There's an awkwardness between us but I do my best to ignore it as I explain my team's current list of projects to her."You won't have to be involved in any of the actual design work," I tell her, "but you'll need to know the details of each project."She is nodding her head vigorously as if that will prove that she's paying attention. It's almost endearing. Although not quite, because it also looks like her head could completely fall off."Er, if you have any questions about any of them, you can ask me or the team members associated with the project," I say, passing her several project folders over the desk."No problem, Mr Grisham.""I mean it," I tell her. "It's better to ask questions than do something wrong."I sound stern but I don't intend it that way. I'm trying my best to be patient. It's not one of my strengths but if it means I don't have to keep training new assistants, I'm willing to give it a shot.Sighing, I say, "let's go. I'll show you around.""Holly gave me a tour y
Eden's POV:My first week at Clancy's Comforts goes off without a snitch. Although Mr Grisham had clearly put in a massive amount of effort to be patient with me on the first few days, I'm quickly learning that he's a completely grouch before he has his morning coffee and for the last thirty minutes of the work day. He's also a tyrant right before lunch and… Who am I kidding? He's just a moody git most of the time.But a week in, I at least know it's not all aimed at me. Everyone seems to get on his bad side in equal measure. His team don't let it bother them though. Instead, they roll their eyes at him and even tease him for it. AND he lets them!"Alright Eden," Stacey, one of the designers calls over with a wave of her hand as she walks past."Not bad," I reply just as my phone buzzes with a message from Mr Grisham demanding I bring him a set of files."He's already on the war path, is he?" she asks, eyeing my phone.I'm wary of agreeing with her. As right as she is, I can hear my gr
Noah's POVEven by my own standards, I'm in a terrible mood on Monday morning. I had the weekend from hell. There was a leak in my apartment and I spent the entire two day break hunting down a plumber. My kitchen is ruined. Like utterly destroyed.Eden is waiting for the elevator when I get there. She has a coffee in her hand and it smells divine. I would kill for a cup right about now."Miss Winters," I say a little bit sharper than I intend."Mr Grisham," she replies after a slight jump."Have you drunk any of that?" I eye her drink."Er… Not yet.""Great," I say, taking it from her. She glowers at me as I take a gulp. "That was mine!" she complains."Yup," I agree, nodding my head.She's clearly not impressed and I can't really say I blame her. If she were to steal my coffee first thing in the morning, I might fire her. Or worse.Eden reaches to try and take the drink back, clearly unimpressed."You can't just steal my drink," she says sassily."I already have," I retort, holding
Eden's POV:Noah might hate Mondays. It's weird because I thought he loved working for Clancy's Comforts. Apparently, not so much on Monday mornings.I'm supposed to be recording the minutes but that's a bit difficult when no one is speaking. You could hear a pin drop. Staring at the clock on my laptop, I wait as patiently for their three minutes to be up.I glance up at Noah. He looks completely relaxed, leaning back in his chair. Everyone else on the other hand look like they're about to crap themselves."Right, who is going to go first?" Noah asks eventually and I breath out a sigh of relief.But then the silence is back as no one volunteers.I tap my nails on the table, awkwardly looking everywhere except at the others in the room."Surely, someone has something," Noah says impatiently.Still nothing. He opens his mouth and I flinch. I recognise that look. He's going to shout. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who has recognised the expression on his face and Rob speaks up."Does t
Knocking on Noah's office door, I let myself in using my elbow to push the handle down."I got you a coffee, sir," I say happily, "and I thought you might want a cake.""A cake?" he asks, looking up from his work. "What do you want, Eden?"He's suspicious. Damn it."I was just wondering…""I'm not telling you," he cuts in."But…""Let me guess," he says. "Everyone is asking you which product concept won?""Er… yeah but…""But you're not asking for them," he continues, leaning back, his arms crossed. "You want to know too?""Yeah. That's right," I reply, placing the coffee and cake on his desk."I'm not telling you," he repeats.Frowning, I want to argue back but he doesn't look like he'll be moved. Instead, I pick up the coffee and cake once again."Hey! Hang on," he says, getting to his feet. "Where are you taking my cake?""When you refuse to be bribed, you don't get to keep the sweetener."His eyes are dark. He's not impressed as he leans forward over his desk."You're not serious?"
Over the next few days, I spend most of my time being sent on coffee runs. The team have barely left the conference room except to eat, sleep and hopefully shower. Although that last one is questionable, based on the awful stench in the conference room.We've been working late every day and Noah has been coming in earlier and earlier each morning. It's a real challenge, trying to arrive before him, one I'm failing to meet.We're working around the clock but no one has complained yet, at least not that I've heard. They're excited, eager to make the rocking beds the company's best product ever. It's not enough for it to be this year's bestseller, the goal Noah set them. No. They're on a mission to achieve more than ever before.I've got to respect them for it. They really love this job.I can't help but wonder if the other teams are the same. Do they have the same drive? It's hard to believe anyone else being as invested as Design Team One.It's intriguing, watching them work, the random
Noah's POV:The team work solidly on the new product for the best part of two weeks. Their energy is infectious and at the end of the second week, I can't wait to tell Mrs Clancy and the other managers about our new product. I gather the designs and head out of my office, telling Eden I'll be back in an hour or so.She smiles at me a wide, brimming smile. She's not the only one. I feel like the entire department is watching me. They all know where I'm going and they're anticipating Mrs Clancy's reaction just as much as I am.I don't want to pre-empt it, just in case Mrs Clancy hates our idea – I don't think it's likely but it's certainly not impossible – otherwise I'd tell everyone that I'll buy them a round of drinks after hours.Instead, I leave acting as if I'm completely indifferent to their excitement. By the time I reach Mrs Clancy's office it's a lot harder to hide my excitement. Lewis and his uncle, James Artie are standing outside whispering amongst themselves.I'm automatical
It takes everything I have not to let my rage show. I keep quiet as much as possible, only speaking when asked something directly and when the meeting finally comes to an end, I'm the first to leave.I stride purposefully in the direction of my department but the closer I get the slower my stride becomes. I don't know what I'm going to say to them. My team are going to be so disappointed.Turning the corner, the first thing I notice is Eden sitting at her desk. She's talking to someone and that someone has their back turned towards me. I can feel everyone's eyes on me. They're expecting me to say something. They're expecting good news but I haven't got any.The only people in the entire department who haven't noticed me are Eden and her guest.Approaching them, my temper boils as Holly Sinclair turns to look at me, a wide smile on her face."Thanks for that, Eden," she says. "I really owe you one."She nods her head at me before waving goodbye to Eden and walking away.I'm gobsmacked.