Page 34 of Tangled Control

“Nice way to ruin lunch,” Rosie says sarcastically and leaves the table as well.

I have no idea why she looks so hurt. She’s over protected and spoiled rotten due to being ill when she was young, yet she’s become more trouble than I ever was, stringing boys along with her good looks and flirty manners. Changing direction every term. Don’t get me started on her stint experimenting with drinks and drugs. My father, however, is blind to her faults and any scandal she creates.

He only sees me and my flaws.

“Rian—” Mum starts, but I cut her off.

“Mum, please.”

“No, Rian, you listen to me.”

Mum never worked after she married. She, like so many in her circle, became a full-time housewife. A housewife with a nanny, a cook and a cleaner. Which meant ample time to pursue her creative passions and her rose garden – as well as going shopping, lunching and entertaining. In fairness, it also allowed her to homeschool Rosie when she was sick. The look on her face now is one I know all too well, although it’s not one she uses often. That’s probably why I take a deep breath and steel myself for whatever speech she has in store for me.

“Your father compares your life with his own. When he was your age, his life was already bound with responsibilities. He was working hard to establish a new company from the ground up, and he was married with a second son on the way. Looking at you and the way you’re complaining about being bored, not taking anything seriously, he finds it difficult to takeyouseriously.”

My stomach turns to acid at her description of me. Is that really all she sees in her oldest son? Can’t she see that I’m sacrificing my life to ensure Dad’s legacy lives on?

“If he wants me to be like him, then maybe I should start a company of my own.”

Mum waves her hand as if I’m a perpetual child talking nonsense. “What I’m saying is, maybe it’s time for you to settle down.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I choke on the words and train my eyes on the ceiling. Imaginary shackles tighten around my ankles.Settling down.

“Rian.” I shift my gaze to Mum’s at the insistence in her tone. “You and Alexandra are not getting any younger. Maybe it’s time you make your move?”

With those words, she rises and leaves me alone at the table.

Alexandra. My beautiful, perfect Alexandra.

We were boyfriend and girlfriend once, back when I was seventeen and she was fifteen. We were the perfect couple, and the most popular kids in school. It wasn’t just our families’ wealth that made us popular – no, I was popular because I was a natural leader, and Alexandra, even at that age, possessed the attitude of a queen – a gracefulness none of our peers could copy.

Yet she dumped me after only three months of holding hands and innocent kissing and fondling.

The only reason she gave me was that the time wasn’t right.“But one day I want to be yours. And yours only.”

I’ve been chasing her ever since. It’s become our thing, my half-hearted chase that she turns down with a laugh. I never put in too much effort because I know we will eventually end up together, like she said. Now, so many years later, there’s an added expectation from family and friends that we’ll get back together. We make sense. Sometimes I think of us as royals –betrothed to each other from birth. The Calla heiress and the prince of KSS. We don’t really have a choice in the matter, the only control we have is decidingwhenwe will join our kingdoms.

Maybe now is the right time?

The image of Catriona as I caressed her face flashes through my mind, but I quickly push it away. My destiny can’t be sidetracked by an office affair. My destiny is Alexandra.

* * *

“Rian?” Alexandra can’t hide her surprise at the other end of the phone. We may be childhood friends, we may see each other several times a week, may even be on the trajectory of marriage, yet I normally never call her. Whenever we’re together, it’s with other people around. My chase of her is a public play, never a private one.

“Morning, Alexandra.” My reflection is faint in my living room window with the early morning sun blinding me. It means I can’t see the dark circles under my eyes after my sleepless night, tossing and turning, waking from dreams of endless, desolate concrete roads.

“Is everything okay?”

“Of course. Everything is fine. I was wondering… Do you want to go for drinks tomorrow night?” I run a hand through my hair and my quiet exhale is heavy. “The two of us?”

There’s a hesitation. Just a short one, but still so tangible. “Ach, Ri, you’re so sweet, but I’m working tomorrow night. Let’s catch up over some drinks later this week, yes? I’m meeting Leo on Thursday. Why don’t you join us?”

I almost laugh – both in relief and at her barely hidden panic. Alexandra isn’t ready for me. But I’ve taken the first step, cracked the door open, and now she knows we’re on the countdown.

Which means I have to end this affair with Catriona. It has to be done, and the sooner, the better.

Twenty Two