The Greek Villa: A beautiful and utterly addictive summer holiday rom com

Chapter 8

I log in and take a few deep breaths as I wait for the online auction to begin. I have stuck to my guns and told no one about my plans, apart from my brother, so that nobody could talk me out of it, but I feel utterly compelled to do my utmost to become the owner of this house. I have been gifted this money and I could potentially buy a house in the place I adore, which is beyond my wildest dreams.

Uncle Jack knew about my lust for travel, and how I particularly loved Corfu, so I think he would approve somehow. Actually, he did tell me what a wonderful adventure he had in Mexico, visiting Chichén Itzá and sipping margaritas on a palm-fringed beach watching the sunset. I briefly wonder if I’m tying myself down buying a place, rather than travelling the world, although I guess my money would soon run out if I did that.

‘Bricks and mortar. That’s the thing to invest in.’ Hearing my dad’s voice in my head reassures me a little that I am doing the right thing as excitement rushes through me in anticipation.

The auction is just about to start when my mobile rings. It’s Evie, but I don’t have time to chat so she leaves me a voicemail saying it was nothing too important. I quickly tap out a text and tell her I will call her back shortly. Hopefully with some news.

The bidding starts at thirty-five thousand rather than the forty I expected it to, so I swallow down a little feeling of excitement as I realise it might actually be within my grasp!

An offer is immediately put in at thirty-six, so I bid thirty-seven. It’s followed by another bid and soon enough we are at the forty thousand mark. Things slow down a little then, the bids only going up in five hundred amounts. I can feel the palms of my hands begin to sweat as I try and steady my breathing. I don’t really want to go as high as fifty thousand, as it might cost that much to do the renovation.

I picture a courtyard with a blue gate and a huge lemon tree in a pot. A glimpse through the backyard on my last visit revealed it to be a bit of a jungle, although there is already an olive tree surviving amongst the wildness.

The bids climb higher, and my heart begins to thud even more. This is a million times more stressful than buying something on eBay; I remember the same feeling when I bid for a second-hand designer bag, and the disappointment I felt when I was outbid.

Please don’t let that happen today.

The bids climb, and suddenly there is another call on my mobile. I take a quick glance at my phone and recognise the number as an electricity company. I ignore it, but then there is a call on the intercom; a delivery guy is wanting to deliver something. I wonder whether they are signs that I should not proceed? I buzz the guy in and tell him to leave the parcel in the communal hallway, thankful that it doesn’t need a signature.

In a flash, the bidding is at forty-four thousand pounds, but things seem to have slowed down.

I say a silent prayer as I put in my final bid of forty-four thousand five hundred. The seconds feel like minutes, and I breathe deeply as my heart hammers inside my chest.

Then finally just as quickly as it started, the auction is over.

It takes me a moment to process what has just happened. I’ve only gone and done it. The villa in Greece is mine!

I let out a loud whoop before I race downstairs to collect my parcel.

Upstairs, I unwrap the box and admire the print on canvas. It’s a beautiful beach scene in vivid colours that I stumbled across on a website. I thought it would look good against my freshly painted white walls that contrast nicely with my dark-wooden dining table, but the timing feels like a sign that I have done the right thing.

Thinking about it, Josh has the talent to do something like this. I do hope he begins to dabble again as he has suggested he might. I would be proud to display one of his paintings on my wall.

It occurs to me then that the painting would also look good on the walls of my house in Greece. My house!

I flop down onto the sofa and resist the urge to scream out loud, as the old guy across the landing would probably only knock and check I was okay if I did that. I’m bursting to tell my parents. Albeit slightly apprehensively, hoping they will approve.

I’ve decided to keep it a surprise from Evie until the weekend when I take her there. I will have to collect the keys from the estate agent first, and there is all the admin and costs, but I’ve done it.

I have bought my own little piece of paradise!