( I am sorry if my little bits of Russian are wrong but it isn't my mother tongue and so I searched things and well I hope they are right and I am so sorry to any Russian readers out there if they are incorrect?)
It all started like any other day Galya and Dmitri went about their usual routine opened up the restaurant like they would and began preparing food.
" Today is going to be a good day, i can feel it" Galya said as she tied her long red hair into a low ponytail and put on her green apron and turn to face her husband as she tied it up.
" ya lyublyu tyebya" Dmitri said kissing her cheek.
" ya tozhe tyebya lyublyu... Now let's get to work. We have a lot of work to do" Galya said and Dmitri shook his head.
After the breakfast rush Galya and Dmitri finally got time to breath and clean the restaurant. Galya went out the back to get supplies when the front door to the quite restaurant opened and the little bell rang indicating a customer had come in only it was a group of rather important looking men wearing smart business suits walked in and sat down at a table "wont keep you a moment" Dmitri said look up and his face drained of all colour.
"Dmitri, fancy not saying hello"one of them said in his thick Russian accent.
Dmitri cleared his throat and walked nervously round to them "Hello, how are we today gentleman" Dmitri said nervously.
" look we aren't hear for pleasantries we are here because we have a proposition for you Reznikov" Dmitri glanced behind him before taking a seat and sat down to discuss this proposition.
" we have been looking round for the perfect place to do our dealings without the police putting their nose in my business and well we have settled on this place and we are not taking no for an answer"
" look... I can't I'm sorry me and my wife have fought hard to build this place from nothing and I wont let anything ruin this and so I'm sorry the answer is no" Dmitri said sweating slightly.
"Dmitri..." One of the guys said sounding disappointed.
" well I guess you won't be wanting this" the boss of the pack said lifting a large black briefcase on to the table and opened the locks and slowly opened the case which was full of money neatly piled into thousands.
"Dmitri..." Galya yelled from behind the counter.
Dmitri turned his head and called out " in the minute, little busy at the moment love" Dmitri said turning to look back at the money.
" I can't... I just can't I have a family and my wife..." Dmitri said mumbling.
" your wife never needs to know and what she doesn't know won't hurt her, this little arrangement is strictly between us" Dmitri cleared his throat and weakly nodded his head before hanging it in shame knowing he had no chance.
" you have made the right decision and you won't regret this and like we said strictly between us" Dmitri nodded.
" Dmitri what have I said about..." Galya said walking out into the shop " Galya I'm a little busy right now" Dmitri said not bothering to look behind him "oh I'm sorry" Galya said stopping dead in her tracks and backed out.
" well we best be going but we will be seeing you again" the boss said empathising on the last few words. Dmitri nodded as he watched the men leave before he let out a large sigh before he walked back behind the counter where he found Galya chopping vegetables.
" what was that about?" Galya said as she continued to chop away.
" oh that, it was nothing" Dmitri said as he picked up another knife and helped his wife.
"'Didn't look like nothing" Galya said sounding rather persistent.
" Just drop it Galya it was nothing" they both chopped in silence
~ A few months later ~
It was a Saturday afternoon at The restaurant Galya and her 12 year old daughter Nastya were out in the shop. Galya chopped the fruit and vegetable whilst Nastya watched her mother with a bored look upon her face as she sat and watched her mother prepare the fruit and vegetables.
Galya looked over at her daughter who had a face like a wet weekend. Galya shoved the chopping knife down hard on to the chopping board making Nastya jump " here make yourself useful" Galya said chucking a cloth at Nastya and dumping antibacterial cleaning in front of her daughter.
Meanwhile Dmitri was out the back taking delivery off the lorry and carrying in into the shop with the help of his three sons Vasily, Maxim and Yuri.
Back out the front of the shop " why don't you go and wipe the tables" Galya said gesturing to the empty tables at the front of the shop.
Nastya sighed as she climbed of the stool and walked out into the shop and began to clean the tables. Galya looked up and smiled as she watched Nastya wiping the tables before she carried on chopping the food.
the bell rang as the door opened and the familiar men walked in with a group of very pretty women dressed to perfection with their faces full of make up and their pearly white teeth and hair style to perfection and their thousand dollars rings and watches glistening in the light.
" sweet kid" the blonde lady said glancing at Nastya as she walked past her, Nastya instantly stopped what she was doing and looked down to see the ladies wearing designer heels then she looked up more to see the ladies faces and perfect clothes as if they just stepped out of a magazine like Russian vogue or something. The ladies took one table whilst the men took the other table.
Galya looked up and called Nastya over to her " edi souter" Nastya picked up her spray and cloth before she walked over to her mother who placed her hand on Nastya's shoulders and turned her round and gently guided her out to the back of the shop where Galya let go and walked calmly over to Dmitri.
Nastya watched her parents as they had a whispered conversation and watched her father almost rush out of the back room and out into the shop.
" mama, what's going on?" Galya smiled sweetly at her daughter " nothing don't worry come and help me" Nastya walked back out to the shop and climbed back on her stool where she sat and watched her father engage with these people who she had never seen before.
A few minutes later Galya began sugaring pancakes when Dmitri appeared behind her " you should go and talk to them" Galya looked out at them knowing full well she didn't belong in their world but she wanted to keep her husband happy.
"Go out there. Shake hands" Dmitri insisted but Galya continued to ignore her husband.
" are you listening to me?" Galya sighed.
" it's important that we make this connection...these are very important people" Galya looked out at the ladies sat around the table clearly discussing jewellery that they had gotten whilst they eat their pancakes. This was not a world Galya felt comfortable in.
Dmitri untied his wife's apron as he whispered " go meet his wife" Galya glanced at the blonde at the table " I've been cooking all day. I smell like onions and what about Nastya" Galya whispers back gesturing to their 12 year old but it was too late Dmitri had made a big announcement.
" ladies and gentleman... I have someone to make your acquaintance" Galya smiled nervously.
The posh ladies rolled their eyes not looking too thrilled about the big announcement and went back to their conversation and Galya took off her apron and placed it on the counter and walked over to the mirror in the corner where she looked at her appearance.
" you look fine mama" Galya turned round and smiled at her daughter " spasibo".
Galya walked out from behind the counter and slowly over to the ladies at the table and stood whilst they spoke.
" have a seat...errr..."
"Call me Red" Galya said smiling at them.
Nastya watched as her mother became friends with these important people.
That was the first connection made between the Russian mob and the Reznikovs.