3 Chapter 2: Eden's garden.

Chapter 2: Eden's garden.

Seven years later

Eden hurried to make the elevator but she was too late. She was holding a total of three cups of coffee and it was a miracle that she hadn't spilled any yet.

She blinked and tapped her left foot repeatedly on the ground as she waited impatiently for the elevator to open up again.

She entered and she pressed number 6 on the buttons there. The door was about to close when she heard someone call out for her to hold the elevator.

"Hold the elevator, please!"

Without thinking, she used her already filled hand to stop the door from closing and spilled one of the coffees. Her face got the worst of the semi-hot fluid and her eye glasses were covered with it, leaving her temporarily blind.

She heard someone walk inside.

"Sorry" Eden murmured to whoever was in the elevator with her for the mess she made.

One moment, she had her glasses and the next, it was gone.

"No! No! I can't see clearly without them" she objected strongly.

"Relax" a baritone voice told her "kidnapping your glasses is not wise, since we are struck in an elevator and if I try to run, you can empty the other cup on me"

Eden kept quiet. And a minute later, her glasses were returned to her devoid of any coffee stains. The stranger had cleaned it.

"Thanks" she muttered in gratitude as the elevator door opened.

Eden could see clearly now. And she was startled to see that she was in the elevator with two people - a man and what appears to be his girlfriend by the way she was possessively holding his arm like she was afraid to let go.

"Such a mess! How clumsy can a person be?" The lady complained loudly.

"I am sorry" Eden murmured to her again.

The man looked amused. His eyes danced with mischief.

"Do you always have to apologize?" He asked Eden

"What's the alternative? An apology is better than a grudge" Eden replied meekly.

"Huh" the man gave it a thought for a few seconds. "I have an alternative and it works perfectly"

"You do?" Eden was curious.

"Yes. Here, watch!" The man turned to his girlfriend "What's your name again, doll?"

The girl appeared embarrassed for a second; she turned around to whisper to him.

"You know my name. We've been going out for almost two weeks... it's Melody!"

The man appeared contrite for a second "Right! My bad, of course... Melody, will you do something for me"

"Of course"

The man turned to Eden "She said of course. She is not just beautiful, she is cool too" he swallowed and winked at her.

The man touched Melody's face gently like she was fragile. Melody smiled.

"Go away, Melody. I don't like rude supermodels. Adieu!" The man pointed towards the exit.

"You are a jerk, Asher!" Melody walked away furiously.

"You see, that is the alternative"

"I am sorry but I believe in Karma. Good things happen to good people" Eden explained to him.

"I believe that people who believe in good are stupid. Do you plan on exiting the Elevator or do you want me to keep holding the door like this?" Asher told her.

"I am sorry" Eden came down from the elevator and so did Asher.

"Hi, my name is Eden" She tried to introduce herself but Asher ignored her and walked away.

He turned around once to yell for everyone to hear "Who cares what your name is, I probably won't remember it if we meet again Ms I can't hold a coffee cup"

Eden was so embarrassed. Everyone in the office space turned around to look at her.

Eden tried to get over her embarrassment and made her way to the CEOs office when the door she was supposed to enter opened and her boss came out.

"Eden! Do you want the star to touch the ground before I get my morning caffeine?"

"Sorry, Ms Jackson"

Eden hurried up and entered Ms Jackson's office. She met Asher seated there comfortably. She tried to ignore him.

Working for a second rate publishing company with a heartless Diva as a boss wasn't Eden's dream but after she was blacklisted by the family that took everything from her, she had no other choice than to take the scraps that she found.

Lean Jackson was pacing the room when Eden entered.

"Here is your coffee, Ms. Jackson"

Eden handed the coffee over to her.

Lean Jackson took a sip and she spat the coffee out. Most of the now semi cold liquid landed on Eden.

She blinked and tried to control the burst of anger that was threatening to take over. The droplet on her glasses made it impossible to see but she could see the grin on Asher's face.

"Are you crazy?! Do you want to make me fat two days before my wedding to the most eligible bachelor in the country?!" Lean fumed in anger.

Eden realized that she must have mistakenly handed over her hot cocoa drink to Ms Jackson instead of coffee.

"I apologize, Ms. Jackson. It was an honest mistake" Eden swallowed her pride.

"Be sorry for your miserable self, Eden! I swear I don't know why I hired you as my personal assistant. Most times, you are annoying and other times, you are bottom line useless-"

"I am sorry, Ms Jackson" Eden interrupted her by saying.

"Get out! Go torment some other person, Ms Powells!" Lean Jackson pointed to the door.

Eden turned to leave when she heard Asher's voice.

"How's that mantra of yours working out for you? Like I said earlier, my way is better"

Eden ignored him and closed the door behind her.

"Can you imagine the rudeness and clumsiness of that girl trying to make me fat?" Lean complained to Asher.

"Oh my God, are you alright?" Asher tilted his head to the right "Would have been the right thing to ask you if I actually cared, Lean"

"You are an ass, Asher. I wonder why we are even friends" Lean Jackson said and sat down.

"We are not...friends. You are just the person I am doing a favor for by buying your second rated failing company while you throw yourself at a chronic alcoholic like Charles Anderson in a futile hope that his family money will sponsor your extravagant lifestyle" Asher answered her.

Lean Jackson blinked. Asher had poked where it hurts.