Begin Again novel Chapter 28

Gibby was waiting for her at reception when they reached the penthouse office.

Liam vanished off somewhere, and Eden was relieved he's not her boss. For a second there she was starting to believe he's the Dragon the older woman had warned her of.

Gibby led her through a maze of offices and boardrooms and held the door for her as she ushered her inside a cosy four-seater meeting pod.

"Please sit, Ms McBride," she waved at one of the empty chairs. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you earlier. I was trying to get your access ready."

Eden smiled, "please call me Eden, and I kept myself entertained. I love the interactive map on the ground floor."

"That's Mr Anderson's baby. I believe you've just met him," Gibby chuckled. "He thought it would be an awesome idea to give people a glimpse of what we do here. I must say it's a hit with all our visitors."

Of course, Eden thought. No wonder he seemed chuffed with her response earlier when he asked her about the map.

A soft tap on the door pulled Eden away from Gibby, and she turned in time to see a tall, slim woman—probably around her age—with smooth russet skin and eyes so light they glowed a golden hue. She gave new meaning to that Beyoncé song. She was flawless head to toe. Her long faux dreads, light makeup and tailored power suit were pure perfection. Her Jimmie Choo shoes as well were to die for.

"Hi," she said in a nasally voice and the biggest smile as she set a tray of refreshments—takeout coffee and bottled water—on the table, and extended her hand. "I'm Clara Winston. I believe we'll be working together."

"Eden McBride," she said as she shook her hand. "I can't wait to learn from you."

Clara radiated joy and warmth, and being in her presence was like basking in the sun. Her light shone so brightly, Eden could tell she was meant for greatness.

"I can't wait to work with you as well, sister-wife," she chuckled. Her laugh was as pretty as her voice.

"Right," Gibby cleared her throat. "If you guys are done fangirling, I need to brief Eden on today's orientation."

"Sure thing, Gibby," Clara smiled at the older woman and winked at Eden before she eased out of the room.

"Very well then let's begin." Her new boss nodded when they were alone.

The door flew open again, and Liam strolled in. He pulled one of the chairs and dragged it to the back of the room, away from them.

Eden glanced at him, wondering why he was sitting in. She's a junior assistant; there was no reason he should be in here.

He may as well not have sat in, though, since he was enamoured with his phone from the moment he sat down. His hot 'Babe' had all his attention, and the thought annoyed her to no end.

"—Eden?"

She blinked and smiled sheepishly. Her orientation was not off to a good start. She'd missed everything Gibby had said while she fumed about Liam's 'Babe'.

"Could you please repeat that?"

Gibby pursed her lips. "Well, I was saying after your training, which will run concurrently with the handover, you'll report to Mr Anderson."

Eden stared at her blankly, confused as fuck as to why she thought she'd be reporting to Liam.

"Can you say that again, please?" She said softly, pushing up her glasses.

The look in her boss's eyes told her she was beginning to doubt her hearing. Eden didn't blame her at all; she was starting to question her auditory functioning as well.

But she still needed clarity and maybe sort out the misunderstanding so she can breathe again. She'd applied for a junior assistant role, and she expected her junior executive boss to walk in at any moment now and whisk her off to one of the lower floors where she'll sit with the rest of the drones and paper pushers.

"Which part?" The thin line was back on Gibby's lips, and her eyes narrowed to angry slits.

"My reporting line," she said. "I thought I report to you, but I'll be serving one of the junior executives."

"On your very high salary?" Liam snorted.

Out of the corner of her eye, Eden saw his hawk-like gaze was firmly on her now. She'd finally managed to steal his attention away from his 'Babe'. But, as she felt the hot flush creep up her neck and cheeks, she realised she didn't want it or anything else to do with him for that matter. His very presence here was messing with her sanity.

"I'm Mr Anderson's assistant. After I leave in two months, though it might be longer judging by the scope of the handover, that will be your job. So, meet your new boss," the older woman said impatiently, nodding at Liam, who in turn waved at her.

"Hi," the familiar small smirk he'd worn in the elevator was back, taunting her.

Eden ignored him and stared at her hands on her lap.

She desperately needed this job. In exactly two months, her first big girl mortgage payment would be due. But now karma or fate or kismet or whatever you wanted to call it had decided to play a very twisted joke on her.

Admittedly, she was curious about Liam, and maybe to such a ridiculous point she'd hoped to see him and maybe tell him about Aiden.

But to work for him? Hell no!

She didn't sign up for this.

Gibby cleared her throat. "You'll have to manage Mr Anderson's daily schedule and coordinate some aspects of his personal life. In a nutshell, you'll be his work wife, know him more intimately—"

I don't want to be his work wife, and I already know him intimately thank you very much, Eden wanted to scream. But, she chewed her lower lip slowly, trying to find the right words.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding?" Gibby asked. "You signed the contract; you were happy with the job."

"I applied for a junior assistant role," she explained.

"And that's the role you got," Gibby said, her face taut with frustration. "Clara will be performing more of the senior duties until you're comfortable. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Yes," Eden replied. "But I have no desire to work for the CEO."

Liam breathed in sharply as he shot her a death glare. She wanted to shrink or disappear or both when she saw the fury in his eyes.

"What I mean is—" She tried to backtrack and soften the blow of her rash words. "—I don't think I'm qualified for the role and I don't have the confidence to do the job well."

"You will," Liam said, his voice so soft she thought she'd imagined it. But his eyes were still hard like ice when she forced herself to look at him.

"I believe in you, Ms McBride," he added, his frosty gaze never wavering from her face.

Eden knew, there and then, he remembered her. He'd probably known since he saw her CV, and like a lamb being led to a slaughterhouse, she'd played right into his hands. No wonder the offer had seemed too good to be true, it was, and it came with a whole lot of strings and complications.

"To be honest Eden, I didn't have much confidence in you, but Mr Anderson—" Gibby's voice trailed off as she covered her mouth with her hand and wheezed out a dry cough, her frail body rocked by spasms.

"Do you need some water?" Eden, already on her feet, asked. She was ready to save the day and perform her junior assistant duties.

Gibby shook her head and pointed at her chair to sit. "I'll be okay. Just side effects from the new medication I'm on."

Eden reluctantly sat down again, her face soft with concern. Gibby didn't look okay at all, and she wondered if her mystery illness was the main reason for her retirement. She certainly didn't look old enough to be a pensioner.

"As I was saying. Mr Anderson wants you and I don't know why."

Eden turned to Liam, wondering what game he was playing.

"Why?" She asked.

He smiled coldly and shrugged. "It can only be you, Ms McBride."

"But why?"

"Because you need to trust your assistant. And I trust you with my life. After all, we shared a bed once, didn't we?"

A furious blush stained Eden's cheeks as hot tears of embarrassment stung her eyes. She couldn't believe Liam had brought up their past in such a public forum.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she shook her head, the tears still brimming in her eyes, threatening to spill over any second now.

"I'm all for an encore if you've forgotten," Liam sneered.

Gibby looked like a deer caught in headlights as her gaze shifted between the two of them. "Mr Anderson, should I give you some privacy, Sir?"

"No!" They both said at once.

"Very well then," Gibby pressed her hands firmly on the table and tried to take control of the session again. "Any more concerns, Eden?"

"There's still the issue with my son."

"We've already discussed that!" Gibby blew out a frustrated sigh.

"Yes, but that was before I knew I'd be serving the CEO. His schedule is much more demanding, and Aiden is the most important person in my life. I can't short change him of my time."

"We have an excellent in-house daycare centre. The teachers are marvellous," Liam said.

How did he know this, Eden wondered. Were his other spawns enrolled there as well? It made sense that he has children if he's been happily married for two years. There's no way a virile man like him would waste time.

"We have a state of the art computer room, the teaching methods are unparalleled—" Liam carried on, tooting his own horn, but Eden was barely listening as her mind raced all over the place.

If she took the job—no, she'd already accepted the offer—but if she enrolled Aiden at the daycare, he would be very close to his half-siblings. They might even become best friends. Would that be such a terrible thing?

No, she told herself sternly. There's no way she'd ever bring Aiden to Anderson Logistics. Not when they could bump into his father at any time. Not before she sits down with Liam at least and tells him about his son.

"It still doesn't solve the odd hours I'll have to work." She cut into Liam's detailed speech about the daycare's curriculum.

He scowled, clearly unimpressed with her for interrupting him, but she didn't care. She was still fuming at the casual way he'd brought up their encounter in front of his assistant.

"What about Aiden's father? Can he not help?" Gibby seemed very keen to help her figure out a solution to her childcare dilemma.

"He's not in the picture," Eden said, praying this would put an end to the numerous helpful suggestions being thrown her way.

Gibby gave her a pitiful look, while Liam stared at her with mild curiosity.

"Was it worth it?" He asked as he stretched out his long legs and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Was what worth it?" Eden whipped up her head, baffled by his question.

"Bearing him a child, only to be left alone?" Liam said icily. "But then again with your track record, I won't be surprised if it turns out you ran away from him. Poor guy!"

"You don't know anything about me, Mr Anderson," Eden said, her eyes burning with unbridled anger. He had no right to sit there on his throne and judge her; if only he knew the pain she endured to bring his son into the world, and all that she lost because of him.

"Oh, I know you like to sneak off without so much as a goodbye or a bloody thank you!" He scoffed at her as he stood up from his seat and walked to the window.

Gibby quickly excused herself.

The briefing had officially reached its fucked ending.