing than the ice in Liam's eyes.

"I wanted to know if you enjoyed it?"

"Enjoyed what?" Eden gulped, her mind going into overdrive, confused as fuck by his question. Was he referring to that night? Did he remember her and the breathtaking hours they'd spent in each other's arms?

She made the mistake of daring to look up at him, and immediately wished she hadn't when she saw a ghost of a smirk dancing on his lips.

"Playing with the interactive map, of course." The smirk stretched into a full-on smile, and for that fleeting second, maybe two, the man in front of her was once again her Liam from Rent-A-Boyfriend, the man who'd saved her from the embarrassment of seeing her ex with her best friend on the dance floor at Crush.

For a deliciously tempting moment, Eden wanted to reach up and kiss him. But, she planted her heels firmly on the floor and twisted her hands behind her in a feeble attempt to keep temptation at bay.

"So?" He prodded. He wasn't letting it go.

"I did," she said at last. "I love it. Whoever came up with it is a genius."

Liam nodded and rocked on the balls of his feet, seemingly pleased with her response.

She didn't realise the lift was stationary all along until he pressed the button to the penthouse, her eyes growing as huge as saucers. Mrs Gibson had forgotten to mention they were meeting on his floor.

As the elevator soared up, Liam regarded her cooly from beneath his furrowed brow. Eden tried to match his stare, but the intense blue flames in his eyes were too much for her.

Irritated at herself for being so aware of him, she looked away and mentally counted the floors as the lift continued to creep up. When she dared to return her gaze on him, his eyes were still on her.

"Is something wrong?" Eden asked at last.

"Why would anything be wrong?" He took a step closer.

She remained still, not daring to breathe, convinced if he touched her, she'd spontaneously combust and shrivel up into ashes.

"I don't know," she whispered when he stopped in front of her. She caught a whiff of his cologne, the same one on the shirt she'd 'borrowed' from him, and still wore to this day whenever she missed the moments she'd spent in his arms. After two years the 'Liam smell'—that's what she'd dubbed his scent—was still there because she'd never washed the shirt. She'd wanted to preserve it for as long as she could, for Aiden, and maybe for herself too since it was the only reminder of him they had.

"Are you sure?" He asked as he tilted her chin and lowered his head. Eden closed her eyes, anticipating his searing kiss, her heart thudding out of control, excited by the notion that he remembered her.

Why else would he try to kiss her?

Why would he stand so achingly close to her?

But he quickly shut down whatever silly illusions she had about him with his announcement as he touched her head. "You have something in your hair."

Her eyes flew open. Disappointment, confusion and shock roiling inside her all at once as she watched him blow and flick off the small tuft of cotton he'd pulled from her locks.

What did you expect, she scolded herself for her stupid schoolgirl fantasies.

"I thought I'm meeting Mrs Gibson," Eden said breathlessly, her cheeks still smarting from embarrassment. She was such an idiot! Why did she even think Liam would kiss her when he didn't even remember her?

"You are," he replied. "She asked me to bring you up."

Before she could ask more about Mrs Gibson, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and for an uncomfortable minute, Eden listened to his side of the conversation, her heart darkening with jealousy she had no right to feel.

"Holly's ballet recital? Tonight? But you know I have to work. Okay. I'll make a plan. I don't promise anything, though. What time is it? Uhh, yeah. I miss you too, Babe. Bye!"

Liam hung up from his 'Babe' and turned to her again, smiling apologetically. "Sorry about that."

Eden nodded and crossed her arms casually, feigning disinterest. What else was she supposed to do? Despite his unhappiness that night, his marriage seemed solid now. She was happy for him. They both got something out of their hookup.