Begin Again novel Chapter 36

Eden opened the folder, took one look at the offer and pushed it back. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. If I'm so important to Mr Anderson's recovery, he can do better than that."

Gibby stared at her, mouth agape, almost as if she's seeing her for the first time.

"You said so yourself I'll be performing two roles." Eden carried on, not caring at all that the other woman thought her shameless.

One thing she learned from sitting in in too many of her father's Economics lectures—through no choice of her own—was the art of negotiation and bargaining. She was in a much better position to negotiate because Liam needed her more than she needed him.

He really should have taken her when she was still okay with just the R325K, Eden thought as she picked up her cup with a much steadier hand.

"Let me chat with him," Gibby said as she called her boss. She kept him on the phone while she scribbled another figure and passed the contract back.

Eden looked at it, sipped her tea and rolled her eyes. "He can still do so much better than that!"

There's a very good chance they'd butt heads again if she returned to Anderson Logistics. Her salary had to make up for all her future pain and suffering. It was only right she's well compensated.

The PA returned to the call, exchanged a few terse words with Liam, and returned to her. "This is the highest he's willing to go."

Eden nodded and beamed at the other woman. It was way more than she'd anticipated. "I accept his generous offer, but I have a few conditions."

Gibby returned to Liam. "Mr Anderson, we have a deal, but she has a few conditions."

Eden heard Liam's raised voice through the phone, and she imagined him breathing fire in his office. But she didn't care. If it weren't for his temper, he wouldn't be in this mess, to begin with.

Serves him right, she thought, a ghost of a smile dancing on her lips. He really should have treated her better when he had the chance. Now he'd pay through his ass for his shitty behaviour.

Gibby hung up and delivered some bad news. "He wants you in at 6:00 AM tomorrow, and you cannot add any other conditions or the deal is off."

"But the sitter can't make it at that time—"

"That's your problem, Ms McBride. For the amount you demanded, which is daylight robbery, by the way, you should have known it would come at a price," Gibby said irritably. "The new contract is on its way."

"Should I have simply rolled over?" Eden asked, annoyed at the way Gibby was carrying on like it's her money.

"Of course not," The assistant gobbled down her piece of cake and drained her cup. "But you should know that your very high salary will come with a lot of unreasonable demands. I hope you can fulfil them all."

Before Eden could even grasp her words of caution, Clara appeared at their side with the new contract.

She hugged Eden like they were old friends and waited while she signed the documents.

Three minutes later, Clara raced out of the coffee shop with HR's copy, leaving them alone once again.

"You've already lost a full day of training; tomorrow will be extremely long. I suggest you get plenty of rest tonight," Gibby said tersely.

Eden could tell she's still annoyed at her negotiation skills, but she didn't care. Her mind was already on the million things she'll be able to do with her new well-deserved salary.

Now she can get Aiden those earth-friendly diapers she saw at the store. She'd have to call the bank to find out about setting up a trust. And at some point during her weekend, assuming the fire-breathing dragon didn't have plans for her, she'd hop back to the Bathroom Place to pick up her tub. Eric better not have sold it.

"Eden?" Gibby snapped her fingers in front of her face.

"Yes, Gibby?"

The older woman pinched the bridge of her nose and stared heavenward. "That's another thing that has to change fast Eden. You have to focus. No spacing out. You have to stop all this daydreaming!"

"I'm sorry," she smiled sheepishly.

"As I was saying, Mr Anderson has generously offered to pay for your son's tuition at the daycare; he knows how important it is to you to have him close."

No, no, no! Eden thought. Yes, Aiden will have to miss out on the fancy sleeping pods and high tech computer room and unparalleled teaching methods, but Brenda was excellent with him. No need to upset the apple cart and tempt fate.

She finished her now cold chai and set the cup down with a little more force than necessary. "Thank you, but I'll have to decline. I have a sitter for Aiden, and he likes her."

"But you can see him during your lunch breaks if he's here!"

"I've thought about it; I need to focus all my energy on serving Mr Anderson. I can't have any distractions."

For the first time since the start of their meeting, Eden saw something close to admiration in the other woman's face as she beamed at her.

"With that attitude, you'll go very far." Gibby nodded approvingly.

Now that she's done signing the deal with the devil—despite common sense telling her to run for her life—Eden excused herself. She had to get back to Aiden for their trip to the playground.

She rose from her seat, smoothed down her check-print flared dress and fixed her glasses. "Thanks for the cake and tea. I'll see you tomorrow at 6:00 AM."

"Not so fast," Gibby stopped her in her tracks and took her to the security team on the second floor to get her access card sorted out.

Ten minutes later, Eden hung her freshly minted access card around her neck, pretty chuffed with her photo. It was the first access card she was truly happy with, and she knew she had Franco and Cassandra to thank for that. She was slowly warming to her new look.

"Don't be late!" Gibby reminded her as they parted ways at the elevators.

The PA returned to her posh office on the 36th floor, while Eden took the stairs to the ground floor. Even though her Jimmy Choos were killing her, she's not that person; she doesn't take the elevator to go two floors up or down.

She was grinning ear to ear at her new contract as she made her way to the parking lot, happy with her new salary. There were so many zeros. She quickly counted them, making sure Clara or HR hadn't missed any when they typed up the new agreement.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five!

Five zeros! Five freaking zeros.

She wondered about the extent of Liam's problem. It must be severe for him to have agreed to such a ridiculous amount, and for a brief second, she felt like the worst person on earth for exploiting a sick man.

But any guilt she may have felt was gone when she remembered the way he'd lashed out at her.

After the way he treated her, she deserved every one of those goddamn zeros, Eden thought as she slowly cruised home, content with the world and life again.

Back at her place, after checking in with Brenda and making sure she's okay to watch Aiden for the evening, she called her friends and told them to meet her at Crush for sundowners because she was about to make it rain!