Page 47 of Begin Again, Part 2

"Don't lie to me, Laura! I know your mother told you about the test, just like she told you about the penthouse. She reports every little detail about my life to you!" He rapidly made his way over to her, his nostrils flared, the veins in his temples and neck throbbing hard as molten rage coursed through his entire body. He almost had her throat in his hand when she closed her eyes and pleaded with him.

"Please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. It's so hard to let go and not know what's going on in your life. It's not Mom's fault. I ask her for updates."

"Get out!" He pointed at the door.

"You're not serious." Laura shook her head incredulously as she fell back on the couch. "You can't possibly be thinking of playing happy family with that trash. She lied to you!"

Liam rounded on her in a heartbeat, his shadow falling across her on the couch, his hands clenched at his sides.

"Don't you ever speak about the mother of my son in that manner again! You'll show her all the respect that goes with that role." He gnashed his teeth and pointed at the door again.

Laura looked completely shattered. "Why are you okay with her child when you never wanted one with me?"

"I didn't know I was okay with having children until Eden came along," Liam explained truthfully. He never wanted kids. They were never part of his plan. But when Eden came back, and he started having all these suspicions about Aiden, something shifted in him.

"What about me?" Laura shrieked, tears pooling in her eyes. "What about the three years I spent at your side? Three years of my life I'll never get back? Doesn't that count?"

"This again?" Liam snapped and returned to his seat, unable to understand why their failed relationship was again under discussion. "Laura, I don't know how else I can make it clear to you. We are done! Over! Finished! And I should fire your mom. I should sue her too for breaching the NDA, not once but numerous times."

Laura scrambled to her feet, and practically ran to his desk, tears rolling down her cheeks, her hair flying everywhere. "Please, I'm sorry. It's my fault. Leave her out of this."

"I should sue her," Liam repeated, ignoring her crocodile tears. "But I won't, and only because you once meant something to me. Don't make me regret my kindness."

He didn't wait to hear more of her crazy talk. He left her in his office and stormed his way to Clara's.

His assistant stood up, looking guilty as sin as she snapped her laptop shut when he walked in. "Mr Anderson, how can I help you?"

Liam knew she was on one of her many shopping sites or the online tabloids she frequented. It was all she did the whole day—gawk at shoes she couldn't afford or read up on celebrities she'd never meet. He never cared much before, because she did her job well when she chose to do it. But today, he was highly ticked off at her ineptitude.

"Who gave you the authority to allow random people into my office?" he barked at her, backing her into her seat.

"I'm sorry, Mr Anderson, she insisted I let her in. She said she's your girlfriend, and Gibby used to let her in. I didn't think—"

"That's the problem right there! I pay you to think. But if you can't, I'll find someone who can. Gibby hired you, but I can fire you, Clara. This is your only warning!"

"It won't happen again, sir."

Liam glared at her for what seemed like forever, but could only have been a few seconds before turning on his heel and making his way to his office, fuming as he passed Eden's empty desk. She must have run as soon as she left his office. She was always in flight mode. She never fought. Not back then. Not for them and their kid. And it seemed she wasn't planning to start now, either.

Liam pulled out his phone and dialled her number. She ignored all five calls. As much as he hated leaving voice messages, he left one on his sixth try, pleading with her to call him back. But knowing her, he wouldn't hold his breath.

Chapter

Seventeen

STARS IN HIS EYES

Accepting Isaac's invitation was a mistake. Eden knew that as soon as he bought the tickets and splashed out on popcorn and drinks. It was supposed to be a casual night out on the town between two friends. But Isaac had stars in his eyes, and she had a lot of hurt in her heart. This wouldn't end well for one of them. Or both. Just like it didn't end well for her and Liam.

Eden sighed sadly as she tried to follow the intricate storyline of the Rom-Com playing out in front of her. It looked very much like a badly-written plot of her own love life. There were many similarities between her and the protagonist. They were both attracted to emotionally unavailable men and ignored the dependable guys who wanted to give them the world. Isaac was safe and dependable. He was a decent guy, a good friend and a fantastic handyman. He'd helped her repaint the inside of her house, and they were planning to tackle her yard soon. It helped that her friends adored him, and Aiden was smitten with Zoe, his three-year-old daughter.

Isaac would make such a perfect boyfriend. He'd never make love to her one minute and the next, allow his ex to give him head in his office. Eden firmly shut her eyes, trying to banish the image of Laura doing stuff to Liam she hadn't even done with him yet. But it was no use. The scene she walked in on was permanently etched on her brain. When it was all said and done, though, it was her damn fault. She knew what she was getting herself into when she gave in to Liam. They were not in an exclusive relationship, and she had no right to be angry with him, the same way she had no business feeling hurt. But, she was hurt, angry, and bitterly disappointed, especially since they were still dealing with the stuff from Fashion Week. They'd barely talked over the past few days, and when she dropped off Lydia's signed contract, she'd hoped to clear the air. The last thing she expected was his ex, the same woman at the centre of all their issues, on her knees with her hands in his pants.

"Hey, are you okay?" Isaac asked. "You seem distracted.

Eden smiled and assured him she was great. She'd just had a long day at work.

"Do you want to get out of here then and have an early night?"

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