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Just when I think Krupnov isn’t going to pick up, he ansith a haughty, “Good ”

“Alex Volkov on the line”

“Mr V-volkov,” he says, sounding flustered “What an honor”

“I need a ring”

“Of c-course,” he sta?”

“An engagens”

“Y-yes Absolutely As you s are custom made, each one unique There are no two of the same in the world”

“I don’t need a sales pitch, Krupnov If I’ you, it’s because I’ve already made up my mind”

“W-well, yes, sir It’s just that I’ll need tothat will match her p-physique as well as her character I don’t have to tell you that omen can be very particular in their tastes”

I pull up the forecast for the joint venture “I want a dialance over the figures “And rubies The best quality ones you can find Set the stones in white gold I’ll send you the size”

It shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain that I canshaped like a rose that she wears on her right hand Her left ring finger should be no ht Or better yet, I can buy her a new ring and use the excuse to er

Suddenly eager to set n?”

“F-for you, sir, I’ll put the job in the front of the queue”

I tap on the button to bring up the cost sheet for the construction of the new reactors “How long, Krupnov?”

I’ll have to move some funds around and liquidate a couple of other investments if I’m to put this much into the joint venture, but this is important toI send an email to my CFO with instructions to start the liquidation process

“The d-design can be ready in a week’s ties, but it will take ns are hand crafted with—”

“Delivery date?”

“How about V-Valentine’s Day?” he asks uncertainly “It’s always a g-good date for an engagement”

“New Year’s and not a day later I trust I can rely on your discretion?”

“Y-yes, Mr Volkov Of c-course, Mr Volkov”

“And Krupnov?”

“Yes, Mr V-volkov?”