“I had them flown in from Moscow,” he said proudly. “Well, here it is.”
As the doors opened, the light shined in on the dark boutique. It was clean and empty, awaiting clothes to fill its hollow shell. Dmitry’s Closethad massive potential. The floors were a shiny alabaster wood. The mirrors were over exaggerated and designed with beautiful gold frames. Crystal chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings illuminating the room with sparkling light as the sun shined in from the front door. The large windows were covered in beautiful stain glass and the walls were painted in Dmitry’s signature crimson.
Royal shook her head. “It’s so…beautiful.” She touched the mirrors and looked around in awe. “This whole place is like a dream.”
“This is what I want. When women come in to buy best in clothing, I want them to feel as though they are in best that Memphis has to offer. I, of course, had to give it a little old time Russian flare.”
“Yeah, like the restaurant,” Royal chimed in delighted.
“This is what you business majors call buying into the vision. Yes?”
“Exactly,” she giggled.
Dmitry looked down at her and bit his lip, as he cap-tured a glimpse of the beauty mole on her neck – ever so feminine, ever so inviting. Her bright brown eyes gazed up at him oblivious to his thoughts. In her mind, she just wanted a job. However, he wanted to reach down, grab her soft, caramel face and kiss her satin pink lips. Buthe could see she would resist him. He stepped away, removing himself from the close proximity of her body and the heat that she naturally radiated.
“I think that I’ve definitely bought in, and I haven’t even seen the apartment.”
“It’s upstairs,” Dmitry said quietly,bringing himself back from his trance. “And there is surprise for you. Well, not you specifically, but for whomever, I choose for job.”
Royal followed him out the shop into a beautiful back office with a dark cherry wood credenza, continued Russian elegance and expensive furniture.
“This is where you will keep inventory,” he said, barely stopping so that she could see the office.
She followed carefully, felling a little weary of where she was going. What if Dmitry had only one intention – to get her upstairs and rape her?
Her heart fluttered at the thought. No one knew where she was or what she was doing. As quickly as all of this had happened, it could end. She stopped on the first step and looked up.
“What is the matter?” he turned and looked at her staring at him like a deer in headlights.
Royal did not speak.
“Strange man, strange place?” he asked, realizing her concern.
“Something like that,” she answered, sighing in relief that he understood.
“Do you have cell phone?”
“No.”
“Here, use mine.” He pulled his Blackberry from his coat jacket and offered it to her. “Call someone. Anyone. Tell them where you are. And that way, you have peace of mind.”
Royal took the phone and looked at it. She really didn’t have anyone to call. The thought mildly angered her. No best friends. No sisters. No brothers. Her adoptedparents would not be at their apartment this early in the afternoon. She shook off her pain and looked back up.
“Whatever, just show it to me,” she snapped and walked past him on the stairs.
“This is what I’m trying to do.” He put the phone away, realizing that this must be a very touchy subject for her.
There was only one door on the second level of the entire building. It was a sprawling creation with the same wooden cherubs that were carved on the front of the restaurant doors at Mother Russia. Again, he took a key and opened the large oak double doors to an airy, romantic loft.
As the doors swung open, a fresh cinnamon aroma drifted out to greet her. He walked in first,and Royal soon followed absently. Her mind was still wrapped around her lonely existence until she saw the luxurious space.
Expecting to see white walls and simple fixtures, instead she was greeted with elegant luxury that rivaled anything she had ever witnessed firsthand, and she had worked in afour-star hotel. In amazement, she wondered around the airy place engulfedby its exquisiteness and imagining what it would be like to live there.
“Do you see my surprise? It’s fully furnished.” He hit the lights and the large living room lit up. Leisurely, he sat down on the plush leather couch and checked his cell phone.
“Dmitry, this is gorgeous. I can’t believe it.” She paused for a moment. Walking aimlessly through the loft, she marveled at the endless, intricate beauty of the magnificent baby palace.
From one room to the next she wondered until she ar-rived at the master bedroom. “Oh my God!” she ex-claimed, standing beside the king size canopy bed, draped in fine fabrics under the wooden vaulted ceiling and dimming lights of her future bedroom.
Dmitry finished sending his text messages and met her at the door of the bedroom, where he found her sitting on the side of the bed rubbing the comforter. He leaned against the door but refused to cross into the room.
“My thought was that if woman who runs my shop feels what it’s like to live in luxury, she might better understand what quality of Dmitry’s Closetmust be.” He smiled cleverly. Hiswide pink mouth showed signs of age. “You are very impressed, yes? I can tell. You have…sparkle in your eyes.”
“Very impressed,” she repeated, getting off of the bed.
She stood in the room tapping her foot with her arms crossed and smiling. An overwhelming sensation of accomplishment consumed her. This all could be hers.
“So, you want me to run the shop and live here?” she squeaked, shaking her head in astonishment. Placing her hand over her throat, she smiled and cleared her throat again. Why did she keep choking up around him?!
“No, I want much more from you than that. I want you to transform my vision of Dmitry’s Closetfrom fantasy into reality. I have clothes being flown
