Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden

“Oh, Christie.” Her mother sounded wounded. “Thanks, Mum, but I’ve got a…” She tried to think of a decent enough excuse that wouldn’t send her mother into one of her usual pouting fits. She had a good job, a nice apartment-at least when she bothered to tidy it-and a whole lot of cool friends. She’d gotten over trying to fit into her family years ago. Both of them were too involved in their careers to pay much more than fleeting attention to her. A few years older than she was, he tended to view her with either mild scorn or complete indifference. “In a couple of weeks we’re going to be throwing the most fabulous party for them and Andrew will be heartbroken if you don’t come.”Īndrew wouldn’t be heartbroken. “Try to sound excited, darling,” Helene chided. Her mother must be over the moon that at least one of her children was doing well. So her gorgeous, highly successful brother had just got engaged to the beautiful daughter of one of Auckland’s richest families. “How lovely,” Christie said in a mechanical voice. Andrew and Emily have just gotten engaged!” “They’re not silly.” Same old broken record. “Aren’t you a bit old for those?”Ī sharp, metallic taste filled Christie’s mouth.

“Not playing one of those silly computer games again?” Her mother gave a musical laugh. Hating herself for the need that opened up inside her every time she heard her mother’s voice, Christie bit down hard on her lip. “Oh darling,” her mother said, her warm endearments as fake as her eyelashes, “don’t be like that. She hadn’t asked Christie a single question about how she was doing. Not since the last call about how Andrew, her brother, had made partner and what a wonderful son he was and how she was so proud. This is a surprise.” She hadn’t spoken to Helene St. Probably Marisa with a whole raft of date wardrobe suggestions.Ī small, hard stone settled in the middle of her chest. “Are you kidding me? Of course it’s a yes.”įive minutes later, a plan in place, Christie was in the process of mentally girding her loins in preparation for the date-finding when her phone rang again. Because when it got to the point where your family seemed to like your boyfriend more than they liked you, then clearly it was time to be single.Ĭhristie took a steadying sip of her wine. In fact, she was glad the loser had ditched her. Yes, he’d cheated on her with a blonde go-getter who worked in an ad agency.

Yeah, okay, so she may have been avoiding Marisa’s setups. And don’t pretend you don’t know that.”Ĭhristie could feel herself blushing. “You do know I’ve been trying to be your wing-woman ever since you and Greg broke up.” Marisa made a soft humming sound, as if weighing the scenario. Talking Dirty with the CEOBy: Jackie Ashenden

Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden