Page 63 of Moonlighter
“You can’t drink until after our presentation goes off without a hitch.”
“Well, goddamnit. I’m eating, though. You can’t stop me.”
“You two are like an old married couple,” I point out.
“We get that a lot,” Alex says.
The food isn’t half bad, either, although Alex doesn’t eat anything.
“There has to be something here that doesn’t stain,” I point out. “These rolls are pretty good.” I offer her the basket.
She shakes her head. “It’s okay. I feel a little off, anyway.”
“Bet you’ll feel better when the speech is done,” Rolf says. “She gets nervous,” he stage-whispers to me.
“I donot.” She chews her lip. “You’re sure the prototype is working?”
“Working great,” Rolf assures her. “Bingley and I had a whole conversation about gifts I could get my grandma for her birthday.”
“Good.”
The gentleman in charge of this event—the same one Alex reamed the other night—is up on stage. “Tonight, we welcome a special guest. Alexandra Engels is the President and CEO of Engels Media Communications. At the age of twenty-nine, Alex became the youngest female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Before that, she earned a B.S. at Harkness College, followed by double Master's Degrees in Business and Computer Programming at MIT.
“Now she’s busy proving to the world that cable companies are no longer boring little utilities, but innovative tech companies in their own right. We’re honored that Alex chose to make a major product announcement at the Oahu Conference…”
I lean over and give her a kiss on the cheek. “Knock ‘em dead, hot stuff. I’m pulling for you.”
She gives me a soft look. “Thank you.” Then she pushes back her chair and prepares to stand up at the right moment.
“Please welcome to the podium Ms. Alexandra Engels.”
The applause is loud. Alex rises, making her way up a few steps to the stage. She takes the microphone in hand with the confidence of a pop star.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to be here in Hawaii. And I’ve brought a friend—someone I’ve been waiting two years to introduce. Please say hello to my Butler. His name is Bingley.”
There’s more applause while Alex steps out from behind the podium, microphone in hand, and over to a cart draped with a black cloth. She lifts it to reveal a metallic orb. It’s titanium, with a fine mesh surface. “Hello, Bingley,” she says. “Apologies for the blanket.”
“I don’t mind the dark, but I do feel somewhat emasculated,” he explains.
The audience roars.
“I’m truly sorry,” Alex says. “Can we talk?”
“Absolutely,” the virtual butler says smoothly. “But if you don’t mind, please verify your identity first.”
“Don’t you recognize my voice?” Alex asks.
“Naturally! But there arequitea few people in this room, and I need to know who I’m serving.”
Alex places her palm on top of the orb for a moment.
“Thank you, Miss Alex! How may I serve you?”
“Well, everyone else is eating dinner, but I didn’t get a chance. What are the most highly rated restaurants on Oahu? Could you look that up for me?”
“One moment, my queen.”
The audience roars again. I glance around the room at all the tech geeks, and every face is turned toward Alex. My gaze snags on her ex, sitting a few tables away from me. He looks enthralled.
