Chapter 53 Giving In
I'm not sure how to bring it up with Eden. I don't want it to appear like I'm just giving in and doing what she wants. That's not what's happening here. In fact, my actions have absolutely nothing to do with her concerns or our conversation yesterday. I'm only doing this because of that email. If I hadn't received it, I definitely wouldn't be doing this.
Even as I think it, I find myself doubting myself. I'm not convinced I'd have been able to keep refusing her. No matter how I word this, she's going to think she's won. And maybe she has.
"Eden," I call her into my office with reluctance. She'd say I'm being stubborn.
"Sir?" It grates. I thought she'd finally gotten out of that particular habit.
"Noah," I retort.
"Sorry, Noah." She at least has the sense to look sorry.
"Come sit down," I tell her. "I've just received an email."
Even I can hear the aversion in my tone. This is clearly a conversation I don't want to have but really it's just a matter of pride. I should just let it go.
"Oh?" she asks, looking indifferent.
"Yeah, I don't know how it's from," I explain, turning my computer screen so she can see it, "but look."
"I don't know what I'm looking at, Noah."
Her eyes scrunch up as she considers the numbers in front of her.
"Is this an inventory list?" she asks tentatively.
"Amongst other things," I tell her. "It appears to be a snapshot of the company's accounts."
"Oh... Why are we looking at it?" Her tone is neutral but her eyes are wide. She's working so hard to hide her interest.
"I was sent it anonymously."
"Well, who would do that?" she asks, glancing away from the screen to look at me.
"That's something we need to find out," I tell her.
"Us?" There's a smirk hidden in the corner of her mouth. She's struggling to keep it at bay.
"I need your help."
"My help? I see." She's nodding her head emphatically, forcing a somber look on her face.
"You wanted to look into the company accounts," I say, gritting my teeth, "so it's a win win. Right?"
"I guess we could call it that," she replies, shrugging her shoulders.
I don't know why I ask but I don't seem to have the brain cells to stop my mouth from uttering the word, "or?"
"Or we could say you want to steal my information."
"What information?" I ask. "I'm the one presenting you with actual numbers."
"Right... From an unknown and deeply suspicious source."
"Well, what do you have?"
"Not much more," she admits with a grin. "I haven't got any idea where to start."
That surprises me. This is the woman who didn't hesitate to search through hours of CCTV footage in an attempt to prove her innocence.
"I guess we could talk to IT about the email," I suggest. "That might be a good place to start."
"Don't you want to go through this," she points at my screen, "comparing it with the actual costs?"
"Yeah," I hesitate, "but we shouldn't waste too much time on that."
"Why?"
"We really want to get our hands on the real accounts."
"That's not going to be easy," she whistles.
"Says the girl who has the security team in her pocket," I joke and she looks slightly sheepish.
"I can go talk to IT now if you like," she says, changing the subject.
"It's alright. I'm already on it. I've got a friend in the IT department."
"You have friends?" she asks, her eyebrow raised high.
"Don't you?" I reply, grinning at her.
"Probably more than you do," she teases.
"Probably," I agree easily.
I'm not exactly the easiest guy to get to know. I don't trust easily and I tend to keep people at a distance but once I let them in, you couldn't ask for a better friend, if I do say so myself. I've gotten close to Eden quicker than I usually would. There's something about her that just makes you want to know her better. She's approachable and friendly without being overpowering.
"Time to get to work I guess," Eden says, drawing me out of my thoughts.
I really shouldn't let my mind run away with itself and certainly not thinking about Eden Winters.
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