Prof Zhang gave her a look before she picked up her phone and made a call. One call led to another and another with one person referring them to someone else. Finally they were connected with Bjorn’s assistant in Sweden who was reluctant to commit him to anything considering he was doing a bit of R&R. On further negotiations however, it turned out that there were some Swedish artifacts the Archaeological department was holding that were of interest to the Nordstorm group. Bjorn might see his way to giving an in-depth lecture if negotiations could be opened on that front. Professor Zhang spoke to one of her colleagues based there and the deal was done.
“So he’s coming? He’s really coming?” Samara asked with excitement.
“He’s really coming,” Prof Zhang confirmed.
“Holy…I need to prepare. Excuse me,” Samara said rushing out and heading to the library. She had to get up to snuff on everything Bjorn Fredriksen.
Alison walked into the hotel room from her coffee run to find her father sitting on her bed, waiting for her. She stopped in surprise.
“Dad!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah. It's me. Your dad. Who you abandoned in Denver without a word?” Chris Khaled stood up from the bed, stretching to his full six foot four height and making Alison crane her neck to look up at him. She was the midget of the family at a perfectly normal five foot six.
“I..had to,” Alison said trying to hide the quaver in her voice.
“You…had to? Really? Why did you have to?”
“I couldn’t do it anymore Dad. Samara was ri-“
“Don’t you! Don’t you even mention that girl’s name in my present; she’s a coward and a traitor.”
“Don’t you call my little sister names old man! Coward? She’s the only one of us with any bravery.”
“Ha! You always were a stupid little follower Alison. Well guess what; Samara left us both okay? So get off your high horse sister. I need you on a job.”
“I’m not coming Dad, okay?”
“Oh yeah? And what you gonna do when you run out of money girl? Because trust me I ain’t maintaining your little ass for free.”
“I didn’t ask you to. I have a plan.”
“Oh yeah? And what plan is that?”
“Like I’d tell you,” Alison said turning aside to put her coffee down, not incidentally covering the brochure she had been reading earlier on different bartending recipes. There was a roadhouse down the street that wasn’t too particular about papers and credentials. It wasn’t exactly the high life; but it was a genuine start.
Her father smiled sardonically, “Well then, I’ll leave you to your…plan. Just don’t come running to me when it fails.”
He brushed past her, jostling her hard enough to make her stumble but she didn’t say a word.
Chapter 4
Samara stopped by the message board to see if the notification was up. She lifted her eyes and smiled with delight as she read.
The Day to Day Challenges of Swedish Shipping
Free lecture
Saturday 19 May 14.00
De Neve Auditorium
UCLA
In his talk Business Mogul Bjorn Fredriksen traces the rise of Swedish shipping and the overarching challenge to be able to meet the various needs and expectations of its Member Organizations in a timely and expedient manner. The Member Organizations’ needs and expectations can vary considerably and the challenge lies in finding common solutions that are acceptable both to Member Organizations that want to accelerate the work of the Organization, and to those who are in need of technical assistance. If the Organization does not manage to find acceptable global solutions, there is a risk that various regional or national solutions are developed, which may have a negative impact on international trade and the creation of a level playing field for the maritime community. In addition, it may create difficulties for effective implementation and enforcement in some regions. Furthermore, there is a strong need for the organization to have the ability to adequately respond to issues such as threats to the environment. Inability to address important issues will undermine the important function and role of the IMO as the prime regulator for global shipping in the long run. In addition, such a development would reduce the effectiveness and create uncertainty for the whole shipping industry.
Bjorn Fredriksen is CEO of the Nordstorm Group, based in Stockholm
She skipped away, excited for tomorrow.
Bjorn Fredriksen was a surprise. Somehow, Samara hadn’t expected him to be so…she shivered, unable to find just the right word. The color of his eyes fascinated her right away. She’d seen pictures of him before, but the reality was much more…hypnotizing. They weren’t blue exactly, closer to violet. They were also covered by the longest lashes Samara had ever seen, dark in color, almost black looking. But they couldn’t be…they were probably just a darker auburn than his hair; which shone with gold highlights and looked so soft Samara just wanted to run her fingers through it. He had long shapely fingers and he was tall. His Viking ancestors were definitely showing; he might have been even taller than her dad who was really one of the tallest people she’d seen in real life. In spite of his height, he walked with panther like grace and purpose and Samara found that her heart was beating faster just watching him.