It sounds like typical Jayden.
‘From what I saw in Vegas, and from what Ryan’s told me, I don’t think he’s changed much. He has this reputation for being like super arrogant but he’s cut-throat in his job. By all accounts, he has a different woman on his arm every few weeks so he must be charming sometimes.’
‘Those poor unfortunate women. Just keep him the hell away from me.’ She turns on her high-heeled Jimmy Choos and stalks out the door.
Now probably isn’t the time to point out they might have more in common than she’d like to admit.
Jayden isn’t the only one who is notoriously cut-throat in his career, and also utterly allergic to a serious relationship. The only difference is, he says it like it is upfront, while Chloe takes her conquests’ business first, then their body, before cheerfully informing them she doesn’t do repeats. Ever.
***
Aunty Mags throws her arms around me like she hasn’t seen me in years, instead of months.
‘Come here, Sasha, let me look at you.’ Stepping back, she takes my face in her hands and scrutinises. ‘I swear you get more like your mother every time I see you. You have her elegance and grace, but your father’s eyes, doesn’t she, Evelyn?’ Mags turns to her older sister, who glances in our direction, a distasteful sneer flaring her nose.
‘She’s like her mother alright.’ Evelyn perches, rigid-backed in one of the castle’s padded dining chairs and stares at the navy and white china cup before her, as if she expects it to magically fill itself.
Her less than subtle dig hits me straight in the sternum. Evelyn never liked my mother. She thought she was flighty with her boho style of clothing and interest in art. But my mother was a grafter, just like my father, and though the dislike was mutual, Mam always made her welcome in her home. Which is exactly why I’m trying to do the same now. Even if it is painfully arduous.
Mags takes the seat across from Evelyn and I pour the tea before slipping into the seat next to her.
‘Oh, you are capable of pouring the tea. For a second there I thought we’d have to wait for one of your maids to do it.’ Evelyn helps herself to a dollop of sugar. She could do with a few, though I doubt it’ll make her any sweeter. The woman is bitter to the bone.
She glances at the festive displays of holly and fig leaves, beautifully bound and wrapped with scarlet bows. ‘Thought you might have spruced things up a bit, what with all the media attention. It looks like the same lacklustre display as last year, and every year before.’
‘Now, now, Eve. Play nicely.’ Mags pooh-poohs her sister’s prickliness, sweeping it away like a bad smell. ‘Tell us, Sasha, quite the man you’ve bagged yourself. A rockstar no less! And oh my is he handsome! Your parents would be thrilled.’
Despite the awkward atmosphere from across the table, I can’t help the grin at the mere mention of Ryan’s name.
‘He really is amazing, Mags, I can’t wait for you to meet him. You’re going to love him.’
Evelyn chips in, ‘Is he here? I thought perhaps he was still in Vegas. A man like him must have a ridiculous schedule.’
As if she’s thrown ice cold water directly into my face, my smile falters for a split second before I recover. She’s right. He does have a ridiculous schedule, or he will do very soon by all accounts. But he’s here now and we are going to have the best Christmas ever.
Trust Cruella to home in on my sensitive spot.
‘Oh, he’s here alright. He can’t wait to meet my favourite aunty.’ I deliberately beam at Mags.
‘And he’s performing at the Christmas ball, I hear.’ Mags links her arm in mine, patting the back of my hand in a maternal gesture.
‘Yes. He’s been fantastic for business. The castle is booked out for the next two years solid. I’ve had wedding enquiries flooding in by the hour, the country’s most affluent desperate to secure this venue for their big day. One of the Irish rugby players, Nathan Kennedy, has booked out the entire venue for his wedding on New Year’s Eve, despite the work going on out back.’
‘Amazing what a flash in the pan affair with a good-looking man can do for PR.’ Evelyn snorts before sipping her tea.
I hope she chokes on it.
Now, now, Sasha, you’re better than that.My mother’s voice rings through my ear.
‘I think it’s more than a flash in the pan, judging from the photos in Vegas. The man looks at you like you’re a goddess.’ Mags gushes.
Evelyn tuts and rolls her eyes. ‘Well, he is a performer. His job is primarily to put on a good show.’
Speak of the devil and he enters the room with the commanding presence of a man who knows half the world’s in awe of him, and just enough grace to look grateful for that fact. Mags and even Evelyn rise to meet him, extending their hands to shake, but Ryan comes to me first, cups my face in his and plants a lingering kiss on my lips.
‘Sorry, sweetheart, I got delayed longer than I thought.’ Only when he’s fully satisfied I’ve accepted his apology, does his attention turn to my two aunts, who I debriefed him about in bed this morning.
‘You must be Mags.’ He kisses the hand she extends. She might be sixty-two, but she swoons like she’s sixteen.
