Jude sipped her latte. “Why not?”
“Because. You know I’m not built that way.”
His sister shook her head. “Rubbish. You’re built the same as everyone else.”
Oh, sure he was. That’s why he’d dropped out of school so young. That’s why he’d had to start his own company because he couldn’t hold down a job. That’s why he only had two friends who’d stuck by him over the years for reasons even he couldn’t work out. That’s why his life was a constant series of reminders that kept him on track in case he got distracted by something unimportant.
Because he was the same as everyone else.
“So come on, tell me about that guy I saw you chatting to on Friday.” A graceless change of subject, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to talk about himself anymore.
In fact, he was pretty much happy not to talk about himself with anyone. Ever.
And that included his well-meaning sister.
Chapter Four
The Ashton Tech E-Slate product launch at the Hilton on Princes Wharf was in full swing by the time Christie arrived, the huge ballroom already packed. The event had been touted as a pretty big deal and all the tech gurus and attendant media were there, including a few celebrities who would provide the new product with a bit of cachet. Promo girls in slinky outfits circulated, as well as waitstaff with free alcohol. All the ingredients needed to make it a launch to remember.
Christie hated it.
She scowled at the crowd, trying to ignore the nervousness she always felt when it came to social events. Small talk really wasn’t her thing and as for networking, she only knew about that in relation to computers.
Good thing she was here to do a job and not socialize.
A woman who looked as if she’d escaped the pages of Italian Vogue sauntered past, and Christie scowled even harder. Oh bollocks. Was she supposed to have dressed up for this? If so, Ben hadn’t told her. She’d just chucked on what she’d normally wear to a tech function—T-shirt, jeans, and Docs. Yes, the T-shirt was a limited edition Death’s Head tour T-shirt, the jeans were skinny, and her Docs purple velvet, but clearly that said special to nobody else but her.
Too bad. She wasn’t going to regret refusing Marisa’s help with finding a “suitable outfit,” either. After the stretchy black dress debacle, she had no intention of letting her friend make any more clothing choices for her.
Debacle? Joseph wasn’t able to take his eyes off your legs…
Pushing the thought out her head, Christie scanned the crowd looking for people she knew and sure enough, after a couple of minutes she spotted some colleagues from a rival magazine. Taking a glass of champagne, she threaded her way through the knots of people toward her friends. They greeted her with friendly smiles, and soon enough they’d all gotten into a deeply interesting discussion about the latest smartphone.
“So what do you think of this Ashton guy then?” Christie asked Tony, another colleague and fellow metal connoisseur, a while later.
She’d tried to do a bit of investigation about the Ashton Tech CEO before the launch, but information had been sparse. Unsurprisingly. He was known for being media shy, preferring to leave all that stuff to his company’s spokesperson. All she’d discovered was that he’d started his PC business from a friend’s garage while in his teens, and from there it had gone from strength to strength, becoming not just a force to be reckoned with in Australasia but in other parts of the world, too. Apparently he was based in Auckland but traveled a lot. And that was the extent of the information. She’d found a couple of official-looking pictures though, and she had to admit, for a technology CEO he was hot, if too clean-cut and expertly coiffed for her tastes.
“What do I think? I think the guy’s a freaking genius.” Tony waved the beer he was holding for emphasis. “Ashton Tech went from a garage start-up to a turnover in the billions in less than ten years. That’s genius in my book.”
“Sounds more like a work/life balance problem to me,” Christie muttered.
“Decide for yourself then.” Tony elbowed her. “His Highness is about to address the masses”
“Where?” she asked, craning around.
“Over there.” Tony pointed. “Interesting he’s made a personal appearance tonight. Must be important, I guess.”
A makeshift stage had been rigged up on one end of the ballroom, and she spotted a dark-haired man going up the steps. At first Christie couldn’t see him with the lights dimming. A spotlight came on as he walked over to the lectern and then there he was, standing in the center of the column of light like James T. Kirk ready to be beamed aboard the Enterprise.