Begin Again novel Chapter 103

Liam rolled up his sleeves and threw off his tie as he scanned the bar.

He sighed loudly, disappointed to see he's still out of bourbon and whiskey; Gibby and Clara hadn't had a chance to stock up. But—he decided—any alcohol would do at this point after the hellish day he'd had. So he pulled out two six-packs of beers and took them back to the couch.

Glaring at the wrinkled blazer beside him, he opened one of the cans and thought back to a conversation he once had with Gibby when he was still trying to get Eden to sign with the company. Back then, he'd laughed off her comment, but he understood now what she meant about his assistant being very much like a wife.

If his intense fight with Eden was a prelude to marital bliss, he wanted no part of it. It wasn't for the faint of heart for sure, and as Laura had said, he doesn't have a heart. Maybe a life of loneliness and alcoholism was the only thing on the cards for him, and as he brought the ice-cold liquid to his lips, Liam realised he was somewhat okay with that.

He was on his sixth, maybe seventh beer—he'd lost count—and still licking his wounds from his battle with Eden earlier when his cousins came to find him just after 9:00 PM.

"Dude! What the fuck are you sitting in the dark for?" Julian flipped the switch, instantly bathing the office in a bright, warm glow.

"Did you cancel your afternoon meetings just to drink?" Matthew demanded, his mouth set in a hard line, the look in his eyes crystal clear—He was deeply disappointed with him and his poor life choices.

"I had fucking rough day, okay? I deserve a day off." Liam grunted and stretched his numb body on the couch, making sure to take up all the room in hopes that his cousins would get the hint and leave him alone. The last thing he wanted was company, especially when he was in such a foul mood.

"We heard," Julian clapped his hands and rocked on the balls of his feet. "Want to talk about it?"

Liam shook his head. He didn't want to talk. The same way he didn't want to think. But if the brothers have their way, he would do both in no time.

Yawning loudly, he draped his arm over his face to block out the light. It was fantastic for ambience, not so much for the dull, throbbing ache behind his eyelids.

Liam would have preferred not to think about Eden after their intense row, but he couldn't help but wonder about the welt under her eye. It must have been a hell of a slap she took for it to bruise like that.

He'd tried the whole day to ignore it. But numbed now by beers he wouldn't normally drink, Liam had no choice but to acknowledge the harsh truth and confront the cold fury burning hot in his veins.

Lucy hurt Eden. She had slapped her so hard she left a mark on her face.

Nobody touched what was his and got away with it.

Eden was his.

She may not know it yet, or may not be ready to submit to him. But she belonged to him.

And no one was allowed to hurt her.

"Did you fire your assistant yet?" Liam tilted his head to look at Matthew, clenching his jaw as he glowered at him. "I hope you did. What she did is unacceptable."

"HR handled it." His cousin matched his scowl. "Don't get involved. It's over."

He sat up, startling the brothers with his sudden movement as he threw on his shoes and blazer.

"Where are you going?" Julian asked.

"To Paradise," Liam belched and hiccuped his way to the door. "Get it, Eden, Paradise? She's my hell and my paradise, and nobody fucking touches her!"

And he had to check on her and make sure she's okay, and her face doesn't swell up.

Julian ran in front of him and held out his arms, blocking his path. "I'm usually the last person to say no to bad ideas. But this is a terrible idea!"

"Move!" Liam tried to shove him aside. But he teetered on his feet and almost lost his balance. He'd clearly misjudged his own strength and level of sobriety.

"Easy there." Matthew caught him before he could fall face down and dragged him back to the couch. "Just how much did you drink?"

"Not a lot," Liam pointed proudly at the beer cans scattered on the floor.

"Fuck, Liam. You need to keep it together. You can't allow Eden to get under your skin like this."

Liam smiled and nodded as though he understood. But they all knew he was too far gone now and in way too deep.