44. Rian #2
“Alexandra, you’ve outdone yourself.” I kiss her cheek, hoping Catriona isn’t looking our way.
“Hi, Sandie.” Alexandra hates short versions of her name, but for some reason she accepts Knox’s nickname for her. He taps the emerald and diamond clip in her hair. “Are you giving your great-great granny’s jewellery an outing?”
“It deserves better than to be kept locked up in a box.” Her lips twitch with a hint of a smile before she turns back to me. “Rian, can I steal you for a second? There’s someone I just have to introduce you to. Apologies, boys.”
And that’s all the respite I get before another round of endless small talk with the most important guests, none of whom I’ve any interest spending time with.
It doesn’t help that wherever I turn, I catch sight of Catriona with yet another admirer trying to get her attention.
And then there’s the knowing looks and not so subtle comments about Alexandra and me.
The comments make my skin crawl. Alexandra takes it all in her stride, effortlessly putting on a show.
I wonder if I know the woman behind the mask at all.
As the evening goes on, keeping up appearances becomes more and more draining. My shirt is too tight around my hiked-up shoulders, and Alexandra’s grip on my arm is digging deeper into my muscles. There’s no flirtation between us, no subtle touches or secret looks.
No love.
I don’t love her.
I’ve probably known that for a long time, but knowing it and admitting it are two different things.
The two of us together is a business merger, and nothing more.
Nothing more. Sure, I care about her – I care about her a lot, but only as a friend.
Does Alexandra have strong feelings for me? Does she love me? Somehow, I doubt it.
A loveless platonic marriage.
That’s my future. I can hardly keep the stiff smile on my face as I catch a glimpse of Catriona chatting with Dylan.
“Who’s that girl? She looks familiar.” Alexandra tips her chin in the direction of the woman I was sleeping with up until a few days ago.
I swallow thickly.
“That’s Catriona Taylor, one of my junior assistants.” I hope my tone is even.
“Oh, yes, I remember her now. She’s the one you don’t get along with, right?”
“She’s pretty headstrong, yes.” I eagerly greet another guest to distract from further questions, but I sense Alexandra’s eyes on me.
“Good to see you back on the island, Rian. I’m sure you’re happy to have him back home too, Alexandra?” Sean Moore, Leo’s father, smirks at Alexandra.
She responds with a low, warm laugh, one I know is false. Alexandra has learned to fake that low laughter to perfection so no one will notice the emptiness behind it. Can I really do the same, fake, for the rest of my life?
“I’m so glad you could make it tonight, Mr Moore. I hope you’re having a good time.”
I hope to get away from Leo’s sleazy father as soon as possible. He reeks of alcohol and his glassy eyes swipe up and down Alexandra’s body.
“They make a lovely couple, don’t they, Sean?” Walter Harrington, Alexandra’s dad, steps in between us. Tall and dictatorial, he has an aura of self-importance that I normally find a bit overbearing. Tonight, however, I find it a little sickening.
Even intimidating.
“They sure do, Walter, they sure do!” Moore agrees.
“Why don’t you have this dance with my daughter, Sean, and I’ll have a word with Rian here.”
Alexandra momentarily tenses, yet she makes herself relax and, with a polite smile, lets Moore lead her to the dance floor.
I turn to her father, feeling trapped like a bear in a cage.
Despite the prospect of dancing with creepy Moore, I wonder if Alexandra didn’t actually pick the longest straw this time.
“I can’t begin to say how pleased I am that you and my Alexandra have finally figured things out.” Harrington’s firm hold on my shoulder guides me away from the party.
“I’m sure you know we’ve always been good friends.”
“Playing your cards close to your chest?” Walter laughs and slaps my shoulder before gripping it even tighter.
“I think you know very well that I have no objections to a union between you two. And it will be good for the business, it sure will.” He pauses for a moment.
“I know Alexandra is a so-called modern woman who wants a career and all. But what she doesn’t understand is how utterly cut-throat the business world is.
It’s a war zone. The decisions I’ve had to make to get Calla to where it is today would give you nightmares.
I don’t want that for my daughter. So, just get her pregnant.
Once she has a child, she’ll be happy staying at home, caring for you and running the household.
Just like her mother and your mother as well. ”
What a condescending, misogynistic prick! I finally understand the magnitude of Alexandra’s struggles with her dad.
“Alexandra is a very talented—”
Walter waves me off. “I know, I know. There is, however, something else I wanted to talk about.” He stops a bit away from any bystanders and faces me.
His bright green eyes, the same colour as his daughter’s, are focused like a hawk’s and a chill runs down my spine.
“I hear rumours about you. Rumours about some special preferences that you may have.”
Please kill me now!
“Sorry?” I try, but again Walter interrupts.
“It’s not for me to say what’s right or wrong in that department, all I’m saying is that you will leave my daughter out of it. You go get your thrills out of the house, discreetly, and you let my daughter live a happy carefree life. You hear me?”
The threat is loud and clear, so is the anger ringing in my ears. I take a deep breath through my nose while my hands fist. This is not the time or place to make a scene, but my jaw is clenched so tight, words can hardly leave my mouth.
“As I said, sir, Alexandra and I are good friends. That’s all.”
I can’t trust myself to say another word without exploding, so I turn and leave a stunned Walter Harrington behind.
Alexandra’s father just told me to be unfaithful! What a major dick! My throat tightens. But is he right? Will my desire for some kink become so great that I’ll cave and seek “thrills” elsewhere?
Storming down the garden path, I catch sight of my parents, Mum wringing her hands while Dad’s brows are high up on his forehead.
I avoid their gazes. All I want is to find a quiet place to breathe.
Or scream. But my plans are foiled as I am waylaid by the woman that I’m apparently destined to be unfaithful to.
“Rian, you have to dance with me!”
I hear the desperation in Alexandra’s voice as she tries to avoid another dance with Moore. About to reject her very publicly, a flash of blonde catches my eye. Catriona is laughing. In Dylan’s arms.
Can this evening get any worse?
Jealousy raises its ugly head and mixes with all the other emotions that are trying to tear me apart. I smile down at Alexandra and pull her into my arms.