Chapter 7: Living On Someone Else's Dime

Coming to sit behind my desk, I'm shaking with rage. If he hadn't stormed off so quickly I would have told him exactly what I think of his probationary period and where he can stuff it.

What does he know about the Clancy family legacy?

It's not as great as it's cracked up to be, knowing that everything has already been decided for you. It doesn't matter what I dreamed about as a little girl because those dreams can't come true. I'll rot away managing my grandma's company.

I probably sound ungrateful.

I promise I'm not. I love my grandma; she's the only family I have. Of course, I love her. And if she really wants me to run Clancy's Comforts in the future then I'll do it. This company might have been her dream, but it's not mine.

Perhaps I'd feel differently if my dad was still here.

Climbing to my feet, I make my way down the hall. I should just stay at my desk like a good little assistant. I'm not supposed to know my way around and yet I'm walking with purpose, completely unaffected by the way everyone's gaze seems to follow me.

"Eden? It is Eden, right?" A young woman with auburn hair asks. "Do you need help finding something?"

I pause, unsure what to say.

"I… I was just looking about," I say lamely.

"Mr Grisham didn't give you a tour?" she asks, rolling her eyes.

"Er… No." A tour? I thought I was lucky not to be handed my P45 there and then, with a quick 'sorry, but this isn't going to work.'

"He's a bit of an ogre, isn't he?" she says with a twinkling laugh. "But don't worry he improves slightly with time."

"Slightly?" My lips twitch with amusement.

"He's actually a very good boss. Just a little bit temperamental. Easily riled."

"That's one word for it."

"Should I show you around?"

"You don't have to," I try to refuse but I can hardly tell her that I know these halls better than she does or that I practically grew up in them.

"I'm Holly by the way, Holly Sinclair," she says, a wide smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too. You already seem to know my name… Eden Winters," I say, holding out my hand for her to shake.

She looks down at it before laughing once more and coming to drape her arm around my shoulder.

"Come on, Winters," she tells me, practically dragging me down the hall. "We're going to be besties, I can tell."

I don't know what she means. There's no way she can tell that after knowing me for all of two minutes.

"Er… Alright," I say uncertainly.

"So… What brought you to Clancy's?" she asks and I find myself wondering if everyone who works here dreamed about it as children or only Noah Grisham.

"Nothing particular."

"Oh, come on. There must be something."

"I told Mr Grisham that I was just looking for a job."

"I bet he didn't take that too well," she says with a grin.

"Nope," I respond.

I pause when we reach the place that I'd been heading. I see the plaque above the door that reads Eliza Clancy. I'm tempted to walk right into her office and tell her I quit but I don't think I can face disappointing my grandma like that. I hesitate and I'm pretty sure Holly notices something.

"Oh. That's Mrs Clancy's office, the CEO," Holly tells me matter-of-factly. "I imagine you'll meet her soon enough. She's very hands on. Knows everyone by name."

I can hear the admiration in Holly's voice clear as day.

"Nothing gets past Mrs Clancy," she finishes.

She's not wrong. There's a reason I can't lie to save my life. It's because every time I tried, knowing that my grandma would be able to tell made me doubt myself.

I turn away from the door. Even if I'm furious with Noah Grisham, I can't barge in there. I wouldn't do that to her. She deserves far more respect than that.

The wall opposite her office door catches my attention and I lose my breath. There are seven large photographs mounted on that wall. One of each of the Clancy Houses dad and I worked on together and then finally, right in the middle, is a blown up photograph of me and my dad.

Stepping closer, I can remember the day perfectly. It was summer and there was a gentle breeze in the air. We'd just arrived home after finally finding the seventh house. I'd been so eager to tell my mum and grandma all about the new doll's house we'd found.

In the photo we're both smiling as if everything in the world is exactly how it should be and at least for that day it was.

I very nearly reach out to touch my dad's face, a tear threatening to fall down my cheek.