Begin Again novel Chapter 48

Eden felt the other assistants' pitiful stares the whole time she followed Matthew down the hall to his part of the floor, and she wanted to cry all over again.

They'd all heard Liam's very loud meltdown.

She wouldn’t even be surprised if she's already the subject of group chats and chain emails, or the inspiration behind a meme or two floating around.

She'd seen such situations play out at Van Holt Industries, when senior executives would go apeshit on junior staff members over the smallest, sometimes ridiculous mishaps and the whole company would rehash the incident for days.

Eden knew, though, her blunder was far from a ridiculous mishap.

The thought that she almost killed Liam chilled her to the bone every time her mind wandered back to that terrifying moment in his office.

Maybe working so closely with him wasn't such a good idea.

It's becoming more apparent the longer she stayed that they'd kill each other at some point. Maybe not physically. But by the time one of them gives in, there might not be anything left of their hearts.

Maybe she should leave before all he can ever feel for her is hate.

"This is your office, and I'm right across the hall from you." Matthew pushed her inside a room so tiny it reminded her of a supplies closet, and closed the door behind him, slicing through her jumbled thoughts with his smile and kindness.

She still hadn't fully processed he's Aiden's uncle.

Julian as well.

They were both good men, just the influence her son needed in his life.

"Thank you," Eden said as she placed her box on the desk and took her laptop from him.

Her new boss was frank with her as he sat in one of the two visitors' chairs on the other end of the desk. "I'll be honest with you; I don't need an assistant. Lucy is very efficient and capable."

Eden nodded, a sinking feeling settling at the pit of her stomach, convinced he's firing her. She hoped not; she'd just called Bathroom Place last night to reserve her clawfoot tub. How's she supposed to afford it now if she doesn't have a job?

No! She mentally shook herself, hope flickering to life in the abyss of her badly bruised heart; he wouldn't give her an office if he planned to fire her.

With common sense back in place, Eden tried to focus on everything Matthew said—an impossible feat when she'd missed half of his well-meaning speech.

"—Are you okay with that?" He asked, and Eden smiled and assured him she’s happy with the plan, even though she had no idea what she'd agreed to. She was too afraid to get clarity, in case he also thinks she's hard of hearing.

Her cheeks flared up again when she recalled Liam's hurtful words. How could she have created a life with a man so heartless and impatient?

And since her son seemed to take after him in everything, would he turn out to be just as ruthless?

Is that also in the genes?

In his DNA?

"—Great, I'll let Gibby and Clara know you'll be joining them shortly then." Matthew gave her a thumbs-up and quickly retreated from the room.

It was painfully clear to anyone with eyes he's uncomfortable with this whole arrangement and wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.

She didn't blame him; she'd be just as uncomfortable if she were suddenly saddled with an assistant who had no business playing in the major league.

"Eden?" Matthew said from the door.

She whipped up her head and stared at him, blinking back the tears threatening to spill over, "Yeah?"

"Liam—Give him time. He's not a terrible guy. He has a temper, but he's not all that bad. Today, he was just terrified, that's all."

Eden swallowed the lump in her throat, "Of course."

"Will you be alright?" Matthew asked, searching her face for signs of a looming breakdown.

"Absolutely," she lied. She wasn't going to be alright. Not today at least.

She was so tired and ached everywhere, even in the depths of her soul. But she dug out one more smile for him, one more nod, one more yes, even when all she wanted to do is scream her guts out.

Where's her Emmy, Eden wondered because Matthew was blown away by her performance, his smile widening the longer he nodded, clearly satisfied with his quick assessment of her mental wellbeing.

So why was he single, again, Eden wondered as she scrolled through his profile one more time, making sure she hadn’t made things up about him.

Satisfied her eyes were not deceiving her, and despite her gut telling her he's too good to be true, she agreed to a coffee chat.

He was online, and he responded almost immediately. Since he worked at the law firm across Anderson Logistics—the very same place she was staring at moments before the call with her mom—he didn't mind popping in one of the afternoons.

Eden needed a handyman urgently. The sooner they met and she friend-zoned him, the better.

They settled for a coffee chat the following week after she'd confirmed her schedule.

She sent a message in the group chat, and Isaac's photo and the girls went wild. They couldn’t stop gushing about his eyes and dimples. Lydia was super chuffed with her Hot Connexions idea; she’d truly outdone herself and she reckoned if acting and brainwashing hoards of internet users didn’t work out for her in the long run, she can always go into matchmaking.

Cassandra and Sienna were just happy Eden will finally get laid and end her two year dry spell.

She was still in the group chat when Clara came to round her up for her first training session.

"Nice digs," she said as she took in her cramped space, her eyes lighting up at the assortment of flowers and gifts sitting on the credenza.

"Oh, please, you have far better real estate," Eden rolled her eyes as she followed her out of the office. "I guess your side of the floor is the Hills and mine is the slums."

By the time they made their way down to the 18th floor, where Gibby had prepared a room for them, they were both laughing and chatting like old friends.

For the next four hours, Eden almost forgot her near-fatal encounters with Liam as she furiously made notes on personal grooming and dressing for success.

Even though she no longer reported into Liam, as an executive assistant, she had to look her best at all times.

A new wardrobe was way down her list of priorities, and wasn’t something she planned to splurge on but now that Gibby had nicely brought it up, she had to do something about it soon.

Guess Lydia was right, after all, Eden thought as she recalled their fight over her very outdated clothes.

It was hard to believe it was just two days ago.

She felt like she's aged a lifetime since.