My jaw drops.
Is she seriously asking me?
‘We’d like to offer you the position of brand ambassador. The contract is worth a million euros.’ She pauses. ‘I’m sure you’ll have to think about it.’
‘I’ll do it!’ I exclaim. A million euros and the ass-sculpting bikinis have nothing on the exposure that a contract like this will offer the Single Sav brand.
A chuckle resounds through the phone. ‘Fabulous. I’ll email you the details straightaway. We’ll be shooting the promotional images in a couple of months.’
‘Fabulous. Thank you so much for thinking of me.’ I glance between my daughters. ‘Where is the shoot?’
An image of white sandy beaches and clear turquoise sea lapping the shore springs to mind. Me sipping pina coladas on a day bed by a shimmering pool.
To some people, this might be heaven.
To me it’s hell.
One, I already mentioned I can’t swim. Two, I won’t leave my daughters to go any further than the UK.
A niggle of worry worms its way through my stomach. What if something happened to either of them and I wasn’t here? What if I couldn’t get back quickly enough?
My dads are brilliant. Yes, you heard me right, dads. Plural. I’m adopted. Steve and Stuart Kingsley took me in when I was only three-weeks-old. I consider myself exceptionally lucky. They’re fantastic parents and amazing grandparents. But I won’t fly across the world and leave my daughters with them for weeks on end.
‘It’s here, in Ireland.’ Susie’s confident tone is pleasantly reassuring.
Relief seeps into my soul. ‘In a studio?’
‘No, in the sea.’
‘The sea?’ I parrot.
‘Yes. As you know, at Coral we pride ourselves on being Irish. We’ll be shooting all the promotional images in this country. Don’t worry, the water will have warmed up by June.’ Her chuckle sends chills down my spine.
‘You want me to get into the Irish Sea?’
Careful what you wish for, right? Not twenty minutes earlier, that’s almost exactly what I said to Ronan.
‘Yes. You can swim, right?’ Concern etches into Susie’s voice.
‘Absolutely.’ Lies. Lies. Lies. But I have a couple of months to learn, and to get over my fear of water. I’ll have to because there’s no way I can pass up an opportunity like this.
No way in the world.
‘Wonderful.’ Susie’s tone brightens again. ‘I’ll email you the contract. Sign it and send it back at your earliest convenience. Include your measurements for sizing.’
‘I will,’ I promise.
‘You’re everything Lucas is looking for. Wholesome. Hard working and a brilliant role model for women,’ Susie says. ‘We’re excited to have you on board.’
My cheeks flush. ‘Thanks, I’m excited too.’
Excited and terrified.
Do I need the money? Honestly, no. Besides my clothing range, book royalties, and paid blog subscribers, I have five luxury properties I rent out. Money isn’t an issue these days. But the exposure will be phenomenal.
What I need is swimming lessons.
And I’m going to need the best instructor in the country.
