Chapter 73 Grandma?

An hour or so later, I’m returning to the company. I need to pick up some documents that I need to look over ahead of a meeting I have on Monday with the other team leaders and directors.

Part of me wants to leave it and pick it up in the morning but that would mean wasting time that could be spent with Eden.

The building is quiet as I make my way up to our floor. Unlocking my office, I let myself in before approaching my desk to find the documents I want. They’re easy to find, exactly where Eden told me she left them. Then I'm re-locking my office and making my way out of the department again.

"I'm sorry Eden." I'm surprised when I hear a voice further down the corridor. I stop short, wanting to hear more.

Eden isn't here. She's supposed to be with her grandma but I distinctly heard the person say her name. Perhaps it was my imagination… I’ve clearly got Eden on the brain. Logically, I should just ignore the voice and go home. That’s what I should do but when it comes to Eden I rarely do what I should do.

Being careful not to be seen, I approach the place where I think the voice is coming from, listening closely in case I hear anything else. The hall is silent and I’m beginning to think that I misheard. Perhaps I really did imagine it… The company is empty. It’s late and there’s no one here.

But then Martin comes into view. He's pacing back and forth, clearly worked up about something. I shrink back slightly, hiding in the shadows, not wanting to be seen.

"I really am sorry,” Martin is saying.

He’s quiet momentarily as I lean forward, desperate to hear what is being said on the other end of the line.

“Something has come up,” he continues eventually but the other person must cut him off because he goes quiet again quickly.

I need to know who he is talking to. I’m sure he said Eden’s name earlier but surely I was wrong. Why would he be apologising to Eden? Did they have plans together? But that doesn’t make sense. Eden had plans with her grandma… Unless she lied to me.

I don’t want to think that though. Whenever I suspect Eden of something, I always end up being proved wrong and I definitely don’t want to do that again.

“I know. I know.” His voice is cajoling. He’s trying to sooth the person on the other end. “She’ll be very disappointed when she realises but…”

I’m not sure why I’m still listening. For one thing I have no idea what he’s actually talking about but more importantly, I don’t even know if he’s talking to Eden.

“Eden, there’s just no way…”

My heart rate spikes. I was right. He’s talking to Eden. But I still don’t understand what is going on. Eden is supposed to be at her grandma’s house. Why is she talking to Martin? How does she even know Martin?

This entire situation is ridiculous. Why the hell am I listening to a private conversation from the shadows like some crazy person? All because he mentioned her name…

“I wish I could help you,” he says with a sigh. “I know how important tonight was to you.”

He turns towards me and I panic that he might see me. I move further back and wait to hear more. He’s grimacing but he doesn’t look like he’s seen me.

“I’m not sure to be honest. I have no idea when she’ll be ready to go.”

He’s quiet again but then Mrs Clancy’s voice comes from her office, calling him, “MARTIN!”

“Eden, I’ve got to go,” he tells her. “Your grandma needs me.”

Grandma? I'm reeling as I try to understand what I've just heard. Martin hangs up his phone and makes his way back into Mrs Clancy’s office, leaving me gobsmacked.

There’s no way Eden is Mrs Clancy’s granddaughter. That just doesn’t make sense at all.

I try to recall the name of Mrs Clancy's granddaughter. I'm sure she's told me in the past. She certainly talks about her often enough. It could be a coincidence. It's completely possible that the two women just share the same name. If her name was Lucy or Katie that argument would hold up better. But I’ve never met anyone else with the name Eden. It’s such a unique name… What are the chances of them sharing the name?

But then the sight of Eden talking to Martin outside the company comes back to me, the way he touched her shoulder. They didn’t look like they barely knew each other. It certainly wasn’t the way Martin would behave with anyone else at the company.

I'm pretty sure my suspicions are on point and the more settled my suspicions become, the angrier I get. It would explain how Mrs Clancy knew about the stolen product design among other things. It's all starting to line up and make sense. As Mrs Clancy's granddaughter, getting the company's accounts would be easy work, never mind the CCTV footage.

I’m shaking as I lean against the wall. Utterly furious, I want an explanation. How could she lie to me like this? From day one? Everything has been a lie!

But why would Mrs Clancy's granddaughter pose as my assistant? Were they suspicious of something? Were they checking up on me? Or was there something else entirely going on?

I hear another noise, more voices coming towards me and so I hurry to move. I don’t want to be found randomly standing in the corridor like a weirdo. Heading back in the direction of the lift, I try to act normal just in case I find myself meeting anyone else, trying to keep my cool. I mustn’t let them see how angry I feel and as Eden loves to remind me, I’m not very good at hiding my emotions.

I’m surprised so many people are still here on a Friday night. Usually this place is completely empty at this time of night, no matter the day of the week, but especially on Fridays.

Waiting for the lift, I try to clear my mind. My temper is ready to skyrocket. I want to head over to her place and demand to know what the hell is going on but that wouldn’t achieve much seeing as how she’s not even there.

And I can hardly barge into Mrs Clancy’s house. Not that I even know where she lives.

“Grisham, what are you doing here?” Lewis Artie asks me when he steps out of the lift I’m waiting for.

I bristle at the idea of having to explain myself to him.

“Just came to pick up some documents,” I tell him.

“It’s Friday night,” he says snidely. “Surely, you’ve got something better to do than work overtime.”

“Look who’s talking,” I retort. “Why are you here?”

He looks nervous for a second and I wonder briefly what he’s up to. Whatever it is, isn’t good. If there’s one thing I know about Lewis Artie, it’s that he shouldn’t be trusted.

“Just trying to catch up on paperwork,” he lies.

You’d think he’d at least learn to lie better if he’s going to make a habit of it. I shrug it off though. Lewis and his lies are not my problem. Not right now at least. I have more important things to worry about.

Entering the lift, I don’t bother saying goodbye to him as I press the button for the carpark floor. The journey down to the carpark feels like it takes forever and my frustration grows with each floor I travel down.

I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. Eden has been lying to me from day one. Trying to rationalise the situation, it's hard to keep my temper in check. I don't want to jump to conclusions but without asking Eden directly, I don't know what else I can do.

I don’t like lies. People like Lewis lie, not people like Eden. Good people don’t lie. At least not without very good reason but why the hell would Eden need to lie to me?

Climbing into my car, I fling the paperwork I came back for down on the passenger seat as I take a second to determine what I should do. I need to do something before I completely lose my mind and do something rash, like head back upstairs and demand that Mrs Clancy explain it to me.

That would definitely be a bad idea.

Pulling out my phone, I call Eden. It could be a coincidence. It seems unlikely but it's totally possible and I don't want to overreact. I should at least try and give her the benefit of the doubt.

It rings several times before she finally answers the phone.

"Hi," she says, sounding downcast.

It would be easy to presume from the tone of her voice that her evening isn't going to plan but I want to hear her say it herself.

"Everything okay?" I ask, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I thought I'd check in since we both knowing cooking isn't one of your strengths."

"Well... dinner is ready," she tells me, "but grandma is running late."

"Oh? That's disappointing," I say, closing my eyes as I lean my head back on the head rest, a sinking feeling in my gut. She lied to me.

"Yeah, she's..." she begins but I'm barely paying attention anymore. It doesn’t matter what she says now, not when it’s all probably a lie anyway.

I don't know how I feel about this. I thought I knew her. I thought she was someone else entirely and I can't help feeling betrayed. I want to confront her and demand an explanation but I'm not sure that's my wisest idea. So instead, I cut into whatever she is saying, telling her that I have to go.

"Oh, okay."

Her tone makes me want to stay on the phone. I might be angry with her but I don't like how despondent she sounds. I put the feeling aside though.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to come over tomorrow," I find myself saying.

"Oh," she's clearly disappointed, "alright. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. It's all fine. I've just got something I need to do," I lie.

Hanging up the phone, I feel like a jerk but I need time to work out how I want to respond. It's the only way to prevent myself saying something I'll regret.

Turning the key in the ignition, I force myself to leave. If I stay in this carpark a moment longer, I’ll probably barge into Mrs Clancy’s office and get myself fired.