Begin Again novel Chapter 35

"You look amazing! Love the hair!" Gibby gushed when Eden sat down.

"Thank you," she smiled demurely.

She was still unsure about the angled lob, but Franco and Cassandra had assured her she looks great. She would have preferred to have had some say when it comes to the length though. But, she liked what the hairstylist had done with the colour. Franco had decided to go with warm hues but kept her roots dark for an ombre effect, and layered the blunt chop with soft medium curls.

Admittedly, the new style was the most daring Eden had ever gone. She just hoped she wouldn't regret ever meeting Franco when the maintenance became too much.

"If we can please get started, I need to return to Aiden," Eden said, feeling self-conscious under the other woman's scrutiny.

"Of course, but would you like something to drink or to eat perhaps?" Gibby asked.

Eden looked through the menu card and settled for a slice of tiramisu and a chai latte.

"Great choice, I'll have the same. But I really should stay away from sugar," Gibby said, and Eden wondered why. She looked amazing for her age and had the height to hide the extra weight, not that she could see any.

A waitress appeared at their side to take their order. Gibby added a few optional extras.

"It's for Aiden," she said when they were alone again.

"Thanks, but you don't have to do that," Eden murmured. She could see right through her; she's trying to bribe her way into changing her mind.

She wouldn't fall for it.

"Why did you ask me here?" Eden asked as she took in the rustic, Scandi decor. But it was the music that gave the place its charming ambience.

They'd played two of her favourite indie, folksy songs since she sat down.

Rise Coffee Shop was her vibe. She could see herself going broke over their chai lattes while she worked on her book, loosely based on her son's fascination with the moon. Since her freelance work was slow, she'd decided to try her hand at writing.

She's a damn good illustrator; she knew that. But writing was daunting, terrifying. Still, she planned to see her little project through till the end. Not because she wanted to get rich from the book. Hell, she didn't even think it was good enough to hit bookstores. But she planned to print out at least one copy when it's finished to have as a keepsake for Aiden.

"Mr Anderson feels terrible about yesterday," Gibby said, drawing her attention back to the reason for her presence there.

"Which part?" Eden demanded as she leaned forward and cradled her chin in her hands, her elbows planted firmly on the table.

"Eh?" Gibby scratched her chin, clearly taken aback by her question.

"Which part does Mr Anderson feel terrible about? Because there was a lot he said and did that was uncalled for."

"I'm sorry," Gibby said, holding her gaze.

"See, that's where you're wrong," Eden shook her head. "You shouldn't be apologising for Liam. You didn't do anything wrong."

"You're right, but he hasn't been the same since you vanished two years ago," Gibby replied and took her hand. "I'm telling you this in confidence. His family doesn't know any of it, and no one else in the business knows, for obvious reasons. So, if you can, please keep this information to yourself."

Eden shrugged carelessly, refusing to feel even the slightest pity for the man. He'd smashed her heart to pieces, said a lot of hurtful things to her without caring at all how much his words would wound her.

"If it's such a huge secret maybe I shouldn't know either."

"It involves you," Gibby announced. "Whatever happened between you two broke Liam to a point he has to see a therapist once a week. And he has been for the past two years. I don't know the details of his problems, but I know it's serious because I take him there."

"I still don't see why I'm here—" Eden said, pausing when the waitress returned with their order and the cake box stuffed with Aiden's goodies he'll never eat because he wasn't allowed to have anything that could trigger his allergies.

"Will that be all, ladies?" The waitress asked, blinding them with her smile.

"Yes, dear, thank you," Gibby shot her a charming grin of her own, sending her on her merry way.

Eden watched the young girl bustle through the room as she picked up used plates and cups and wiped tables, and she couldn't help but envy her. Waitressing wasn't the best job, and it was demanding to boot, but at least the girl had a purpose. Something she's been lacking lately.

She turned back to her cup, smiling guiltily when she caught the worried look in Gibby's eyes; she'd spaced out again.

Liam's PA picked up her cup and sipped her chai. "His therapist believes you are the key to his recovery. He's been searching for you for two years."

The announcement left Eden floored and lost for words. Her heart suddenly ached for Liam, and she wondered what she did to have caused him so much distress.

She was silent for a long time, processing Gibby's words.

Until he apologised to her, she would never excuse nor forgive his behaviour. His actions were reprehensible at the very least, but if what his assistant said was true, his anger, the way he lashed out at her made sense in the context of this new information. But—

"He said I meant nothing to him, and he regrets ever meeting me. I think you might have this all wrong." She said, at last, her hand quivering, and her cup rattling on the saucer as she picked it up and brought it to her lips, the knot in her heart tightening anew at the memory of his words.

"That was his ego and hurt talking."

"But Liam isn't the only one who suffered after that night," Eden pointed out as she took a small bite of the cake. Numbed by Gibby's revelations, she couldn't taste it, though. "I lost so much too, way more than him. But I don't go around lashing out at people."

"I understand, but I was hoping you could find it in your heart to give him another chance," Gibby pleaded, her eyes softer than Eden had ever seen them. "He doesn't just need you as his assistant. He needs you to help him recover."

"What can I possibly do?" She asked, baffled by the notion. As much as she felt terrible for unknowingly causing him distress, she didn't see how she was key to Liam's recovery. She's not a doctor, and she explained this to Gibby.

"You only have to be around him. The more he sees you, the easier it will be for him to confront the past and deal with the cause of his trauma."

Eden chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, still not sold on Gibby's pitch. It sounded like a made-up condition. She wouldn't be surprised if Liam lied to his assistant so that he can have another shot at humiliating her.

"That's what his therapist recommends?" Eden asked after what seemed like a long pause punctuated by more indie music and the constant chatter all around them, praying she didn't look as sceptical as she sounded. "That I spend time with Liam?"

Gibby reached down to the bag at her feet and came back up with a new draft contract in her hand. "I don't have the exact details of his therapy, but this is what he's offering."