Noah's POV:I'm pretty sure not knowing about the workshop is driving Eden crazy. She's got that frazzled look she gets when she's not in control of everything around her. It's one of the traits that makes her the best assistant I've ever had. She's always ahead of the game and so there's no doubt that my cancelling all my appointments has sent her into a spiral of confusion."We'll start straight after lunch," I say to Mr Wigney.I'm so happy to have found him at such short notice. It had seemed like a great idea when I heard that Eden needed to improve her carving skills but I didn't have the skills to help her and to be honest, even Rob's skills weren't at the level needed for a Clancy Doll House.So we'd got straight to work, trying to find an artist specialising in wooden carving. It had sounded at the time like it would be an easy task until I realised that it wasn't a medium that most artists work with any more. I'd had one or two people rant about it on the phone over the l
Eden's POV:A woodwork workshop?I can't believe that this is what Noah has been plotting. Stacey is grinning like the cheshire cat as she sits next to me. She's got that smug expression people get when they know something you don't.Did Noah arrange all this for me? He says not. He says it's for a special project he wants the team to work on in the next few weeks, one that he refuses to tell me anything about, but Stacey seems to think it's more about me than the secret project. Although she has absolutely no evidence to back up her opinion and so I'm wary of believing her.Mr Wigney - his name makes me giggle more than it should - is the sweetest old man I've ever met. I had the privilege of having lunch with him and he spent the majority of the time asking how I hurt my hands. Of course, I couldn't tell him the truth. That I'd cut them to shreds trying to carve furniture for the seventh Clancy house.Instead I told him the lie that I'd given Stacey, that I was trying to make a
Noah's POV:Eden is sitting at her desk staring at the little chair she made like it's the best thing she's ever seen. The workshop might have been my best idea this year, if not even longer."I have a present for you," I say as I come to lean against her desk."Present?" she asks, looking up at me."First, I should warn you, I really can't carve," I tell her."I'm sure it's amazing." Her encouragement is appreciated. I'm not exaggerating when I say carving isn't something I'm good at. Not only that but I don't have the patience to learn."Open your hand." She does as I ask and I tell her to close her eyes.Her hand outstretched and her eyes closed, I'm tempted to kiss her but I definitely shouldn't do that here. Glancing around, I check that we're alone before dropping my lips to hers. She opens her eyes to tell me off. It's written all over her face, I shouldn't kiss her at work. Before she can say anything, I drop her present into her still open palm.Looking down at it, she
Eden's POV:Why the hell has Noah got me carving little woodland creatures? I would have thought he realised from my terrible little chair that carving isn't one of my greatest strengths. Sure, I'm getting better but I'm still not exactly a master craftsman.Stacey says it's an important task for the spring line. She says we're actually going to be selling them. But who is she kidding... Who is going to pay for these little bunnies and deer? Then again... people buy all sorts of crazy stuff so maybe there's a market for wonky woodland animals.I've barely seen Noah in the last few weeks. He says he's been busy with work and to be fair, I've been crazy busy trying to get the Clancy house finished in time for grandma's party. That's what I'm calling it... A party. I don't understand why she wants to make a song and dance about the house. It's not going to be as good as the one's my dad used to make and so it's hard to believe that this isn't going to just be a great big disappointment
Noah's POV:Forcing Eden to stay in the kitchen might have been taking things a step too far... Now spending her time in my office instead of the kitchen, she seems slightly happier. Mostly because at least now they have a window. The problem is that she can see through the windows into the department.Which when everyone is working in the conference room isn't really a problem. But when the first of the houses are finally finished and we have to move them to the store room things get a little complicated. I ask Stacey to distract Eden, take her out for lunch or something but my girlfriend only refuses everything the other girl suggests."Boss, maybe you should take her out?" Rob tells me. "You like her, right? So, here's your chance..."I frown because we don't have time for this. There's no time to waste but his suggestion might be the only thing that will get her out of the building, unless I were to ask Mrs Clancy for help. But then I'd have to admit that I already know that E
Eden's POV:Standing in the doorway of my childhood bedroom, I stare at the latest Clancy house. I have to admit it does look pretty impressive. To look at it from here, you wouldn't know that I did it instead of my dad. But that doesn't mean much; everything looks better at a distance."Oh, you're here again?" Grandma asks, coming to stand next to me."Yeah...""I thought you'd finished the house?""Yeah, just double checking it," I tell her, not taking my eyes off the house."It looks good to me," she says dismissively. She doesn't understand the pressure I feel."Are you sure about this?""About what dear?""The memorial service.""I don't really know what there is not to be sure about."Of course, she doesn't. She doesn't understand at all. It's not her that has been lying to everyone... What will Noah think when he sees me on that stage next to grandma? He's going to be so angry."Well... what about the fact that no one knows I'm your granddaughter?""I don't think t
With only two days left before the memorial service, time is running out to tell Noah but I still haven't worked out how to go about it. I'm terrified that he'll be hurt... or that he won't forgive me. I've been avoiding him. Well sort of... He's been busy with work. He's been up to something for weeks and I have no idea what it is but it means that avoiding him is surprisingly easy.Unable to sleep, I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling. It's been days since I had a decent night's sleep. Instead, I've been tossing and turning as I try to think up a solution. Grandma would say I'm overthinking it.I almost texted him twice with a single sentence, "My real name is Eden Clancy."Of course, I can't actually tell him by text. He definitely wouldn't forgive me if I did that. But I've considered all the options... writing him a letter... taking him out for dinner... putting a post-it note on his desk... using sign language or a foreign language - personally that's my favourite. I get a cle
On the morning of the memorial, I still haven't told him and I'm panicking about it. I've spent the last two days trying to get five minutes alone with him but it's been impossible. He's been so busy that I've barely seen him, except in passing and never long enough to have a conversation. I'm not even sure he's been eating and my usual morning coffees have suddenly stopped appearing.If I was paranoid, I'd think I'd upset him but I know better than that. He's just rushed off his feet with work. If anything I should be the one getting his coffee under the circumstances, not to mention I'm also his assistant. I'm on the tube, heading to my grandmother's house and I'm wondering if there's enough time for me to go and find him before the event. But I don't know where he is. I know he's working today. But he could be anywhere... At the company or the venue that grandma chose or even back at his apartment. He says he signed up to help with the planning for the memorial and it's kept him
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