Chapter 2

The warm California sun shone down on Nika as she walked the street looking at the various shops and boutiques deciding which one to enter first. She stopped in front of a window to admire the shoes in the display then paused when she saw 47's reflection. His appearance and what he was doing stunned her, he was smiling.

A burst of shock and joy came to her heart but it quickly dissipated when she turned to find no one behind her. She felt foolish to think he would be there, she knew that she would probably never see him again. Despite her doubts, a sliver of hope for their future still pulled at her. She shook her head and decided to focus on a less complicated issue; shopping for a new wardrobe.

"This one looks good," she said to herself looking into the window then at her reflection. Her fingertips touched the tips of her short dark hair and then pulled down the hem of the tiny red dress she wore.

A small gasp came from her lips when she stepped into the boutique. The racks were filled with clothes that she only saw in fashion magazines and now, they were in her grasp. As she touched a pale green dress she regretted her initial decision to shop for a new wardrobe online. Nothing could compare to the feel of luxurious designer clothing in her hands and on her slender body.

"Excuse me, Ms.?" A blond saleswoman approached her, "Are you lost?"

"No, actually I would like to try this on?" Nika took the gown off of the rack then read her nametag, "Alexis." Her smile was sweet.

Alexis gave her a skeptical look, "I don't think this is the right store for you."

Nika knew that stare; the rich women in Russia would give her same loathsome look whenever she waited for Belicoff's driver in front of her apartment building. The feelings of shame and worthlessness began to pull at her but she fought them.

"I have the money and the right to shop here," her tone was assertive but calm.

A redheaded saleswoman stood next to Alexis, "If 'here' means 'Hustler' then yes you do."

"Please Lilah, that store is too 'high-class' for her. There's a thrift store for Euro-trash like you a few blocks from here."

Alexis and Lilah laughed.

Nika balled her right hand into a fist. Like the rich woman and prostitutes in Russia, Alexis and Lilah had no idea how fast she could lose her temper and start a fight.

A tall well-dressed bald black man came from the back room, "Then you two better go check if they're hiring because you're both fired."

Both saleswomen blushed when they heard their employer's voice.

"Mr. Beaumont, I-I thought you were taking the day off today?" Alexis asked.

Trent Beaumont stood next to Nika, "I changed my mind and thank God I did. How dare you two treat this customer so terribly?"

She couldn't believe someone was standing up for her. Her full lips dropped open and she unclenched her fist.

"Mr. Beaumont we were just joking," Lilah lied.

"Right and Anderson Cooper is straight, please," he rolled his eyes. "You two get your things and leave before I have to make you."

The saleswomen huffed and muttered under their breaths while walking into the backroom.

Trent lightly took a hold of Nika's shoulders. "I am so sorry Ms. for my FORMER employees' rudeness. I love my cousin Neela but I will never let her hire anyone ever again.

Anyway, I was about to close up and head out for lunch, would you like to join me?" When he saw the shock on her face he said, "Please, it's the least I can do?"

"All right," she reluctantly accepted while still feeling stunned at his generosity. "Can we come back here because I really need to buy a new wardrobe," she asked.

"Of course, I own this boutique I can do whatever I want. Let's go..By the way, what's your name?"

"Karina, Karina Petrova," she said while putting the pale green dress back on the rack.

"I like it, it's pretty. Russian, right?"

"Yes."

"Well Karina, I'm Trent Beaumont, it's a pleasure."

Smiling, Nika replied, "It's nice to meet you too, Trent."

Her smile amazed him, "Wow, your smile like the rest of you is total perfection. And those lips..are they yours?"

"Um..yes," she said looking a bit perplexed.

"Just had to ask, this is California ya know," he opened the front door for her.

For the first time in her life, Nika met someone who talked more than she did. She enjoyed what Trent had to say, he was funny, smart, honest and kind. Other than her workers, Robert and Elaine Wrightman (her housekeeper and one of the workers), Trent was the first person to be kind to her.

"So, what do you do?" Trent asked her.

"I own a vineyard in Napa Valley," she proudly told him before taking a sip of water.

Impressed, Trent nodded, "Nice. How long have been in the states?"

"About a month."

"You speak English really well."

"I watched American shows, movies and listened to music when I was growing up. Now, I have a tutor to help me."

"Well that's good. Although please don't try to get rid of the accent, it works for you," he took a bite of his salmon dish.

"Thank you," she searched his handsome face. "Why..nevermind."

"No," he wiped his mouth with a napkin, "please, go ahead."

She looked into his brown eyes, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Her face and voice made him feel sorry for her. He could tell that very few people in her life treated her the way he had, "Well, I see plenty of people being nasty and just awful to each other. So, I believe if I spread positive energy then it'll pass through the universe and hopefully, to other people along the way."

Nodding she said, "I like that way of thinking."

"Why thank you. And..don't take this the wrong way but I can recognize 'new money' a mile away, Honey. I hate it when rich bitches just take advantage of it like Alexis and Lilah were doing to you."

"What do you mean?" She furrowed her perfectly plucked eyebrows.

He wisely chose his words, "You're a gorgeous woman but your look..it's too much. Your eye makeup and tiny dress..you don't need it. A woman as stunning as you can make a little glamour go a long way."

She realized what he was saying but wasn't offended. He handled with it sensitivity and she appreciated that, "You want to make me over like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?"

"I love that movie and yes! Except you have your own money and you're not a hooker with a heart of gold," he laughed then stopped once he saw her stare fall to her plate. He felt guilty. "Hey," he continued speaking when her eyes met his, "who you were..that's in the past, ok? You're in America, the land of second chances. From what I see and know so far, you're a beautiful, charming, successful vineyard owner now. Your look should reflect that, Karina."

His words touched her, "Ok then. Make me over."

"No."

"What? But you just said.."

"I'll make you better," he smiled. "All you need is a little polish and pun totally intended, some fairy dust."

"I see now," she chuckled then waited a moment and touched his hand. "Thank you."

He grinned and lightly grasped her hand, "Don't thank me yet," he remembered how he used to look before becoming wealthy. "You should have seen me when my parents' seafood restaurants took off, it was the same time I came out. With my brown shoes, black belt, plaid shirts and afro. Lord, I was a hot mess!"

With a straight face, she said, "I bet you were a trainwreck…you still look like it."

Trent thought she was serious until she broke into a small giggle, "Oh I am gonna love you," he lightly tapped her hand.

After picking out a new wardrobe at his boutique and a few others, Trent and Nika went over to his friend's salon. It was hard for her to believe how nice everyone was to her. They asked and respected her input regarding her "make better." She remembered how Belicoff treated her like the slave she was. With the exception of her tattoo, she never made decisions for herself. The difference was night and day with her new friends and life. She was now in absolute control of her business and her body, she relished every moment.

"Are you ready Sweetie?" Trent said from the other side of the door.

"Just a minute," she fixed the hem of the pale green dress, "I'm coming out now."

Trent, Bryce (the salon's makeup artist) and Anna (the owner and head stylist) were stunned to see the dramatic difference in Nika's new appearance.

Unsure of what to make of their reaction she looked at them with uneasy eyes, "So…Good..Bad?"

"You are my greatest masterpiece," Trent said with a big smile.

Anna's blond curly locks moved as she nodded with approval, "I love my boyfriend but I'm totally lesbian for you right now."

"Me too!" Bryce said in his Mexican accent.

Beaming, Nika replied, "Really? You guys really think I look good?"

"Sweetie, see for yourself," Trent turned her around to face the full-length mirror.

The reflection in the mirror rendered her speechless. In disbelief, she touched her chestnut colored tresses, admired her simple yet shimmering makeup and let her hand graze the dress's v-neckline. She was the vision of absolute effervescence. It was the first time that she actually felt the way she looked.

"I.." She felt her radiant eyes welling up, "I love it."

"Aw Karina," Trent hugged her from behind and rested his head on her shoulder.

Her hand lovingly rubbed his forearm, "Thank you, all of you," she turned around and hugged everyone. "I have to go back to the vineyard. We're harvesting," she picked up her new Versace purse and two of her many shopping bags. "You all are always welcome to come over."

"Oh we will," Bryce joked.

Anna playfully rolled her eyes then grinned, "Come back soon."

"I'll call you tonight," Trent told her.

"I look forward to it. Goodbye for now," Nika said as her chauffeur pulled up in front of the salon.

Bryce opened the door for her, "See you later, bonita."

She smiled at him as she left the salon holding a few of her many shopping bags.

Her chauffeur immediately exited the car and froze when he saw her.

"Carl, what is it?" Nika asked.

"Ms. Petrova. You just look so different..incredible," Carl said with a tip of his hat before opening the door for her.

"Thank you," she modestly grinned. "Can you please get the rest of the bags inside of the salon for me?"

"Of course," he obeyed his beautiful boss.

While walking up to her enormous home, Nika politely thanked the workers that complimented her.

"Oh Karina," Elaine Wrightman (the housekeeper/chef) brought a hand to her chest, "you are beautiful!"

"Thank you very much, Elaine," Nika answered.

"Dinner will be ready in a few hours," she picked up two of her shopping bags.

"That's nice, what are we having?"

"A Russian dish, I want to see if my cooking matches up to your standards."

"I can't wait. Where are Tiska and Lena?" She asked referring to her yellow and chocolate Labrador retriever puppies.

"Robert is giving them a bath right now," she looked out the kitchen window and saw her husband bathing the puppies.

"Ms. Petrova where do you want me to put your things?" Carl asked.

"In my closet," she told him.

"Oh before I forget, a package came in the mail today. It's from Italy, I put it in your room after Ramon had his Bloodhound sniff it," Elaine told her as they began walking up the stairs.

"Who is it from?"

"There wasn't a person's name on it. My Italian is a little rusty but I think it's from a furniture store."

Nika tried to remember if she had ordered anything recently, she hadn't. Her mind went to 47; she immediately ran past Elaine and headed for her bedroom.

"Wow," Elaine said with little laugh as she watched Nika bound up the stairs.

Unable to contain her excitement, Nika threw her door open and charged at the bed where the package lay. In a matter of minutes she had ruined her newly manicured nails by tearing the box open. She picked up the card, recognized his handwriting and read it.

9/18/07

Nika,

I read that it can get cold this time of year in Napa Valley.

-47

She pressed the card against her heart. A dreamy smile came across her face. Her delicate hand stroked the cashmere blanket before bringing it her cheek. It reminded her of the white dress she wore the last time they were together. An object fell out of the blanket, it was a DVD.

"March of the Penguins?" she said feeling confused before remembering their last car ride together. She had talked to him about male penguins immediately knowing if a female penguin would his life mate within seconds of meeting her. A wistful sigh left her lips.

In their short time together, she wasn't sure if he was actually listening to many things she said to him and if he cared. The presents she held in her hands washed away her uncertainty.

A soft knocking at the door brought her back into reality.

"Karina," Elaine said, "I put your bags in your closet."

"Thank you, Elaine."

She noticed her employer's delighted gaze, "That throw blanket is really pretty."

"It's perfect.." she saw Elaine's curious eyes. "It is from.." she wasn't sure what their relationship was, "an old friend."

Elaine nodded and brushed a strand of her champagne colored hair behind her ear, "Well your friend has good taste. I'm going to check on the laundry, if you need me just use the intercom."

"Ok, I'll see you at dinner."

"Tiska and Lena, come on," she patted the couch and the four-month-old puppies rested on both sides of her. "Good boy," she petted Tiska and then Lena, "Nice girl." She pulled the throw blanket over all three of them and pressed play on the remote control.

As the movie previews played she wondered about 47. It was a difficult for her to imagine him stepping into a store that he had no use for yet he done so for her. She wanted to know if his note was true and if he actually thought of their time together when purchasing the blanket like she had or if it was a combination of both. So many questions ran through her head but receiving his presents answered the one that mattered to her most; he was alive. The small part of her that hoped for their happy ending grew just a little bit bigger.