"STOLEN IMMORTALITY"

- I don't know where she is. I can't find her. Victoria disappeared. She disappeared twenty years ago. And since then I can't find her!

- I see. I understand you perfectly, Alexander Ivanovich. My mother disappeared too. And I was never able to find her!

The men's conversation was interrupted by the show's organizer. Turning to the customers, he announced:

Gentlemen! Our show is over! Now you can invite the model you like to your table. It costs three hundred dollars. If you've decided to do this, please come to me!

"Well, Vladimir! Which girls should we invite?" Alexander asked.

"It's up to you, Alexander Ivanovich. You're the one paying, after all!" Vladimir replied.

-And yet tell me: who would you like to see at our table?

-Svetlana Lazareva.

-It's clear.

-And you, Alexander Ivanovich, who would you like to see at our table?

"Olga Kudrina. So, Vladimir, go to the show organizer and tell him we're inviting two girls to our table: Svetlana Lazareva and Olga Kudrina. Here's the money. Take it. It's six hundred dollars." Alexander held out the money.

Vladimir took the money and went to carry out his boss's assignment. And Alexander closed his eyes and imagined Victoria. Young, beautiful. Desirable. He remembered the first time he kissed Victoria. It was winter. They were sledding down the mountain. And then, during one unfortunate descent, the sleigh caught on some snag sticking out from under the snow. And Alexander and Victoria, tumbled out of the sleigh, tumbled down the mountain. When the fall ended, Victoria was lying in the snow, and Alexander on top of her. That's how it happened. This situation embarrassed Victoria. And in Alexander, it aroused a burning passionate desire. He felt like a man. And he kissed Victoria. Kissed her for the first time. Alexander remembered that sweet kiss forever, and now, many years later, he recalled the first time he kissed Victoria and how he desired her then!

The memories were interrupted by Vladimir's return. He said:

-Alexander Ivanovich! I only managed to invite one girl to our table.

-Which one?

-Olga Kudrina.

-Why weren’t you able to invite Svetlana Lazareva?

-She's already been invited.

-Who?

Sheikh Rashid and his translator. They had paid the show's organizer earlier. So he said Svetlana Lazareva would spend the evening with them.

- No! She must spend the evening with us! Do you understand that, Vladimir? Go to the show's organizer right now and offer him more money! Sheikh Rashid and his translator paid three hundred dollars for an evening with Svetlana Lazareva. And you pay five hundred dollars. Go!

Despite his boss's order, Vladimir did not move.

"Well, why are you standing there? Come on, hurry up!" Alexander shouted.

- I can't, Alexander Ivanovich! I only have three hundred dollars. You forgot to give me more money.

-Oh, right! Take it! - Alexander handed Vladimir another two hundred dollars.

But Vladimir did not take the money.

"Forgive me, Alexander Ivanovich. But it would be better if you went to the show's organizer yourself. He might demand more than five hundred dollars. You'll have to pay him right away. I don't have any money on me."

-I see. Okay. I'll go myself.

Alexander rose from the table and walked toward the man in the black tailcoat. Vladimir sat down at the table and waited for his boss to return.

“Good evening,” said Alexander, approaching the show’s organizer.

“Good, good,” he muttered, counting the money he had taken from other clients. “What would you like?”

-I would like to invite model Svetlana Lazareva to my table.

"Unfortunately, that's not possible," the show's organizer muttered again, continuing to count the money and not looking at Alexander. "She's already been invited. Other clients."

- I know, I know. But I want to offer you more money than they paid.

The man in the black tailcoat finally looked up from his counting of money and stared at Alexander. Then he asked:

-How much will you give?

-Five hundred dollars.

- Not enough! I'm not going to quarrel over five hundred dollars with the customers who came before you and paid three hundred dollars.

“Okay. I’ll give you a thousand dollars,” said Alexander.

"Not enough. I don't agree," the show's organizer shook his head.

“One and a half thousand dollars,” Alexander offered.

“No. Not enough,” the man in the black tailcoat continued to refuse.

-One thousand eight hundred.

-Few!

- Two thousand! This is my last price! - Alexander said firmly.

The show's organizer hesitated for a moment. Then, as firmly as Alexander, he said:

"And my final price is three thousand dollars! Either you agree. Or Svetlana Lazareva will spend this evening with other clients."

Alexander was silent for a moment, pondering the greed and cunning of the show's organizer. Then he said, taking money out of his wallet:

-Okay. I agree. Here are three thousand dollars. - He held out the money.

-Well,"That's great!" said the man in the black tailcoat, taking the money and starting to count it. "We've made a good deal!"

"A profitable one—for you, not for me! Instead of three hundred dollars, you got three thousand dollars! Ten times more!" Alexander said irritably.

"You've made the right choice too!" the show's organizer retorted. "After all, the most beautiful girl on our show will be spending the evening with you, and not with other clients!"

-Yes. For the evening she spent with other clients alone, you would have earned three hundred dollars. And they ripped me off for three thousand dollars!

"You weren't the first! And so you were obligated to pay for the trouble I'd cause with my first clients when I informed them Svetlana Lazareva wouldn't be spending the evening with them and refunded their money."

-Isn't the price for your troubles with your first clients enormous?

"No. Just right! Don't take it personally. Everyone earns their living in their own place – as best they can!" The show's organizer placed the money Alexander had given him into his inside tailcoat pocket and clapped it joyfully. "All the best, sir! I hope you have a pleasant evening!"

“Thank you,” Alexander muttered discontentedly. “When will Svetlana Lazareva come?”

- Don't worry! I won't keep you waiting! I'll send the girl to you right away.

“Okay,” said Alexander and went to his table.

Olga Kudrina was already sitting at the table with Vladimir. They were chatting animatedly and laughing. When Alexander approached, they became embarrassed and quiet.

“Well, why did you stop laughing?” asked Alexander.

"We... We haven't stopped... We..." Vladimir hesitated, and then said, turning to the girl and pointing at Alexander. "Olenka! Allow me to introduce you. This is Alexander Ivanovich. My boss."

"Nice to meet you. And you already know my name," Olga said, looking at Alexander.

"Yes. I know." Alexander sat down at the table and continued thoughtfully. "Your name is Olga. And I thought your name was Victoria."

“Why did you decide that?” asked the model.

“Because you look very much like one girl,” Alexander answered.

“Is her name Victoria?” Olga asked.

“Yes.” Alexander nodded affirmatively.

“Maybe you could tell me about her?” Olga suggested.

"No. I don't want to. It's personal," Alexander refused. "Better you tell me what you were laughing so infectiously about before I arrived."

"Vladimir told me a joke. A very funny one," Olga explained.

"I see. He's a master at telling jokes. And, in general, at making people laugh," said Alexander, looking gloomily at Vladimir.

"What happened, Alexander Ivanovich? Why are you so gloomy? Couldn't come to an agreement with the show's organizer?" Vladimir asked, sensing something was wrong.

"No, Vladimir. We came to an agreement. It's just that the show's organizer turned out to be a scoundrel and a greedy person. He demanded three thousand dollars for an evening with Svetlana Lazareva."

-Wow!-Vladimir even whistled in surprise. - And you paid?

"I paid," Alexander replied irritably. "I had to pay. The show's organizer said I had to pay for the trouble he'd cause with his first clients when he told them Svetlana Lazareva wouldn't be spending the evening with them."

“I see,” Vladimir shook his head sympathetically. “This show organizer really is a scoundrel and a greedy person!” he asked, turning to the girl. “And what do you think, Olenka?”

“I think so too,” the model answered quietly and lowered her head.

-Tell me, Olya, how long have you been working on this show? - asked Alexander.

-Eleven months.

"That's quite a lot. And what prompted you to work on this scoundrel and thieves' show?" Alexander continued to interrogate the girl.

"Sorry. I'd rather not talk about it," the model answered quietly again.

"Well, if you don't want to, then don't! Let's talk about something else!" Alexander looked at the girl unceremoniously. "For example, about you. How old are you, Olya?"

-Nineteen.

-What is your education?

-Secondary special.

-Yes? And what is your specialty?

-Nurse.

- I wonder how a nurse became a model?

"It happened by accident. I needed money, and I..." Olga faltered and blushed.

-Ah! I see! The reason is banal. You needed money, and you decided to sell your beauty.

-I...No...It's not like that at all...-Olga blushed even more and lowered her head.

- How? Tell me! - Alexander insisted.

The girl remained silent. A tense pause ensued. Just then, Svetlana Lazareva approached the table.

“Good evening,” she said. “May I join you?”

-Of course. Please, sit down. - Vladimir stood up and politely pulled out a chair for the girl.

"Thank you," the model sat down at the table and turned to the men. "Well, let's get acquainted. My name is Svetlana Lazareva."

“And I’m Vladimir,” Vladimir introduced himself to the girl. “And this is my boss, Alexander Ivanovich.” He pointed at Alexander.

“Just Alexander,” Alexander corrected Vladimir, turning to the girl.

"I understand. You are Vladimir. And you are Alexander." Svetlana Lazareva looked at the men, shifting her gaze from one to the other.

"Well, and Olenka, you know..." Vladimir began. But Svetlana cut him off abruptly, saying mockingly and cynically:

- I know, I know. We're colleagues. Aren't we, Olenka?

Olga didn't answer. Another tense pause ensued.

“Maybe we should have a drink?” Vladimir asked timidly.

-Yes. Let's drink, - said Alexander. - Vladimir! Pour the wine!

Following his boss's orders, Vladimir began pouring wine into glasses. But suddenly he stopped and exclaimed:

-Alexander Ivanovich! The sheikh and his translator are coming towards us! The sheikh has a furious look on his face! Ah! What's going to happen now?

"Nothing will happen! Calm down, Vladimir!" Alexander said calmly, without even turning in the direction Vladimir and the girls were looking.

Meanwhile, the enraged Sheikh Rashid approached Vladimir, grabbed him by the collar, lifted him from his chair, and punched him in the face. Then he approached Alexander, grabbed him by the collar, lifted him from his chair, and was about to strike him... But, looking at Alexander's face, he suddenly became taken aback, lowered his clenched fist, and... began babbling in his own language. A translator, standing nearby, translated the sheikh's speech:

-Oh, my God! This can't be! Alexander Ivanovich! Is that you? Here? I didn't expect it to be you! I almost hit you! Forgive me! Forgive me!

Alexander interrupted the sheikh's exclamations as follows:

-Dear Sheikh Rashid! Let's step aside and talk.

When the bespectacled young man translated, the sheikh nodded in agreement and walked away from the table. Alexander and the translator followed him.

Alexander started the conversation. He said:

Dear Sheikh Rashid! I understand your feelings! You were planning to spend this evening in the company of model Svetlana Lazareva. And you had every right to do so. You approached the show's organizer first. You paid him three hundred dollars first. So all rights are on your side! You acted fairly. But I did not! I approached the show's organizer after you and outbid him for the evening with Svetlana Lazareva, paying ten times more than you did! Three thousand dollars! Of course, this outraged you! And you wanted to punish the offender! I admit that I acted vilely and deserved punishment. But I ask you to forgive me! After all, we have common business. I know why you need Svetlana Lazareva. And I have no intention of stopping you from kidnapping her! I am simply going to spend this evening with her. I hope you don't mind?

A frail young man wearing glasses translated Alexander's words for the sheikh. However, the sheikh was in no hurry to answer. He was thinking. Alexander asked the translator:

-Have you translated everything?

“Yes,” he answered.

-Why is he silent?

-Thinking about your words.

Finally, the sheikh spoke. Alexander could tell from his tone that he was still dissatisfied. So he wasn't surprised by the translation that came from the young man's lips:

Dear Alexander Ivanovich! I am very surprised by your actions. In the East, such actions are not forgiven! And I would not forgive you! If someone else had been in your place, they would not have left that restaurant on their own two feet. However, you turned out to be the one who offended me. And, as you rightly said, we have common interests. Therefore, I have no choice but to forgive you! But I want to know: why do you need Svetlana Lazareva? What do you want from her? Sex? Or something else?

The translator translated. Alexander replied:

"Dear Sheikh! I won't lie to you. I don't know how this evening with Svetlana Lazareva will end. Will she agree to continue the evening alone with me at the hotel? And will I agree to her price? However, I do know one thing: your interests will not be infringed upon in any way. You want your daughter to continue her life in Svetlana Lazareva's body. And to do that, we need to know if the model is healthy. After all, her work always puts her health at risk. Perhaps the girl has an STD or AIDS. Or she is infertile. Why would your daughter need a sick body? I think you yourself are interested in Svetlana Lazareva's full examination before the operation to transplant your daughter's soul into her body.

When the bespectacled young man translated, the sheikh nodded and quickly began speaking his own language. Then Alexander listened to the translation from Arabic:

"Yes, Alexander Ivanovich. I'm interested in a full examination of Svetlana Lazareva before the operation to transplant my daughter's soul into her body. But I'm not interested in you having sex with a model. Her body will belong to my daughter. And it must be pure and chaste."

Alexander realized the sheikh wouldn't agree to his using Svetlana Lazareva for sexual purposes and decided to play it safe. He said:

"Dear Sheikh Rashid! I respect your wishes. Therefore, I have changed my mind. And I promise you that I will not have intimate relations with Svetlana Lazareva. I will simply examine her in my lab. By the way, that man you punched in the face is my deputy and the head of the lab. In fact, he is my best assistant! And I will probably come to Dubai with him. He will assist me in the operation to transfer the soul of your President into the body of his double.

The translator translated. The sheikh spoke in Arabic again. From his tone, Alexander sensed that the sheikh had softened considerably and was pleased with the promise made to him regarding Svetlana Lazareva. And so it turned out.

When the sheikh finished speaking, the young man with glasses translated his speech:

Dear Alexander Ivanovich! I am pleased that you have changed your mind regarding Svetlana Lazareva. And I am grateful to you for considering my wishes. I offer my apologies to the head of your lab. Please tell him that I am very sorry for hitting him. I hope he will forgive me. And for you, Alexander Ivanovich, I have the following request: please inform me when you have completed your examination of Svetlana Lazareva. I must know for sure! My men will immediately kidnap the model and take her to Dubai.

After the young man in glasses translated the sheikh’s speech, Alexander nodded convincingly and said:

"Okay, Sheikh Rashid! As soon as I finish examining Svetlana Lazareva, I'll let you know right away! So wait for my call!"

The translator translated. Alexander and Sheikh Rashid shook hands and parted ways.

Alexander approached his table. Meanwhile, Olga Kudrina was helping Vladimir stop his nosebleed. She tilted his head back and applied a cold pack of ice, brought by the waiter, to his nose.

"Well, hero! Did you get it badly?" Alexander asked Vladimir, sitting down at the table.

-That's a big fight! Your sheikh really got into it! He punched me right in the face!

Vladimir answered, wincing in pain.

"Oh, never mind! You've got a wonderful nurse, Vladimir. She'll cure you!" Alexander began to encourage his subordinate.

“I hope so,” Vladimir said and looked at Olga with gratitude.

“Where did you find the ice?” Alexander asked.

Svetlana Lazareva answered:

The waiter brought ice. At my request.

“Well, that means, Vladimir, you have two saviors: Olga and Svetlana,” Alexander stated.

"Yes. Two, Alexander Ivanovich. And I am grateful to both of them," Vladimir said, wincing in pain again.

"We must drink to our saviors! The wine has already been poured. So please raise your glasses!" Alexander said, raising his glass first.

"Vladimir can't drink! But you and I will drink!" Olga raised her glass.

"Who is this 'we'? Answer for yourself, baby!" Svetlana Lazareva said discontentedly, turning to Olga. "I won't drink!"

-Why, Svetlana? - asked Alexander. - Why don’t you want to have a drink with us?

-I don't drink wine.

-What do you drink?

-Cognac. Expensive cognac.

"I see. Let me order you some cognac," Alexander suggested.

"No need! I don't want to yet. And when I do, I'll order it myself!" Svetlana said arrogantly and coldly.

"Well, whatever you wish! Olenka and I will drink some wine!" Alexander raised his glass again.

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