Chapter 118 A Sleepless Night

Noah’s POV:

Eden barely sleeps, tossing and turning all through the night and I wonder if there’s more to what happened yesterday than she has told me. We get ready for work quietly, neither of us feeling particularly chatty after not getting any sleep.

I’m not even sure that I shouldn’t be trying to convince her not to go in. It’s the weekend after all, but we both have too much to do, not to go in, especially now that she has that USB drive.

I’d have gotten more sleep at home in my own bed, except that’s not strictly true. At home, I’d have spent the night worrying about Eden and so I’d probably be just as tired as I am now.

The car journey to the office is quiet too and it’s only when we should say goodbye, each going to our own offices that the silence is broken.

“I’ll see you,” Eden begins but I cut her off.

“I’ll walk you to your office.”

My fists are clenched and maybe it’s just the lack of sleep but I feel like I need to protect her, though I’m not at all sure who from.

Her fingers curl around my fist, straightening my hand before entwining our fingers.

“Stop it, Noah,” she tells me gently but I’m not sure what she means.

“Stop what?”

“Worrying.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“Yup, but I’m right here,” she says, turning to look at me, causing me to stop in the middle of the corridor. “I’m sorry I scared you, but I promise, I’m right here and at least for now, I’m safe.”

I mumble that I’m not stupid and that I can see perfectly clearly where she is, but my heart rate begins to slow all the same. And when the time comes to actually say goodbye, it might not be easy but I at least manage it.

I’m tempted to tell her that I’ll work in her office today but then I don’t think either of us would get much done.

“I’ll see you at lunch?” I ask sternly.

“Of course,” she replies. “Let’s go somewhere nice.”

“Nice? You don’t like expensive food.”

“No, but I’m sure you can find something nice that isn’t obscenely pretentious.”

That’s the thing about Eden. Money means absolutely nothing to her. She’s not the sort of girl who demands to go to the most expensive restaurant just because it’s expensive. She values quality and even quantity sometimes over the price.

With a new task to complete, I leave her and amble in the direction of my own office, my mind full of ideas for where we can eat.

Eden’s POV:

Martin is waiting for me in my grandma’s office. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve used the room for, I don’t seem to be able to think of it as my own. It’s early, far earlier than even Noah and I usually arrive and so I’m surprised to find Martin already in, especially on a Saturday.

That’s when I notice his clothes. He’s wearing the same outfit he wore last night at my apartment.

“You didn’t work through the night on this, did you?” I ask, horrified.

I approach the large table, looking down at the printed sheets that are scattered across it.

“I compiled the information you wanted on the companies,” he tells me, before handing me a rather large pile of documents, “and I’m making headway on the list of products we need to discontinue.”

“Thank you, Martin,” I say sincerely. “You didn’t need to do this alone.”

“The less people know, the better,” he answers dismissively.

I stand on the spot, staring at the pile of documents in my arms for a moment.

“Is there anything else you need, Miss Clancy?”

Considering him seriously, I try to decide whether or not I should bite the bullet and ask him about my parents’ death or not. I certainly can’t accuse him of being responsible but I could ask him about it. Maybe…

“Martin, can I ask you something?” My tone gives away my nervousness, and for the first time since I entered the office, Martin stops his work to give me his undivided attention.

“Of course you can.” He gives me a sincere, half smile before waiting for me to continue.

It might be a risk, one that Noah would say might put my life in even more danger, but I have to ask. I need to know. I’m fed up of feeling like I don’t really know anything. Nothing concrete, at least.

“My parents,” I begin awkwardly.

“What about them?” he asks gently.

“Did you ever…” I hesitate before forcing the words out in a rush. “Did you ever suspect…”

No matter how much I try, I can’t say the words I need to say.

“Did I ever suspect?” His eyebrow rises as he considers me.

“That my parents might have been…”

His expression softens. “That your parents might have been murdered?”

His words take the air right out of me and I gasp in shock. I hadn’t anticipated that he could possibly have any idea what the hell I’m talking about. I mean, I barely make sense to myself right now.

I nod my head, unable to utter the words myself.

Waiting for his answer, I can’t help but panic. Every possible scenario is running through my head, for a brief second, I even wonder if maybe I’m wrong and Martin might have killed them after all. There’s a look on his face that suggests I’m not going to like what he has to say.

“Perhaps you should sit down, Eden.”

Those words do nothing to ease my concern. They’re not the words people use when they give you good news. This is going to be bad and I’m not sure I actually want to hear it after all. I sort of just want to run out of here and avoid this conversation all together but that’s really not an option.

I want to refuse. I want to insist that he tell me right now before I even consider sitting down but something tells me that I shouldn’t, so I quietly sit down at the long table, desperately hoping that he isn’t about to confess to killing my parents.

I really don’t know what I’d do if he did… Call the police? Scream at him? Cry?

The idea is too bewildering and I’m not completely sure that I’m thinking rationally anymore. Taking a deep sigh, I tense myself for what’s to come.