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21|Asking For Trouble
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The call came when Eden least expected it, just as she was about to settle down for an afternoon nap with Aiden. He wasn't a fussy baby, but he preferred routine over surprises, and any slight delay in his schedule made him cranky.
"Hang tight my angel, Mommy has to take this call," she kissed his hair and gave him his favourite sensory toy to distract him while they ran to the kitchen to grab her phone on the counter.
She was hoping it's the call she's been waiting for for over a week now, the one call that will change her life and take her from unemployed to potentially employed overnight.
"Hello," she cried breathlessly just as it stopped ringing. Aiden tried to snatch it from her, but she bit his tiny hand playfully. He giggled and screeched happily.
Eden stared at the screen, willing her phone to go off again, but after fifteen minutes or so and still nothing, she returned to her bedroom and laid down on the bed with Aiden resting on her chest.
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Aiden's sitter arrived just after 10:00 AM and Eden spent some time showing her around the house and giving her detailed notes about her son, from what he liked to eat to his potty training times and his afternoon routine. "This is his favourite toy," Eden said as she picked up a Paw Patrol sensory toy. "He can't fall asleep without it." "I've got this Mrs McBride," Brenda said, startling Eden out of her mind with the title. But then, she remembered the engagement ring on her left hand. "Please call me Eden," she said with a smile as she kissed Aiden again and ruffled his hair. "Don't forget he can't eat anything with nuts, that includes sweets, chocolates, biscuits or anything really." "Got it! Now go get that job!" Brenda gave her two thumbs up. "Good luck!" "All the emergency numbers are on the fridge in case you can't reach me," Eden said for what she was pretty sure was the hundredth time as she grabbed her handbag and phone from the tabl
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"Ms McBride," A low, raspy voice jolted Eden out of her daze. She turned to see a tall woman with a greying afro staring at her with curiosity. She looked familiar, but Eden couldn't remember where she'd seen her. "I'm Yvonne Gibson, but everyone calls me Gibby," she smiled and held out her wrinkly hand. When Eden took it, she expected it to be as frail as it looked, but she was amazed by the strength in the older woman's handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Eden said effusively, stopping short of bowing. "Please follow me," Gibby said as she turned on her heel. She was surprisingly agile for someone elderly, and Eden had to keep up with her quick steps and her life story in the five minutes it took to get to the interview room on the same floor. Eden only managed to grasp that Gibby's in charge of the administration office. All the secretaries, personal assistants and office support personnel reported to her. She made the
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Liam waited anxiously in a room identical to the one Eden sat in for her interview two doors down. He rechecked his Cartier and growled as he pushed the laptop away and began pacing.Why was it taking so goddamn long to make a mousey librarian sign a piece of paper? It was over an hour already.He really should have handled this shit himself; he shouldn't have made Gibby go in alone, especially when he knew her thoughts on Eden.But crashing the interview would have ruined the whole element of surprise, and knowing how Eden left him once, she'd likely bolt again. Assuming, of course, she remembered him.Liam's anxiety mounted at the thought, and he didn't like the idea that he was so lacklustre in bed, Eden could have easily forgotten him."Doesn't matter!" He breathed out a frustrated sigh. What mattered was that he remembered. Every little detail. Every humiliating moment when he couldn't perform. All the accusatory, yet pitiful looks from the nu
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In his office, Liam loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves, determined to get through the stack of week-long reports piled high on his desk. He was halfway through when his cousins, whom he shared floor space with, came in. Julian arranged himself in the armchair in front of the bookcase and turned on the TV to watch the financial markets' afternoon report. Matthew stretched out his long frame on the black leather mid-century couch, the only piece of relaxing furniture in the room because Liam didn't want time wasters hanging around. They were not good for productivity. People only came to his office to state urgent business and leave; his space wasn't inviting enough for a chit-chat. His cousins were the only two people who often overstayed their welcome. Two minutes in and Liam was already tired of them. "If there's nothing urgent, I'd like to finish this before my date with Laura," he pointed at the stack of folders on his desk.
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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,
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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
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Eden watched the older woman dash down the hall and vanish from view, painfully aware of the thick tension swirling in the room, occasionally drowned out by the sounds of office chatter, phones going off and the keyboards rattling away. She figured she should leave as well while things were still a bit civil between Liam and her, especially if she wanted their future chat about Aiden to happen. But, one glance from him, as if he could read her thoughts and see deep into her soul, fixed her in her chair. He reached for the tray of refreshments Eden had forgotten until now and took one of the brightly decorated styrofoam cups, with a Rise Coffee Shop logo stamped to its side, and the word 'macchiato' scrolled in pretty, feminine-like handwriting on the white lid. They had outlets nationwide, mostly in shopping malls, but Eden remembered seeing one in the food court, on the first floor, when she played with the interactive map. She's a sucker for
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Eden didn't know how she managed to drive home in the emotional state she was in. She couldn't even remember leaving Anderson Logistics. She must have, though, because she only realised she's home when a perturbed Brenda dashed out of the house and ran up to the car. "Is everything okay? Did you forget something?" The sitter asked as she pried open her door and helped her snap off the seat belt. Eden heard her questions, saw her lips move, but she couldn't process. Her mind was too tired to compute, let alone form coherent thoughts and translate them into spoken words. "Did something happen? Are you hurt?" Brenda carried on as she pulled her out of the car and flipped her around a few times, checking for any visible signs of trauma. She paused and frowned when she couldn't see anything wrong. "Say something," Brenda asked. "Are you hurt anywhere?" Eden sighed and touched her chest. Yes, she was hurt, right there, in that place
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The thought of spending an indefinite amount of time in the hospital did not please Liam at all, so as soon as they returned to his ward after their brisk walk, he tried every trick in the book to get Eden to speak to the doctors and get them to discharge him. But she refused to do his dirty work, much to his dismay. He thought she would want him home as soon as possible. "Whose side are you on?" He glared at her. "Yours, of course. I don't want to take any chances, you know," she said as she helped him up on the bed. Their son was now sitting on the floor, craning his neck at the blank TV screen in the corner and sipping his boxed juice. Liam had never met a kid who loved TV as much as Aiden, and he wondered if it was normal. Maybe spending all that time with Brenda during the day wasn't such a good thing. Maybe he needed to start going to school to get his mind stimulated. "I'm someone's fiancée now, you know, and I need the groom pr
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Eden looked up, startled out of her mind to see his eyes were open. "Liam!" She was instantly on her feet and kissing him on the lips as she sobbed so loud she thought she'd wake the patients in the neighbouring rooms. "Oh my God, it's true. You're awake! I was starting to think they lied." "If you keep crying, I might just pass out again!" He growled and patted the empty spot on the bed. "Come here!" She sank beside him, and he drew her closer and placed his hand on her tummy. "How's my little warrior?" Eden burst into tears again at his words. "You heard everything I said that night?" "Of course I did," he smiled tearfully as well. "I may have been dying, but I'm not deaf, you know." "And you're not angry?" "Why would I be angry?" Liam asked. "Because you just found out about Aiden and now—" "Now our family will be complete," he pulled her down, and she nestled in his arms, careful not to touch his wound. "I l
