matching chiffon scarf sat loosely across her collar bones, fl oating behind her as she walked. It was very Hollywood. Like a dark-haired Grace Kelly.
His eyes were still on Bree as she disappeared into the distance.
Finally, he looked around the room. S omething had been done to change the mood of the grand ballroom. It was usually stuffy and formal whereas this event had quite a different feel about it. Perhaps it was the unusual table settings and creative centrepieces of native flora. They looked more like sculptures than flowers.
This was a large event with hundreds of guests so he’d been expecting what he called ‘wedding food’, plates that had been kept under the warmer too long and meals that were dried out. Instead he was pleasantly surprised. The food compared favourably with Sydney’s best and indeed with the finest meals he’d had around the world.
The man sitting beside him started up a conversation about property and investments. It was always business with some people. The bloke on the other side joined in, so Conrad leaned back to give them a chance to talk.
He tried hard not to look bored but these events were always so dull.
At least it was for a good cause. The money was going to several organisations, all of which would benefit Indigenous people. It would help Aboriginal school children from isolated areas who came to the city to study, and also give further support for those who were artistically inclined, funding the education of Australia’s talented future young artists.
Not everyone had the same chances he’d been given in life, though even for him not everything had gone to plan. He’d grown up with a loving family, attended expensive private schools and had the best that money could buy.
That hadn’t stopped his father from dying of a heart attack ten years ago. He’d only been fifty-five. Too young. Conrad still missed him.
That was when Conrad h ad taken over Eden Enterprises. He hadn’t planned on taking over the company but didn’t think that was much to complain about in the scheme of things. He’d been young and it’d been an enormous challenge, luckily one he was up to.
And here he was at yet another charity dinner. At least he’d enjoyed chatting to Jimmy, not to mention which Bree had some spark about her. Of a sort. Maybe that was why the room had so much flair tonight. He wondered if he should tell her she’d done a good job. Who knows? He might even be able to use someone with her skills.
Conrad excused himself, stood from the table and looked for her. He had to stand back as an Elvis impersonator strode across the middle of the room and onto the stage. It took all of about ten seconds until he had the audience in the palm of his hand.
Within a minute , the dance floor was filled and the guests in their black tie and evening gowns were rock and roll dancing. Conrad had been to many charity events but he’d never seen these people let their hair down. This had to be the cleverest public relations coup he had ever witnessed.
Winding his way through the crowd, he had to congratulate Bree on a job well done. The praise would be well deserved after all.
Nearing her, he waited a moment while she spoke to the master of ceremonies by the side of the stage. Now that the bulk of her work for the evening was over, she appeared relaxed, leaning against a speaker with a champagne glass in her hand. He hadn’t seen her drinking earlier.
He’d only seen her ordering people around and giving instructions but now he saw a different woman. It’s true he’d already noticed her womanly curves but then it was hard to miss such a stunning figure. Yet, despite that, he hadn’t considered her particularly attractive, hadn’t seen through the professional veneer to the woman beneath.
She tossed her head back and laughed, her smile reaching her blue eyes, her pale skin glowing. She gave the MC her full attention and he was clearly entranced. She was like a magnet pulling
His eyes were still on Bree as she disappeared into the distance.
Finally, he looked around the room. S omething had been done to change the mood of the grand ballroom. It was usually stuffy and formal whereas this event had quite a different feel about it. Perhaps it was the unusual table settings and creative centrepieces of native flora. They looked more like sculptures than flowers.
This was a large event with hundreds of guests so he’d been expecting what he called ‘wedding food’, plates that had been kept under the warmer too long and meals that were dried out. Instead he was pleasantly surprised. The food compared favourably with Sydney’s best and indeed with the finest meals he’d had around the world.
The man sitting beside him started up a conversation about property and investments. It was always business with some people. The bloke on the other side joined in, so Conrad leaned back to give them a chance to talk.
He tried hard not to look bored but these events were always so dull.
At least it was for a good cause. The money was going to several organisations, all of which would benefit Indigenous people. It would help Aboriginal school children from isolated areas who came to the city to study, and also give further support for those who were artistically inclined, funding the education of Australia’s talented future young artists.
Not everyone had the same chances he’d been given in life, though even for him not everything had gone to plan. He’d grown up with a loving family, attended expensive private schools and had the best that money could buy.
That hadn’t stopped his father from dying of a heart attack ten years ago. He’d only been fifty-five. Too young. Conrad still missed him.
That was when Conrad h ad taken over Eden Enterprises. He hadn’t planned on taking over the company but didn’t think that was much to complain about in the scheme of things. He’d been young and it’d been an enormous challenge, luckily one he was up to.
And here he was at yet another charity dinner. At least he’d enjoyed chatting to Jimmy, not to mention which Bree had some spark about her. Of a sort. Maybe that was why the room had so much flair tonight. He wondered if he should tell her she’d done a good job. Who knows? He might even be able to use someone with her skills.
Conrad excused himself, stood from the table and looked for her. He had to stand back as an Elvis impersonator strode across the middle of the room and onto the stage. It took all of about ten seconds until he had the audience in the palm of his hand.
Within a minute , the dance floor was filled and the guests in their black tie and evening gowns were rock and roll dancing. Conrad had been to many charity events but he’d never seen these people let their hair down. This had to be the cleverest public relations coup he had ever witnessed.
Winding his way through the crowd, he had to congratulate Bree on a job well done. The praise would be well deserved after all.
Nearing her, he waited a moment while she spoke to the master of ceremonies by the side of the stage. Now that the bulk of her work for the evening was over, she appeared relaxed, leaning against a speaker with a champagne glass in her hand. He hadn’t seen her drinking earlier.
He’d only seen her ordering people around and giving instructions but now he saw a different woman. It’s true he’d already noticed her womanly curves but then it was hard to miss such a stunning figure. Yet, despite that, he hadn’t considered her particularly attractive, hadn’t seen through the professional veneer to the woman beneath.
She tossed her head back and laughed, her smile reaching her blue eyes, her pale skin glowing. She gave the MC her full attention and he was clearly entranced. She was like a magnet pulling
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