Page 26 of The Cottage in the Highlands

The three expectant faces of Athena, Barbara, and Oli filled my vision.

“I accept,” I gushed, before I could change my mind and pull back the words into my mouth. “I’ll take the job. Thank you.”

Athena clapped her hands together and purred. “Excellent!”

I was so preoccupied as I departed the rose-gold shard-like offices, debating what the hell I had just done, that I failed to notice the pitying glances of my soon-to-be new work colleagues.

Chapter Eleven

Doug’s mouth twitched with amusement. “Are you taking the piss?”

“No! It’s true.”

Frances folded her arms as she sat at her desk. “So let me get this straight. You applied for a news reporter role with Athena Mayhew and you’ve ended up as her new beauty writer?”

I picked at my mousepad. “That’s about the size of it.”

Doug let out a long, low whistle. “How the bloody hell did you let that happen?”

“I don’t know,” I wailed, flopping my head onto my desk. “She just sprung it on me.”

“Well, good luck to you but I have to be honest, Leonie, it’s not what I envisaged you doing after here.”

“Me neither,” I muttered. “But what was I supposed to do? I was staring unemployment or a job offer right in the face and it is Christmas in a couple of months, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Frances’s eyebrows flexed, encouraging me to elaborate. “So, you didn’t actually apply for the beauty writer job then?”

“I applied for the investigative journalist job, submitted what I thought was a good CV, and was granted an interview.” I rolled my eyes at the memory. “The interview yesterday turned out to be a bit of a farce, as it only lasted about five minutes until Athena was called away on something urgent.”

I leant my arms on the edge of my desk. “My mum is always saying it’s easier to go from a job to a job.” I hauled one frustrated hand down my face. “And it’s not as if I’m drowning in employment offers at the minute.”

I pushed and pulled at my mouse pad. “I knew I shouldn’t have googled the terms beauty journalist and beauty writer, but I couldn’t help myself.” I let out a defeated groan. “A lot of them now have shed loads of experience in beauty blogging or they have qualifications in skincare and haircare… It’s not like just commenting on a shampoo.”

I flopped my head down again on my desk, closing my eyes for a moment and willing the whole experience to vanish. “What the hell have I done?!”

“You’ll soon pick it up,” replied Doug, trying to sound encouraging. “Give yourself some time.”

“Who has the other job gone to?” asked Frances.

“No idea,” I answered. “Someone with more experience on the ground, whatever that means.”

Frances angled her head to one side. “I know it’s tough out there right now, especially in the media industry. But if you did work for Athena Mayhew, it would be a hell of a boost to your career.” She pulled a sympathetic face. “You’ve got to want it though.” She paused. “So, when do you start writing reviews about snake skin moisturiser?”

“Is that a thing?” I asked, screwing up my nose, appalled.

“No idea, but it sounds like the sort of thing the Goddess demographic would use.”

“Oh don’t,” I groaned, clasping my hands to my face. “The HR department emailed me last night with a suggested start date of November 5th. Quite apt, really. Fireworks night.” I puffed out my cheeks, still unsure of what I was letting myself in for. “Athena is keen to get me installed as soon as possible, before other members of staff start taking their winter leave in the run-up to Christmas.”

Doug murmured and checked the dates on his PC. “Today is the 23rd, so that’s only a couple of weeks away.”

“I know,” I gabbled, guilt pressing down on me. “I’m so sorry. It’s all happened so fast.”

“It’s fine,” assured Doug. “Don’t stress over it.”

“And this office will be closed by the end of next month anyway,” added Frances. “I’ll be working in the Drummond newsroom by then.” A resigned look shot across her handsome features.

I stared around, drinking in the gulls dipping and weaving over the choppy waves outside the newsroom window. “What about this place? What’s going to happen to it?”