I saw Moldir Shirinova again in the Kempinksi Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi. She was sitting in the lobby fiddling with her phone oblivious as I walked across. Only when I stood over her did she glance up into the golden world and clock me.
“Oh. Mr. Nicholas. I’m sorry.” She rose and I stepped back a little. “I was just texting Chopin. She’s expecting you.”
I smiled. “Good to see you again, Moldir. It’s been, what, six months?” She hadn’t changed; the same impeccable movement of her fingers, the lissome perfection beneath her slim blue dress. Her Silk Road eyes. There was an awkward silence. The secretary began to move away.
“Please, Mr. Nicholas. We can go now.”
The smart phone Diamond Crypto from designer Peter Aloisson is made of platinum and pink gold. It is covered with more than 80 brilliants. There are 50 brilliants on each side of the phone (including 10 blue brilliants) and the navigation button is surrounded by 28 brilliants. Price, $1.3 million.
Moldir took me to Chopin’s suite. It looked out over the dead white glare of the beach and the flat turquoise Gulf beyond. It’s funny but I had always felt that Chopin Baysakova was a bit of a Mrs. Robinson, which was, of course, ridiculous. After all, there had been no affair – just the hint of lupine despair somewhere behind her eyes.
“She will come soon. Please can you wait?”
“Of course.”
The two of us glanced round the opulent space.
“It’s okay. I’ll sit here.”
Moldir looked as if she might have replied, but her phone distracted her and she was gone, responding to a silent voice in her own quiet Russian. She wandered back to the doors and she left me there in the vast salon to wait.
Tequila Ley have sold a platinum and white gold bottle of tequila to a private collector from Mexico City at the price of $225,000. The drink was made from 100% blue agave juice matured for 6 years. Those who cannot afford the platinum bottle, might like to opt for the gold and platinum bottle at $150,000 or the silver and gold for $25,000.
It was late afternoon before Mrs. Baysakova arrived and met with me. I stood. She offered a brief excuse. Actually, I felt more annoyed with Moldir.
“Have you eaten?” she asked. The question was rhetorical and I glanced at Moldir, who had followed the oligarch’s wife into the room and now hovered at the doors. Perhaps there had been a discourtesy? Mrs. Baysakova smiled suddenly. Shopping bags were arriving and Moldir turned to deal with the hotel’s butler.
“Well, Mr. Nicholas, I am so glad you came. I enjoyed our discussions before. That book. Where was it, now?”
“West Egg. Long Island,” I replied, mischievously recondite.”
“St. Moritz. Yes, I remember. Do please sit. Let me order you something. I don’t know why Moldir didn’t arrange lunch for you. You must be famished. Moldir?”
More bags were arriving. I protested. It was fine. I wasn’t hungry.
The box of sweets by Le Chocolat includes selected chocolate masterpieces from the world’s best confectioners. It is also a set of luxury jewelery made of natural yellow and blue brilliants, emeralds and sapphires from Simon’s. Simply an invaluable gift for $1.5 million.
“Please.” Mrs. Baysakova gestured again, so I sat. The room was too large and we glanced at each other as if across a marina, from yacht to yacht.
“Did you read the books?” I asked.
“Would you like a drink, Mr. Nicholas?”
Without waiting for my response, Mrs. Baysakova walked away. She glanced over her shoulder.
“We Khazaks are big drinkers, Mr. Nicholas. You remember, right?” She smiled and frowned. She fussed over at the mini bar and returned with one vodka. “Yes, I did. Were you trying to tell me something?” She sat down.
“I don’t know. Not really. I thought they might appeal.”
Chopin gave a desolate laugh. “Scott Fitzgerald? And Lowry, of course: A few white clouds were racing windily after a pale gibbous moon. Drink all morning, they said to him, drink all day. This is life!” She raised her vodka. The ice tinkled like tiny bells.
I leaned as far forward as I could. “So you liked Under the Volcano?”
The hand was lowered and Mrs. Baysakova sighed then leaned away.
“I’m sorry I was late. The traffic from Dubai was dreadful. How do people live in Dubai? It’s a shopping mall full of corpses. I liked our chats before. A little culture can’t do any harm, can it?”
“No. I suppose not. I don’t think so.”
The Yalos Diamond LCD TV will cost you $130,000, but it’s definitely worth it. The case is covered in white gold and decorated with brilliants in 20 carats. What else is needed for an eternity of happiness?
“But the women, Mr. Nicholas. To be run over by a car is plausible. But a horse? I hardly think so. Only an alcoholic would kill off his women with such impatience. Yes, I enjoyed your books, Mr. Nicholas. They were a good choice.” Chopin closed her eyes. “Let me get my copies. I’d like to ask you some questions, Mr. Nicholas … about the endings. I have some notes. Please, let me get them.”
Then, like a somnabulant, she suddenly rose and made to leave me. She paused. Her shoulders sagged and the glass in her hand threatened to capsize. “No se puede vivir sin amar. Oh, Mr. Nicholas. We are buried, buried in ashes.”
Who doesn’t adore the Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty? Now you can indulge yourself with a platinum kitten (3.8 cm in width and 5.6 cm in height and weighing 590g). The tiny figurine of Hello Kitty is decorated with bows from precious stones – brilliants, rubies, pink sapphires, amethyst and blue topazes. For this beauty you will have to pay just $163,000.
