Chapter Four

She had forgotten how large it was. Rhianna Cassidy stood in a grassy lot, dwarfed by the shadow of the giant red-bricked structure before her. She had last seen the Cassidy factory when she was a wee child, but still hadn't remembered it being so,.huge.

Bittersweet memories played in her head. Her little hand rested in the large, strong hand of her father. They had stood together in this very same spot gazing up at the mammoth building.

"Ye see that, Rhianna?" her da asked, looking down at her, his tan face lit up with a loving smile.

"All this will be yours someday. 'Twill be a gift ye give to your husband."

She hadn't really understood his words; she was too busy gazing in wonder at the factory.

Rhianna smiled fondly. Those had been good days. They didn't last.

Shortly after, her mum suddenly fell ill with a disease that struck quickly and spread even faster. Days later, she was gone, her body an empty shell. A haunting image flashed in Rhianna's mind. Her mother lying still in her bed, her face pale and drawn. Her chest heaved one last time and the light slowly faded from her eyes.

Her mother wasn't the only one to die that day. Her father died too, only his death was eleven years coming. Absolutely devastated by the sudden death of his wife, and overwhelmed by the burden of his two young children, he escaped and immersed himself in the factory and alcohol. The kind, generous man who had been her father died, to be replaced by a cold, distant stranger.

Rhianna pushed away the painful memories. As she stared at the imposing factory, she could feel the oppressive weight of the business resting firmly on her small shoulders. For the thousandth time since her da died, she felt panic threatening to overwhelm her. she struggled for breath. How could she eve dream of taking on her father's business? Mr. Dimera's offer echoed in her mind. She could marry him now and let him run the business. Let him take care of her.

She looked again at the factory. It was more than just a building, more than just a business. It was her father; it was his effort, his passion, his worries and sleepless nights. It was his time away from her. And it was all that she had left of him.

{Nae.} {I'm not going to lose it. I'm going to learn everything I can about the business and I'm going to make it succeed.} She thought firmly. Rhianna inhaled deeply and straightening her shoulders, walked through the front door.

"Sweet Mother O' Mercy! Is that wee little Rhianna Cassidy?!"

Rhianna turned her head to see an elderly man coming up to her. Her face split open in a wide, joyous smile.

"Mr. Pearse!" she exclaimed as the old man gave her a deep hug and a hearty slap on the back.

"Och, child!" he cried as he looked her up and down. "Has it been six years? How ye've grown! And call me Eamonn, lass."

Eamonn Pearse was an old, dear friend of the family who had been the foreman at the factory for many years. Rhianna had seen a great deal of him when she was little as he often came over to the castle to discuss business with her father. He was a kind, warmhearted man who Rhianna absolutely adored. Therefore, she was thrilled and surprised to see him there that day.

"Eamonn, I'm so glad t' see ye, but what are ye doin' here? Ye don't still work here?" she asked.

"Nae, I had to retire a few years ago. My old age is finally catchin' up with me." He replied with a sly wink that revealed the youthfulness of his spirit. "I just wanted to be here to help ye get settled in. I'm glad ye decided to take over the business. Ye're going to do fine, and ye couldn't ask for a better crew. Here, let me introduce ye to the foreman." He motioned to a young man who appeared to be looking over some reports. The man looked up as they approached.

Rhianna was immediately struck by the young man's good looks. He had a warm, bright smile and twinkling brown eyes. His hair was a curly strawberry blond. She smiled shyly back at him.

"Rhianna, this is the foreman, Brian Flaherty. He manages the actual day- to-day operations of the factory. He supervises the employees and oversees production. He's a valuable resource, Rhianna. Don't be afraid t' use him. Ye can depend on him."

Eamonn turned to the foreman. "Mr. Flaherty, this is the late Lord Cassidy's daughter, Lady Rhianna Cassidy. She will be taking over the company in her father's place."

Brian smiled warmly and took her hand in his. "Sure'n it's a real pleasure, miss. I'm very sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man." He said somberly.

Rhianna's smile faded a bit and her eyes grew sadder. "Thank ye for your kindness."

The foreman smiled affably. "Don't mention it, miss. And Eamonn's right. Don't worry yourself about runnin' the factory. Let me handle it. No one expects ye to know everything about your father's business. I'll teach ye everything I know and what I don't know, then well, we'll just have to learn together."

He smiled down at her and Rhianna found herself immediately liking the man. He seemed to have a warm, generous personality. He was very friendly and personable. She felt her fears diminish, just by knowing that he was here to help her.

Eamonn and Brian led Rhianna on a tour of the factory. She was amazed by the sheer size of it; it actually seemed larger on the inside than it did on the outside. The building was three stories. The center of the structure was open to the very roof of the building and landings for the upper floors ringed around the walls. Rhianna could see workers milling around on the landings, leaning against the iron railings as they took their breaks. (A\N: To get an idea of the visual, think of a mall with multiple floors. On a higher floor you can look down and see the bottom, that's how this is.)

Large machines of various shapes and sizes were housed in the center area. Some of the larger machines required more than a dozen men to operate them. Giant wheels and gears whirled loudly creating a constant, background roar that Rhianna gradually got used to. Mechanical arms moved in a blur and Rhianna gasped as a heavy press stamped dangerously close to a workers hand.

"Isn't that dangerous?" she asked wide-eyed as she gazed in terror at the huge machines. There were so many moving parts, sharp cutting tools, massive weights pressing down; if just one of these were to malfunction, the results would be tragic. She flinched when a young man's sleeve got hung momentarily on a spinning gear. He quickly freed his sleeve and went back to work as if unaware of his near accident.

Brian gave her a wide smile that bordered on patronizing. "Well, sure, if ye aren't careful. But our workers here are very careful and have been heavily trained. They have to work here many years before advancing to the machines. 'Tis perfectly safe." He assured her.

But she wasn't quite ready to drop it yet. "Have there ever been any accidents?"

Brian and Eamonn exchanged quiet looks. The foreman turned back to her again smiling. "Well, aye, when people aren't careful then accidents will happen. But they weren't very serious. If ye'll come this way." they quickly led her away from the machines and continued their tour.

Along the way they explained the business. "Very simply put, we buy raw metals from local suppliers and use it to make parts which we then sell to automobile manufacturers around the world. Cassidy's was one of the first businesses in this particular industry and still one of the largest. It has become the chief source of jobs and income for Dublin. While business has always been good for us, we have recently been battled by a new rival in the form of Dimera Enterprises. We've been able to hold our own against Dimera, but in the last few years, the business has begun to have troubles. But don't ye worry bout a thing. Just leave everything to me."