Page 163 of Begin Again, Part 1

"It's still weeks away, but you'll have to wear something appropriate, and I'll send a car for you."

Eden whipped up her head. Send a car for what? Wear something appropriate? Why?

She cleared her throat. "I'm not sure why you're sending a car."

"Fashion Week." Liam pointed at the envelope in her hands. "Anderson Logistics is invited. You're coming as my date."

Eden laughed, relief rushing through her body. "That's what this is?"

Liam frowned at her. "What did you think it was?"

"A warning for Friday night or a pink slip since you don't need me anymore," she smiled impishly.

"Is that why you looked like your puppy just died?" he asked, his mouth curling into a smile, and Eden wanted to drown in it. He should smile more. He wore it so well.

"I don't have a puppy," she blurted out.

"Not the point," Liam replied as he sat on the edge of his desk. "But you will sign that warning for flirting with Aleksei Ivanov right under my nose, and of course, for getting blind drunk."

Eden rolled her eyes heavenward. "I didn't flirt with Aleksei, and I didn't get blind drunk. I don't drink, remember?"

"Oh, yeah?" Liam chuckled, his booming laugh echoing through his office. At that moment, everything was perfect, and Eden was happy to see him so relaxed.

"Since you were so sober and very much sane, remind me what you said to me in the car when I took you home?"

Eden blanched at his question.

"You don't remember, do you?" He picked up the Rubik's Cube and turned the tiles. "Well, Princess, you told me I'm the love of your life, and you proposed to me."

"I did not!" Eden shook her head in denial. But she knew there was a real chance she'd professed her undying love.

"Sure you did! And I said yes. So you'll have to put a ring on it soon." He burst into roaring laughter again, waving his left hand at her.

Eden relaxed and smiled back at him when it dawned on her he was toying with her. "You almost had me there for a second."

"Did you miss me?" Liam asked.

"Only like one percent," she said, joy warming up her entire body as she stared in wonder at the envelope in her hands, like it was a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. In the fashion world, it was.

When Lydia showed off her ticket weeks ago, Eden was quite envious of her. Since she was now a mom, there were things she'd learned she'd have to slowly let go of, like attending late-night events. But now, because of a work commitment, she'd get a front-row seat to the best fashion in the country before the public saw it. She was so thrilled, she wanted to shout with joy and break into a happy dance. If she wasn't in the CEO's office, she would have. But—

She turned to Liam, suspicion clouding her eyes again. Why was she going as his date?

"Shouldn't you take Clara or one of the senior assistants as your date, though?" she asked, regretting her question when annoyance flashed in Liam's eyes.

"They have other commitments."

"But I'm not your assistant," Eden reminded him.

"You are more than an assistant to me," Liam said as he sat down and opened his MacBook.

"Uh—" She licked her lips, hope flickering to life for the first time since their fight over her office renovations. Could it be? Could she dare? Did this mean he felt a little more strongly for her now?

No, she shook her head quickly. Even if he felt the same way, there was still the issue of his role as her boss, and she didn't want any more rumours.

"For your high salary, you cannot be just a mere assistant," Liam said, squashing all the foolish hopes her greedy little heart was starting to believe in with his words.

"Of course, Mr Anderson," she said, fighting back the sudden rush of tears burning behind her eyes.

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