Chapter 24
Max turned out to be surprisingly good company too, telling stories about his early days in buying and selling companies that had us all in stitches.
Perhaps he wasn’t the cold-hearted businessman I’d thought he was.
He topped up drinks, made us all feel very welcome, and complimented Margot at every opportunity.
As for my aunt, she was as relaxed as I’d seen her around a man she was dating, her voice getting to a normal octave level within half an hour of us sitting down to lunch, which was good going. I wanted only the best for Margot, and perhaps Max was it. Maybe he’d also met his match in her.
The man could cook, too. I made a mental note to ask him for the pudding recipe, assuming I could ever look him in the eye again without thinking about what I’d done to his daughter in between courses.
The drive back was blissfully uneventful — even the twins slept the whole way until Katy dropped me home — and by the following week, I was back in full work mode, sending the negotiated contract terms over to Roka’s management team.
I’d structured it as generously as I could without Margot having me sectioned: decent money upfront, royalties on sales, and creative control over how her image was used.
Plus, the percentage to charity we’d agreed on.
I fired off a quick message to Roka.
Deal sent to your team. Hope it’s what you’re looking for. Thanks again for an incredible weekend.
Her reply came back within minutes.
You're a legend. I’ll get back to you soon.
It was in the hands of the pop gods, now.
I touched the photo of my mum and Gran on my desk, hoping they were happy with the contract. The photo was outside the Goldloch plant when they’d expanded ten years ago. They both wore broad grins, unaware of what was coming their way.
I glanced up through my clear walls to the office opposite, the place where my mum took her final breath, currently empty. When she worked full-time, it’d been Margot’s space. She’d encouraged me to take it over, but I couldn’t do that.
Not yet, at least.
My next call was to Fiona in Scotland, because when Roka signed, we were going to have to up our production and be ready. She answered on the second ring with her usual brisk efficiency.
“Poppy, hen! How are you? How did it go with your mega pop star, and when are you coming back up to the Highlands to give us all a big hug? I told our Ronnie, and he was very impressed. Knew who she was and all! But then, you know gay men and divas. They love them and are them.”
I grinned. “Tell Ronnie, if she says yes, which I think she will, he might even get to meet her. She was very keen on the idea of visiting Scotland.”
Fiona hooted down the phone. “A pop star in Goldloch. Imagine! Someone who might be bigger than Marti Pellow.”
“You’re not claiming Rod Stewart?”
“He’s a performative Scot, hen!”
I grinned at that. Nobody in Scotland claimed Rod Stewart.
“Anyway, it’s looking hopeful. She made all the right noises when we saw her, and we sent over the contract today.”
“Fantastic news! I’ve already started looking at production schedules. Obviously, we’ve already launched the latest watch, we just need to put her signature on the back for her special edition. Did you get the final imagery?”
I nodded. “Yes, I’ve asked for her signature and the number 23. Then we just need to think about packaging with her face on. I know we said we’d take it up a notch with our next launch. Maybe we could do it for Roka’s special edition, too.”
“We can certainly try, hen. Ronnie is buzzing about it. Plus, I’ve spoken to Simon down the job centre, and he’s got some people on standby.”
That’s what I loved about Fiona. She already knew what it was going to take to make this work, and she’d take charge. Fiona was worth her weight in gold. I made a mental note to visit again soon, and give Fiona a bonus. She deserved it.
“But anyway, I’ll show Eliza when she’s here next week.”
I blinked. Eliza was going to Scotland? That was news to me. Why hadn’t she told me? Or invited me? I pushed my thoughts to one side.
“Any luck with the council? What did Harvey say? Was he up for resurrecting that slightly derelict building while we set up the pre-order?” I knew I was jumping ahead, but the contract was as good as signed.
Why had Eliza not mentioned going to Scotland?
Fiona chuckled. “Having the head of the council as a husband certainly has its perks, that’s for sure.
Most council business takes months, sometimes more.
But when I control what he eats and how much he gets to kiss me, things speed up a little.
He thinks they’ll approve it, but he’s also been sniffing around some other options.
There’s an old textile factory about 15 minutes from here that’s in far better nick and might be a better option. Could be perfect for what we need.”
“Keep me posted. And I will try to make it up to see you very soon, I promise.”
I was just hanging up when Margot swept in, looking more animated than I’d seen her in a while. She settled into the chair across from my desk, pulsing with energy.
“I have to say, Poppy, I’m genuinely impressed with how you’ve handled these couple of months. You’ve seriously got a lot done in ten weeks. I’ve had the pressure taken off me, and you and Eliza have handled it all beautifully.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” She’d clearly thought I’d be a trainwreck.
“We haven’t exactly been keeping track on each other’s lives since your mum died, have we?” It was a statement, not a question. “But this Roka thing? It’s smart. Really smart.”
From slapping me down to bigging me up in 60 seconds. Sometimes I hated working with family.
“I always said I could do this if you gave me a chance.”
Margot stared at me, then gave a slow nod. “I can see that. Just make sure you see it through. The job’s not done yet.”
She dropped my gaze. For some reason, dread washed over me.
“I wanted to ask also…” She paused, twisting her hands in her lap.
This was not my cool, assured Aunt Margot. Was she about to renege on our deal? I frowned, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
“I wanted to ask what you thought about Max, and Sunday lunch? I really do want you to like him. He’s the first man in a long time I’ve cared about this much.
” She glanced up at me, her cheeks suddenly flushed.
“I need to know how you feel about him. It matters to me. You and Katy, Bryce and the kids. You’re my family now, and while I don’t need your blessing, it’d be nice to have it. ”
I blinked. Margot going all coy and shy was not on my bingo card this week. But if she was going to be vulnerable, perhaps I should be receptive to it. Plus, he had made a very good dessert.
“I really liked him. He was warm and charming, and he can cook. I don’t see anything in the con pile for now. It’s all pluses.”
That was a small white lie. His big con was that he wanted to buy Voss Watches from underneath me, and Margot held the key. If she fell for him — she might already have done so — that presented a problem. But I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.
My phone buzzed with a call from Eliza, and a familiar flutter of panic mixed with something far more dangerous fizzed through me. I was sure I was transparent, but when I glanced up, Margot was too wrapped up in her own love life to notice mine.
“I should take this.” I gestured at the screen. “It’s Eliza, and she had a big meeting this morning.”
Margot nodded and waved a hand, but didn’t get up.
I swiped the green call button.
“Are you sitting down?” Eliza’s voice was bright with excitement.
“I am.”
“Good, because I have news. This morning went really well, and I’ve managed to score us a meeting and a tour with SwissTok.”
“Wow.” They were a major name, doing big things in our arena.
“Wow is right,” Eliza replied. “They’re willing to give us a factory tour, talk about their production processes, maybe share some insights about scaling up luxury manufacturing. I think this is a trip we should both be involved in.”
My brain immediately went to two places: first, that this was actually a brilliant opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business. Second, that spending time alone with Eliza in Switzerland was definitely going to end with us in bed together.
Also, was she going to tell me about Scotland? I couldn’t ask her with Margot there.
“That sounds really valuable,” I said carefully.
“It could be game-changing for understanding how to position ourselves in the market with our next launch. Also, we could get ideas for the Roka packaging. I was thinking we could fly over soon?” She paused.
“I’m heading to Scotland next week to work out the production plans with Fiona and Ronnie.
Just decided this morning. I thought it best to be there, show them we care. ”
“Do you need me to come too?”
Was she avoiding me again?
“No, you’re on the Roka deal, and you’re doing great. We can be more effective separately, get more done. When I get back, we’ll head to Switzerland the week after. That way, when my three months is up, you’ve got loads of ammo to show Margot.”
When she said it like that, it made sense. “Do you want my assistant to book Switzerland?”
“I’ll do it,” she replied. “And don’t worry, I know it’s work. I’ll book two rooms.”
She hung up, and I stared at my phone for a moment, wondering what I’d just agreed to. She could book two rooms, but even though this was work, I doubted we’d use them.
“Was that Eliza?” Margot asked.
I nodded. “She’s got us a meeting with SwissTok to talk branding and upscaling.”
“Excellent. You two are quite the pairing.” She narrowed her gaze. “Only, are you okay going to Switzerland? You haven’t been since—”
“I’m fine,” I interrupted. I wasn’t going to think about the last time I was there and what my mum asked me.
Margot clasped her hands in her lap, stared at me, then nodded. “Okay, then. This is what I mean about you stepping up and taking things seriously. I’m very impressed.”
If only she knew how seriously I was about to complicate everything.