I can't wait to get to work on Monday morning. Not that I'd tell my grandma that. She'd only read into it that I like Noah. Which is ridiculous… He's my boss for one thing. But he's also an utter pain in the arse.A sexy as hell, pain in the arse…"You're here early," I say to Stacey as she comes to stand beside me as we wait for the lift."Yeah. Got some stuff to catch up on. Good weekend?""Yeah, it was great. You?""I went on a date," she tells me excitably. "It was awful."I have no idea how she does it. I've never known anyone to be so happy as they recount a bad date."It's not really surprising," she says. "I don't know if I've ever had a good first date.""You're not serious?""Yup…""What actually happened?" I ask her."Okay. So, we've been talking online for a few weeks," she says as we step into the lift. "He seemed great. Literally, my ideal man.""Right, so far so good.""Yeah, so when we meet up and he's just as smoking as his picture, I think I've hit the jackpot."I can
There's excitement in the conference room as Noah tells the team that he will be informing Mrs Clancy about our new designs today and that if everything goes to plan, both products should be in production by the end of the week.I can't believe how quickly we've gotten to this point. It's super exciting to think I've been involved – sort of – in the process. I provided coffee and snacks; I feel like that's a valid contribution.He tells everyone to double check everything. There's no margin for error after everything that's happened over the last few weeks.Noah is clearly worried that Lewis Artie will try something but he doesn't say it in the meeting. Instead he keeps everything upbeat, thanking the team for their hard work.Everyone is so excited and happy that I'm a little scared we'll jinx it. I'm not usually superstitious but the last few weeks has me touching wood. He doesn't say it but I'm pretty sure Noah feels the same way.When the meeting is over, I follow him out of the co
Noah's POV:My morning has been hectic. Mondays always are but were usually I find it only mildly irritating, now I find I'm disappointed that I've not seen much of Eden. Other than the occasional request for coffee, I've not had any excuse to speak to her.But then again, I shouldn't be looking for excuses to talk to her. I should be working, not flirting – or even thinking about flirting – with my assistant.I work through my lunchbreak, but Eden brings me a sandwich, insisting that I eat before the meeting. More than anything, I'm just happy to see her, even if it's only for a few minutes."You need to eat," she tells me, moving the files I'm looking at off my desk as she places a plate down in front of me."Thank you," I say, although I don't really have the time to stop if I'm going to be ready for the meeting at two."Eat," she repeats firmly.I lift up the sandwich not wanting to disappoint her. She sits down opposite me and I get the distinct impression she won't leave until my
"Wait," James Artie cuts into my pitch.He doesn't need to utter another word for me to know that it isn't going to be in support of my team's work. He's going to do everything he can to pull our products apart. It's what he does."We haven't got the factory capacity for either of these," he says.I don't know how he'd know that. He's the head of finance and has very little involvement in the production side of things."Actually we do," I tell him, handing Mrs Clancy the documents that Eden has been working on, including a run down of the time and man power each factory is able to give."Not if we want to create a new range around the rocking bed design."I pause. He's right. Without knowing Mrs Clancy wanted to make a new line, I hadn't anticipated the need to include it in the projections."Well, it says here," Mrs Clancy responds, "that these numbers make an allowance for a twenty percent increase in demand for other products."I glance at what she's looking at. There on one sheet o
Drinks had seemed like a great idea earlier. Then again I hadn't been planning on a Monday night rager. I'd anticipated a couple of rounds at the pub and nothing more.I'm not sure why I didn't try and get out earlier. I should have just made some excuse about needing to feed my dog, not that I have a dog and then I wouldn't be in the waiting room at A&E right now. I don't even remember who recommended going to a club. It's Monday night! Who does that? Whoever it was that suggested it is seriously at risk of losing their end of year bonus.The only positive in this entire situation is that I'm not alone. Eden is sitting beside me, her head resting on my shoulder as she sleeps. Stacey is pacing back and forth. It's exhausting just watching her."He'll be okay, won't he?" she asks, coming to sit down opposite us."It's only a broken arm," I reply."I can't believe he did that.""Me neither," I grumble, glancing at my watch. It's three in the bloody morning and I only have about three hou
When I arrive at work, I'm surprised to find that Noah still hasn't arrived. I never beat him here. Then again, he'd made a point of telling me to come in later than normal. However, this is later. It's almost nine and this might be the first time I've ever come in after seven thirty in the morning.Some of the team have already arrived, none of them looking particularly great as they hide away in the cubicles, working as quietly as possible. Even if their heads are killing them, I still think they got off lightly though. None of them spent several hours in the emergency room. Making my way into the kitchen, I make myself and Noah a coffee. We're going to need a hell of a lot of caffeine to get us through today.Noah wanders in while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil."I thought you might be in here," he says, offering me a coffee from the coffee shop across the street."Oh my gosh! You're a lifesaver!" I gush, accepting the coffee eagerly. "I was just going to make coffee.""I think
My cheeks are flaming red as I make my way across the department floor towards Noah's office. I try to reassure myself that he couldn't have noticed me staring at him. He was surely too distracted with everything else going on. There's not much that can distract Noah Grisham from his work and I'm pretty sure I don't make the list.That thought is a little upsetting, not that it should be. I'm his assistant; I'm supposed to help him get his work done not hinder him. I certainly shouldn't be a distraction.I hurry to sign into his computer, surprised that he shared his password with me. He shouldn't have done that. Even if he's deemed me trustworthy, the rules are the rules and he shouldn't breech them. I make a mental note to remind him to change his password.There's a window open and I go to close it but my finger hovers over the mouse as I find myself reading its content. I shouldn't. It's none of my business but I can't stop myself.Why would Noah be looking for a new job?He can't
I knock on my grandma's office door. Noah has sent me to get her signature on a couple of documents. I feel weirdly apprehensive. It will be the first time we've actually spoken since I came to work here. For the most part, I've been working hard to avoid her. I'm not sure either of us will be able to act like strangers.What if someone other than Martin is in her office?I've never been a very good actor. At least, I was never picked for my high school plays. And for good reason.When I hear her call out for me to enter, I hesitate for a fraction longer before opening the door. I do my best to paste a smile on my face. As I feared, the room is full of people, mostly people I don't recognise but that doesn't mean they don't know who I am."Eden," she says far warmer than she should and I grimace."Hello Mrs Clancy," I say with what I hope sounds like polite nervousness. "Mr Grisham asked me to get your approval on these.""Of course," she replies, holding out her hand for the documents
Noah's POV:When I manage to get through the crowd of people, I find Eden sitting at the centre. She's in a metal chair with a hot drink in her hand and she's shaking slightly. My eyes linger on her momentarily before they take in the person talking to her, or more precisely the clothes they are wearing.Eden is speaking to a police officer.What the hell happened? I move to her side quickly, before crouching down to check on her."Eden, are you okay?" I ask.She gives me a small smile and offers me a shaky hand. I take it, feeling the cold that is emanating from her skin."I'm alright," she answers but I struggle to believe her."What happened?" I demand."James…"That's all she needs to say for me to see red. "Where is he?""The police have him now," she tells me, her voice hollow like she's overwrought with emotion."Do you need to stay here?" I want to take her away from all the prying eyes. I know Eden won't be enjoying the attention she's currently getting."I don't
Noah's POV:Mrs Clancy is happily talking away about Eden. Her voice is filled with evident pride. I'm surprised that Eden's been gone this long. It's been almost half an hour and I had gotten the distinct impression that she would rush back."I wonder what's taking Eden so long," Mrs Clancy's words echo my own thoughts.Getting to my feet, I reply, "I should go find her."Mrs Clancy smiles at me as I make my way out of the room in search of her granddaughter. Just outside, I'm glance around. I'm not really sure where to look for Eden. Coffee was just Mrs Clancy's excuse to get Eden out of the room. All so she could ambush me with questions. Questions I would have answered even if Eden had been in the room.The nurses are sitting at their desk, chatting away happily and there are several patients wandering about, but there's no sign of Eden. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call her. It's not like I can search the entire hospital, although I will if I have to. Even if it does
Eden's POV:I'm pretty sure grandma shouldn't be having caffeine so I forgo the coffee and just wander around instead. I tell myself that I'll give them ten minutes – exactly ten minutes – and then I'll head back.I hope Noah knows what he's getting himself into. Grandma is sneaky and she knows exactly how to dig for information. She'll have a wedding date, the number of kids he wants and the names and numbers of his immediate family members all within that ten minutes I'm giving them.Any longer and she'll wrangle every secret he's ever kept out of him.I'm not sure where to go so I head towards the exit, thinking that I'll get a little air. My mind immediately returns to the events of the previous day. It had taken ages to explain everything to the police. They'd have what felt like hundreds of questions.They have more, of course. They want witness statements from all of us. I guess, that's what I'll be doing tomorrow in between trying to fix the mess that James and Lewis have
Eden's POV:Opening my eyes, I stretch my arms over my head. A quick glance at the alarm clock tells me it's later than it should be. I should have gotten up hours ago.I don't have time to waste.In a daze, I change my clothes and give myself a quick wash in the bathroom attached to my bedroom. I need to know what the hell is going on. Hurrying out of my bedroom, I'm surprised to find Noah in my little kitchen. He's bare foot and making breakfast."Morning," he says with a wide smile.I really love the sight of him here like this. Its not the first time I've seen him in my home in the morning but it feels special somehow. Every morning with him feels special.He tells me to sit down at the table and I only waver for a second as I wonder where my phone is. He must see my hesitation because he hands me my phone, unplugging it from the charger that is on the counter."Your battery was low," he tells me gently, as he drops a kiss to my head and places a cup of tea on the table in f
While I wait for the police to arrive, I hurriedly search through Alice's computer for anything about Luxen. I'm pretty sure that's where the company's money has gone and so it's essential that I find the information about it as soon as possible.I hear pounding footsteps and when I look up I see Noah coming towards me."What the hell is going on, Eden?" he demands."The police are on their way," I tell him, my attention returning to the computer. "Where's Lewis?""With Martin. What do you mean the police are coming?""I heard James… He's leaving. He's running away. I need to stop him."It's clear from the look on his face that he's not really following."James killed my parents.""I know.""You do?""Lewis…""Oh.""I called the police. He's going to leave the country.""When?""Alice booked him a flight in four hours' time.""So, we have time… What are you doing now?" he asks, his hand on my forearm."I need to find… There's an account – Luxen. I need to…""That's whe
Eden's POV:I'm moving on autopilot, surviving on adrenaline alone. Several minutes ago when I heard James Artie leave his office with his assistant, I had let out a sigh of relief. I couldn't believe I'd managed to remain hidden.I'd tiptoed down the corridor until I found myself staring right at Noah.My pulse had skyrocketed as I stared at him and I hadn't been able to stop the wide smile that covered my face. As awful as it was to hear James' callous words about my parents' death, I felt like I was finally able to breathe again after the longest time.I knew for sure who killed my parents.Knowing that James Artie is responsible for all the pain I've felt, that my grandma has felt in the last ten years, knowing that he is the enemy I've been trying to beat in the last few months, gave me the fire to win.That need to put him behind bars is what pushes me back in the direction of his office. I know that he's gone back to his apartment to pack his stuff. I heard him tell Alice
Noah's POV:When Eden doesn't hurry back from the loos, I don't immediately panic. It's understandable that she might need a few minutes alone after everything that we've discussed today. It feels like every day we learn something new that has the power to destroy her and yet she faces it with a strength that is beyond belief.I'm in awe of her.I don't think I've have handled all this anywhere near as well as she has if it were my parents that were murdered. In fact, I know that I wouldn't. And it's not because I'm a weak man, but rather because she is something else entirely. She has a quiet resilience, a fire that keeps her moving towards her goal, though I'm not completely sure what that is.Is she trying to save the company or discover her parents' murderer? It's hard to say and I don't think it really matters either way. One will no doubt lead to the other and vice versa.Ten minutes turn to twenty and twenty soon becomes thirty. I find myself checking the clock frequently,
"Just how much did you tell her?" Lewis shouts as he enters the room. I'm not sure who he is talking to. Perhaps his uncle?"Lewis, shut up," James retorts angrily as the door slams shut behind them. "You know full well that Eden Clancy is in the building. The last thing we need is for her to overhear you.""It's not me that told her…""No. But it is you that got caught stealing intellectual property not just once but countless times. So stop shouting at Alice.""She told…""No. She didn't. From what Alice is saying, it was actually your assistant that gave Eden the details of your indiscretion.""My indiscretion? It was your idea! I never even wanted this job and now thanks to you, Uncle James, I'm probably going to end up in prison.""Don't be such a big baby and shut the hell up. Taking a little responsibility won't do you any harm."The room falls silent and I pray to whoever might be listening that no one will come around this side of the desk. "Alice tell me everything,
After lunch we return to the company. I'm a little distracted and not really paying attention to what the guys are saying. And not because we just had a run in with Mason.That whole conversation is like a nonentity. It seems irrelevant compared to everything else that has been happening recently."Eden what do you think?" Noah asks, pulling me from my thoughts.I stand still and blink up at them both. I haven't got a clue what they want to know. What do I think about what?"Er… I'm not sure. I'm going to go to the loo."They nod before returning to their conversation. Leaving the office, I make my way across the lobby and down one corridor, heading in the direction of the toilets.The idea that my grandma has known about my parents' murder for years and has done nothing about it is really bothering me. I just can't grapple with it. It doesn't make sense. Even if she wanted to protect me, she wouldn't just allow someone to get away with killing my parents. Would she?Surely, she