Chapter 87 Distractions

Noah's POV:

Eden is sitting at her desk staring at the little chair she made like it's the best thing she's ever seen. The workshop might have been my best idea this year, if not even longer.

"I have a present for you," I say as I come to lean against her desk.

"Present?" she asks, looking up at me.

"First, I should warn you, I really can't carve," I tell her.

"I'm sure it's amazing." Her encouragement is appreciated. I'm not exaggerating when I say carving isn't something I'm good at. Not only that but I don't have the patience to learn.

"Open your hand." She does as I ask and I tell her to close her eyes.

Her hand outstretched and her eyes closed, I'm tempted to kiss her but I definitely shouldn't do that here. Glancing around, I check that we're alone before dropping my lips to hers. She opens her eyes to tell me off. It's written all over her face, I shouldn't kiss her at work. Before she can say anything, I drop her present into her still open palm.

Looking down at it, she grins. "You made me a love heart?"

"It's pretty much the extent of my skills," I shrug.

"It's really good," she says. "How did you get such smooth edges?"

"I might have had some help. Mr Wigney might have given me a little demonstration." Rubbing the back of my neck, I don't tell her that Mr Wigney did most of the hard work. I'm perfectly comfortable taking all the credit.

"Thank you Noah!" she says. "I love it."

***

The next few days are crazy as I try to get the team up to speed with our new special project, all while trying to keep it a secret from Eden. I'm not sure how she would react if she did know. More than that, I'd like to surprise her.

Rob and Stacey keep telling me that there's a big difference between making miniature furniture for the average sized doll's house and tiny furniture for miniature doll's houses. I don't know, myself, seeing as how I can't even carve a love heart without a little help.

I need to think up something to distract Eden with. Anything at all... Like a mountain of paperwork or something, except that wouldn't keep her busy for long. The only thing that manages to keep Eden busy is the company's finances. Perhaps I could tell her she could work on them during work hours in my office... She'd never go for it though.

She's got it into her head that we need to be careful not to get caught and so we can't keep any of the accounting sheets at the company.

Wandering into the staff kitchen, I'm relieved to find Stacey and Rob in there. Just the people I'm looking for.

"I need your help," I say, coming to sit at the small table in the corner.

"What do you need, boss?" Rob asks.

"Don't really know, to be honest." It's weird. I'm usually decisive; brilliant at making decisions. But not right now, not so much. "I need to distract Eden."

"Why?" Stacey asks, suddenly a hell of a lot more interested. I think she'd expected me to add something else to her already packed workload.

"Er..." I hesitate. I'm not really sure how to answer the question. I can't say it's because I want to surprise her with a range of miniature Clancy houses for the anniversary of her dad's death. Not only will she think I'm completely bonkers but I'd totally be letting out Eden's secret. "I want to give her one."

"You want to give her a mini Clancy house?" Rob asks, laughing.

I guess it does sound like a weird thing to do for your assistant. I open my mouth to talk my way out of it but Stacey beats me to it.

"Cor Rob! Are you dense? He obviously likes her," Stacey says.

"No way?" Rob looks chuffed, like it's the best news he's heard in months. "Is that why you've been less of a... ARG!"

Stacey punches him straight into the gut, causing him to double over in pain.

"I can do it," she tells me. "I'll just say you've set us a special project."

"Special project?" I ask. "It has to be something she'll believe though."

"Maybe something small for the spring range."

"That could work," I say. "Maybe something that uses the skills you learned at the workshop."

"I'll have a think. Leave it with me."

"Thanks, Stacey."

"So, Grisham... you and Eden?" Rob asks, elbowing me in the ribs.

I choose to ignore him. "Right, I need to get back to work," I tell them.

"Didn't you come in here to get something to drink?" Rob asks.

"No. I was looking for the two of you, you skiver."

"I'm not skiving!" Rob laughs. "Just getting some caffeine."

"Sure. Sure. If you say so."

Shaking my head, I make my way back to my office, grinning at Eden as I walk past her. She really is very pretty when she's focused. She's biting down on her lower lip as she stares at her computer screen.

"Didn't you go in there to get a coffee?" she asks without looking up.

"Er... I..." D*mn, I should have listened to Rob and made myself a drink before coming out. "I decided I didn't want any of that crappy coffee. Fancy walking over the street to grab..."

"Alright," she replies, grabbing her coat. "I'll go and get you some actual coffee."

"You're the best," I say before stepping into my office.

"Yeah, yeah... I bet you say that to all your assistants," she jokes, making me laugh.

I don't bother to turn around and correct her. She knows full well that she's the first assistant I've had in a long time that's actually done anything close to a good job. The bar wasn't set particularly high when she came to work here, if you were using my old assistants as a standard of what to expect.

When she returns with my coffee a little while later, I'm frustrated because I won't be able to drink it because Mrs Clancy has called me in for a surprise meeting. I tell Eden to leave it on my desk as I make my way out of the department.