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finance talents. Corporate finance was one of the business world’s most complex fields, and she was one of the highest-ranked students to have earned a business degree in all of Sweden—ever. In her work with corporate finance, acquisitions, and advising, she managed literally hundreds of millions of Swedish kronor on a daily basis, and she was in the process of executing one of the most complex banking deals ever made in Sweden. Still, Åsa was of course right—who knew what silly things she would let slip today, as unfocused as she was. “I’ll call you and tell you how it went,” was all she said.
    Ã…sa watched her for a long time. “At least find out what he wants,” she finally said. “It can’t hurt. A lot of people would do anything for the chance to work with David Hammar. Or to sleep with him.”
    â€œYou don’t think it’s too risky to be seen with him, do you?” Natalia asked, hating how unsure her voice sounded.
    â€œOf course it’s risky,” Åsa said. “He’s dangerous, rich, and your father hates him. What more could you want?”
    â€œShould I cancel?”
    Ã…sa shook her head and said, “Of course not. A life without risk is no life at all.”
    â€œ That’s today’s word to the wise?” Natalia asked. It didn’t have much of a ring to it.
    Ã…sa laughed and held out her empty coffee cup. It was white with black lettering. “No, that’s just what it says on my coffee,” she said. “I suppose I’d better head back to the office and make a couple of calls. Maybe I can fire someone. Lawyers really aren’t any fun, huh? Where are you meeting him?”
    â€œOn DjurgÃ¥rden Island at the Ulla Winbladh restaurant.”
    â€œCould be worse,” Åsa said. She couldn’t seem to find anything to criticize, despite really trying. She ran her fingers over her scarf. The last time Natalia had seen a silk wrap like that was on a shelf in Nordiska Kompaniet’s Hermès department, and the price tag had been considerable.
    â€œYou’re a snob, you know that?” Natalia said.
    â€œI’m quality-conscious,” Åsa said, adjusting the strap of her handbag over her shoulder. “Not everyone can buy mass-produced goods. Surely you can see that.” She shivered and then flashed Natalia a brilliant turquoise glance. “Just protect yourself. Who knows who he’s slept with.”
    Natalia made a face. “Apparently mostly princesses, if you believe the rumors,” she said. She wasn’t above reading gossip on the Web.
    â€œBah, pretenders and nouveau riches,” said Åsa, whose family traced its Swedish roots back to the 1200s. “Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
    Well, that doesn’t rule out very much , Natalia thought, but bit her tongue.
    â€œAre you going to wear that?” Åsa asked, looking at Natalia’s outfit with a face that suggested there just might be something worse than wearing mass-produced consumer goods. “Where in the world did you find it?”
    â€œIt’s just a lunch meeting,” Natalia said defensively. “And this was actually custom-made, thank you very much.”
    Ã…sa surveyed the gray fabric. “Yeah, but in what century?”
    â€œYou’re really a terrible snob, you know that?” Natalia said as she stood and walked over to the door, opening it for Åsa.
    â€œThat is certainly a possibility,” Åsa admitted. “But you still know I’m right.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    Ã…sa laughed in that way that usually made men start bragging about their summer homes and offering to buy her drinks. “About everything, darling. About everything .”

3
    D avid strolled from Hammar Capital’s headquarters at Blasieholmen over to the Ulla Winbladh restaurant on DjurgÃ¥rden Island.
    A host led him toward a table where