Page 98 of Tangled Control

She glances at Rian through the corner of her eye. “If you hurt my daughter, I’ll hunt you down.”

“Mam!”

But Rian takes the threat seriously. He grabs my hand while holding Mum’s gaze. “I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to make your daughter happy.”

It must have worked, because Mum gives me a crushing hug as we leave, whispering, “I’m so happy for you, my sweet, sweet daughter.”

In the car, I cry in relief and happiness as Rian drives us back to my place. He doesn’t ask any questions, just laces his fingers through mine.

Fifty

Catriona

MyRun Forrest Runmug is the last thing to go into the box, next to the twine-knot flower Rian made me. It feels like forever ago.

“I can’t believe you’re actually leaving.”

Gemma, Mona and Trevor crowd my desk, all looking as upset as Gemma sounds.

“I know Rian can be a dick to you,” Mona chimes in. “But if he’s the reason you’re leaving, can’t we try to talk to him first or report him to HR?”

“He’s the boss’s son, so I don’t think reporting him will help,” Trevor mumbles.

I scan my desk one last time, making sure I haven’t left anything. Then I face my colleagues – colleagues I refused to befriend for so long, and who I’ll now miss terribly. It is Wednesday morning, only a few days since the spring barbeque and the unplanned breakfast with the Kearneys. Arthur Kearney hasn’t wasted any time pulling strings, authorising my move to the Strategic Planning Division.

“Mr Kearneyisthe reason I’m leaving, but not exactly why you think,” I admit to my co-workers.

“Well?” Mona prompts when I don’t elaborate.

How this office will explode in gossip, I muse, when it becomes known that I’m dating Rian. Rumours are already rampant about why Rian left the barbeque early. None were close to the truth, and I have on several occasions had to bite back my laugh when I’ve overheard wild theories.

My heart misses a beat as I spot the man in question emerging from his office. How we have struggled to get to where we are now. Battling demons, expectations and misconceptions. So many wrong turns, so many broken resolves. Rian calls it his ping-pong intentions – one minute he was determined to drop me cold, the next he was in my pants, only to push me away again.

But somehow it’s all worked out.

Somehow, we’ve survived this hurricane of emotions.

“You all packed up, Miss Taylor?”

The hostility from my colleagues is noticeable as Rian stops at my desk.

“All done, Mr Kearney.”

“Do you need help carrying your stuff over?”

“You’re all too eager to get rid of me, Mr Kearney. I’ll be fine, thank you.” Just being close to Rian makes my cheeks warm, and I can’t control the smile on my face.

“Well, now that you don’t work for me anymore, I think I can allow you to call me by my first name,” Rian says with a pretend condescending tone, his kissable lips slightly upturned at the corners.

“Oh my, that is awfully kind of you –Rian. I believe I can extend the same courtesy, if you so wish.”

“My pleasure –Catriona.”

My soon-to-be-ex colleagues are standing there, eyes wide, watching our banter. “Tell you what,Catriona, I can do you one better. How about I take you to the Smock Alley Theatre tomorrow?”

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow and ask sarcastically, “Have they given KSS free tickets?”

“I’ll throw in a post-show drink just to avoid you calling me cheap.” He winks.