Page 57 of Begin Again, Part 1

"I've sent you Mr Anderson's dietary requirements," Gibby pointed at the laptop screen. "He doesn't normally have breakfast. Prefers macchiatos and Americanos from Rise downstairs if you're both in at the same time again. You won't have to worry much about arranging his lunch. His mom usually sends him a home-cooked meal with one of the drivers or his security detail. But please, check his dietary list as soon as possible. It's important."

Eden was almost hyperventilating now. "I have to take notes. Where's my notepad and pen? Do I even have a notepad?"

Gibby reached inside the stationery box they'd brought. She fished out a company-branded spiral-bound journal and a shiny pen.

Clara grasped her hands and held them. "Hey, don't stress. It's only your first day."

Sure, it was only her first day, but Eden didn't want to fudge it up even more. Not after going batshit crazy on their boss. The more notes she made, the better. She didn't want to give Liam any ammunition to growl and bark at her again.

"After you've settled in, I'll take you to meet Mr Anderson's security detail." Gibby continued, not pausing to check if she still had a pulse.

"Why does he need security?" Eden asked, regretting her question when disappointment flitted in Gibby's eyes as she pursed her lips.

"Mr Anderson didn't win the businessman of the year award two years straight by being nice. He's made many people unhappy. As a result, he's received his fair share of death threats. Nothing recent. But the board doesn't want to take any chances. A dead CEO is not good for business."

Eden blanched, chilled to the bone by Gibby's words. She knew Liam had a temper. She'd had one too many run-ins with him herself. But to have people want to harm him was a bit extreme. Maybe, when he stopped hating her—hopefully soon—she'd have a nice chat with him and tell him to try harder at his manners and learn to play nice. Aiden needed his father alive.

"There's usually one car tailing him for his everyday engagements," Gibby added. "But he needs heavy protection for external events, public engagements, and overseas travel. Make sure you go through all the company's protocol documents."

Eden scribbled a note in her book. "Got it."

Clara added to her anxiety with her announcement. "You'll also have to familiarise yourself with the HR manual and Code of Conduct."

"But again, you won't be writing a quiz, so take your time on those." Gibby cackled. The joke was funny the first time. Not so much now. But Eden laughed out of politeness.

Liam's door squeaked to life. She didn't want to, especially after their confrontation in the kitchen. But Eden found herself looking up, her stomach churning, already dreading what was coming.

Liam poked his head around the door and pointed straight at her, "I need you!"

"Me?" Eden asked, startled at the way he addressed her. No 'please', 'hi', 'thank you'. Just barked orders.

Eden fumed as she wrung her hands on her lap, her body refusing to obey his instructions and go to him. Someone—Definitely not her. She'd already pushed her limits for one day—should teach him some manners.

"I don't have the whole day!" Liam snapped and vanished inside the office.

"It's okay; you'll be fine." Clara and Gibby pushed her towards the dragon's den and made themselves scarce. She wasn't going to be 'fine'.

The door was wide open, but Eden knocked anyway. Since she hadn't had the chance to go through the protocols documents, she'd rather err on the side of good manners.

"Come in and shut the door," Liam said from behind his desk.

Eden complied, noting the bareness of his office.

He'd taken minimalism way too far, in her opinion. But then again, what did she know about decor? She was a children's book illustrator, now moonlighting as a personal assistant. An inexperienced, ill-equipped, and painfully underprepared assistant.

Other than the mid-century black leather couch her other two bosses currently occupied, the only other visitor's seat was the Hawker egg chair in front of the floor to ceiling bookcase.

Business Insider magazines lined the glass coffee table, and a bold-patterned rug served as the room's centrepiece.

A few impressionist paintings hung on either side of the humongous TV screen, facing the millions of books, shiny accolades and little knick-knacks Liam had collected over the years, lining the shelves on the opposite wall.

The prints were nothing to write home about, but had no doubt cost an arm and a leg. Everything in this room, overwhelming in its masculinity, looked and smelled expensive.

What Liam lacked in furniture, he more than made up for it with alcohol. There were tons of bottles, some still full, and others almost empty—cognac, whiskey, bourbon, and various spirits—spread out on the marble-top bar to the left of the stately black door Eden assumed led to his private bathroom.

But it was the view of Castle Bridge behind him she fell in love with, and the tons of skyscrapers dotting the city skyline. She could only imagine how enchanting it was at night, with the stars and city lights illuminating the sky.

She was so tempted to run to the telescope propped in front of the window and peek through, even though no stars were visible, and the sun was still inching its way up the clear sky.

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