Page 6 of Devil In A Suit

I turn to Sasha and smile gratefully at her. She smiles back, but for a second it is the smile of a stranger, then her smile widens and the old Sasha is back.

“We’ll split your commission in half. Fifty percent for me, fifty percent for you. Okay?”

“Okay.” I nod enthusiastically. To be honest, I would have been perfectly happy even with a ninety percent ten percent split.

“The seller’s agency is Astor and I know the top salesperson there very well, he is Russian too, so setting up a meeting for your father and me today will be no problem, but before I call them, I hope you don’t mind if I give you a little advice.”

“Of course. Please do.”

“It would be really good if you can go out and buy or rent a nice professional-looking suit for the meeting tomorrow. Black or red.”

I look down at the skirt and jacket I’m wearing and then back at her. If she thinks a suit could magically make me look like her, she’s driving in the wrong lane. Also, my credit card is maxed out and my savings are meagre, to say the least.

“Here,” Sasha says, writing something down on a Post-it note. “My friend owns this boutique. I will phone her and ask her to help you find a good suit. If we get the deal, you will buy it off her and if we don’t, you will return it and pay her a small rental fee.” She holds the note. “Is that okay with you?”

I take the note. “Yeah, that would be great. Thank you.”

“Maybe you should visit the hairdresser too. I’ll call my hairdresser. He’ll give you a good discount.”

“Oh… okay.”

“And get a new pair of shoes to go with your smart suit. It’s got to be high heels.”

“Of course,” I agree quietly. She is right. All my shoes are scuffed from running in and out of subways.

“Also wear some make-up. At the very least, lipstick, mascara, and blusher. Eyeliner would be a bonus.”

I take a deep breath. “Sure. Anything else.”

She smiles. “Perfume. Get something fresh and light.”

I nod obediently.

“Oh, and I’ll make an appointment for you to have a session with my nail lady tonight. She’s Filipino and she does house calls. You need a manicure, and if your shoes have open toes, then a pedicure too. Would eight o’clock be alright?”

My head is spinning at the way Sasha has completely taken control of my appearance. “Yeah, I guess so.”

She reaches for the phone. “Good. Have fun shopping.”

I stare at her with surprise. “Uh, don’t you need me here to help at all?”

“Nope. Everything here is under control. You have to transform yourself into a high-end estate agent by tomorrow and you don’t have that much time.” She begins to dial. I stand there stupidly for a few seconds more.

“Ivan, my darling,” she coos. “You won’t believe what has just happened.”

She launches into rapid Russian and I turn away and head towards the door.

If I must transform myself to help close this sale, then transform myself, I will.

Chapter Four

IVAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzXnz0pIbsE

-Vivaldi – four seasons - winter

Today, for some inexplicable reason, a memory from the time before I fell out with my father comes to me. It is more than a decade old, but time has not decayed or dimmed it in any way. It is crystal clear as if it happened yesterday. Everything; the sights, the sounds, the smells, the colors, and the emotions are still intensely vivid.

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