Chapter 30
The notification sound on my laptop had been going off constantly for the past hour. I’d given up trying to keep track of individual orders and was just watching the numbers climb on the dashboard.
My only sadness was that Eliza wasn’t in the office to share the excitement with me.
Her dad had her on the next project already, but she’d told me she was going to try her best to get in to see me today.
I hoped she did. Since we got back from Switzerland, she’d bounced between my flat, her house and her dad’s place, but she’d seemed distracted.
No matter her declarations in Switzerland, once we were back in our real lives, she withdrew a little again.
I was getting tired of the games. I didn’t need them.
My phone rang, and Roka’s name flashed on the screen.
“Poppy! Have you seen the response? It’s crazy!”
I shook my head, not quite believing that a world-famous pop star was taking time out of her promotion schedule of her new album to call me about our watches.
“I know, I can’t believe it. The website keeps crashing from all the traffic.”
“I’m not surprised. The campaign is gorgeous. Really. I’ve done a few partnerships before, and most of the time I forget about the product the second we wrap filming. But I keep looking at this watch and thinking I’d genuinely buy one if you hadn’t already given it to me.”
My chest swelled with pride. The whole team had worked really hard with the designers and production teams getting the product right. The marketing was about letting people know, but it meant nothing if the actual product itself didn’t cut the mustard.
“That means everything coming from you. Your album is going great, too.”
“It’s all about collaborating with the right partners. You and Eliza are that. Seriously. I wish you all the success in the world.”
After she hung up, I tried Eliza again, but it went straight to voicemail. I fired off a quick text instead.
Roka just called! She loves it! Sales are off the chart. Where are you?? Xxx
An hour passed. Margot arrived and did a happy dance in my office when I told her about the response, which I appreciated.
However, I was very much aware there still hadn’t been a reply from Eliza.
Why was she not answering, on today of all days?
Where was she? What was she doing? Negative thoughts clawed at the back of my mind, sinking their nails in deeper and deeper until I had to send another message.
The website’s crashed twice from traffic. Fiona’s freaking out in the best way. Call me! Xxx
By 5pm, I’d sent another unanswered message and was starting to feel pathetic.
Had I misread everything in Switzerland?
Had she regretted our confessions the moment we got back to London?
But she’d been the one to say she was falling for me first. I knew she had other things to do this week, but I’d thought after working on this deal for months, she’d want to share in the celebrations.
It was reminiscent of when Roka signed. It was weird.
Moments later, my office door burst open, and Eliza appeared with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, out of breath like she’d been running. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath.
“I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA, today of all days.” She rushed over to me, her usual composed stride replaced by something more urgent. “I had Dad on my back, I had to meet my colour stylist and make final paint decisions, and I didn’t get a second to check my phone properly.”
She set the champagne and flowers on my desk. Her expression softened, the worry lines around her eyes easing as she took my hand in hers. For a moment, everything was exactly as it should be.
“I’m so proud of you: you made this happen. The Roka deal started with you, and it ends with you.”
“It was a joint effort, but I’m so glad you’re here.
” I wanted to kiss her, but this wasn’t the environment.
Our offices had glass walls, and I didn’t want Margot walking in and finding out like this.
“Sorry for the many messages this morning. I was excited. Our marketing team kept calling with news and it’s been a bit overwhelming. ”
“We can be overwhelmed together in the best possible way.” She grinned, then picked up the champagne. “Shall we pop this now?”
I shook my head. I never enjoyed drinking in the office. I wanted to save our champagne for when it was just the two of us.
“Not yet. I’ll put it in the fridge for later.” I paused. “Are you coming to mine after work?”
Something flickered across her features, and my euphoria vanished as quickly as it had arrived.
Did she have some place better to be? Yes, she’d told me she was falling for me.
But then she’d returned to a familiar pattern.
Maybe she said that to all the girls. We hadn’t even declared we were a couple yet.
So far, our relationship had been more actions than words.
Perhaps that needed to change soon.
“Knock, knock!”
I looked up to see Margot leaning against the doorframe.
Perfect timing.
“The dream team, together again.” She gave us a slow clap as she walked in. “Even though I already saw Eliza this morning when I stayed over with Max.”
Almost as soon as she said ‘Max’, he appeared at the doorway, too.
“Dad!” Eliza’s pitch elevated.
“I just popped by to take Margot to an early dinner.”
He walked in, then leaned over my desk, hand outstretched. Max’s stubble was trimmed to perfection, and his suit fitted like a glove.
“The launch looks fantastic. I’ve seen the images all over socials, and Roka has really kept up her side of the bargain. For someone who has a reputation for being difficult, you turned her into an easy customer.”
I shook his hand, but couldn’t shake the prickly feeling in my bones.
“My advice, though?” He didn’t ask if I wanted it or not.
“Don’t let up. Ride this wave. The launch looks fantastic, but the launch isn’t where you make your money.
Building on a launch is where you make your money.
Focus on getting the orders fulfilled on time.
Then you need to keep pushing. Keep focused. Stay aware of new opportunities.”
I tried not to bristle, but I knew I was failing. He spoke to me like I didn’t have an MBA, like I’d never been in business.
I understood people, because I’d been taught by the best. Plus, I knew full well that launch was just that: a start.
You had to keep pushing, otherwise your launch might break down.
I could tell Max about the social media influencers we had rolling out over the next couple of weeks, about the product placements the team were working on across TV and film.
Hell, we’d even sent Voss Watches to a host of top sports and entertainment figures.
Including the England soccer captain Ashleigh Woods, who was engaged to Princess Victoria.
If either of them was seen wearing Voss, it would catapult the brand even further still.
But I didn’t want to blow his mind that I might know what I was doing.
“Plus, whatever happens with the company — whether you carry on, or whether you sell — this collab shows what a strong proposition it is. What legs it’s got.” He smiled at Margot, then at me. “You win either way, right? Which is what business is all about.”
Beside me, Eliza stiffened.
Meanwhile, Margot’s smile faltered by a fraction. Other people might not have noticed, but I knew my aunt.
Suddenly, I felt like I was the only one in the room not in on the joke. Only, the joke wasn’t all that funny. Was there something I needed to know?
I glanced at Margot, who stared at my desk like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Meanwhile, Eliza had picked up the champagne and was studying the label like she was about to regale me with the bottle’s grape composition at great length.
The only person meeting my gaze was Max.
“We’re not selling, Max. If I do well and prove myself, Margot promised me that.”
She nodded. “So long as the numbers stack up and Fiona’s okay. A promise is a promise.” She kept nodding a little too long.
I wasn’t reassured.
Max checked his watch — not a Voss — and clicked his fingers. “We should get going,” he told Margot, before spinning on the ball of his foot and pointing at Eliza. “We still on to meet later as you were so busy doing other things today?”
I could sense Eliza’s squirm beneath her nod. “I told you earlier, it’s totally fine. I’ll see you at the club.”
Margot and Max bid us farewell. However, the office after their departure was a very different place to when they arrived. Now, it felt stained. Rife with things left unsaid.
I turned to Eliza. “You didn’t see your dad today? Were you lying earlier?”
She shook her head, the crease at the top of her nose deepening.
“Of course not. He just wants to meet in person. We had phone chats.”
I was fairly sure she was lying.
“Will you still be able to come and drink the champagne with me after meeting with your dad?”
She nodded, but didn’t quite meet my eye. “Absolutely. This is a big day. The first of many.”