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.
'Who the hell does he think he is?' I ask myself, grabbing my bag. I avoid looking at the others. I don't think I can face them.Did they hear? I really don't want them to think badly of me. Surely, they can't think I'd do that to them. That I'd steal their idea…Talk about assumptions! How could he? I've done nothing wrong. Nothing at all to suggest that I'd ever do what he's suggesting. I've worked hard! I've worked endlessly in the last few weeks and I haven't complained once. Not ONCE.Not when he practically spat out his sandwich on me, just because he apparently doesn't like gherkins. Who doesn't like gherkins? I kept quiet every single night when I desperately wanted to go home and sleep but he insisted on staying late. I didn't say anything that time he made me go to his apartment to pick up clothes because he'd decided to pull an all-nighter.I've done everything he's asked me to.I should have quit when I first wrote out my resignation letter!It's takes all of my pride to wa
"What are you doing, Miss Clancy?" Martin asks, looking down at me.I've ducked down so I can look around the corner. I don't want anyone to see me. It might be the weekend but that doesn't guarantee that the company is empty. For one thing, I'm pretty sure Noah will be in his office."SHH!" I whisper. "You can't call me that.""There's no one here. It's eight in the morning on a Saturday." The way he says it, makes it clear he would much rather be at home than here helping me.I don't say anything as I get back up, darting down the corridor as quick as I can.Martin's eyebrows are sky high. I probably look ridiculous. I'm wearing sunglasses and a scarf around my head."What do you look like?" he asks, rolling his eyes at me.I've known Martin since I was a little girl. He's more like an uncle than my grandma's assistant. Grinning at him, I pull the scarf closer around my face."Don't I look pretty?" I ask, trying my best to keep a straight face.Laughing, he presses the call button fo
I mope around my apartment for the rest of the weekend. I still haven't fully unpacked and so I decide to make a dent into the pile of boxes currently taking up residence in my living room.On Monday morning, I dress for work even though I'm not sure if I should go in. Martin didn't seem to think confronting Noah was a good idea. I've never been one to avoid conflict but I've never been suspended either.The CCTV still photo is sitting on the coffee table. Would Noah really give the design to Holly though? He got so angry at me, just for talking to her, it's hard to believe that he'd be the one actually passing the information to them.Picking up the photo, I put it in an envelope and grab my handbag.I'm still angry and even if it does turn out that Noah didn't do it, I still want to have my say. I'm being stubborn but I don't care. I'm not going to just sit here and wait for him to fire me.Slamming my apartment's door behind me, I rush down the stairs and onto the street. I hail dow
Noah's POV:She must be insane! In what world would I sabotage my own team? She's not moving though. Eden Winters is ridiculously stubborn and she's showing no signs of backing down. How can she even keep a straight face while making such utterly absurd accusations? "It doesn't make sense," she says. "Your problems with Team Two pre-date my arrival at the company. It's far more logical that you or someone else in the department are culpable.""You're delusional," I bite out angrily. "Why would I sabotage myself?""Dunno," she says, shrugging her shoulders again. "I didn't say you did, only that you could have."I open my mouth to respond but she's too quick."You tried to fire me without any evidence, just an assumption. Based on your logic, you should be fired too.""But you're not fired," I retort, "so you're splitting hairs.""Only because I actually know my employment rights," she comes back. "You wanted to fire me.""This is pointless. You're wasting my time.""True," she agrees.