~ Can't Buy My Love ~
by Katia N. Ruiz
passionatetyger@aol.com
Copyright 2004


Disclaimers: see part one.

***Hello, this is the reason I finally decided to shorten the disclaimer, I want to try a hand at putting lyrics of a song in the beginning, which probably won't work out ::laughs::, but I'll guess I'll give it a try. PLEASE LEMME KNOW IF THE LYRICS GO WITH SONG… J THANKS!

"I am standing by the river
I will be standing here forever
Though you're on the other side
My face you still can see
Why won't you look at me
Here l am"
By Emmylou Harris ("Here I Am")

THIS IS A LITTLE OF WHAT WENT ON LAST WEEK…

"You'll get fired within minutes. I happen to be good friends with the boss."

Mary frowned. She knew that the minute she opened her mouth, she'd be out of a job, and that Oskar Ivanov would probably make it very hard for her to ever find another. She stood up and walked towards the door. "We're not done," She said over her shoulder, opening the door slowly and peeking out into the hallway. "Not by a long shot."

Shit, Kat thought nervously. I'm going to have to tell mama and papa before she tells them.





And this week…

Chapter Sixteen

"Wait, don't do it yet!"

The barber stopped just as he was about to cut the first lock of hair, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He'd been about to start for nearly fifteen minutes, but Oksana interrupted him every time. He was trying to be very patient; after all, this was going to be the most powerful woman in Sanford in a couple of days. Carson looked at Oskar for help, but The old man shrugged, smiling.

"I don't want it too short, Carson." Oksana said again. She loved her hair, and she really didn't want to cut it down, but she agreed with her grandfather about it. People wouldn't take her seriously with her hair the way it was. In the last ten years, the trend for serious businesswomen was for either very short serious hair, or very long serious hair; some of the styles of the previous century were not longer acceptable in the business environment.

That fact didn't stop her from feeling like Sampson when Delilah cut his hair, bleeding him of all his strength. She knew the idea was absurd, that she would be the same person, but it still felt like an important piece of her was going to be missing.

Carson watched as she panicked and tried to smile reassuringly. "Why don't you close your eyes and let me do my thing?" He asked gently.

Oksana looked for her grandfather through the mirror, seeing that his attention was on his folder; the slight curving of his mouth betrayed his amusement, but he never looked up. Reining herself in, Oksana took a deep breath, clenched her eyes closed, and grasped the chair's arms in a death grip. She whimpered at the sound of the first snip, and continued to whimper as Carson worked on her hair.

After an interminable amount of time, Carson urged Oksana to open her eyes. She stared at herself in the mirror, turning her head from side to side as she took in her new hairstyle. Her hair was now cropped short at the sides, shaped neatly around her ears; the top of her hair was longer by an inch, long enough to be brushed in any direction that she wanted. Soft strands fell over her forehead, and she reached up and pushed them tentatively to the side.

"Oskar?" Carson said, glancing at his long time client, but Oskar was already staring.

Oskar had never realized what a truly gorgeous creature his granddaughter was. Owen had been incredibly handsome, and now obvious that he'd passed on his genes to his daughter. Oskar took her in through the mirror. Her very blue eyes seemed even bluer without the hair that used to fall over her forehead and covered her eyes. She looked grown, more like the adult that she was.

"Well?" Oksana said loudly, uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

Oskar swallowed past the lump in his throat. "You look great." He said. "It becomes you." If the women were falling all over themselves when Oksana had longer hair, they would faint when they saw her now.

Oksana looked herself over once again, her eyebrows rising. He's right, she thought, increasingly comfortable with her new haircut. She smiled at Carson, showing her satisfaction. "Thank you," She said, standing up after he removed the cape from around her neck.

"Anytime, young woman. You come to me when you need your touchup, alright?" He shook her hand.

"Most definitely," She grinned at him, handing him fifty dollars and gesturing him to keep the change.

"Why, thank you, Ms. Ivanov." A pleased Carson said as she and her grandfather left.

ÑÑÑÑÑ

My goodness, she looks even more like her father, rest his soul. Josef thought as he stared. "Great haircut, Ms. Ivanov." He said, opening the back door for his employers.

Oksana blushed slightly. "Thank you, Josef." She said, waiting as her grandfather entered the limo, and then following after him.

Josef shut the door and shook his head in wonderment. He could only imagine how Oskar was feeling.

Inside the limo, Oksana lifted her hand to the back of her neck. She couldn't help herself, the back of her neck felt so sensitive. The breeze coming in through her open window felt like a woman's fingers teasing at the skin of her neck. Shivering at the thought, she quickly closed the window. She didn't need that kind of thought right then.

"Feel different?" Oskar asked, smiling. He couldn't stop looking at her, thinking that having her cut her hair had been the right decision. The results made him very glad that she went along with his request.

"Yeah," Oksana said. "I think I like it even better like this."

"I am glad." Oskar said, smiling proudly at her. "You look like a business woman now. Stronger, more mature, and so much like your father it takes my breath away." His voice faded to a whisper.

Oksana gazed at him for a long time, watching him compose himself. She thought of her conversation with Nadya the night before. "You still miss him, don't you?" She said in a low voice.

Oskar simply nodded, unsure that he could speak at the moment.

Oksana didn't know what to say. She looked away from him, taken aback by his honesty.

"I do not think any of us has gotten over his death, most of all you." Oskar said, taking in her tense profile. When she didn't reply, he said: "I think it is time you and I spoke about it."

Oksana swallowed hard. She didn't think she could handle another conversation about her parents, especially with her grandfather, after so many years of his silence.

Every September eleven, since she'd been thirteen, she had always found away to avoid both school and her grandparents. She could never handle their celebrations of the anniversary, or their pity of her for having lost her parents on that horrible day. She would cut school and go off on her own. Most of the time, she ended in trouble for some transgression or another. More recently, since her return from university, she spent those days out and about, having sex at any opportunity. What she would do this year, the anniversary was a week away, she did not know.

When she didn't reply, Oskar decided to back down. His conversation with Nadya the night before had left him feeling guilty and wishing he'd been stronger for Oksana when she had needed him the most. He wallowed in guilt and self-pity for too long. He would spend the rest of his days trying to get Oksana to trust him again.

ÑÑÑÑÑ

Kat entered the kitchen, glad to find only her mother there. "Good morning, mama." She said, sitting down at the table.

Yuliya grabbed a bowl and walked up to her, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Good afternoon, you mean," She said.

"Oh," Kat said, surprised; she hadn't bothered to look at her watch once she woke up. "I must have been so tired."

"You work too hard." Yuliya admonished, pouring bran cereal and milk into the bowl.

Kat knew that wasn't the only thing making her tired, but she couldn't say anything about it. Not yet anyway. Mary's not so subtle threat had left her unable to sleep and thinking about possibly coming out of the closet to her parents. I want them to come live with me when I move, but I have to come out to them before then, she thought. She'd have to talk to Oskar, see if he had any advice for her on the subject. She ate quietly, her mind a million miles away from the kitchen. Her mother's voice cut through her thoughts and she snapped back to the present. "What?"

"Your house, when is it going to be ready?" Yuliya asked, sitting down across from her.

Kat smiled. "In a few weeks," She replied. "And I wanted to speak with you and papa about that."

"Yes?" Yuliya asked.

"Well, I want you guys to move with me when the house is ready." Kat said, meeting her mother's eyes. "You both deserve to retire and do things for yourselves and not other people."

"Josef and I have spoken about retirement many times," Yuliya began.

"You have?" Kat asked, surprised. Her parents never appeared ready to stop working.

"Yes," Yuliya smiled. "And we do not want to retire. We want to continue to serve Mr. and Mrs. Ivanov for as long as they will have us."

"But mama," Kat protested. "You both are getting on in years, and…"

"Ekaterina," Yuliya interrupted gently. "Your father and I are happy here. We would not know what to do if we were not working."

Kat shook her head, seeing the determination in her mother's eyes. Maybe she'd have to work on her father first. She was about to speak when Mary entered the kitchen and lingered behind Yuliya, flashing her an evil grin.

Kat's suddenly closed facial expression let Yuliya know whom it was standing behind her. There was only one person Kat looked at that way. "Mary, peel the potatoes for tonight's dinner, please." Yuliya instructed sternly, never turning around.

"Sure," Mary said, winking at Kat and blowing her a kiss.

Kat stood abruptly. "I'm going outside, mama." She said briskly. "We'll talk later." She walked out of the kitchen, leaving a slightly confused Yuliya and a gleeful Mary behind.

ÑÑÑÑÑ

I can't stand that bitch! Kat fumed, pacing back and forth on the front porch. What was I thinking? She ran her hands through her hair, pushing it back out of her face. I could have resisted her, damn it. That whole sex being a weakness is Oksana's thing, not mine! She stopped and took a keep breath, trying to calm down. Now she's holding this shit over my head. I have to tell mama and papa.

With that thought, she turned towards the yard, taking another deep breath. The warm sun soothed her, and she felt herself relaxing under its caress. I really shouldn't let her get to me. She thought with a sigh. She couldn't wait to move into her own home. Hopefully, she'd be able to convince her parents to go with her.

Kat was sure that Oskar and Nadya would eventually forgive her for taking away their trusted employees. The elder Gorkys knew every single detail of what the Ivanovs liked and disliked, and were devoted solely to provide to Oskar and Nadya's comfort. Kat knew it would be a difficult transition for both her parents and Oskar and Nadya.

She looked towards the street when the gates began to swing open. Moments later, a black Lincoln limousine was pulling in, the gates swinging closed behind it. Kat smiled, walking down the steps and meeting the limo as it pulled up in front of the house. Her father emerged from the driver's side; she grinned at him and planted a loving kiss on his stubbly cheek. "Hi, papa."

"Hello, darling. Enjoying your Saturday?" Josef greeted his daughter, smiling fondly at her attire of windbreaker pants, sneakers and t-shirt. He puffed up with pride. I helped create this beautiful creature, he thought, in awe. He hurried to the back door and pilled it open, helping Oskar climb out of the back seat.

Oskar flashed a grin at Kat and leaned on his cane. "Ekaterina, how are you?"

Kat smiled at him as she said: "It's a beautiful day…" She trailed off as the second passenger emerged from the rear of the limo. Kat's eyes widened as she took in the much shorter hair and the face, her eyes moving all over her features. Oh my god, look at those eyes! She thought, feeling a shiver travel her spine when she realized that those eyes were taking her in too. She wanted at least to say, "Nice haircut," but she didn't think she could speak at the moment.

Oskar took in Kat's face and acted fast. "Josef, help me get inside, will you?"

"Sure, Mr. Oskar." Josef hastened to help the old man, oblivious to his daughter's sudden fixation with Oksana. Neither woman noticed when the old men left.

Oksana was aware of Kat staring at her, but she didn't care, it only gave her more time to take her in. She looks so sexy dressed like that. "Hi," She said, trying not to think about their kiss months earlier. If she did, she was sure she'd be trying to do it again.

Kat swallowed hard, looking for her voice. "Nice haircut," She said quickly, feeling awkward.

Oksana ran a hand through her hair. "Thanks," she said nervously, risking a glance at Kat's breasts. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the erect nipples, and she had to fight against the impulse to reach out and grab a breast, as she would have done months ago. That move wouldn't be appreciated. Kat was a woman to treat with respect or she'd clobber anyone who didn't know that; Oksana had witnessed that first hand. I have to get away from her. "Um, I- I have to go inside."

Kat nodded, turning her eyes away. Get a hold of yourself! She mentally yelled at herself. Don't you dare be attracted to this woman! But it was too late; Kat had been attracted to Oksana, despite her atrocious attitude, since before she had even left for University. She fought the urge to watch Oksana all the way into the house, quickly walking away towards the back of the house.



CONTINUED…

(NOTE: Remember, this is a first draft, and I'm posting as I go, so if something doesn't jive or it seems a little awkward, bear with me. I'm going back to fix things. Now, if you see something, point it out to me anyway.)


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