Page 19 of The Cottage in the Highlands

My heart juddered in my chest.

Dear Ms Baxter,

Further to your recent job application for the vacancy of Investigative Reporter at Goddess, I am pleased to invite you to attend an interview on Monday October 22nd at 10am at Goddess Magazine HQ…

I performed a series of frantic blinks at the screen.

I read on, my excitement and trepidation fighting it out:

On the interview panel, will be Barbara McKinnon, Head of HR, Oli Noakes, Deputy Editor of Goddess, and Athena Mayhew, Executive Editor and owner of Goddess.

There were a couple of further paragraphs giving details of directions of where the offices were located and where to park, if travelling by car.

It was a struggle to believe that anyone didn’t know where these magazine offices were, seeing as they consisted of rose-gold glass and towered over the Glasgow skyline like the Wicked Queen’s mirror.

I sat still for a moment, digesting it all. Then, just to make sure I hadn’t imagined the whole thing, I took a breath and scanned over the email again.

Nope. It wasn’t an illusion. I was being interviewed. By Athena Mayhew. For a job.

Chapter Eight

I rang my parents first to tell them about my interview in a week’s time.

They were delighted, although puzzled by my evident nerves.

“You can do this!” enthused Mum. “They must have received a lot of applications for a job like that, so for you to get through to secure an interview speaks volumes.” And off she went with another of her Italian proverbs. “A caval donato non si guarda in bocca,” which means “Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“It’s not so much doubting myself, Mum,” I admitted. “It’s more that Athena Mayhew is going to be on the interview panel.”

“Who?”

I proceeded to explain to her about Athena’s reputation in the journalism world.

“You make her sound like a cross between Eva Braun and Margaret Thatcher.”

“Then I’m being too complimentary.”

Mum laughed into my ear. “I’m sure she’s very reasonable, once you get to know her.”

“Mmmm.” I sighed. “It’s a hell of an opportunity though, despite working for DVM.”

“DVM?”

“Darth Vader’s mother.”

Mum laughed again, oblivious to Athena Mayhew’s rabid reputation.

I had to go for this job. There was no other option.

I gathered my resolve. I could do this. I knew I could.

Goddess was a gorgeous publication and it was setting itself apart in the world of glossy magazines, with its grittier features and human-interest stories, as well as fluffier pieces on beauty and fashion.

My only reticence was the prospect of having to work for Athena Mayhew. That was, providing I was offered the job.

As though reading my thoughts, Mum spoke again. “Look lovey, you have to succeed at the interview first. Just go and give it everything you’ve got.”

From somewhere in the background, like a flitting ghost, I heard my dad call out, “What’s for you won’t go by you,” which is what he had been saying to me ever since I learnt to walk.