Chapter 102 I Can't Lose Him

It's been a long twenty-four hours. Eden keeps insisting that Martin and I should go to work but I'm not leaving her alone and I'm definitely NOT leaving her here with Martin.

Even if she trusts him, I really don't.

Although apparently that distrust doesn't count when he tells us that he's going to head out to get us some fried chicken. I'm starving and I can think of nothing better than some fried chicken right now.

It takes me several minutes before my mouth clears from thoughts of fried food and I'm able to recognise this for the opportunity it is. We're finally alone.

But I don't rush to speak. Even though I know exactly what I need to say to her, I'm not sure how to actually start the conversation. She's got a look on her face that doesn't really belong there. It's a mixture of exhaustion and misery and it doesn't look good on her. Then again. I don't think either of those things look particularly good on anyone.

"Eden," I try to broach the conversation.

"Mhmm?" she asks, her eyes hooded slightly. She needs to sleep. It's three in the afternoon and yet to look at her, you'd think it was the middle of the night.

"I need to talk to you about Martin," I say abruptly, wanting to get this over and done with. I really don't want to turn her world upside down when she's already going through hell.

"Martin? What about him?" she asks, seemingly bewildered.

"Before the memorial yesterday, James Artie asked to talk to me."

"What did he want?" Her tone makes it clear that there's no love lost between them. She clearly thinks that James is the one responsible for the company's embezzlement issues and before yesterday I'd have agreed with her. But now I'm beginning to wonder if we've been barking up the wrong tree all this time.

What if it really was Martin that stole the money and killed Eden's parents?

"He said some stuff about Martin," I tell her hesitantly.

"Oh?" Either she's completely oblivious and hasn't checked her emails yet or she's completely forgotten all about it. That doesn't seem likely though. Your parents' murderer isn't the sort of thing you forget.

"He said he emailed you..." I press. I really don't want to just blurt it out.

Her face drops and I realise that she has in deed seen it.

"So, it was him," she whispers, her tone cool. "I guess that makes sense."

"He said..." I continue but she cuts me off.

"I know what he said Noah," she tells me.

"Well, what do you think about it?"

"Think about what?" she asks.

"What he said."

"Oh..." She shrugs her shoulders, not really answering. "Sounded like a load of bull to me."

"You don't want to even look into it?" I can't actually believe what I'm hearing. Surely she owes it to her parents to find out.

"Martin wouldn't do that," she tells me sincerely.

"You don't know that," I insist.

"I do," she shrugs off my concern, "but I appreciate your concern."

"Eden..."

"He's like family. In fact, he IS family. He's the closest thing I have to a father. I refuse to believe that he could possibly do that."

She sounds belligerent. This isn't an argument I'm going to win. Then again, I don't think I've ever won an argument with Eden.

"Even if Martin didn't kill..." I can't bring myself to say it. "Even if Martin didn't do it, what if someone else did?"

She hesitates, pausing to take a deep, shuddering breath.

"Noah..." she sighs. "I don't..."

"I think we should speak to the police," I tell her.

She's shaking her head but she remains quiet.

"This is so much bigger than just some corporate corruption and embezzlement. It's murder, Eden."

"I know that," she says, exasperated. "I know."

Her eyes are almost wild. I can't tell if it's from fear, anger or something else entirely. All I know is that this conversation isn't going how I want it to.

"You could be in danger," I say softly, trying to ease the tension that is building up between us.

Reaching out for her, I move to pull her into my arms but I'm hurt when she takes a step back.

"I'm not dealing with this right now," she says sternly. "Martin didn't do it. He wouldn't."

"You just don't know that."

"I trust him," she tells me, refusing to budge.

"Fine but what if..."

"Just drop it, would you?"

This whole thing is insane. I can't remember the last time we argued and I certainly don't want to fight with her now. I just want to know that she's safe.

Eden's POV:

I don't mean to snap at him but I'm exhausted and this whole thing has been overwhelming. I don't even know what to think anymore. I need to be able to trust my family though. I need Martin. Especially with my grandma in the hospital... He's the only family I have left.

It's hard not to imagine all the worst case scenarios. What if she... Then it would just be me and Martin. I can't lose him. Not now.

Besides, he's done nothing to warrant distrust. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. That's what you do with family, right? Of course, there's a part of me that's scared that Noah and James might be right but since when have either of us trusted a word James says?

I don't know how it happens but our argument about Martin seems to morph into something else entirely and before I know it, I'm shouting at him. I'm not completely sure why either. All I know is that I'm tired, argumentative and he's the only one here.

"Why didn't you tell me that you knew?" I demand angrily.

"About Martin?" he asks. "I only found out yest..."

"No. About me!"

"You?" He doesn't seem to be following my line of questioning, the change in topic taking him by surprise.

"Me! You knew who I was!"

He's quiet, not rushing to answer me and I find it infuriating. I want to scream at him even though I don't think he completely deserves it.

"Is that why you started seeing me?"

My words take us both by surprise. I'm being completely unfair, allowing my own insecurities to get the better of me.

"That's not it," he says softly, all the fight leaving him.

"What? You thought... Oh, Eden is rich and she's going to take over the company, she'll..."

"Eden, stop," he barks at me.

"Why? You said it yourself, you love Clancy's Comforts."

"Sure... As far as workplaces go, it's the best but it's just work."

"You're just like everyone else!" I blurt out angrily.

"What do you mean?"

I open my mouth to retort but he beats me to it. "You're being ridiculous. I'm here because I love you. I didn't know who you were until much later."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me then?" I demand.

"I thought you'd want to tell me yourself," he says hoarsely. "Believe it or not Eden, I was trying to be respectful."

I'm left spluttering, wanting to rant and rage at him without anything to actually get angry about. Taking a second, I try to steady my breathing and calm myself. I know full well that I'm deflecting my anger onto him, when I'm actually angry at myself for not knowing that grandma was sick.

Actually, it's more than that. I'm not just angry with myself. I'm angry with grandma for keeping this from me. And I'm angry with Martin for going along with her. I'm angry with James for that blasted email and I'm angry that Noah had to go and bring the d*mn thing up right now.

I begin to shake as I feel tears begin to fall down my face, emotion overwhelming me. I try to pull away again when Noah engulfs me in his arms but he doesn't let me go. Giving in, I allow myself to collapse into his warmth.

"It's okay," he whispers, rubbing circles on my back the way you would sooth a child.

He has far more patience than I do. It's funny because usually he's the hot headed fool and I'm the sensible one. After years of growing up in the spotlight, I know how to manage my temper and keep my cool but not today it would appear.