Marina rigorously folded the final shirt and stuffed it into Alexey’s suitcase. After years of residing collectively, packing for his enterprise journey had develop into a quiet ritual she treasured, packing every merchandise rigorously.
“Don’t overlook your laptop computer charger,” she reminded him as she zipped up the suitcase. Alexey checked out his watch, clearly nervous.
“Thanks, honey. I’ve to go. The taxi’s right here.” She kissed him rapidly on the cheek, grabbed her suitcase, and hurried to the door.
“Name me if you get there!” Marina known as. “I’ll!” he shouted because the door slammed shut.
He walked to the window and watched the automotive drive away. His hasty goodbye appeared uncommon; his goodbyes had been normally slower, extra affectionate.
The remainder, nevertheless, was necessary; he was in all probability simply frightened in regards to the upcoming assembly.
The condominium felt empty and chilly without delay. To distract herself, Marina determined to go to the Meridian Mall and eventually purchase a few of the issues she had been which means to purchase.
A number of hours later, she packed her luggage and walked by means of the mall. She had deliberate to have lunch at her favourite cafe on the third ground, however then her telephone rang: a colleague prompt they meet on the Almond restaurant on the second ground to check out their new menu.
Marina agreed; the restaurant was proper there, and she or he appreciated the ambiance there although she not often visited.
When she climbed to the second ground, she might see inside by means of the massive home windows of Almond. Then her toes appeared glued to the bottom: Alexey was sitting at a desk by the window. Throughout from him was a younger girl Marina had by no means seen earlier than. They approached, chatting animatedly.
Time stopped. Her coronary heart stopped, and her imaginative and prescient blurred. The person who was speculated to be on the flight to Novosibirsk was having lunch with one other girl.
Her first impulse was to hurry in and demand solutions. One thing—satisfaction, possibly concern—held her again. Taking a deep breath, Marina slowly turned and walked away.
With trembling fingers, she canceled lunch together with her colleagues and known as her finest buddy.
“Lena, are you able to see me? Proper now,” she mentioned in a trembling voice.
“What’s happening?” Lena requested, alarmed.
I simply noticed Alexey with a girl in a restaurant. He was speculated to be on the airplane.
“The place are you?”
“In Meridian.”
Look ahead to me on the Aquarelle cafe on the primary ground. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.
Marina sat in a nook, absentmindedly stirring her iced tea. Questions rushed to her. Who was that girl? How lengthy had this been happening? Had Alexey ever made these journeys earlier than? The midnight calls, the late nights, the brand new telephone password…
“The little gate!” Lena’s voice interrupted her. She sat down reverse and squeezed her hand.
“Inform me all the pieces.”
Marina recounted the scene, attempting to manage her voice.
I don’t know what to do, Lena. A part of me doesn’t even wish to know the reality.
What if it’s not what I noticed? Possibly there’s a proof.
Marina smiled bitterly. “Do you could have any clarification for a person who’s occupied with a enterprise journey and having lunch with one other girl?”
“I don’t know,” Lena admitted. “However earlier than you determine, possibly you need to discover out extra?
How? Ask him instantly?”
Lena thought, “What if we comply with them? See the place they go.”
They hid within the bookstore throughout from the restaurant, curious. Forty minutes later, Alexey and his companion appeared. The lady was a chic brunette, about thirty, with an ideal determine.
“They’re leaving,” Lena whispered.
Retaining her distance, she adopted her. Exterior, the lady bought right into a taxi. Alexey helped her into the automotive, they exchanged a quick handshake, nothing extra, and the taxi drove off. Alexey stayed within the car parking zone, known as somebody, then took a taxi himself.
“Let’s comply with him,” Marina mentioned.
Their taxi adopted Alexey to the Aquamarine Mall, the place his firm’s workplace was. Inside, he had a tense dialog with the receptionist earlier than disappearing into his boss’s workplace.
“Possibly the journey was canceled on the final minute,” Lena prompt.
“So who was that girl? And why didn’t she name?”
They waited. Half an hour later, Alexey got here out with a folder and went downstairs. Marina and Lena hid behind a pillar and ran to discover a taxi.
“Residence,” Marina informed the driving force. He guessed proper: Alexey’s taxi had dropped him off at his constructing. Marina let Lena go and bought in herself.
Alexey was sitting within the kitchen, gazing his laptop computer.
“Little Port! Are you residence but?” She seemed genuinely shocked.
“As you’ll be able to see,” she mentioned coldly. “Aren’t you on a airplane?”
He tensed. “The journey was canceled on the final minute. I meant to name, however issues are loopy.”
“So loopy you could’t even ship a textual content message?”
“Sorry.” He seemed down. Marina sat down throughout from him.
“Who’s she, Alexey?”
“Who?” He frowned.
“The lady you had lunch with at Almond.”
He paled. “Have been you following me?”
“No. I simply occurred to see you.”
The silence stretched. Lastly, she mentioned, “It’s not what you assume.”
What was I speculated to assume? He mentioned he was flying, and he was having lunch with a girl!
Her title was Anna Viktorovna. She represented German buyers.
“And that’s why you lied in regards to the journey?”
I didn’t lie. The journey had been canceled whereas I used to be on the airport. My boss known as: an investor was passing by means of city. I needed to meet her.
“Why didn’t you inform me?”
She hesitated. “As a result of… it wasn’t a daily assembly.”
Marina fell silent. “I knew it.”
“No, it’s not like that! My boss informed me: if I persuade her to signal an settlement with particular situations, I’ll be promoted to business director.”
“And you may’t even ship a textual content message?”
I needed to shock him if it labored. If not, why trouble him?
“Did it work?” Marina requested.
Alexey, aggravated. “Sure. She signed a preliminary settlement. The primary delegation will arrive subsequent month.”
She nonetheless doubted him. He opened the file: inside was the settlement, signed by Anna Viktoria Müller. Then he took out a velvet field; inside was a sapphire necklace that Marina had admired.
“I purchased it final week and was going to provide it to you tonight, together with the information.”
His anger subsided, however one query remained: “Why do you appear so glad together with her?”
“She agreed to our phrases; it was a reduction, nothing extra.”
He squeezed her hand. “You’re the one girl in my life. My travels are actual.”
He needed to imagine. “Can I ask you just a few questions?”
“After all.”
“What did you eat?”
She ordered a do-it-yourself salad and a steak with truffle sauce. He ordered fish.
What else did they speak about?
“Russian tradition: she loves ballet.”
Their solutions flowed easily. The strain melted. They ordered pizza, opened some wine, and shortly the night returned to regular.
Whereas Alexey showered, Marina glanced at her telephone: the password was nonetheless their marriage ceremony date. Nothing suspicious. The decision from her boss earlier that morning was nonetheless there.
Listening to Alexey buzzing his favourite tune, she realized that maybe the actual downside was behavior: they’d stopped stunning one another.
Solely with effective illustrations
I’ve a shock. I took the day without work right now, and you need to too.
“What for?” she murmured.
“Somewhat enterprise journey, simply us, no telephones.” They handed her two prepare tickets to the agricultural resort the place they’d spent their first anniversary.
He sounds radiant. “I really like you, you realize.”
“I really like you too, and I don’t wish to take a look at your telephone anymore.”
“So that you spied on me!” he laughed. She threw a pillow at him, laughing too.
Typically, she thought, you simply should belief, and typically it’s a must to take step one to rekindle the spark.
Per week later, Marina discovered a postcard from Cologne within the mailbox:
Pricey Marina, your husband spoke fondly of you throughout our assembly. The chocolate he selected for you is a specialty from our household manufacturing facility. I hope you take pleasure in it.
Sincerely, Anna Müller.
Subsequent to her was a chic field of goodies. She marinated loudly and set it apart till Alexey returned residence. She needed to pack a suitcase; the subsequent day’s journey was actual, and she or he would assist him once more.
