Prologue.
Mariah, Callie, Stephanie, Cole, and Tilly sat around the café table, looking shell-shocked. An hour ago, they’d all been gainfully employed by a famous hotel chain. Now they were unemployed and wondering what on earth to do next. The conglomerate had filed for bankruptcy this morning, and the employees were informed on arrival at their offices. All five had worked duo roles, part timing in the office taking bookings, etc., and in the actual building as maids. Or, in Cole’s case, a bag handler.
Their manager had looked dumbstruck when she’d given them their marching orders. Half the staff had been released from gainful employment immediately. They’d collected their belongings and silently left the building. Unlike some staff who’d retreated to crying and anger, they were shocked. There had been no warning signs the company was in trouble until this morning. A corrupt CEO had ruined it for everyone.
“Maggie doesn’t know,” Mariah said, finally lifting her gaze from her coffee.
“Where is she? It’s not like Maggie to be late for work,” Stephanie agreed.
“Do you think she was kept on?” Callie asked.
“No idea, but I can’t see Maggie agreeing to stay without us,” Tilly replied, stirring her tea.
“No, Maggie is notoriously loyal, even if she needs the money most out of all of us.” Cole sighed.
“Well, I hope if she has been kept on, she doesn’t up and lose her temper out of staying friends,” Stephanie added.
“That would be just like Maggie,” Cole responded, worried. As the only man amongst them, he felt it was his duty to protect them.
“What would be?” asked a beaming Maggie. To the other women’s and Cole’s surprise, Maggie was glowing in happiness.
“What happened to you? Did you meet the one?” Mariah demanded suspiciously.
“No, why are you here? I got Cole’s text message,” Maggie said, plonking herself at the table and putting her coffee down.
“We were all fired this morning,” Mariah replied morosely.
“What?” Maggie exclaimed, eyeing her mates in shock. They’d been friends since they were two years old, and their mothers met at playgroup. The six of them were tighter than most siblings.
“Yeah, went into the office, and an hour later, we walked back out.” Tilly sipped her drink. “I’ve saved enough for a couple of months, but I don’t know about everyone else. I’ll help where I can,” Tilly offered generously.
“Fiddlesticks,” Maggie exclaimed as smiles curved sad mouths at her old-fashioned language.
“Maggie, did you not receive any notification? Maybe you’ve kept your job for the short term?” Stephanie suggested, hopefully. Maggie was definitely the poorest out of them all. College debts and her mother’s ill health had run through any family money. Sadly, her mum’s funeral had then taken the rest of any spare cash.
“I don’t care. I won’t work there without you, anyway. Plus, I’ve some news.” Maggie bounced in her seat. She whipped her mobile out and typed on it. With a huge grin, she passed it to Stephanie, who glanced at the screen and then took a double look as she paled, and her mouth dropped open. Curious about his friend’s reaction, Cole snatched the phone.
“Dear God, Maggie, what did you do?” Cole exclaimed as Mariah and Callie clutched the phone. Irate at being last, Tilly grabbed it and stared.
“Who did you rob?” Callie whispered, glancing around to ensure nobody was listening.
“Nobody, except the Lottery! We won, girls, all twenty-five million! So who needs the hotel? We can buy our own. When we started college, we discussed buying six inns based in the Cotswolds. Listen up, girls and Cole, we’re going to do that. Now I don’t want us miles apart, but we don’t want to be crowded on top of each other. We’ll impact each other’s business then. I think half an hour to an hour apart is fine,” Maggie suggested and sat back with a huge smile.
“Are you nuts?” Stephanie asked.
“You won the jackpot?” Cole yelped.
“Open our own inns? The period ones we’ve dreamed of?” Callie demanded, her quick mind already working.
“Honey, we’ll find other jobs. You pay your debts and go on a great holiday,” Mariah said, shaking her head. Maggie crossed her arms and glared.
“I’ve booked a six-week cruise for us, touring America and Canada, and a two-week holiday in Alaska. After that, we’re coming home and searching for the old-fashioned inns we wanted. I don’t think it will be a hardship for us?” Maggie grinned widely at her friend’s shocked faces.
“Maggie, that’s your winnings. We don’t expect you to care for us,” Callie refuted.
“Callie, if you won, would you do the same?” Maggie retorted.
“Well, yes,” Callie sighed.