‘Sorry, honey. I’m a bit distracted with these lights. What is it?’
‘Never mind the lights! James has everything under control.’ She points to my favourite porter, who does indeed seem to be doing a grand job rounding up the crowd, regaling them with some sort of Christmas story involving the castle’s history. He’s an absolute gem. I’d love to double his Christmas bonus, but at this rate he’ll be lucky to even get one.
‘Chloe’s on the phone.’ Victoria thrusts her iPhone under my nose and the familiar tanned features of our middle sister light the screen before me.
‘Chloe, how are you? You look fantastic.’ It’s the truth. The Middle Eastern climate suits her. I’m so pale I’d fry under a full moon, but Chloe takes a beautiful bronze tan. Stunning freckles adorn sharp, high cheekbones and her eyes glint as blue as a tropical ocean. Her wavy chocolate-coloured hair’s pulled into a loose ponytail on top of her head; her shoulders barely covered by the summer dress she wears.
‘I didn’t want to miss the switching on of the lights.’ Chloe’s voice travels through the hands-free and Megan takes a step back, leaving Victoria and me to chat to our sister in private.
‘I’ll turn the phone round so you can see. It won’t be long now.’
Glancing round, I check Miriam’s in position. Thankfully, she’s smiling as her camera clicks and flashes in the distance. I can only pray it’s a good sign – pray she enjoys her stay here with us.
As the castle walls and immaculately kept grounds burst into a magnificent, festive display of elegant twinkling stars, sophisticated angel silhouettes and tastefully positioned reindeer, the crowd burst into a collective rounds of ‘ohhhs’ and ‘ahhhhs’.
A twenty-five-foot tree stands proudly on the perfectly manicured lawn as the castle’s centrepiece, its white lights gleaming.
‘You went for all white lightsagainthis year?’ Chloe says, her fingers drumming against her lips on the screen before us.
‘I’m a stickler for routine.’
I don’t tell her that every time I see multicoloured lights on a tree it transports me directly back tothatnight. The night I thought I’d gained the world, but in actual fact, lost everything.
Almost everything anyway.
Taking Victoria’s hand, I squeeze it gratefully. She’s my everything now. My sole focus. Her and the castle. I only hope I can find a way to turn things around and do both of them justice.
‘I wish you were here,’ Victoria croons to Chloe.
Chloe’s the trendy, successful sister. She never nags, and always sends Victoria the coolest gifts. Chloe got out of here the second she was able. She never voiced why but deep down I know she couldn’t bear being reminded of our loss. It’s probably the same reason she rarely comes home.
‘Actually, funnily enough, that’s why I’m ringing.’ She clears her throat and I usher Victoria further from the crowd to hear Chloe better.
‘I’m between projects at the minute. I’ve decided to come home for Christmas.’
Victoria’s resounding shriek pierces my ear drum and I flinch, certain Chloe could hear her in Dubai without the help of an iPhone. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes. It’s time. It’ll be lovely to see you both. To be home for Christmas.’
It certainly will. In this split second, I vow to put all worries aside and concentrate on making this year the most fabulous Christmas ever, because apart from the fact Chloe hasn’t made it home for one in six years, there’s a good chance it could be our last here.
Unless something drastic occurs.
CHAPTERTWO
RYAN
17thNovember
November in LA is one of my favourite months. With the madness of summer over, the weather’s finally at a temperature I’m comfortable with.
I’m Irish. We aren’t made for extreme heat.
The twenty-five metre turquoise shimmering pool is as inviting as the two unopened beer bottles on the neighbouring marble-topped table, but business always comes before pleasure. From the look on Jayden’s face, today, he means business.
He might be my brother, but he’s also one of the most ruthless agents in Hollywood and I’m grateful for him every day, even if he is a pain in the arse ninety-nine per cent of the time.
I have a reputation for being a bit of a bad boy. Truth is, Jayden’s worse than I’ve ever been, or ever will be. The man can be merciless at times, both professionally and personally. And his arrogance is notorious across several continents.
