Begin Again novel Chapter 57

Liam rechecked his Rolex, his scowl deepening.

It's been thirty-five minutes since he left Eden on the sidewalk. She should have been back by now.

But what if she's not, a small voice, like a little devil on his shoulder, niggled him. What if she's still a tearful mess, doubled over on the sidewalk somewhere?

It's only right he checks on her; he reasoned as he unlocked his phone and scrolled through his contacts, pausing on her nickname.

Princess.

It stared back at him, taunting him, reminding him he's the biggest asshole in the world for making a woman cry, especially one as tiny as her.

God, Princess, where are you, he wondered as he typed out an urgent text, checking where she is.

'Meeting's already started. You're late.'

It sounded formal, terse even, as he read it over. Maybe he should add an emoji or two.

But which one?

The smiley one?

Nah, he mentally shook himself. This was no smiling matter.

Maybe the heart.

Women liked hearts, right? He'd never go wrong with hearts, he decided, as he added five to be doubly nice.

But what if—another small voice chimed in, throwing a spanner in the works— Eden misunderstands the hearts, and she reads too much into his message, and starts thinking he cares for her?

"Fucking hell!" Liam growled, startling everyone in the room with the expletives as he erased the text and his string of heart emojis, highly pissed at himself for even worrying about her.

It's her job to fix him; he reminded himself as he shoved the phone back in his pocket with unnecessary force.

"The list is up, sir!" Sarah pointed at the screen, giving him a much-needed distraction.

Liam turned to the screen, his irritation rising the farther down the list he went. None of the top ten influencers were anything to write home about as far as he could tell.

Sighing with disappointment, he turned to the team, "tell me about Kimberley Allen."

Sarah's second in charge prattled off facts about the influencer, all the things Liam could easily read on her official website.

"Did I say I want her bio?" Liam rounded on her, his frown darkening the longer he glared at her. "Tell me everything not made up."

There was more urgent typing and sweating and near-fatal heart attacks before someone was brave enough to speak up.

"She's had six DUI's, a few club brawls, and an affair with the wife of a Minister of Parliament, sir," Stanley, the head of PR, announced.

“Is this someone we want to associate with our brand? Why the hell is she even on this list?” He asked coldly. “Next!"

Someone sang Lydia Edwards's praises. She was number two on the list.

"Did I fucking stutter when I said I want all the information that's not written by a PR agency. Get me all her skeletons!" Liam exploded, slamming his fists on the table, almost upending a nearby glass brimming with water.

A hand near the back of the room shot up. It belonged to a Justin or something along those lines. Liam couldn't remember his name because he didn't bother with interns since they’d leave in three months anyway, six at most. He didn't even know why an intern was sitting in, but he nodded at him to speak.

"I lost track of time, Mr Anderson." She ignored his question and held on to the notebook on her chest for dear life.

"Doing what?" Liam wanted to kick himself as soon he asked. He doubted she'd willingly tell everyone she was a blubbering mess on the sidewalk not too long ago.

"I'd rather not say." She replied.

More stunned gasps and violent head-shakes from the team. Nobody had ever dared to be late for any of his meetings, let alone refuse to explain reasons for their tardiness.

Liam didn't mind, though. He wanted to make sure she's okay, and only her eyes would tell him the truth.

"Look at me," He said softly.

And when she still wouldn't comply, he used his boss' privileges. "Ms McBride it's an order—"

"Yes, sir," Eden finally met his gaze, her beautiful, doe-eyes, still brimming with tears and his heart shattered anew, leaving an ache so profound he wanted to reach deep inside his chest and yank it out. He'd take numbness and hollowness any day, over the hurt tearing through him at the sight of her tears.

"Would you like to be excused from the meeting?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, Sir. Thank you. I'm okay.”

"Let me know if you need anything."

Eden nodded and hurried to find a seat.

All the phones in the room were on once again, followed by frantic typing and urgent beeping as everyone shared the latest status update with the rest of the business: their new savior had subdued the Dragon. For the moment at least. Everyone was allowed to breathe again.

Liam cleared his throat and returned his attention to the screen, painfully aware of Eden's sadness weighing heavily on his heart.