Free Natural Selection by Amanda Lance Page A

you to do just that…”
    “Shut up.” She looked away so he wouldn’t see her smile. How did he have the ability to make her angry and fill her head with lust at the same time? She flipped through the papers in her hands almost absentmindedly. She needed to stay focused if she wanted to stay true to her new resolution and flirting with Kasper was not going to be helpful at all.
    “Okay ,” she said, brushing the hair from her face. “Since you rejected everyone else’s ideas about a location, do you have one?”
    “Naturally. We’re going to have our gala at the Belhurst Castle.”
    “The wedding place? That’s way too expensive, and even if it wasn’t, you have to book it like, two years in advance—”
    “ The 18 th of next month.” Kasper crossed his legs and interlaced his fingers over his knee. Instantly, Emilia rolled her eyes. Why did he get to act so superior all of the time?
    “That’s only five weeks away.” Emilia picked up a pen and started creating swirls in the corners of the brochure of the Holiday Inn.
    “Yes, well, I understand securing a last minute date is easier to achieve when engaged couples are no longer together.”
    Skeptical and unwilling to get her hopes up, Emilia stared at him and waited for him to admit that he was joking. Still, taking advantage of two other people with a broken heart was not out of Kasper’s realm.
    “I have talked to Aasif and he confirms that $300 a ticket will take care of the venue as well as secure some much needed publicity for this place.”
    “I’m sorry.” Suddenly her mouth felt drier than it had in her entire life. “$300 a ticket? American dollars?”
    “Of course , you foolish girl.”
    Laughing, she shook her head. “You can ask people to pay that, but people around here won’t pay that.”
    “Don’t be silly,” he said, leaning in closer. “This is a very liberal area. Surely you have lots of professors who believe in this ‘cause,’ classmates and acquaintances alike.
    “Not for $300 a ticket and I’m going to assume black-tie?”
    Kasper rested his elbows on the table. “You assume correctly.”
    “ The people who work here can’t even afford that.”
    “Obvious ly, those hens out there will be given a compensated ticket. And you are being much too small-minded about this, Emilia Ward. New York is a wealthy, democratic state where I just happen to know many people. Once Mrs. Levkin sends out a few exclusive invitations, everyone on the east coast will want to attend.”
    She smiled and looked at his hands. She had to admit, it did sound good. “What do you even need me for, then? It sounds like you have everything figured out.”
    “Nonsense .” He smiled back. “I need you for everything.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    Notes of the Heart
     
    Aasif Shiraz had humored Kasper’s attempts to rid himself of the Ward girl, encouraged it even, suspecting that she would have found another patron to keep her occupied. While he admired the girl for her intelligence, and obvious devotion to hard work, he had been wary of strong-willed women who asked for nothing and offered everything in return. He, like many others he knew, had grown up with the notion that American women were promiscuous and lacked an ability to contain themselves. While he did not agree with the constraints his religion placed on women, he occasionally wondered if the world wouldn’t be a little better, slightly easier for people like Kasper, if such restrictions were applied in other countries.
    Naturally, he was surprised to hear from him so soon after leaving Massachusetts and recoiled at the sight of the hotel’s number coming up on his phone. Kasper hardly ever used the phone, and the last time he had, it was to call him at three in the morning and jammer on about some party idea he had to win over Ms. Ward. Had she rejected him already? Would he have to talk Kasper off the hotel’s rooftop?
    “Kasper?”
    “I am demoting