Page 5 of Tangled Control

“Overqualified wedding coordinator to the rescue. After all, I have every young woman’s dream job, arranging weddings in Irish castles, French chateaus and secluded Mediterranean beach villas for royalty and celebrities.” She says the words with a low chuckle. Most people would never pick up on the sarcasm underneath.

Alexandra is stuck behind her father’s wishes – just like I am behind mine – working for her dad’s world-wide events company, Calla. Calla has grown so big over the years that Walter Harrington is more a figurehead these days, whereas my dad is still very much a hands-on head of the family business.Nevertheless, our fathers are of the same controlling mindset, and they’re also close friends since childhood. They work together on many levels with KSS providing security for Calla’s high-profile events. Arranging a joint spring BBQ for staff and clients of KSS and Calla’s Irish office is an extension of their collaboration.

“I for one am looking forward to having a party on the Harringtons’ grounds,” Leo assures Alexandra. “You’ve done a brilliant job the last few years keeping an overstocked bar and inviting suitable women.”

Alexandra shakes her head. “You’re unredeemable. Maybe I should chop friends off the invitation list this year.”

“Don’t you dare, woman!”

“You’re right, we do need some flamboyance.”

Leo huffs at her dig at his somewhat outrageous dress sense.

I wonder if Catriona will be donning one of her drab work suits at the event, or if she’ll dress up for once. I’ve never seen her in anything but those ugly suits, not even on my first day in the office, when everyone else had dressed to the nines as if my arrival was something to celebrate. And, unlike everyone else, she didn’t immediately respect me based on my family links. No, from our first meeting I sensed her edges turning sharper and sharper until she was an ice crystal ready to cut me any chance she got. Oh, if I could only put her on my lap and…

…andtan that arse.

“Rian?”

“Oh, sorry.”

Distracted, I’ve walked past the restaurant where we’re having lunch. I shake my head, trying to shake Catriona out of it.

The restaurant is busy, but the owner knows who I am and quickly has an extra table set up for us. I pull the chair out for Alexandra as she and Leo laugh at a joke that I don’t get. They seem to have more in common than Alexandra and me, yet I’mthe one who will marry her. Yes, we will marry. She knows it, I know it – fuck, everyone knows it. The two of us will join Calla and KSS and become rulers of the Dublin elite. It’s only a matter of time. Hopefully a few years. Neither of us are in a rush to seal the inevitable deal. We want to live a little, have fun before we’re shackled down by another family expectation.

“Squash at nine tomorrow morning?” Leo asks as we leave.

“Make it nine thirty,” I reply.

“You’re such a lazy git.” He chuckles and shakes his head.

I just shrug nonchalantly, kiss Alexandra’s cheek and wave goodbye.

I can see the tall KSS building from far away, looming, making my stomach churn with unease. I cross the street to prolong the return. My knuckles turn white as I grip the railing and stare blankly down at the murky water of the Royal Canal. Only a year ago, I was buzzing with energy, revelling in the sounds, smells, tastes and opportunities of Malaysia, waking every morning with a spring in my step.

These days I barely manage to drag myself out of bed before nine.

I lean over the fence and sigh so deeply, my shoulders slump with the force. My future.

Work for my father’s company.

Marry Alexandra.

Have two kids.

It’s what I always wanted, isn’t it? Then why does the thought of it look as dark and uninviting as the water below me?

Why does it feel like my life is not my own?

Five

Catriona

My shoulders scream in relief as I stretch while my laptop shuts down. What a day. Thank fuck it’s over. I grab myRun Forrest Runmug and bring it to the kitchen area. I try not to raise my eyebrows when I find Rian’s three junior assistants chatting by the sink. They normally leave long before me.

“We’re going for a pint in the 51 Bar,” Trevor says as he spots me. “Any chance of you coming with us this time, Catriona?”

They all know what my answer will be.