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fun to meet him.”
    â€œNo,” said Natalia. “I know.” But she’d been wondering what Hammar Capital’s legendary CEO wanted with her . And maybe he wasn’t Satan, but he had the reputation of being hard and inconsiderate even by financial industry standards. “No, I’m just going to have lunch and get the lay of the land,” she said firmly. “If he has business with the bank, he’s going to want to deal with J-O, not me.”
    â€œBut here’s the thing. You never know with Hammar Capital,” Åsa said, gracefully standing up. “And you’re underestimating yourself. Do you know anyone as smart as you? No, exactly.” She ran her hand over her completely stain- and wrinkle-free outfit. Even though she was wearing an austere suit (Natalia happened to know that this specific Prada suit had been tailor-made for Åsa), a simple silk blouse, and light-beige pumps, she looked like a glamorous movie star.
    Ã…sa leaned over the desk. “You know very well you shouldn’t care so much what your father thinks,” she said, as usual putting her finger right on the sore spot and pushing. “You’re brilliant, and you’re going to go far. You can make your career here.” Åsa gestured to the building they were in, the Swedish headquarters of one of the world’s biggest banks, the Bank of London. “You don’t have to work at the family company to be worth something,” Åsa continued. “They have the world’s least progressive view of women’s rights and you know it. Your dad is hopeless, your brother is an idiot, and the rest of the board wins the male chauvinist pig prize of all time. And I should know, because I work with them.” She cocked her head. “You’re smarter than all of them put together.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œSo why don’t you have a seat on the board?”
    â€œBut you work there. You’re satisfied, aren’t you?” Natalia asked, avoiding the question of why she was not on the Investum board. After all, that was quite the sensitive topic.
    â€œYes, but I’m only there because of gender quotas,” Åsa said. “I was hired by a man who hates having to fill quotas as much as he hates immigrants, feminists, and blue-collar workers. I’m his alibi. He can point to me and say that at least he hires women.”
    â€œDad doesn’t hate ... ,” Natalia began, but then stopped. Åsa was right after all.
    â€œPlus your dad feels sorry for me because I’m an orphan,” Åsa continued. “And I don’t have any ambitions to take over the place and lead the wretched show. My only ambition is to avoid dying of boredom. But you, you could go all the way to the top.”
    Ã…sa picked up her fifty-thousand-kronor handbag and started to root around in it. She pulled out a light-colored lipstick and dabbed some on her lips.
    â€œHe asked for a discreet meeting,” Natalia said. “Actually, I shouldn’t have said anything. You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
    â€œYou weirdo, of course I won’t, but what do you think he wants?”
    â€œMust be something about financing. Maybe he’s putting together a deal with one of our clients? I don’t know. I was up half the night trying to work that out. Or maybe he’s just networking?” It wasn’t unusual that people wanted to meet with her because of who she was—a De la Grip, a woman with connections and a pedigree. She hated it. But David Hammar had piqued her curiosity. And he hadn’t sounded fawning or slick, just courteous. And she had to eat, so . . .
    Ã…sa eyed her thoughtfully. “Actually, I should go with you. Who knows what silly things you’ll let slip if you’re left to your own devices.”
    Natalia refrained from pointing out that she was considered one of Sweden’s most promising corporate