I resumed walking, this time at a quicker pace. “What if I have a plan to ensure the company stays put?”
Eliza raised a single eyebrow. It was perfectly arched, almost balletic. How was it possible that even her facial expressions looked like they belonged on stage? I ignored it, along with the heat that shot straight through my chest and settled somewhere considerably lower. I felt her curiosity like a physical thing, felt the way she watched me from the corner of her eye.
“Do you? Have a killer idea? Because if you do, I’d love to hear it.”
She sounded like she didn’t believe me. I could see her point, but I was sure this would work.
Ithadto work.
Because it was the only plan I had.
“Our designers already have a new watch that we’re launching soon. What if we get a big pop star on board? Someone young, relevant. Repackage the launch with them in mind. Make Voss Watches not about a piece of jewellery youput on your wrist. Instead, we’ll sell them a statement of intent, that if you wear a Voss Watch, you’re performing an act of self-care. Making time for yourself. Valuing who you are. Getting yourself away from digital pressures, returning to analogue, to offline. You don’t need a pomodoro timer or a sprint to see how productive you can be. What you need is a moment to yourself. To stare at beauty. To be mindful. To take time for you. Also, to wear the same watch that your favourite pop star is wearing.”
When I looked down, my fist was clenched against my chest, my knuckles white. I was shocked by the belief I had in this idea. I’d done a presentation for Margot, but I hadn’t sold it like I meant it. Not like I was now.
Being here, where the dream began, made this essential. It was about more than money, about being a success. This was about living up to expectations. Ones I’d never managed while Mum and Gran were alive. Now that I knew they were watching, I wasn’t about to let everyone down again.
My heart-on-my-sleeve moment definitely had Eliza’s attention.
“We sell them a dream: a luxury you can’t afford to be without.” I sucked on my top lip as I stared at Eliza, waiting for her reaction. I didn’t have to wait long.
“Your conviction is great. It’s a huge change from where you were. But the clock’s already ticking.”
I shook my head. “I have an in. Someone I know is friends with Roka’s manager. I already have a meeting booked in. If we get Roka on board, sell her the dream, the sales bounce would be instant. Then we get a marketing agency to flood social influencers.”
It sounded easy. I knew it wouldn’t be.
Eliza started walking again, hopefully chewing over my ideas.
“Is this like when we were kids, and you wanted to launch your own brand of watch for teenagers?”
I stopped walking again. “I clean forgot about that.” I had. “I wanted to topple Swatch, didn’t I?”
“And your mum and gran wouldn’t listen.” Eliza bumped my shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I thought that idea was gold. If you can get this one to work, it could be the same. She’s about to launch her new album, and it’s called 23. We could name the new watch Roka 23.”
My eyes went wide. “I love that!”
“But it’s a big if. When’s the meeting?”
There was excitement in her voice, but also scepticism. She still saw me as Playgirl Poppy. I was going to change her mind.
“Next week. She’s in New York at the moment, so it might involve a trip there. But it’s a shot worth taking.” I bit my bottom lip. “Are you up for a trip to the Big Apple?”
Eliza stopped walking. “I’ve had worse offers.”
“If I had more time, I might try to work up more ideas. But I don’t. All my eggs are in the Roka basket. But she’s all about female empowerment and supporting other women in business. Especially queer women.” I paused. “Plus, I’m going to offer her an enormous wedge of cash.”
Eliza’s laugh wrapped itself around me, and my pulse took detailed notes. It was a laugh I didn’t want to give up anytime soon.
“You’re going to sway Roka with the sisterhood and a big cheque, and you’re going to sway me with a trip to New York? The first might work. The second, you forget Michelle is there. And every time I go there, we always hook up, sleep together, and I take two giant steps backward.”
Something sharp and unexpected flared through me at her casual admission. I pushed it down before it could fully form into anything recognisable. Like, say, for instance, the fact I definitely didn’t want Eliza sleeping with her ex.
Instead, I gave her a look that told her I had the answer. “You keep falling back into Michelle’s bed? That’s easy. We go out in New York and you pull someone else. If Michelle is in the same bar and sees it, all the better.
“Because here’s the thing, Eliza. You need to remember that you’re the prize asset here. You keep repeating the same shit, you’ll get the same outcomes. Change it up, get a Voss Watch, take time for yourself and make sure you’re a priority?”
Eliza put a hand on her hip. “When did you get so fucking wise?”
