Chapter 124 Mine to Protect

Noah’s POV:

When Eden doesn’t hurry back from the loos, I don’t immediately panic. It’s understandable that she might need a few minutes alone after everything that we’ve discussed today. It feels like every day we learn something new that has the power to destroy her and yet she faces it with a strength that is beyond belief.

I’m in awe of her.

I don’t think I’ve have handled all this anywhere near as well as she has if it were my parents that were murdered. In fact, I know that I wouldn’t. And it’s not because I’m a weak man, but rather because she is something else entirely. She has a quiet resilience, a fire that keeps her moving towards her goal, though I’m not completely sure what that is.

Is she trying to save the company or discover her parents’ murderer? It’s hard to say and I don’t think it really matters either way. One will no doubt lead to the other and vice versa.

Ten minutes turn to twenty and twenty soon becomes thirty. I find myself checking the clock frequently, worrying more with each passing minute until I can’t stay put a moment longer. As much as I want to give her whatever she might need, even if it is time alone, I need to know that she’s alright.

I hurriedly tell Martin that I’ll be back shortly. He doesn’t even look up from the paperwork he’s pouring over, a quick nod of his head the only sign that he’s heard me at all.

Searching for Eden is pretty easy. There’s only a few places I can imagine her going. The first place I check is of course the place she said she was going. It would be remiss of me if I didn’t check the ladies toilets first. I knock on the door loudly, before calling out to her.

It’s a little awkward. I’d barge in there if I thought something was wrong with her but the gentleman in me keeps me standing on the threshold. I open the door slightly and call again but there’s no one in there. I don’t need to enter the room to know that. It’s completely empty.

With a huff, I stride quickly in the direction of my own office. For Eden, my office is a safe place. It’s the place where I fell in love with her and she with me. It’s the only other place I can picture her being in the building. When I pull the department door open, I rush towards my office and Eden’s old desk but there’s nothing to suggest she’s been here at all.

Cursing under my breath, I reconsider my options.

This building isn’t that big but it would still take me well over an hour to search it thoroughly. I’d do it too. Pulling out my phone, I make my way back out of the department and walk straight into Lewis Artie.

“What are you doing here?” I ask irritably.

“What’s it to you?” he retorts.

I don’t have time for this. I can think of plenty of things I’d like to say to Lewis right now but finding Eden is far more important.

“Never mind. I don’t really care,” I growl at him as I move to walk around him.

“Where are you going? I’m talking to you!”

“Are you?” I ask, my eyebrow raised.

He hesitates, looking behind himself. What the hell is going on? I don’t have time for his games.

“Do you think Eden would…” he begins.

“What?” The impatience is evident in my tone.

“Do you think she’d let me off if…”

“If what?” I can’t believe him. He can’t seriously think he’s going to get away with everything he’s done.

“If I give her what she needs?”

“And just what do you think I need?” a voice says from behind him. Her confidence is outstanding. She’s standing there, her arms crossed, her hair a little messy. I’m tempted to ask her exactly what’s she’s been doing for the last hour for her hair to be like that.

“You want to know who killed your parents, right?” Lewis answers, turning abruptly to face Eden.

“Not particularly,” she replies, looking at her nails.

“What?” he asks disbelievingly.

Even I can’t quite believe my ears. Only hours ago that was all she could talk about.

“You see, I already know who killed my parents,” Eden answers, her voice surprisingly steady.

“You do?” Artie’s voice is barely a squeak but then he shakes his head. “I don’t mean Martin. Martin didn’t kill your parents.”

She doesn’t hurry to respond. There’s no surprise in her eyes. But then why would there be. She’s always believed in Martin’s innocence. My beautiful, trusting Eden never doubted her friend.

Instead of answering him, she directs her attention to me. “Take Artie to my office would you, Noah.”

“Yeah. Of course.” I want to ask her what she’s going to do but she doesn’t wait for me to say anything else. She offers me a wide smile that doesn’t look quite as haunted as the one she usually gives me is before flouncing off down the corridor.

I have no idea what she’s up to but I’ll happily play my part.

“What the…” Artie starts. “What’s going on?”

“Dunno,” I answer as we start walking in the direction of her office.

“You don’t think she heard my conversation with my uncle, do you?”

How would I know? Goodness, Artie is an idiot. He really doesn’t have a clue how to keep his thoughts to himself. I’m surprised he managed to keep his crimes a secret this long with his complete lack of tact.

“Do you think she might not fire me?”

“Fire you? I think that ship has sailed.”

“D*mn it!”

I don’t really know what he expects. He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t go to prison and he’s worrying about being fired. Having a job should be the least of his worries.

“Uncle James is going to kill me.”

I don’t bother to say anything. I don’t know if he’s right or not. Either way, his life isn’t one I particularly care for. He takes my silence for disagreement.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“I think I can hazard a guess,” I say coldly.

I’ve seen the CCTV video from Eden’s parents crash. If James is responsible for that, then yes, I know exactly what he’s capable of.

“Where is your uncle?” I ask.

“I left him in his office with Alice.”

I don’t like the idea of Eden being in the same building as her parents’ murderer. I vow to myself that I’ll drop Artie with Martin and then I’ll go looking for her again. As much as I know she can look after herself, I don’t want her to.

She’s mine to protect.