The Women Who Ran Away - Sheila O'Flanagan Page 0,126

The earliest available one was in a few days’ time, so Deira booked a one-way ticket while Grace bought a return coming back a week later.

Then Deira texted Gavin to let him know what was happening. The amount agreed by the insurance company was less than her claim, as they refused to allow for the fact that the Audi had had a package of optional extras included. But Deira felt it was reasonable, which was why she’d accepted it without argument.

You think I’m going to be able to replace the car with that money? You owe me big-time, he texted in return.

If you want to get some legal advice, feel free, she replied. But the settlement is the settlement and I’ll forward it to you as soon as I get it.

She waited for another text from him, but nothing came. She dropped her phone into her bag. A couple of minutes later, it rang with a number that wasn’t in her contacts list.

‘Hello,’ she said.

‘Deira O’Brien?’ a woman’s voice asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Hi, I’m Bethany Burke. I run Executive Placements.’

Executive Placements was a high-end recruitment firm that Solas Life and Pensions used from time to time. They’d recruited Deira’s last assistant for her.

‘One of our clients is a big-name tech company,’ Bethany told her. ‘They’re looking at their corporate responsibility programme and ways they can be more involved in the community. They’re interested in cultural heritage; they feel that although their company is technology-and future-focused, it’s only right to look at the past and the present and areas outside technology.’

‘Good to hear,’ said Deira.

‘They want to set up a visitor centre in their offices,’ said Bethany. ‘They’re going to devote a really large space to it. They want to have displays and readings and music. They need someone to head it up. They need you, Deira.’

‘That’s . . . interesting.’

‘Their CEO has visited the Solas exhibitions a number of times,’ said Bethany. ‘He was very impressed. He checked out your profile on the company’s website as well as on LinkedIn, and got in touch with me. We do all their executive hires.’

‘I wasn’t thinking of a move right now,’ said Deira, although even as she spoke, the idea of moving away from Gavin was beginning to take hold. And yet she didn’t want to be the one to leave. As though she was so broken by what had happened that she couldn’t stay. Even if her actions over the previous few months could certainly have led people to think that.

‘It would be really good if you’d be prepared to meet them and talk about it,’ said Bethany. ‘They’re looking at an excellent offer for a person of your experience and calibre. There are stock options and other benefits too.’

Deira knew her current package was a good one. Would a tech company pay more? But did she really want to work for a business that might be considering their corporate responsibility as mere window-dressing? Would that be selling out? Still, she thought, what have I got to lose?

She explained to Bethany that she was away for a few days.

‘Will you be back by Friday?’ asked Bethany. ‘I was hoping to make an appointment with you for then.’

‘That’s fine,’ said Deira.

‘I’ll confirm it when it’s set up and email you all the information I have about the post,’ Bethany said. ‘Good talking to you.’

‘You too,’ said Deira.

She was feeling slightly dazed by the turn of events as she put her phone back in her bag. But she was excited too. And her thoughts now turned to what she’d wear to the first interview she’d done in more than a decade.

On their final night in Spain, Grace suggested to Deira that they go to the Flor de la Esquina for dinner.

‘Everywhere we’ve been so far has been pretty good,’ Deira said. ‘So whatever you suggest is fine by me.’

She’d packed most of her clothes, but had kept out a pair of wide white trousers and a black and white polka-dot top for dinner. She ran her brush through her hair and then applied her lipstick. She’d fallen in love with bright red. She wished she’d discovered it sooner.

Grace was already in the living room, wearing a cerise dress and looking utterly fabulous.

‘Wow,’ said Deira. ‘You always put me to shame, but you look stunning tonight. And I know it’s cheesy and sort of patronising to tell someone they don’t look their age, but Grace, you’re like . . . like Juliette Binoche! That woman has never