Transcription
In a cozy city cafe in the center of the capital, the workday was coming to an end. A young waitress, Katya, flitted between tables. The girl was about 25 years old, slender, with beautiful eyes and a friendly smile. She skillfully balanced a tray, serving customers. Among the guests was a respectable businessman named Oleg. A stately man in an expensive suit with confident manners, with his partner Igor. They had already finished dinner but continued to chat animatedly. "I bet I can convince this waitress to go out with me tonight and pass her off as my wife," Oleg suddenly declared, nodding towards Katya. His voice held a self-confidence bordering on audacity. Igor snorted, thinking his friend was joking. "Why would you want that? Do you think she'll agree to pretend to be your wife?" Oleg shrugged. "For the thrill. Besides, I have an important dinner with a partner in an hour. It would be interesting to show up not alone, but with a charming wife, to see the reaction." "And that's why you want to pick up the first person you see? She'll most likely refuse or run away," Igor shook his head. "We'll see," Oleg grinned. He beckoned Katya with a gesture. The girl, having finished serving the next table, approached, holding a notepad for orders. "Did you want something?" she asked politely, noticing a sly glint in the stranger's eyes. Oleg cast an appraising glance at the waitress. In a simple white blouse and black skirt, she looked modest but neat. "What's your name?" he asked directly. "Katya," the girl replied, surprised by his directness. "Katya, nice to meet you. My name is Oleg. I have an unusual proposition for you," Oleg said unexpectedly and, after a pause, added, "Tonight, you are my wife." Katya thought she had misheard. "Excuse me, did you say my wife?" Oleg leaned closer and explained quietly, "In an hour, I have an important business dinner where it would be desirable to have my wife present. The problem is, I don't have a wife. I need a companion to play the role of my spouse for one evening. I'll pay generously." Katya froze, staring at him with wide eyes. "Are you serious? To pretend to be your wife." "Exactly," Oleg nodded. "Just for one evening. You're young, pretty, probably not stupid either. You can handle it. And, as I said, it won't be free." Katya's heart pounded. The offer seemed reckless. A stranger was asking her to impersonate his wife. But the confidence with which he spoke, and the word "generously," made her think. She desperately needed extra money. Life in the capital was expensive. University was not cheap. Katya had achieved everything in her life on her own, without influential relatives or support. And the extra money could go towards covering her expenses and tuition. "How much will you pay?" she asked quietly. "Let's say, a thousand dollars. Will that work for you?" Oleg replied, squinting. For Katya, it was a large sum. She swallowed hard. Common sense told her to refuse, but the temptation was great. Finally, the girl nodded. "My shift is ending soon, and I'll need to change." "Excellent," Oleg said immediately. "I'll wait for you at the entrance. We'll pick out an outfit for you, and then we'll go to the meeting." After finishing her shift, Katya hurried into the back room to say goodbye to her colleagues and collect her things. Her heart continued to pound. She understood she was getting involved in an adventure. Perhaps this evening would change her life. In 30 minutes, Katya was already waiting at the main entrance of the cafe. Oleg had paid for dinner and stood next to Igor. Seeing the girl in her everyday coat, the men exchanged glances. Katya's cheeks flushed with excitement. "Let's go! We're short on time," Oleg urged, pointing to a black executive sedan parked nearby. Katya settled into the back seat of the luxurious car, feeling like the protagonist of someone else's movie. As the car drove, she tried to calm the trembling in her hands. Oleg, noticing her agitation, turned around. "Don't be afraid. It's nothing complicated. Just be by my side and act like a loving wife. I'll handle the rest." "Just don't fall in love with him," Igor joked. Katya smiled slightly and shook her head. "Don't worry, it'll be fine," she said quietly. Soon, the car stopped at an expensive boutique. Oleg literally led Katya inside by the hand and said to the salesperson on the go, "We need an evening outfit for the girl. Something elegant, urgently." The salespeople immediately began selecting dresses, shoes, and accessories. Katya had never been to such expensive stores and almost got lost among the luxurious outfits. But Oleg confidently guided the process. Half an hour later, Katya barely recognized her reflection. She was in an elegant dark dress. On her feet were new low-heeled shoes. Katya looked like a real lady. "Perfect. Now you truly look like the wife of a successful man," Oleg assessed the result. Katya shyly lowered her eyes, feeling both fear and curiosity. What awaited her next this evening? An hour after Katya and Oleg met, they drove up to a respectable restaurant, where their partners were already waiting in a private room. Before entering, Oleg held Katya by the elbow and quickly whispered, "A couple of details. Your name is Ekaterina. We've been married for 2 years. We met at a resort. No children. If asked about work, say you're currently managing the household or doing design. Got it?" Katya nodded and quickly repeated his words. "Got it. 2 years, resort, no children." "Excellent. And most importantly, act confident, like a real businessman's wife. Everything will be fine." These words gave Katya determination. She straightened up and tried to calm down. Oleg smiled approvingly and opened the door to the room. Several people were sitting at a round table in a cozy, richly decorated hall. The room was illuminated by soft light. Paintings in golden frames hung on the walls, crystal glasses sparkled on the table, and pleasant music played softly in the corner. The main person present was Sergey Pavlovich Morozov, an investor around 60 years old, with light gray hair and a sharp gaze. Next to him was his elegant wife, Lyudmila. Slightly aside sat a young assistant, Maxim, with a folder of documents. Seeing Oleg with a young companion, everyone livened up. "Oleg, good evening," Sergey Pavlovich rose to meet them. "And this is your wife?" "Good evening," Oleg smiled. "Yes, meet my wife, Ekaterina." Sergey Pavlovich respectfully shook Katya's hand. "Very pleased to meet you, Ekaterina. Finally, we've met, as Oleg hasn't told us anything about you." "Happiness loves silence," Katya replied with a light, playful tone. The investor laughed. "Of course, you are charming and young, blooming right next to our Oleg." Lyudmila also greeted Katya, offering her a seat next to her. When everyone took their seats, the waiters filled the glasses. Katya felt like Cinderella at a ball. Earlier that day, she was serving guests, and now she herself was sitting among influential people in a luxurious setting. Trying to act natural, she joined the polite conversation. "It must be hard being the wife of such a businessman," Sergey Pavlovich asked kindly when the appetizers were served. "Constant meetings, late dinners." Katya smiled politely. "It varies, but I try to support my husband and keep him company when needed." "Wonderful," Lyudmila approved. "And how did you meet? I love romantic stories so much." Katya did not falter. "We met at a resort about 3 years ago. I was vacationing with a friend, and Oleg was there on business. We struck up a conversation by chance, then continued to communicate after the trip. We quickly realized we were made for each other, and a year later, we got married." "What a wonderful story," Lyudmila smiled. "It's clear you are very happy." Oleg placed his hand on Katya's hand and said warmly, "I am incredibly lucky with my wife." Katya felt a slight blush creep up her neck from these words and lowered her gaze to the table, trying to hide her excitement. Katya herself was amazed at how naturally she had slipped into the role. It seemed everyone believed every word she said about their romantic resort acquaintance. Gradually, the girl calmed down and began to feel more confident next to her pretend husband. Soon, the conversation turned to business matters. They discussed a joint project for building a business center. The main issue to be resolved concerned profit distribution. "I'm ready to invest, but I expect 60% of the profit," Sergey Pavlovich stated firmly. "Almost all the risks are on me, so I think we can formalize it as my share in the company." Oleg frowned. "I understand. However, if I give you 60%, I lose control of my own brainchild. I'd prefer a partnership on equal terms or close to it, say, 49%." "Such conditions are not sufficiently profitable for me," the investor objected, shaking his head. "With these terms, there's no point for me to invest such a large sum." Lyudmila touched her husband's hand anxiously. "Sergei, perhaps there's a point in discussing a compromise?" she asked quietly. But Sergey Pavlovich shook his head stubbornly. "If we don't agree on the key issue from the start, there's no point in proceeding." A pause ensued. Oleg clenched his lips, wondering how to convince his partner to soften his position. The atmosphere at the table became noticeably tense. Seeing this, Katya suddenly felt that she was also worried about the outcome of the negotiations. She really wanted to help. She felt her heart pounding wildly, and her mouth went dry from nervousness, but she couldn't remain silent. Gathering her courage, she said softly, "Excuse me, may I interject?" Her interlocutors fell silent in surprise and turned to her. Sergey Pavlovich raised his eyebrows but did not look annoyed, rather intrigued. "Speak, Ekaterina," he permitted with curiosity. Katya said evenly, trying to maintain a confident tone. "Perhaps there is a compromise. For you, Sergey Pavlovich, it's important to get your invested money back, and Oleg wants to retain key participation in his company. We can do this. While the project is in the payback phase, you will receive a fixed payment, even higher than the amount you initially expected. I think we can set a target of around 70% of the profit solely as income, without formalizing a share in the company. Additionally, we will sign an agreement that will protect you in case of unforeseen risks. When the project reaches stable self-sufficiency, we can revisit the issue of equity partnership. We plan to propose a structure with a sixty percent share for Oleg and forty percent for you. Thus, at the start, your investments will be reliably protected, and in the long term, you will have the opportunity to receive passive income with minimal operational risks." Katya held her breath, realizing she might have said too much. Silence hung in the air. Oleg's wife's proposal was so unexpected that the people at the table fell silent for a couple of seconds. Sergey Pavlovich straightened in his chair, looking at Katya with new interest. Oleg also froze in surprise. He couldn't believe that a randomly invited waitress was now confidently suggesting a way out of the deadlock. He felt unexpected respect for her. "You know, that's an interesting thought?" the investor said slowly. "I honestly didn't think of that option right away." Maxim, the assistant, perked up. "This is indeed practiced. When the project reaches payback, the terms of cooperation change in favor of the founder." "You see," Katya smiled, encouraged. "You lose nothing. You'll get your money back with profit first. But then Oleg will have an incentive to develop the project further, knowing that his share will eventually grow." Sergey Pavlovich thoughtfully rubbed his chin, then broke into a smile. "Young woman, yet you reason like an experienced economist. Do you happen to work in finance?" Katya replied shyly, "I studied economics at university, but I'm not working in my specialty yet." "Well, that's very impressive," the investor nodded. "Oleg, it seems with a wife like that, you won't be lost." "I can't disagree," Oleg said honestly, looking at Katya with almost pride. The tension at the table melted away. Sergey Pavlovich turned to his colleague. "I think we can do as Ekaterina suggested. If the project goes successfully, we'll review our shares in a couple of years." Oleg smiled with relief. "That suits me perfectly. Thank you." Sergey Pavlovich raised his glass to cooperation and to the wonderful woman who helped us find common ground today. Everyone supported the toast, clinking glasses. Oleg said quietly to Katya, "Thank you." To which she smiled radiantly at him in return. The rest of the dinner passed in a relaxed atmosphere. Over dessert, everyone chatted like good acquaintances. Lyudmila eagerly questioned Ekaterina about her passion for interior design. And Katya enthusiastically talked about which styles she liked in home decor. The investor's wife clearly liked her young interlocutor's taste. Sergey Pavlovich shared a couple of amusing stories from his practice. Oleg talked about the company's plans. The conversation flowed easily and uninhibitedly. Katya felt increasingly confident and at ease among her new acquaintances. Finally, the meeting came to an end. As they said goodbye, Sergey Pavlovich shook Oleg's hand. "I'm sure we'll succeed. Very pleased to meet your wife." He kissed Katya's hand. "Ekaterina, you literally saved our negotiations today. Thank you. Take care of her, Oleg." "Certainly," Oleg replied with a smile. When he and Katya got out of the restaurant and got into the car, night had already fallen on the city. The car started moving. Lights of the night city floated past the windows. Katya leaned back against the seat, trying to comprehend how she had gotten into such an adventure. Silence reigned in the cabin for a few minutes. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Oleg broke the silence first. "Bravo, Katya. I really didn't expect that. You really bailed me out." Katya smiled, a little bewildered but sincerely. "I'm glad everything went well." Oleg thought for a moment and replied, "You know, this is what I was just thinking about. You're studying economics, right?" "Yes," Katya nodded, slightly surprised by the turn of events. "But I'm still just a student, I don't have much experience." "That's fine," Oleg replied calmly. "Experience can be gained. But the ability to think quickly, speak to the point, and not get lost at a crucial moment is much rarer. If you're interested, I'm willing to offer you an internship or even try you in a junior analytical position. Of course, if you're truly interested." Katya opened her mouth slightly, not immediately finding words. "I'm very interested. Thank you so much. This is a very generous offer." Just that morning, she couldn't imagine sitting in the same car with such a person and hearing such an offer from him. Before this, it all seemed like a closed world. Prestigious companies, offices, careers. You couldn't break into it without connections. And now, everything suddenly seemed possible. "Then it's decided," Oleg nodded. "Come to the office next week, we'll discuss everything. And here," he handed her an envelope. "The promised sum. You've earned it rightfully." The girl carefully took the envelope, feeling her insides buzz with excitement. Oleg looked at her attentively, a little softer than before. "You know, today you reminded me that sometimes we make conclusions too quickly. And the true value of a person doesn't always lie on the surface. Thank you for showing me that in practice." Katya smiled shyly and looked away. Meanwhile, the car turned onto a familiar street and gently stopped at her house. Oleg gallantly got out and opened the door for her. "See you, Katya," he said, looking with a slight smile. "See you," she replied, already standing on the sidewalk, with the same feeling that arises when a new chapter begins. After the car drove away, the girl stood on the doorstep for a long time, trying to believe that everything she had experienced had happened on New Year's Eve, not in a dream. Her quiet life seemed to have turned upside down in a few hours. What seemed like a crazy adventure had given her both earnings and new opportunities. And for Oleg, that evening became an important reminder. Sometimes one chance encounter can change a life. And this was one of those. The story, which began as a bold and even foolish bet, turned into a bright streak in both their lives. If you liked this story, don't forget to share it with your loved ones. Like and subscribe so you don't miss new episodes. And write in the comments from which city you are listening. It will be interesting to read. M.