“So it is a matter of money after all,” the man sneered.
“It is a matter of business,” Grigori corrected him. “I have a reputation to maintain.”
“Look, I’ll pay for the privilege,” the man repeated. “Just give me an hour with her. I’ll make it worth your while and then I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.”
“I am afraid that if I do give you that hour you will decide afterwards that it still is not enough,” Grigori said. “I think you are becoming obsessed with that young woman. That is unhealthy.”
“You said you have buyers coming in next week?” the client asked. “What if I just buy her now? What’s the asking price?”
“Please,” Grigori waved a hand. “It would be quite unprofessional of me to announce an auction and then cancel it at the last minute.”
“You sonofabitch,” the man snar
