Chapter 110 It Was A Set Up

Noah's POV:

I know Eden is scared out of her mind that she's going to mess this up. She told me so enough times last night when I dropped her off at her apartment. But you wouldn't know it from looking at her. She's got a confident look on her face and her shoulders are squared, ready for whatever crap the others are going to throw at her.

She's pretty impressive but I might be biased.

Everyone takes their seats around the table where Mrs Clancy usually holds our team meetings, Eden taking the seat at the head of the table. There's a tension in the air and there's definitely some animosity coming from James and Lewis. It's pretty evident in their matching smirks. They think they have the upper hand.

James opens his mouth to speak but Eden gets there before him.

"I understand that someone has been spreading malicious rumours that Clancy's Comforts is in financial difficulty," she says without hesitation. Her voice is strong and it carries over the silence in the room. "Of course, these rumours are inaccurate."

James scoffs, "how would you know? Until yesterday you were just an assistant."

Something flashes through Eden's eyes but she doesn't back down.

"Just an assistant?" she asks, a small smile gracing her lips. "I think you'll find Mr Artie that the assistants in this company know significantly more than you realise."

She takes a deep breath before continuing, with a remarkable amount of confidence, "the company is far from financial ruin, in fact it's never been more profitable." What she doesn't add is that that is regardless of the fact that someone has been dipping their fingers into the money pot.

"I understand that you might be concerned," she says slowly, looking at each of us in turn, "that you don't know me or know what I'm capable of and that might be a bit daunting."

Everyone around the table stays quiet.

"You might not know me, but I can promise you that I know you." She continues on for several minutes, talking about the company and her grandma. She's incredible. Not at all intimidated by James Artie and the grumbles that he's making from his end of the table. By the time she's finished talking, she has everyone onboard. Everyone except James and Lewis that is. They're very clearly not onboard as they make their way out of the office, all complaining loud enough for everyone to hear him.

Fortunately, no one seems to be paying them any attention but I definitely don't trust them.

Eden's POV:

Noah wanted to get lunch together after the meeting but I refused him. I should have just told him where I was planning to go. Then he'd be here with me right now. But I sillyly thought it would be better if at least one of us was able to get something to eat.

"Miss Clancy?" the police officer behind the desk calls my name.

Standing up from where I've been sitting, I approach her. Noah would be happy to realise that I'm about to talk to the police. I've thought about it and I might be making a mistake. I have no intention of telling them about Martin. He's family and I still trust him, even if Noah thinks I shouldn't.

"Detective Adesso can see you now," the officer says, pressing a button that allows me to follow him into the main part of the building.

I've never been in a police station before. I was always a good, straight-laced girl growing up. Didn't get into trouble... I follow the police officer down the corridor and into a room that sort of resembles the staff room at work.

"You can wait here," the officer says before stepping back out of the room.

Alone again, I wonder if I'm making a mistake. What if involving the police will only make all of this more complicated? I don't have time to worry about that though before the door opens and in walks a man in his mid-fifties. He has a welcoming smile on his face as he offers for me to take a seat.

"Thank you for making time for me," I say nervously.

"Of course," the detective says as he comes to sit opposite me, looking at me encouragingly.

"Can I see the report for my parents' death?" I blurt out the question.

"It's a matter of public record," he says, nodding his head, "but I can get you the report. That's not a problem. Are you looking for something in particular?"

"No... Maybe..." I want to tell him everything but I'm not sure I should. "Was there anything suspicious?"

"It's a lot time ago and I don't remember the details; it was ten years ago after all. But you're welcome to look at the report."

"Thank you," I say.

He gives me a sideways look and I think for a second that he sees through me. That he knows that something is wrong. But then he's telling me that he'll have the report mailed to me and he's getting to his feet.

I wonder briefly what he would say if I told him about everything that has happened over the last few months. Would he help me? Would he be able to find the answers that I so desperately crave?

"Your parents were good people," he tells me with a sad smile. "Good people in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"What if you're wrong?" I ask.

"What are you trying to suggest?" he counters.

I can't tell him about the email or Martin, not when I still don't know who is responsible. I don't want all of this to be pinned on Martin when I'm pretty sure he's innocent.

"Nothing..."

"Has something happened?" he asks, stepping towards me.

This is the moment when I should tell him exactly what I know. I should tell him that someone is stealing from the company and has been for ten years and that I'm pretty sure that person had my dad killed. I should tell him but I don't. Because I'm scared. I'm scared that I'll only make it worse by involving the police. That Martin might get the blame for something he didn't do. And worse than that, I'm scared that I'm wrong and Martin actually did kill my parents.

Shaking my head, I tell him that I just wanted to know what happened. I tell him that as a child I hadn't fully understood the circumstances surrounding my parents' deaths. I ramble on and I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe me but he lets me leave none the less.

I decide to take the tube to my grandma's hospital, hoping that she might actually be awake, seeing as how it's lunch time. When I arrive thirty minutes later, she's sitting up in her bed and eating a pot of hospital jelly.

"Yuk... I don't know how you can eat that stuff," I say, stepping into her room.

"When you're in the hospital there isn't a lot of choice," she replies with a smile. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working?"

"Yeah... Just on my lunch break."

"Have you eaten?" she asks shrewdly.

"I'll get something on the way back to the company."

"You better. While I'm in here, you have to look after yourself."

I almost laugh aloud at her words. Anyone would think I'm not a fully grown woman, the way she talks sometimes.

"How is everything at the office?" she asks.

"Fine..." I'm not here to talk about work. I want to spend five minutes not thinking about everything that is going on. "Every time I visit, you're asleep and now that I finally get you awake, you want to talk about work," I tease her.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" I ask, disbelievingly.

"That I wasn't with you at the memorial."

I do laugh at that one.

"It's not like it was your fault," I tell her softly. "Besides, all I care about is that you get well."

She gives me another smile before changing the conversation, "so tell me about Noah."

She's a cheeky one my grandma. Grinning, I tell her what she wants to hear.

"I like him," I admit.

"Obviously."

"We're dating."

"I thought you would."

"You didn't put me into his department in some sort of attempt at matchmaking did you?"

She doesn't reply immediately but the look on her face is a clear giveaway. Yup, grandma set me and Noah up.