Begin Again novel Chapter 95

There were many similarities between Eden and Zara.

Like her, the head of HR wasn't the prettiest candle in the room, and she also had a questionable dress sense. But superficial qualities aside, they still had plenty in common. Zara was a young mom and a single parent, too.

They'd chatted a few times in the elevators and corridors about their babies—both nineteen months old—and had even attempted a play date or two, but their conflicting schedules had put a brake on those plans.

They weren't the best of friends. But other than Clara, Zara was probably the only other woman Eden is close to at work.

Today though, Zara, sitting across from her in a sixteen-seater boardroom on the 35th floor, wasn't meeting with her as a friend and fellow member of the young Moms' Club.

She had a tough message to deliver.

After the usual standard check-in and confirming her mental wellbeing's well above average and her sanity meter was in the green range, Zara got to the heart of their chit chat.

"We've received an assault complaint," She began as she tapped her fingers on the personnel file in front of her.

"Let me guess, Lucy?"

"She alleges you attacked her in your office after you threw your relationship with Mr Anderson in her face and couldn't stop bragging about your office renovations—"

Eden couldn't sit still and listen to all this nonsense. She didn't have time for this. She had a blazer and expensive art pieces and furniture to return, and maybe afterwards do a bit of paper-pushing so she can get paid month-end.

"First of all," she said as she chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully and pushed her now very loose glasses, thanks to Lucy and her hot claps, up her nose. "I don't have a relationship with Mr Anderson. Secondly, Lucy came after me, and I had to defend myself."

"I understand," Zara nodded, a serious look on her small round face framed by dark curly hair. "However, physical violence cannot be tolerated."

She opened the file and pulled out a serious-looking document. "Assault is a dismissible offence, Eden, but after chatting with Mr Anderson, we agreed you'll both get a final warning."

Eden was mortified that Liam knew about her fight. But she was even more stunned by the idea of a final written warning.

"Final?" She scratched her head, unable to process Zara's announcement. How did she get to a final written warning when she hadn't even been at Anderson Logistics for two months and had never been on the wrong side of the company's rule of law before?

"I think there's been a mistake. I've never had a warning before; this should be my first."

Zara shook her head patiently. "Lucy's injuries were so severe she had to get medical attention. You're lucky she's not pressing charges."

"I only slapped her once on her face!" Eden whispered, stunned by this revelation. "I didn't touch her anywhere else. You can ask all the other ladies. If anything, I should press assault charges and request some form of compensation from her. She damaged my glasses."

To prove she's not lying, she took them off and showed her the loose screw on the left temple. "I'll have to take them for tightening or get new glasses. But that's not even the worst of it. I'll have to wear contact lenses for the next few days. Do you know how uncomfortable they are? Did you ask all the other ladies about this?"

"We did. Only Clara came forward and spoke on your behalf," Zara smiled as she slid the two-page document across the table. "But the others declined to get involved. It's your and Clara's word against hers."

Eden glanced at papers briefly before pushing them away, refusing to be the fall guy for Lucy's bad behaviour. "I'm not signing this. I did nothing wrong; why am I being punished?"

"Eden," Zara pursed her lips tightly and handed her a shiny pen with Anderson Logistics tattooed on its side. "You have to sign on the last page."