Free Vanished Without A Trace by Nava Dijkstra Page B

a beautiful apartment, he had a respectable company and two major projects, and now he was standing at the opening of a bigger business deal, the business deal of his life, with a stranger.
    He turned to the dog that clung to him all the time, "If by tomorrow, the offer is still on the table, it means I was not dreaming. Now, stay here and I’ll go to speak with people, because if I continue to talk to a dog I just met an hour ago, I will surely go crazy."
    He left the dog at home and went down to Alexander's bar. He used to sit there every afternoon, and became friends with the owner. Alexander gave him a beer and sat down next to him. He explained to him that the business in this time of the year was very slow.
    "You can’t make a living just from drinks," Daniel said.
    "Why? There is also food. Honestly, since you suggested I bring in food, my income has gone down," Alexander said.
    "Is that what you call food? If I bring my dog here tomorrow to eat breakfast, she will never want to see me again, believe me."
    "That’s not nice to say." Alexander pretended to be offended.
    "You don’t know how to cook Alexander. Just as I know you as the best bartender, you’re the worst cook, accept that fact."
    "A chef, not a cook." Alexander corrected him. "Since when do you have a dog?"
    "A few days ago," Daniel answered vaguely.
    "Don’t worry," Alexander said, smiling, "Soon, I will bring dancers here, and you will be satisfied."
    Alexander demonstrated by showing some belly dance steps. "This would solve all my problems, believe me, it will bring a lot of customers here."
    "You need to bring a woman who knows how to cook, not to dance," Daniel said and immediately thought of Sultana. "I have someone wonderful for you."
    "But is it not a shame to pay for someone while in fact I don’t do anything most of the time?" Alexander poured Daniel a drink on the house. "I thought of putting slot machines here, what do you think?"
    Daniel looked around, "It has potential too."
    "This business about gambling and women is filthy, but there’s only one real problem with it," Alexander said and gestured two fingers, "lack of money."
    Daniel looked at him with squinted eyes. "I'll give you the money if you will take Solly to cook here."
    "Who's Solly?" Alexander asked angrily.
    "Your new cook," said Daniel.
    "Young?"
    Daniel nodded.
    "Well, give me the loan for a few slot machines and we'll talk about the woman. Who is she, your girlfriend?"
    "A very good friend." Daniel wanted to see Alexanders face when he saw a seventy year old come to him instead of a young lady.
    He emptied the glass of beer, and went to Sultana. As usual she was happy to see him. He handed her the loan she had given him, but when she tried to take the money, he pulled it back laughing.
    "Wait a minute we have a deal to close. I don’t like it when you barge into my privacy and predict my future."
    "I didn’t guess," Sultana said and forcibly pulled her money out of his hand.
    He sat in the living room for half an hour trying to persuade her to agree to work for Alexander. "You love people and you love to cook. Working in a restaurant will keep you busy, you can’t stay at home alone all day... Aside from that, I go to Alexander’s every day, that way, we could meet and you don’t need to come all the way to my apartment just to see me." Daniel saw the last lines took effect for good. Her face became softer, but she added pointedly, "If you bothered to visit me the way you visit Alexander, I wouldn’t have the need to abuse my old feet all the way to your house."
    "Well, do not start again. I'll let Alexander know you are coming to work tomorrow."
    He returned home, having second thoughts about whether to tell Mikhail about yesterdays’ success with the investors and the buyers, or to wait until there was an answer from the lady who came to him today. He knew Mikhail did not call to ask about the event yesterday only to give his disagreement and resentment on the