Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I’d realize just how true that was a few hours later when I got out of the shower to find a missed call on my phone and a voicemail waiting for me.
Sitting down on the bed that Sarah had bought as a gift when I took over my grandparents’ old bedroom, I switched the phone on speaker as I listened to the message.
My blood chilled at the familiar voice echoing into the room. “Jar, long time, pal. But your auld man needs to talk to you. It’s important. Call me back on 08798256825. And don’t make me wait, pal, awright.” The last was a threat.
Fuck.
What the fucking hell did my waste-of-space dad want now after all these years?
Three
Allegra
Aria blinked rapidly, like she was trying to process her feelings on my proposal without giving away her immediate thoughts. That’s exactly what she was doing. I knew her too well.
She stood, leaning against her desk, her arms crossed over her ample bust. Aria always made me feel like I’d just rolled out of bed, even if I’d taken my time getting ready for the day. She was one of those women who always looked put together and gorgeous. In fact, my big sister had no idea how beautiful she was and all because she was curvier than Mamma or me, and Mamma never let her forget it.
Sometimes, I disliked Chiara Howard. Not a nice thing to say about one’s own mother, but it was true.
Aria had been born without that innate selfishness both of our parents had. Worse, I worried I was selfish to my core too. That it was genetics, and I couldn’t fight nature. Aria knew some of our parents’ faults, but not all of them, and I’d like to keep it that way. She saw the best in people. That was a good thing because I needed her to see the best in me.
I needed someone to believe in me.
“Well?” I knew my eyes were wide with pleading, but I couldn’t help it. She felt like my last hope. For not the first time. Poor Aria. She really got stuck with me.
My sister sighed. Heavily. She smoothed a hand over her hair, her engagement ring winking in the light next to her wedding band. “I don’t think you’ve thought this through.”
After years of Aria running Ardnoch Estate as the hospitality manager, Lachlan promoted her to managing director. Lachlan, alongside his very famous brother Brodan, also owned a whisky distillery outside of Ardnoch, which they opened just six months ago. Lachlan wanted to put his energy into making it a success and needed Aria to take the reins at the estate. She pretty much ran the entire show. The promotion brought with it the benefit of hiring a PA, and Aria’s PA had just given notice. I’d suggested I become her new PA so I could get a work visa. A work visa would keep me here for three years, giving me plenty of time to build my business and apply for a business expansion visa. The government might even grant me indefinite leave to remain.
“Of course I have. It’s a great solution.” My heart started to race because I hadn’t expected my sister to object. “If you’re worried about me not being able to do the job, I can. I am very capable. You know I’ve run galleries before. And I’m a quick learner.”
Aria waved a hand. “I’m not worried about you not being able to do the job. You’re more than capable. But working as my PA for the next three years will completely derail your business as an artist.”
“No, I’ll do it simultaneously.”
She huffed. “Which tells me that you completely underestimate what the job of my PA entails. Ally, before my promotion I was drowning here. The club membership grows almost every year and I work very hard. So does my PA.”
Dread roiled in my stomach. “I know that. I can make it work. I’ll work with you Monday through Friday and do my art in the evenings and weekends.”
She shook her head again. “Sometimes I need my PA to do overtime. Why do you think Sandra is leaving? She can’t keep up with the pace.”
I frowned. “You have a life. You make time for North when he’s home. I can have a life too.”
“It’s not about having a personal life on top of this job. You’re talking about having a full-time job on top of this very demanding full-time job, all the while trying to grow a business. You’ll have no personal life because what you’re trying to do is impossible.”
Desperation turned to anger. “Aria, I need this. Didn’t you hear what I told you? Yesterday, Immigration warned me that they wouldn’t let me back into Scotland next time I try to visit.”
She pushed off the desk, expression sympathetic. “We’ll figure something out. But I’m not giving you a job when all it will do is derail your future. You are too talented an artist not to strive for the career you actually want.”