Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

this matter so seriously, but it turned out to be nothing more than an admirer of my voice. The agent warned him off, and everything will be fine now.”
    Dr. Wilson remained silent, and Amanda feared he was contemplating booting her for the safety of his other students. She cursed herself for telling him about Eder.
    “I intended to recommend you for the European studies grant,” he said. “But your friend wouldn’t be able to help you if someone followed you overseas.”
    His declaration stunned her. Freshmen never received a European grant. “I don’t think I’m eligible. Technically I’m a freshman.”
    “There’s no rule against selecting a freshman. There has simply never been one worth the investment. And you’re no spring chicken, so you can’t afford to drag your feet. My concern is not whether you’re eligible or worthy to go, but whether it would be safe for you to go.”
    “I could hire private security,” she said, thinking a fresh environment would do her good.
    “Can you afford to do that?” he asked in surprise.
    “Yes, and if this grant is only offered to students in financial need, then I’m definitely not eligible.”
    “Financial status isn’t involved in the process of selection, only talent and dedication to the arts, both of which you have shown to possess. That was why your lack of attention today greatly upset me. Now that I understand why you lost focus, I’m only impressed you could sing at all. If you can afford to ensure your protection, I will see you receive a grant.”
    She kissed his cheek.
    “Stop that!” he chided. “People will think I’m seducing my students!”
    “Your middle-aged students.”
    “All the more reason to behave! You are not well-liked by your classmates, and your inclusion on the grants list will anger many. I fully expect accusations of favoritism to be sent to the dean.”
    She was stunned by how easily she could damage his reputation. “Then don’t put me on the list. You’ve done so much for me. Don’t put your own career and reputation on the line.”
    He sighed. “You will never kiss me again.”
    “Never.”
    “We’ll wait and see whether anyone saw your foolish action. If they did, I will try and locate another professor willing to recommend you. Otherwise, you may lose your spot for this year. However, next year you will certainly be included. Your rash behavior might slow your progress, but you will recover.”
    She blinked as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. I seem to be screwing everything up today.”
    “We all have difficult days. Why don’t you return to your dorm and get some sleep? You look as if you didn’t get much last night.”
    Amanda would have loved to follow Dr. Wilson’s advice. Unfortunately, she had too many classes to attend. Even now she was five minutes late to her American history class.
    She found it very frustrating that in order to learn music she had to retake all the other subjects as well. Even if she could have risked getting her credits transferred from her first time in college, too many years had passed by. The college would have assumed—and in her case correctly so—that she had forgotten everything she’d learned back then.
    When she arrived at her American history class, the professor glared at her. “You will be counted as absent, so you may leave if you like.” She remained, since the professor was marginally more interesting than the textbook.
    When the class was over, she ran out the door at lightning speed. She heard the professor call her back, but she pretended she didn’t. She knew she was in for a long-winded lecture on punctuality, and that would make her late for English. Dr. Johnson was one professor she did not want to piss off. Writing was subjective, and if she angered the teacher, Dr. Johnson could subjectively fail her.
    Amanda arrived early for English class and took a seat on the first row. A girl from her history class arrived at the door. “Dr. Harper