She peeked at Rohan. He was participating in the discussion actively along with the others, talking about the psychological impact of escaping a war zone as if he were an expert on the subject. Huh. He’d said Kamila shouldn’t be underestimated, but clearly Rohan was more than the average tax lawyer. Maybe because she spent so much time with him in his albeit very fancy pajamas, she often forgot how brilliant, knowledgeable, and accomplished Rohan was. Why exactly were they such good friends? He leaned close after the topic shifted yet again. “Everything okay, Kam?”
She nodded.
He smiled in return. But this wasn’t a normal Rohan Kam-you’re-incorrigible smile, but a completely different one. Weirdly…professional. Was this his corporate-self smile?
Was it a touch condescending, or was she imagining it?
This wouldn’t have been the smile he’d have given Jana Suleiman if she had been here instead. Jana would have gotten a smile of admiration. Of respect.
Would it have had affection in it? Or…heat? Attraction?
Kamila shuddered.Stop thinking about that.Jana wasn’t here. Kamila was doing this committee thing so Rohan wouldn’t give Jana this hypothetical smile.
Kamila cocked her head and winked at Rohan.
And he laughed, and it was the Kamila-is-incorrigible laugh. There. Better.
Finally, after a good twenty minutes of conversation that flew high over Kamila’s head, Anil smiled. “Well, before any of these ideas can be implemented, we need the money to do it. As we discussed last week, the plan is to kick off the fundraising efforts with a launch party. Kamila, this is the assignment I thought you would be best suited for.” He looked at the others. “Kamila here is a stellar party planner. You should see her weekly parties, and she’s running a huge event for an animal shelter. Kamila, how would you like to plan the Aim High fundraising launch party?”
Okay. Wow. That was what he wanted her to do? Plan a party? She’d been worried she was out of her league, but party planning she could do. “Um, what do you mean byfundraising launch party?”
“Right. I forgot you weren’t here last week. We’re envisioning launching the fundraising effort with an event where the sponsors can invite high-profile potential donors instead of individually going cap in hand to them.” He grinned at her with playful eyes.
“What kind of party?” Kamila asked.
“Marlene, tell her what we discussed.”
The blond woman with suburban mom hair smiled a not-genuine smile. “Carmela, right? That’s certainly an interesting blouse. What do they call those? Pussy bows? Anyway, we’re thinking a fun, informal kickoff to set the tone for the whole project. Put thefuninfundraising, you know? Hey! I invented a new word!Fun-raising! Do you think you can handle that, Carmen?”
“It’s Kamila. I’ve been on the planning committee for an animal shelter’s major fundraiser for three years.Morning Sunrisecalled the Dogapalooza easily the most enjoyable charity benefit in Toronto last year. This year I’m chairing the final event—the puppy prom. It’s been sold out for weeks.” She knew a thing or two aboutfun-raising, even though it was a terrible word that should die a thousand fiery deaths.
Somehow Marlene managed to frown with her nose high in the air. “Well, I’ve already booked the event room here at this shared workspace,” she said, not even acknowledging what Kamila had said. “I’m imagining a cocktail reception, but I concede to you to iron out details. You’ll need someone to work with from the committee. Most of us here have specific skills that I think would be underused in party planning. I suppose I could partner with you on this while I’m also looking at real estate—”
“I’ll work with Kamila,” Rohan said.
Marlene frowned. “Oh, Mr. Nasser, I already have you down to spearhead the organizational bylaws. With your legal expertise, you—”
“I can do both.” He looked at Kamila. “Kamila and I know each other well. We’re a good team.”
It was a little disconcerting that he was calling her Kamila instead of Kam, and she was pretty sure he only volunteered to save her from Marlene and didn’t actuallywantto plan a cocktail party with her, but Kamila was still delighted he volunteered. Rohan was the only one in this crowd she wanted to spend more time with (except maybe Anil). This was perfect. She loved making momos with him the other night, and this could be just as fun.
“Okay, then, Mr. Nasser is on the launch-party team. I’ll send you the contact for the venue. Three weeks should—”
“Wait,” Kamila interrupted. “Three weeks? When exactly is this party?”
Marlene gave a bothered huff. “I just said, in three weeks. The room is booked for Saturday evening.” She named the date.
“Oh fudge. I can’t, then.” Kamila cringed and looked at Rohan. “The Dogapalooza is that weekend. I’ll be busiest on that Sunday for the prom, but I’m going to have stuff on that Saturday, too.” She started listing the events on her fingers. “The canine couture show, the dog-and-car wash, the corgi high tea—”
“So, you can’t do it?” Marlene said. “Why did you volunteer, then?”
“I never actually told Kamila the date of the event,” Anil said. He looked at Kamila apologetically. “I should have asked first. But your main event is on Sunday, right? And you have a committee helping you there?”
“Well, yes—technically,” Kamila said. Tim was the co-chair of the prom. But still, it was a lot for one weekend.
“It’s your call—but I have faith you can manage both,” Anil said. His voice was full of trust. It was strange. She really didn’t know Anil that well yet, but there was something respectful about the way he spoke to her. Unlike Marlene.
Rohan said on Friday that many people underestimated her. Well, Anil was someone who didn’t.
