"The decor is exquisite, Olga. I have to make a down payment before the work finishes, right?"

"You know the drill, gospozha." She says, showing her braced teeth. I don't bother asking her the meaning of whatever she'd just said because, honestly, I didn't care.

"I'll write you a check, and how about you begin with my sons bedroom." I say, writing her a check.

"80,000 thousand, right?" I ask, as I write. "Yes, yes. Half, first." I tear the check out and hand it over to her. "Spasiba!" She chuckles.

"Whatever that means, Olga." I chuckle uncomfortably. She laughs. She gets up, ready to leave. Work would probably commence...