I’d started to explain Kate’s new job when she interrupted, “We work for Cortez.”
For one man down on the other end, the mere mention of Cortez was a conversation stopper.
“That Cortez stock is astonishing, at a time when few stocks are. Philip tipped me off, said it was going to be big . . .”
“And was he right?”
“In the last six months, the stock has split maybe four times. Earnings are up seventy-eight percent last quarter, so yes, Philip was right. But that’s no surprise.”
“I hope they’re giving you stock options.”
Kate smiled. (They weren’t.)
“What company are you talking about?”
“Cortez. They have their finger in every pie. But they made their first money in biotech. Genetically enhanced crops. Super hybrids. This corn, for instance, undoubtedly is an example of what Cortez does best.”
“God, this corn is beautiful, the most perfect-looking ears . . .”
“Funny,” I said, “I find it has no taste.”
“Corn this beautiful doesn’t have to taste good!”
“Okay, I’ve got a pen finally, I’ve got a piece of paper—say the name of that company again.”
Many in the room, in near unison: “Cortez!”
“I’ve never heard of it before.”
“You will,” I said, looking at Kate, who sighed, half smiling, half already home.
“Not everyone is as sold on Cortez as you are, Nathan.”
“They’re just jealous they didn’t buy in. Philip says it’s just the tip—”
“Who is this Philip? You keep talking about Philip. We all want to know Philip.”
“Philip Ashworth.”
“I haven’t heard of him.”
“And only because he wants it that way. I mean, take Donald Trump. He parades around with his ninth wife, combs his sad hair in that nasty, nasty way—he’s all hype. But Philip Ashworth is the polar opposite of Donald Trump. He’s discreet, humble. He glides under the radar. While others, including The Donald, inflate their worth, Philip Ashworth downplays his.”
“Then why did he buy that house?”
“What house?”
“Not a house—it’s the house on the Promenade.”
“Oh, well, I heard he bought it for her.”
“Wait a minute. Philip Ashworth bought a house around here?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
“He’s moving into the neighborhood?”
“Yes, he is.”
“That house, have you been in it, oh my God, that is the house!”
“And now he’ll be our neighbor.”
“I heard it’s his wife who made him buy here . . .”
“Oh, her. Everybody’s talking about her.”
Kate perked up. “What do they say?”
“Well, for starters, she’s unapproachable. Cold. And she clearly has no problem spending his money.”
“I’ve heard she’s impossible to please. Architects come and go, she fired the designer Tad Keith, she was rude to someone, I can’t remember who . . .”
“She sounds like a piece of work.”
“Yes, a piece of work who’s had a lot of work done. People just don’t naturally look that good.”
“I heard Amber Goodsleeve say that Rebecca Plant had heard . . .”