Ivan took his time shaving. He always did. The razor edge followed his cheek bones. His chin. The dip underneath his nose. He left the water running in his marble sink as he shaved. As he brushed his porcelain teeth. When he combed back his short black hair to a smooth perfection.
  Closing the tap, he paused, staring at the man staring back at him. Ethereal. Distant. He did not recognize himself half the time. The other half, it was someone else. A reflection of a stranger. His father. His grandfather. Never himself.
  By the time he walked out of the bathroom into his apartment, the phone rang. He listened only briefly to the woman on the other end. Pushing the pound button unlocked the doors in the lobby. Placing his phone on the charger, he walked behind the island counter to the kitchen. Taking from his open rack, Ivan chose a least expensive bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. He stopped momentarily before the reflective doors of the glass cabinets and examined himself. There was a knock at the door and he entered the living room, placing the wine glasses on coasters. Beside them lay miscellaneous tools.
  A pair of electronic clippers.
  Hair dye, black.
  A sleek blue strap on.
  A bottle of personal lubrication.
  Walking to the door, Ivan looked through the peephole once before opening it.
  She was lovely. As lovely as money can purchase. Blond hair, flowing in smooth waves around a beautiful face. Lips red as strawberries. Eyes a brown like his. She wore a dress coat over a black evening dress, a purse in her slender hands. Her cleavage was cut low, the breasts filling out the chest firmly. Her legs teased through a slit along the dress, feet ending in heels.
  "Hi." She said with a smile. "My name is Charlene."
  Ivan examined her, her cheeks and jaw line. Her neck. Her hair line. He touched his thumb against her lips and she smiled, flashing a white row of teeth. Finally, he offered to take her purse and showed her in. As she entered his apartment, Ivan closed the door and locked it.
  "Please," he said, indicating the wine, "help yourself. May I take your coat?"
  She stood with her back to him, allowing Ivan to slip the coat off. Her shoulders were pale and angular. He gently gathered her hair up, exposing the back of her neck. She gasped at his touch and lowered her head submissively before he let her hair fall free.
  Taking the coat to the closet he hung it up with her purse. Charlene had settled on the leather sofa, holding the wine. She was looking at the objects on the table.
  "Do we take care of the matters first?" Ivan asked.
  Charlene faced him and smiled. "It would be best."
  Ivan stood and walked to the kitchen. When he returned, he carried a fold of money. Charlene took it from him. She rose and made her way to the closet. There was a moment as she counted it, failing to be discreet. When she returned, her hands were empty. She sat back down.
  "You understood before agreeing to come?" Ivan asked, sitting himself down in the chair across from her.
  Charlene nodded with a frown. "If I'm not mistaken." She said. "You want to..."
  "I want to cut your hair." He helped. "And dye it black."
  "And dress me." She added.
  Ivan nodded curtly. "Yes." He pointed slowly. "You don't drink wine?"
  She hesitated before smiling sheepishly. "You understand."
  He smiled, though it held nothing. "I do. A girl of your profession can never be too careful. No matter who you work for."
  She nodded and placed the wine glass down. Ivan stood up. Charlene rose as well.
  "Then I suppose you would prefer we start." He asked. When Charlene nodded, he returned it. "Very well." A pause. "Thank you."