Page 66 of Begin Again, Part 1

"Well, the Dragon's breathing fire here, looking for you."

"I'm not sure why. I don't report to him, and Matthew knows where I am. In any case, I'm on my lunch break."

"Oh, Eden, you have to come up. You don't want to mess with—"

Eden stopped her before she could go far. "Clara, Liam gets away with his shit because everyone keeps tiptoeing around him. I'm on my lunch break. He must wait."

She didn't give Clara a chance to respond. She promptly hung up and returned to Isaac.

"Everything okay?" Her potential handyman asked, and Eden gave him a wan smile. Nothing was okay, and she knew she'd pay for her little act of rebellion. But she didn't expect it to be so soon. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liam make his way inside the coffee shop, his security detail lingering at the entrance.

He moved through the room like he owned the damn place, confident and composed as he made his way to her table.

"Ms McBride, when the CEO has to run around looking for you, there's a huge problem." He gritted his teeth, shooting daggers at her with his eyes.

Isaac stood up and extended his hand. "Isaac Jones, it's a pleasure to meet you, finally, Mr Anderson. Our law firm, Hayes & Jones, has done business with Anderson Logistics. But I'm a huge fan of yours, and I was so disappointed when you retired from professional racing."

His face a cold mask, his voice measured, Liam took Isaac's hand in a firm handshake, almost crushing his fingers. "How do you know Ms McBride?"

Isaac chuckled and withdrew his hand. "This is our first date."

Eden wanted to shoot both of them. If she had a gun, she would have. She'd hardly call their coffee chat a 'first date'. It was a handyman interview at best, and Liam had no right to ask about her personal life.

"I'm sorry to cut your first date short," Liam said, putting special emphasis on 'date'. He didn't sound or look sorry at all. He looked properly pissed off, clenching his jaw the longer he stared at Isaac.

Eden finished her tea and cleared her throat, breaking the tension between the two men.

"We have to be somewhere right now." Liam carried on, his eyes still glued to Isaac as he held out his hand to her.

Eden ignored it and picked up her phone. Turning to Isaac, she asked, "can I take a rain-check?"

He nodded, a baffled frown creasing his forehead.

Eden shrugged apologetically and silently mouthed she'd text him later. She was just as dumbfounded by Liam's hostility.

It was an all-out war as they sped down to the ground floor.

"What was that?" she demanded, not caring that two of his bodyguards were in the elevator with them. "Can you be so rude to someone you've never met before?"

"I wasn't rude!" Liam leaned over and glared at her, his frown deepening. "I have impeccable manners, Ms McBride!"

A little unnerved by his proximity and her body's reaction to him, she stepped back. If she wasn't so upset, she might have been tempted to steal a kiss. But she was furious. "Impeccable, my ass! You almost crushed his hand."

"How is it my fault that I have a firm grip?" Liam shrugged and eased away from her, allowing her room to recover her breath and for her heart rate to return to normal.

She couldn't understand how her body came alive just from being so close to him. "Goodness, you are infuriating! I don't even know why I'm coming with you. I'm not your assistant anymore."

"I reminded you yesterday about my off-site meeting, and luckily for you, this is not business," Liam said. "This is your first official assignment...the real reason I hired you."

"And if I refuse to come with you? What then?" Eden demanded, tapping her foot impatiently.

"I don't recommend you do. Not where my health is concerned."

"Unbelievable!" She seethed, and fussed, but Liam ignored her, remaining silent as he stared straight ahead until they reached the ground floor.

She had to break into a half-trot to keep up with his rapid steps.

He unceremoniously shoved her in the back seat of the waiting car and slid in beside her.

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