Eliza’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “It’s just a house, not a home. I can rent it out. Or maybe keep it as my London base. I have some plans, if you want to listen.”
She got out of the car and we walked up to the front door. It was still the same powder blue, although it could do with a lick of paint.
“What I want and need has changed. This house?” She put the key in the lock. “It’s always been the dream, hasn’t it? I bought the house in London because I needed somewhere to live, and my dad told me to buy a doer-upper. I did what he told me. I’m tired of doing that. It’s time I did something for me.”
She walked into the house, and I followed. Finally through the front door after all these years.
I took in the faded floral wallpaper that was probably fashionable sometime in the 80s, the carpets that had seenbetter decades, and the kitchen units that looked like they’d been installed when microwaves were still a novelty.
But I also saw the gorgeous stone fireplace with its carved mantel, the thick walls that would keep out Highland winters, the high ceilings with their original beams still intact. Light poured through windows that faced directly onto the loch, and despite the dated decor and musty smell of a house that had been empty too long, there was something familiar about it.
Standing in what would be the lounge, looking out at water that stretched to mountains, something settled in my chest that I hadn’t even realised was unsettled. It was like coming home to a place I’d never actually lived, but had been dreaming about my entire life.
I brought my gaze back to Eliza.
“What do you think?” she asked.
Emotion stirred inside me, something between wonder and panic. “I think you bought our cottage.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But I very well might.”
I folded my arms across my chest, suddenly needing a barrier. “I just got off a train, and this is a lot. Explain it to me again.”
She took a steadying breath. “You know I quit my job with my dad.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t. I know you did in the heat of the moment, but I wasn’t sure if it was real.”
“It’s real. In fact, it’s the best decision I’ve made in years. Being up here made me realise what I actually need.” She took a deep breath. “You know that Andrew wants early retirement; he wants to go travel the world.”
Fiona had messaged me the news when she heard. Andrew had been with Voss for 30 years. I nodded.
“Fiona needs someone to step in to his role. She offered me the job.” Eliza rushed on before I could respond. “I know sheusually hires without consulting the CEO, but this felt different. I couldn’t take it without getting your okay.”
“This is quite the departure from a few months ago.” I was still trying to catch up.
“You genuinely wanting to run Voss made me see that I definitelydidn’twant to run Dad’s empire. He can sell it or find someone else to handle the corporate machinery. I want to work for something I actually care about, something hands-on and meaningful.” Her voice grew warmer. “Something like this incredible family-run watch company with a brilliant CEO who’s not even thirty yet.”
She paused, a hint of her dazzling smile appearing. “Quite an attractive CEO, too.”
My cheeks warmed despite everything.
“I know this is overwhelming,” she added quickly.
Speechless didn’t begin to cover it. This wasn’t just a career change: this was Eliza completely rewriting her script. I was happy for her, but disappointment filled me like cold water. She was moving on, building something new, and I had no idea where that left us.
Then a thought flickered to life just like Amina’s neon sign: could I live here too?
“After I left London,” Eliza continued, “I came back here to help Fiona and Ronnie. The lease on the old factory is sorted, and I’ve been involved in recruiting the new staff, and getting all the admin sorted. Turns out I’m quite good at the practical side of things when I’m not drowning in boardroom politics.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t in touch, but I wanted to give you space to cool off. I hope you know by now I was trying to get Dad and Margot to change their plans. I wasn’t trying to undermine you. I believed in you.”
Her face told me that was true. “I know. Margot told me.”
She exhaled. “Thank fuck. I’m sorry for being elusive, too. I didn’t handle it the best.”
“You didn’t.”
Eliza licked her lips. “I’m also really sorry for declaring my undying love in the middle of an argument in front of my dad and Margot. That was unforgivable.” Her face crumpled with embarrassment. “Can you forgive me? For all of it?”
