Page 79 of Tangled Control

“Did you have a good night with your family?”

His Adam’s apple bobs. “Sure, you know these family things. Nothing special.”

With anger simmering in my veins, I wait.

Waiting.

Waiting.

His fingers drum a soundless melody of doom on his armrest.

A heaviness fills me, spreading its cold lead from my aching core out to my fingertips and down to my toes. My gaze drops to the floor as if my eyes are also too heavy to hold high. Gravity drains the anger from me – the only thing that was holding me up. When I finally lift my head, Rian’s eyes are filled with terror and his jaw is tense.

“You’re a cowardly bastard, Rian,” I whisper.

He opens his mouth to say something but shuts it again. His features are pained, but not as pained as my heart. I turn and walk out of his office, leaving his insulting silence behind me.

* * *

Never has a day gone slower.

The digits showing the time in the corner of my computer screen seem not to change.

Never has the office gossip annoyed me more. Everyone whispersRianandAlexandraand gathers around their phonesor computer screens andaaah’sandoooh’sover last night’s restaurant pictures.

She’s so pretty.

He’s so handsome.

The perfect couple.

Finally, I understand why Mum wanted to protect me from impossible love.

“Are you okay?” Gemma’s voice startles me.

“Uh, yes, I’m grand. Why?”

I sit up straight and busy myself moving some papers around my desk.

“You’re a little pale,” she replies, her brows drawn together.

I stop fidgeting. Gemma has become my friend, and her concern warms my heart.

“I have a headache, that’s all.” I try to smile, but I know it’s weak.

“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off?”

It’s so tempting to go home and bury myself in my misery, cry until there are no tears left. Curse the world with Rian in it. But I won’t. I’ve done nothing wrong!Heis the one who cheated on me after saying he’d give us a go, so why wouldImake things easier for him?

“I’ll just take a couple of painkillers, and I’m sure I’ll feel better soon.”

Not likely.

“You sure, now?” Gemma eyes me sceptically and tucks a red curl behind her ear. “I can cover for you, you know.”

“Positive. And thanks.”

I grab Gemma’s hand and give it a squeeze. If it had been anyone but Rian who broke my heart, then I would’ve loved to talk to Gemma about it. With her own recent heartache over Eric, I’m sure she can relate to my pain and offer support. My shoulders drop on a heavy sigh, and I turn back to my screen.A whole two minutes have passed while talking to my colleague. It’s going to be a horribly long, awful day.