Montgomery,” she said giving his hand a shake. She admired his work and only recently had read a profile on him and his company. His career had certainly etched a powerful presence on the Brisbane skyline.
“Well, Chilli Montgomery, where is your store?”
“It’s at Montgomery’s restaurant in Brunswick St, New Farm. We’ve only been opened for three months.”
Recognition struck. “Yes, I know it. Your son’s the chef, right?”
She nodded.
“You’ve done a great renovation job on that old place. Good on you. I’ve been watching it for a while. You’ve also had some amazing reviews haven’t you? Your son sounds like a very innovative chef for someone so young. I gathered it was a family thing?” It was now his turn to sound interested.
“Yes, the concept was my son’s idea. Sam wanted it to be an experience for our clientele and I think we have created that. He wanted me onboard with my homewares and his wife has a contemporary floristry business there, as well as looking after our marketing. My husband is involved in the business side of things. I feel very lucky that at this stage of my life I am working with my family and loving it,” she explained, the enjoyment showing on her face.
Jeff handed his barely touched food tray back to the flight attendant. “Thank you.” He smiled at Chilli.
“So tell me,” he said sounding intrigued, “Wasn’t there a story about your son getting married at the opening? A surprise or something?”
“Yes, there was, but they were married at the soft opening in front of family and friends, not in front of the media or strangers.”
“He’s only young. Is that right?”
Chilli nodded. “He’s 23. Do you have children?”
“Yes, I have three; a boy and two girls. Trent is 24. He studied architecture, but,” Jeff drew inverted commas in the air, “He’s not sure what he wants to do. He’s working in a bar at the moment. I’m just glad he’s working. Justine is 19, studying interior design and working part time, and our youngest, Coco, is 12 going on 30.”
“Wow, aren’t you lucky. Three is a lot. I only have one and he’s kept me busy. Your wife must have been run off her feet.”
“You could say that.” He paused for a brief second and then continued. “We were a little worried about Trent though. He finished his architecture degree, and then decided that he didn’t know what he wanted to do, so he went overseas for a year and is now doing the bar thing. Justine has always known which direction she wanted to go in. In the past, during the school holidays, she worked in my firm but now she has found her niche with someone else. Little Coco is still at school obviously, and says she will take over my business when I retire.” He laughed and she joined him.
“What a great name.” She glanced at the open magazine on his lap. “I’m probably talking your ear off. Please don’t let me keep you from your work.”
“It wasn’t work.” He held up the boating magazine. “I am the proud owner of a new Riviera.” He turned the page to show her a picture of a 42 foot white Riviera with a flybridge. He caught the look of interest on her face. “I’m heading down to the Gold Coast to the Riviera factory tomorrow to have another look. It’s not quite finished yet.”
“ Lucky you,” her voice was truly envious. “Looks like something your family will enjoy.”
“I’m hoping so. The plan is to have quality time with the kids.”
“That’s great. I’m sure you will. My son would kill for a boat like that. Are you mooring it in Brisbane?”
“I’m just working that out. I’d like to take it up to Hamilton Island and moor it in their harbour for a while. We’ll fly up and go out from there. It’s a fantastic place. Been there at all?”
“Yes, a couple of times, but not on a boat, just to stay on the island. Rob, my husband, has always had an interest in boats. He said in the past that if we got a decent sized one, that’s exactly what we’d do. We’ve got a ski boat at the back door, because Sam loves skiing, but we only got around to using it for a few months before Sam came up with the idea for his restaurant. Since then we’ve been run off our feet. Anyway, the plan is to have more time for that type of thing in the near future.”
“So are you on a canal, or on the Brisbane River?”
“Brisbane River. We bought a parcel of land in Oxlade Drive at New Farm and developed it.”
“It’s not that little enclave with the tennis court out front is it?”
“Yes, well one of the houses and the tennis court is ours,” she told him, surprised that he picked it. “Rob grew up in the area, so we’d been looking to buy for some time. After months scouring the suburb for a site, we finally came across the huge, overgrown block with the old house, and then won a bidding war on it. We then embarked on designing the enclave and a house for us that would embody our ideals.”
“Right,” he said sounding very interested. “You and your husband did a clever job of that. Do you mind if I ask which architect you used?”
“Dennis Nicholls. He was fantastic. We wanted to create something unique and contemporary, something that would convey the sense of a cool, waterfront lifestyle. Dennis really captured that.”
“Dennis is doing great work. I am most impressed. I actually drove past your home recently and admired the job.”
“Well thank you. It is definitely a serene haven in the inner city. When I come down that driveway, I instantly feel good.”
And then, shaking her head in disbelief, she laughingly told him. “I can’t believe you know it. Best not to do anything wrong in Brisbane, it’s too small a place.”
“I’m with you there,” Jeff chuckled. “Actually, we have a project coming up shortly in the area, so I have been familiarising myself with it. There’s a lot more stuff happening inner-city than ever before.”
“I agree. What is your project?”
“We’re designing penthouse-style apartments. There are only seven in the building, one per floor.”
“Sounds exciting, there’s more of that happening now isn’t there?”
“Yes, there is. Just closing the door when you go on holidays sounds rather tempting. I’m a little over maintenance, but I definitely couldn’t live in a shoe box. The beauty of these apartments are that they are in a boutique building, quite large floor plan, no waiting for lifts or trying to get out of the car park with dozens of other people at ten to nine in the morning, plus fairly prestigious location, with beautiful views of the river. I think they’ll be a winner.”
“So your wife is keen to do it as well?” Chilli asked.
He paused. “Probably not, but I’m not designing them for her, I’m designing them for clients.”
“Of course.”
They
