Татьяна Викентьева – "STOLEN IMMORTALITY" (страница 5)

The translator translated. The sheikh remained silent again. Five minutes passed, and Alexander said:

"Dear Sheikh! I await your decision! If you agree to my terms, then let's shake hands and seal our agreement with our signatures on this document," he said, showing the contract he had prepared in advance. "If you do not agree to my terms, then let's part peacefully and go about our business. I have no time for idle talk! Decide now!" He looked at his watch, then at the Sheikh, and sat down on a chair.

The bespectacled young man quickly translated Alexander's speech. The sheikh remained silent again. Another five minutes passed. Alexander grew nervous, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

Sheikh Rashid wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and finally spoke:

"Dear Alexander Ivanovich! We accept all your terms. You will receive four and a half billion dollars as an advance payment. We will pay you the remaining amount within twenty-four hours of your operation. I am ready to sign the contract and shake your hand." The sheikh extended his hand.

Alexander understood everything without translation. He shook the sheikh's hand. When the bespectacled young man had translated the sheikh's entire speech, Alexander took the contract he had prepared, signed it, and handed it to the sheikh to sign. He called the translator over and showed him the document. The young man began quietly translating each clause of the contract to the sheikh, who listened attentively and studied the document. Once this procedure was completed, the sheikh signed the contract and handed it to Alexander. The partners shook hands again.

Alexander said:

Dear Sheikh Rashid! I plan to arrive in Dubai in a week. By then, you must open an account in my name at the Swiss bank Alfa and transfer four and a half billion dollars into it. I hope we've understood each other well and there won't be any incidents. Prepare your President for the operation. He must be mentally prepared for the fact that his life will continue in a new body—the body of his double. And now I won't detain you any longer. Goodbye!

The translator translated. But the sheikh was in no hurry to leave. He spoke again in his own language:

Dear Alexander Ivanovich! I would like to make another request of you. A personal one. The thing is, I have a daughter, Leila. She is already twenty-five years old. But she is still not married. Men don't like Leila because she is very overweight. She weighs two hundred and seventy kilograms. Personally, I don't consider a woman's plumpness a disadvantage. But today's young men think differently. They want slim, graceful women with thin waists! My daughter is very upset that men don't like her. And she can't lose weight. She's tried, but it's no use. She'll lose two kilograms in a week, and then gain another five kilograms in two days. Besides, her obesity is hereditary. Everyone in our family was overweight: both men and women. I, as you can see, am also overweight. But it doesn't bother me. And my beloved daughter suffers so much from excess weight! She has already attempted suicide twice. I can't let her die! I have to save her! There's only one way out: my daughter needs a new body. The body of a slender and beautiful girl. I told Leyla about the possibility of living in another body, and she agreed. She chose the body of the Russian model Svetlana Lazareva. You probably know her. Now she's famous all over the world! So! I ask you to perform the operation to transfer my daughter's soul into the body of the model Svetlana Lazareva. Tell me, how much will it cost? And when can you begin the operation?

The bespectacled young man translated the sheikh's speech. Alexander was at a loss. After all, he had never expected such a request from the sheikh! After some thought, he said:

Dear Sheikh Rashid! I wouldn't mind helping your daughter find a new body for a fee. But I don't think the body of Russian model Svetlana Lazareva is suitable! After all, you said yourself that she's famous all over the world. Her disappearance won't go unnoticed. They'll start looking for her. And if she's found in Dubai, and your daughter is already living in her body, there'll be a scandal! An international scandal! Can you imagine how this will affect my career? My surgeries will no longer be a secret. They'll become public knowledge worldwide! That won't do for me! So you'll have to find another girl! I advise you to find some poor, beautiful girl from your country. It's better if she doesn't have any relatives! And if she does have relatives, there might be a deal with them. I think for a good price, they'll agree to forget their poor relative forever. Do you understand me?

When the translator had translated, the Arab sheikh began to speak passionately in his own language:

- I understand you, Alexander Ivanovich. But you understand me too! I have only one daughter and twenty-eight sons. Leila is very dear to me! I love her madly and would do anything for her! After all, I always spoiled her and did everything she wanted! Now my daughter is obsessed with the idea of having the body of the Russian model Svetlana Lazareva. And I want to fulfill this wish of hers! Believe me, I will arrange everything so that there will be no scandal. First, Svetlana Lazareva will be kidnapped by my people. Then the newspapers will write that she was killed. In a month or two, the girl will be forgotten. And you will calmly carry out the operation to transfer my daughter's soul into the body of a model. My daughter will be happy! She will happily marry and live in Dubai. No one will ever look for the Russian model Svetlana Lazareva in the Emirates. Especially now that the newspapers have published materials about her death. I'm asking you, Alexander Ivanovich, to help me! I promise there won't be any scandal! Your operations will remain secret! Plus, I'll pay you well!

The bespectacled youth quickly translated the sheikh's words, but Alexander was in no hurry to respond. He thought, "If I refuse the sheikh now, he'll harbor a grudge. And Easterners are dangerous! They take personal insults very hard and avenge them cruelly!" So Alexander decided to cheat and promise the sheikh that he would fulfill his request. He reasoned, "The main thing now is for the sheikh to be calm and kindly disposed toward him, and then we'll see how things play out. In any case, I can always find a reason not to keep my promise!"

Alexander said:

"Very well, Sheikh Rashid! I agree to your proposal! If you arrange everything so that there is no scandal surrounding the disappearance of the Russian model, I will perform the operation to transfer your daughter's soul into the body of Svetlana Lazareva. The main thing is that everything remains secret! My operations must not become public knowledge to the entire world unless I myself so desire!

The translator translated Alexander's words, and the sheikh shook his head in satisfaction:

"I understand, Alexander Ivanovich! I understand everything! Thank you. We'll expect you in Dubai in a week. We'll transfer the money to your account on time. We'll prepare a luxury hotel room for you. Well, that's all, I think?" the sheikh spread his hands. "We agreed on the main thing today. We can clarify the details over the phone. Of course, within the bounds of strict confidentiality. Allow me to shake your hand again and wish you all the best!" the sheikh extended his hand.

The bespectacled young man translated. And the sheikh and Alexander shook hands.

Alexander said:

-And I wish you all the best, Sheikh! Have a safe journey home!

The Arab sheikh and the translator left the office, and Alexander sighed deeply. The negotiations had gone well and resulted in a lucrative contract. Now he wanted to relax, relieve stress, and have some fun!

Lenochka involuntarily came to mind. It would be nice to have some fun with her! Alexander was sure she would agree. After all, she had to please her boss. Otherwise, he might fire her! A well-paying job! Which is hard to find even for the most beautiful girl.

Alexander was determined to spend time with Lenochka and was about to call her, but the phone rang. "Oh, how inopportune!" flashed through his mind. He looked at the number that had appeared. It was Vladimir Zverev, the head of his lab. He had to answer. So Alexander turned on the phone.

-Yes. I'm listening. Speak, Vladimir... What? So, you've already brought the young man to the lab? He's handsome?.. I see. And have you already told Zinovy Izotovich about this?.. Good. I'll be right there!.. Yes. Wait for me, Vladimir! See you later!

After this call, Alexander's plans changed abruptly. Rest was out of the question! He had to get to the lab immediately!

Alexander quickly left the office, telling his secretary as he went:

- Lenochka! I'm leaving!

"Will you be back today, Alexander Ivanovich?" the secretary's question remained unanswered.

Alexander hurried out of the office and got into the car.

“To the lab. Hurry,” he said to the driver.