Page 85 of Tangled Control

“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 somespecialpreferences 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 youwillleave 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’sall.”

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 somekinkbecome 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, youhaveto dance with me!”

I hear the desperation in Alexandra’s voice as she tries to avoid another dance with Moore. About to reject her verypublicly, 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.

Forty Five

Catriona

“Where have you been hiding, sunshine?” Dylan makes some silly puppy eyes, as if I’m a great mystery. “I’m at Rian’s office at least once a week, and I’ve never seen you.”

“Oh, I was there alright,” I reply dryly while trying to keep a decent gap between our bodies. It was probably a bad idea to accept a dance with this blonde hulk of a man.

“Were you ducked down behind one of those desk partitions?” He gasps theatrically. “Youknewyou wouldn’t be able to resist me, so you hid under your desk, not to make a scene by throwing yourself at me!”

I can’t but roll my eyes at Dylan’s ridiculousness. I know who he is, of course – anyone interested in rugby would recognise his face – and although he’s funny, he’s way too eager and pushy for me.

“You’ve got a big ego.”