Page 10 of Mr. Hotshot CEO
Vince puts his hands to his chest as though he’s been shot.
“Cut the melodrama,” I snap.
I swear, my blood pressure must be higher than it would be during a stressful day at the office.
* * *
By eight o’clock, Ifeel like my brain is rotting. I’ve spent the past few hours playing videogames at Vince’s and eating pepperoni pizza. Admittedly, the videogames were not an entirely unpleasant experience, but I’m ready for something new.
Vince helps himself to another slice of pizza. “Remember I mentioned a party?”
“I don’t think I’m dressed properly for the sort of party you’d take me to.” I gesture to my suit. Yeah, I’m wearing a suit while playing videogames and eating pizza. I’m classy.
“Actually, that’s perfect. It’s a rather fancy party.”
“Oh?” I’m intrigued. Maybe...
“Where there will be no opportunities for networking.”
Damn.
“I mean it,” he says. “Don’t embarrass me by talking business.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re in the back seat of a town car, heading to the Bridle Path, an upscale part of Toronto.
“Tell me about your friend who’s hosting the party,” I say.
“Brian Poon. His family owns some kind of big multinational company.”
“Which company? And who does Brian have looking after his money?”
Vince gives me a look. “Can you pretend you don’t run an investment firm just for an hour? Please?”
“I was joking.”
“Yeah, sure you were.”
“I didn’t ask to go to this party, you know.”
“But it’s exactly what you need.”
The driver approaches a grand house of gray stone with elaborate wrought-iron gates, which are open. He continues along the crescent-shaped driveway and stops in front of a fountain with a nearly-naked man and woman carved of marble. The garden is lush and has an abundance of flowers, and the entrance is framed by two-story columns.
We head to the door, and an Asian man in a blue suit answers. He smiles at Vince before turning to me. “You must be Julian. I’m Brian.”
We shake hands.
“Tell me,” he says, “is this your first orgy?”
