Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“No, you’re not,” he says loyally.
“Remember the Anderson family? They were ready to sign on the dotted line. What did I do? I started mentioning leases and stuff I shouldn’t and they walked away from the deal.”
“You were new then. You know better than to do that now.”
“Dad, the showing is tomorrow,” I wail. “Even if I was experienced enough, I know nothing about the property or how to stage such a high-end listing, let alone sell it to a billionaire.”
My father frowns. The enormity of the problem is finally becoming clear to him.
“Maybe we can handle the sale together," Sasha suggests softly. She knows what I know. She deserves this listing, not me.
The light returns to my father’s eyes. "Yes, yes,” he says eagerly, “that would be the best solution. Both of you can work it together. Sasha can do the selling and you can smile a lot and offer to pour him a glass of champagne or something.”
I almost collapse with relief. “Yeah, that would work for me.”
“Good. Good. There's a lot of preparation work to be done so, Sasha, make contact with the seller’s agency straight away and arrange a meeting. I want to be present for the negotiation. And the rest of you, tie up everything you’re doing and get ready to help get this show on the road. We need to get the keys of the property and make it look amazing."
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.