Page 80 of Tangled Control

Two hours later, Gemma repeats her concern about my welfare. I’m by her desk, showing her how to set up a particular analysis, but again I brush it off, claiming to be fine.

I tense as the door to Rian’s office opens and he steps through it, his hair even more messed up than it was this morning. With his head down, I see with dread that he’s aiming for Gemma’s desk.

Oh, please don’t come this way!

An unreadable emotion flashes across his face as our gazes collide. My heart beats harder, pumping pain out to every part of my body.

He is no longer mine.

I do what I always do. Straighten my back, lift my chin and ensure my eyes are cold and emotionless. I don’t know if I’m successful – hurt is probably seeping from every pore.

Rian – the coward – averts his gaze to Gemma.

“Um, Gemma. Have you received the figures from Anika’s team yet?”

“Sorry, I’m still waiting on them. They said I won’t have them until tomorrow. Everything else is ready for the report. Do you want me to send it now, or would you like to wait until tomorrow when it’s all updated?”

“Tomorrow will be fine, Gemma. Thank you,” he says quietly. His eyes flick to me, and then he turns his back on us. I want to reach out, touch him, beg him. And put a stake through his loveless heart.

“Hi, Rian!” Out of nowhere, Trevor appears.

Rian stops. “Trevor.”

Trevor leans closer and lowers his tone. “I-um, I heard you were on a hot date last night?”

No, no, no, please no!

Rian’s eyes widen before he shields his expression with a neutral one.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

“Ach, Rian.” Trevor actually winks at him. “You should know, you can’t keep anything secret around here.” Trevor is laughing while Gemma beams her wide, friendly smile. It dawns on me that they’re not only fishing for gossip, but they’re genuinely happy for Rian. In some surreal way, it feels like betrayal.

“You know, Catriona will skin you alive if you start wearing a silly in-love face around the office,” Trevor adds jovially while nudging me, expecting me to have a sharp comment ready.

If only the earth could part and swallow me whole. There is an awkward silence that Gemma eventually fills.

“Catriona’s not on top form. I keep telling her to go home.”

Rian clears his throat. “If you’re not well, then feel free to go home and rest,” he offers quietly.

“I’m fine!” I snap, earning surprised glances from my colleagues.Oh, let them think I’m PMSing.It’s better than them knowing the truth.

In the distance I hear thedingof the lift, but it doesn’t really register until the whole office hushes.

Oh fuck.

Ohfuck.

I thought this day couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong.

I know who it is, even before I turn.

In a tailor-made fitted business suit and killer heels, Alexandra Harrington’s size-zero frame is sophistication personified. There’s confidence in every one of her steps and a secretive smile on her puffy lips.

I glance down at my grey one-size-too-big jacket and matching too-big trousers, fraying at the ends, and I feel stupid and ugly.Stop it!I have nothing to be ashamed of! I take a deepbreath and lift my chin. Glancing at Rian, I notice with glee that I’ve never seen him so uncomfortable. He actually looks sick.

Good for you, dickhead!