Begin Again novel Chapter 68

In the unsettling silence of her living room, with her son practising his newly learned favourite word, all the little fantasies Eden had created in her mind since she came back from the Blue Mountains, came crashing down around her as the cold, harsh truth sank in. 

The only reason Liam’s even paying her any attention was she's the only woman who can get him off.

He wasn't flirting with her or using the term as some form of endearment when he aptly called her his tonic in the supplies room, Eden thought bitterly. Once she's cured him, his perfect life with Laura will carry on unchanged.

And what will she be left with? A broken heart and a son who's a perfect replica of his father, a permanent reminder of the man that she wanted but could never have?

She didn't realise she's crying until she felt Aiden's soft hands on her cheeks as he brushed her tears away.

"Mom," he kissed her cheek. "Don't cry."

"I'm okay, baby," she picked him up and hugged him close to her chest. "Mom is okay."

When Brenda returned sometime after 1:00 AM, Eden was still tossing and turning, crying buckets on her pillow. 

When she managed to drag herself out of bed to start her day four hours later, she looked like something straight out of a horror movie with her swollen face, puffy eyes and red nose.

Over a quick breakfast of toast and black tea, Brenda tried to get her to open up and talk, but Eden assured her she's okay, she just had a restlessness night. Nothing five cups of strong, black tea can't fix.

Gibby and Clara also coddled her with questions and smothered her with concern. But no matter how hard they tried to get her to talk, she wouldn't.

Liam summoned her to his office after her lunch break. 

He's the last person Eden wanted to see, especially when her heart was still so bloody and raw, but declining any more of his requests and meeting invites would be gross insubordination. She'd resigned herself to reading the code of conduct last night when she couldn't fall asleep and knew all the clauses off by heart now.

She made her way to his office, albeit reluctantly, and Gibby showed her in and closed the door behind her.

Liam cut a fine figure in his usual dark three-piece suit as he stood in front of the window, watching the cars breeze through Castle Bridge. Even from the back, he was as breathtaking as the view beyond the pane.

"Mr Anderson, you asked to see me?" She said, not making any attempt to move further into the room. She was perfectly okay by the door, and the sooner he told her what he wants, the quicker she can leave.

"I didn't see you the whole day," he said, turning from the window. 

Eden's pulse skyrocketed at the longing in his voice. But she stilled her heart, reminding herself it's just that—Longing. Desire. Lust. Nothing more. 

To him, she's just a toy, a plaything. A tonic. A means to an end. She'll never be anything more.

"I missed you," Liam carried on, as he drifted away from the window and approached her. "Did you miss me?"

"No," Eden lied. She missed him so much she thought she'll die from the searing ache in her heart.

"That's okay," he smiled, still making his way to her.

"Stop," she said softly, her voice trembling with the unshed tears she's trying to keep from falling.

"Nothing's wrong, Mr Anderson," She said, holding his gaze. "I told you yesterday, whatever we had ended over a month ago. From now, don't kiss me, touch me or hold me."

"Fine!" Liam said, his eyes dark with something she couldn't read or understand. "If that's what you want. You're dismissed."

"Good day, Sir," she nodded and turned to leave, painfully aware of his piercing gaze on her as she eased out of his office.

She leaned on the door, unable to contain her tears when she heard him lose his shit on the other side.

Gibby rushed to her side when she heard the commotion in Liam's office. "Eden, what happened? What's going on? Are you okay?"

Liam's PA pushed her aside and ran inside the office, throwing the door wide open, when her questions went unanswered.

Eden could only stare in horror at the destruction. Everything that was on Liam's desk just moments ago was now scattered on the floor in a mess of papers, documents and files. There were glass pieces everywhere near the bar, and brown liquid—presumably his expensive alcohol—dripped down the walls.

"Mr Anderson!" Gibby rushed to his side.

"I'm fine, Gibby," he growled at his assistant. "I'm okay."

Eden forced herself to move along, and be okay too. But ten minutes later she was still a mess in the last cubicle in the ladies bathroom, crying herself sick.

"You did the right thing," she told her aching heart as she massaged it gently, wishing the scalding pain would miraculously vanish. "You did the right thing by letting him go."