Blaze by Di Morrissey Page A

extended break to enjoy myself. I know I leave Blaze in very competent hands.’
    Ali lifted her head expectantly, waiting for Nina to announce who would be taking over as editor. Instead Nina dropped her bombshell.
    â€˜I am moving back to Australia. We at Triton Communications,’ and here she beamed a smile down at the Baron, ‘have decided to launch Blaze Australia , to resurrect the original magazine that I started all those years ago, perhaps a little too ahead of its time, before merging with Triton and moving it to New York. Sydney is ready now to become the latest international city of style and taste, to join New York, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo . . . to have its own edition of Blaze. Yes, I’m going to do it all again!’
    There was a united gasp, a tinkle of laughter and wild applause as the audience rose to its feet, muffling Nina’s final, ‘Thank you for coming.’ She raised her champagne glass in a salute.
    â€˜Dear God, she’s amazing!’
    â€˜She’s mad! Who’d want the headache of starting from scratch at her age?’
    â€˜She loves the power.’
    â€˜Australia’s too small. They’ll blow their money in two years.’
    The reactions buzzed around the candlelit tables as the Baron leaned over, kissed Nina on the cheek and clinked champagne glasses with her.
    â€˜As always, my dear, you stun, stimulate and cause a sensation. You never give up, do you?’ he said. Then added softly, ‘And nor will I, until you agree to marry me.’
    Roberto Iano raised an eyebrow to Manny Golan beside him. ‘Australia? That sounds like going backwards to me. Even if she grew up there, why on earth . . . ?’
    â€˜Australia produces and sells more magazines per capita than just about any other Western country,’ said Ian Marcello, Nina’s Australian lawyer who looked after her international affairs and had timed one of his frequent trips from Sydney to celebrate Nina’s birthday. ‘It’s very competitive. Don’t forget Rupert Murdoch cut his teeth there and he’s moved production of some of the Fox movies down there. I hear more than a few actors are buying up real estate in Sydney.’
    â€˜It’s supposed to be a combination of New York and LA, pretty sophisticated yet laid-back,’ said Larissa. ‘Ali, you’d know, you come from there too. How is it really?’
    The others at the table stared at Ali in surprise. She looked and sounded like a total New Yorker. Only those at Blaze , or within the small world of publishing, knew of her Australian roots. While many successful Australians in New York trumpeted their origins, Ali didn’t broadcast the fact.
    â€˜How would I know . . . really ?’ she said, looking slightly put out. ‘I’ve been here eighteen years without any contact with Australia. I have no relatives there to speak of. I don’t keep up with anything Australian. Ask me about Milan, London, Cannes.’
    No one took up the offer.
    Larissa changed the subject. ‘Nina is very hands-on. I wonder how long a break she’s taking.’
    â€˜She’s earned a long one. I can’t recall her ever taking much time off,’ said Manny.
    â€˜With her money I’d gladly rest on my laurels and live it up in Europe,’ declared Roberto. ‘Trust Nina not to retire quietly with a large share portfolio and drift into the sunset,’ he added, concealing his irritation at not knowing of this intriguing development before now.
    â€˜Days of the big golden parachute will soon be gone, Roberto,’ Manny reminded him. A job for life was becoming a forgotten concept, even for pampered executives.
    â€˜Nina has guided Blaze for so long, that she and the magazine seem inseparable,’ commented Roberto, glancing at Ian Marcello, hoping for a bit of inside information.
    The dark-haired, twinkle-eyed lawyer merely smiled. Nina