Transcription
The sun was slowly setting beyond the horizon, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink. In the apartment, there was silence; only a light noise came from the kitchen—Svetlana was preparing dinner. The door opened, and Denis entered the hallway, tired but with a smile on his face. He wore a light jacket, and in his hands he held a bag of groceries. He paused for a moment to take off his shoes, and raising his gaze, he saw his wife waiting for him at the table. The corners of her lips were slightly upturned in a smile, but in her eyes, her husband managed to see sadness.
"Hi, how was your day?" she asked, approaching and hugging him. Denis replied that the day was long, but now all the worries were behind him. Putting the bag on the table, he began to take out the groceries: fresh vegetables, his wife's favorite cookies, and a bottle of wine for both of them. An atmosphere of comfort and warmth filled the room; the smell of the cooking dinner was in the air. Outside the window, the evening city slowly began to twinkle with lights. They sat down at the table, and conversations about the past day filled the space with sounds. At that moment, all worries seemed distant, and their home felt like the most comfortable place in the world.
"Something seems a little gloomy," he said. "What happened, Svetlana?" Svetlana rose from her place and put plates on the table. She didn't want to spoil the evening, but there was no other way. After all, when someone close to you dies, you can't act as if nothing happened. Svetlana sat down at the table again, and her heart ached with sorrow. She knew that this moment was tender, but soon the depressed state would come closer. He asked again what happened, "Svet, you look worried." She sighed and, gathering her thoughts, replied, "Tamara, my grandfather's neighbor, just called. She said that he passed away today at noon. She said that when she went to his place to bring him some freshly baked bread, he was sitting in his chair. At first, she thought he was asleep; she called him just in case, went up to him, and patted him on the shoulder. It turned out that he wasn't sleeping at all."
Her husband immediately sat next to her, hugged her, and quietly said, "I'm very sorry. How are you feeling?" Svetlana closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. Memories of her beloved grandfather filled her thoughts—his kindness, wisdom, the warmth he always gave to his loved ones. "He was a very important person to me," she continued. "I could always turn to him. He taught me so much." These were not empty words. When Svetlana was eight years old, she was orphaned. She remembered how noisy and crowded the orphanage was, yet there was still emptiness inside. Every day, she watched other children find friends and families, while she remained on the sidelines, dreaming that someone would pay attention to her. Despite all the difficulties, Svetlana tried to be strong. She read a lot, seeking solace in books and fantasies about one day meeting loving parents. From time to time, volunteers came to the orphanage, and little Sveta always hoped that one of them would become her guardian. But every time hope began to blossom, she faced reality—no one took her.
But one day, a gray-haired man came to her and told her that he was her grandfather. It turned out that he hadn't communicated well with his son, but when he was informed that he had a granddaughter who was left without parents, he immediately came. Grandfather Vasily took her from the orphanage, becoming both a father and a mother to her, always treating her kindly and with special warmth. He really shared much wisdom with her. He said that she should never live in the past, even though she was orphaned at a young age. She should believe that there would be many more holidays in her life. He also said that God would surely take care of her. When Svetlana grew up and finished school, she decided not to dwell on the past. She entered university and began to build her own life independently, creating a second family. She learned to appreciate moments of happiness and support that the people who became her new loved ones gave her. However, the memory of growing up without parents always remained with her. She often thought about what it was like to have a family that supports and loves you—this desire became her driving force, a family where loved ones were always near, and where there was always support in difficult times. And she fulfilled her dream by marrying Denis. Once a month, she visited her grandfather; she loved visiting him. Of course, the news of his death was a devastating blow. Long conversations over a hot cup of tea or a glass of pleasant wine would forever remain in her memory.
Her husband gently stroked her back, understanding how hard it was for her now. "You know, he will always be with you, in your memories and in what he taught you," he said. "If you need to talk or just be alone, I'm here." Svetlana nodded, feeling her husband's support and love. In such moments, she understood how important it was to have loved ones nearby. They sat in silence for a long time, sharing the bitterness of loss and finding comfort in each other. The next day, they went to the village for Grandfather Vasily's funeral. They left early in the morning and arrived by lunchtime in a small provincial town where Svetlana had once lived. They drove a long time on winding roads. Now Svetlana experienced several different feelings at once. Despite the sad event, nostalgia hung in the air. As soon as they arrived, they were met by familiar streets full of memories. There was the very bakery where Sveta used to buy bread, and there was Grandfather Vasily's garage, and there was his house. Many people gathered from all over the town to say goodbye to the old man. Silence reigned in the cemetery, only occasionally broken by the quiet conversations of those gathered. Denis stood with a serious face, looking at Grandfather's grave. Sveta, holding his hand, felt his heart fill with sadness. She knew that for Denis, Grandfather Vasily was not just the man who had raised his future wife. He was a man who had become an example of courage and fortitude for him.
They approached a group of relatives and friends who had already gathered at the grave. Svetlana noticed how many of them exchanged memories of his wisdom, kindness, and how he always helped everyone in difficult times. She felt the warmth of these memories enveloping them, giving them strength in this difficult moment. When it was time to say goodbye, Svetlana, her voice trembling with emotion, spoke of how deeply and sincerely she loved Grandfather Vasily. Denis stood beside her, supporting her with his presence. After the ceremony, they stayed to chat with relatives and friends a little longer. Evening fell; there was no trace of the sunset in the sky. It was time to go home.
After Grandfather's funeral, life went on. Svetlana and Denis worked; day followed night, and everything seemed to be as before, except for the emptiness that had formed in Sveta's soul. But then, quite unexpectedly, a girl visited their home who turned out to be Denis's sister. She introduced herself as Lena and, with a broad smile on her face and a mysterious air, hurried into the house. Svetlana was extremely surprised by her arrival, simply because she had never heard that Denis had a sister. She looked at her husband as if searching his eyes for confirmation that this was indeed true. "How strange. Why have you never told me you have such a charming sister?" she asked her husband. "I don't know, there was just no need. We're adults, everyone lives their own life, right, Len?" he asked, smiling at his guest. Before them stood a bright, energetic personality, dressed in a long, dark green festive skirt that barely covered her legs. "Unfortunately, that's how it is," she said affectionately, looking at Denis like a sly fox. Svetlana didn't like her look, but she decided not to think about it, although she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Lena entered the house with the same broad smile, not noticing the sadness around, and hugged Denis. "How are you?" she said, but immediately realized something was wrong. Lena's gaze became more serious when she saw Grandfather's photographs on the table. Denis sighed and explained the situation. "We just buried Grandfather," his voice trembled with emotion, and Svetlana felt the tension in the room increase. "I didn't know, I would have come sooner if I had known," she said with sincere regret. Despite the sadness, the atmosphere began to change. Lena began to recall Grandfather with a smile. "Remember how he always told his war stories or how he laughed at his own jokes?" she suddenly began to tell funny moments from Grandfather Vasily's life, but then she fell silent, seeing in the eyes of those present that Lena didn't know Vasily; he was Svetlana's grandfather. "I think I'm mistaken," she replied, trying to keep her composure. "You probably confused him. Denis, did you also have a Grandfather Vasily in your family?" his wife asked. An awkward pause ensued, after which Denis began to improvise an answer. He said that it so happened that they had two grandfathers on their father's side, and that it was specifically the second Grandfather Vasily, he explained. "Now I understand," Svetlana replied. It was late; it was time to go to bed. "By the way, why did you come so late? Did something happen?" Denis asked. Elena stared at him in surprise, then looked at Svetlana, and only then seemed to come to her senses. "Yes, something happened in my family," she said, rolling her eyes, covering her face with her hands, and sitting down. Her green skirt spread apart in the area of the slit, revealing her tanned legs above her knees.
"Something serious?" Svetlana asked worriedly. She immediately felt sorry for the girl and even more awkward about her behavior, since she hadn't bothered to ask the guest about the reason for her late arrival. Maybe the girl really needed help. "Oh, Denis, it's just awful," she began. "I had a fight with my husband today. You know he's very jealous; it's unbearable. I can't take it anymore, and today we had such a terrible fight, it almost came to blows. Chairs were flying around the house, dishes were breaking. Oh, how awful it all is," she said. Then, suddenly rising, she pressed herself against Denis's chest. He stared at his wife, then slowly lowered his hands to Elena's back, trying to comfort her. "I don't know what to do. My hands are dropping; I feel so broken and weak. I really need your support right now," she said, burying her face in his shirt. "Yes, yes, of course, you can always count on us," Denis said. Looking at his wife, she remained silent; she completely agreed with her husband. The poor girl needed help. "We have one spare room; you can stay there for a while," Denis asked for support from his wife, who replied that there was nothing wrong with that and that she had just recently cleaned it. Elena, wiping away tears, said that she was very grateful to them both. "You can't imagine how much you've helped me," she said, then adjusted her long white hair and the collar of her blouse. "Come on, I'll show you," Svetlana said, walking down the hallway to the room. With excitement, she opened the door to the room she had prepared with thoughts of future children. The room was cozy, bright, with soft lighting and neat furniture. Svetlana hoped that at least her efforts would not be in vain, and Lena would feel at home. "This is your room now," she said with a smile, pointing to the neatly made bed with books. Lena now looked a little embarrassed, but soon her face lit up with joy when she realized that circumstances were on her side. She went to the window, looked at the night city. "It's so beautiful here. Thank you, Svet," she said, turning to Denis's wife. "I really appreciate you taking me in." Svetlana felt a certain pride in herself. Now, when Lena was going through a difficult period in her life, she wanted her to feel support and know that she was not alone in this world. "If you need anything, just let me know. I'm always here," Svetlana added, trying to create an atmosphere of trust. She herself was afraid to imagine what would happen if she and Denis had a quarrel to such an extent. Lena nodded, sat on the bed, looking around. She noticed several photographs on the table. "And this is you after the wedding. You are so cute and in love here," Lena said with enthusiasm. Svetlana smiled and began to talk excitedly and confusedly about that day—when she was brought the wrong dress and when Denis mixed up the cars when they went for a ride around the city. Then Svetlana asked Lena why they lost contact. "Yes, I know, it's my fault," she replied, returning the photograph to its place. "Actually, it's banal and stupid; I just lost my phone with all my contacts when I was in another city. Then one thing led to another, and almost three years have passed," Lena explained. Svetlana nodded, then they engaged in a short conversation. After both women felt more relaxed and comfortable, Svetlana wished her good night and went to her room. "I hope I won't bother you," Lena said at last. Svetlana smiled and hurried to get into bed. Today was too eventful a day; she definitely needed a good night's sleep. Denis was already in bed, half-covered with a blanket. He was curious about what they had talked about. Svetlana shared her impressions with him, but then she turned off the light, and the room plunged into darkness. The woman was so tired from today that, wrapped in a blanket, she immediately fell asleep. Denis sat up slightly on his elbow and quietly called his wife's name; she didn't answer, so she must have fallen asleep. Then he carefully threw off the blanket and quietly sat up in bed, then got up and left the room. He wanted to drink something or was so overtired that he couldn't sleep. But no, passing down the hallway, he opened the door to the room where his sister was sleeping and went inside.
"Hey, Len," he called her in a whisper. She immediately responded and sat up in bed. "Why did you come? Are you crazy?" Denis asked. "Well, I couldn't do it differently. I already said, I had a fight with my husband," she repeated. "Stop this nonsense," the man interrupted her. "Are you completely crazy? Did you do this on purpose?" he asked in a low voice. "But you know I love you," her sister said and, getting out of bed, pressed herself against Denis, wrapping her arms around his neck and pursing her lips as if to kiss him, but Denis turned away. "This is impossible," he said loudly enough. "Quiet, you'll wake your wife," Lena reminded him. "Let's not delay this. You should be gone in two days," Denis hissed. "I'll try," Lena replied with a sly smile, then jumped onto the bed and began to dance, raising her long T-shirt higher and higher. Her bare left shoulder made her so alluring and tempting that Denis, for a while, seemed to forget what he was talking to her about. Finally, the girl approached the edge of the bed and again wanted to kiss him. She almost succeeded, but at the last moment, Denis pushed her away and left the room with an irritated face. Elena broke into a smile and then laughed silently.
So Lena began to live with the new family. And she felt quite good—a separate cozy room, quiet, peace, surrounded by care and attention. Besides, there was a man who had a special interest in her. As already mentioned, Svetlana was happy to help Elena and support her during a difficult period in her life, so she wrote off the excessive communication with her husband to brotherly-sisterly intimacy. Lena quickly fit into their lives, helping around the house and even sometimes cooking something. She was always so sweet, even affectionate. Svetlana felt that a friendly bond had formed between them. But despite all this, Svetlana was still a little puzzled by the excessive openness and tactile contact between Elena and Denis—now she would hug Svetlana's husband casually, then stroke his arm. And if she was in a particularly good mood, she'd even sit on his lap. Svetlana was, mildly speaking, surprised, but each time she stopped herself and her thoughts on the matter, not wanting to get worked up about something unpleasant in her head. Nevertheless, Svetlana still noticed strange things. Lena often stayed alone with Denis, and although they talked about household matters, Svetlana couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was something more between them. This made her feel uneasy, especially when they were together, but she couldn't find the right words to express her doubts.
One day, when Svetlana came home earlier than usual, she found Lena and Denis talking in the kitchen. "It seemed like nothing, but they were laughing and exchanging glances," she said, trying to hide her emotions. Lena immediately changed her expression, approached Svetlana. "We were just discussing weekend plans," she said, almost blinding the hostess with her snow-white smile. Svetlana nodded, but inside her, discontent grew. She decided to talk to Denis about it in the evening when everyone was already asleep. "I need to talk to you," she began, trying to speak calmly. "Yes, if you want. About what?" he asked, putting his phone on the nightstand. "You haven't talked to your sister in so long. And now you're inseparable," she said. "That's true, but you said yourself that we hadn't seen each other for a long time, and that's normal," her husband replied casually. Svetlana fell silent. However, the memory of Elena holding her hand, gently stroking it, surfaced in her memory. "But I have the feeling that something is going on between you," Sveta said, sinking onto the bed. Her sad and worried gaze was directed to the floor. "Maybe it's nonsense, and I need to get it out of my head," but she fell silent. Denis frowned and looked at her in bewilderment. "What do you mean? My sister? She's helping us. She's very active, very open with me. But that's my sister; I don't think there's anything wrong with that," her husband explained. Svetlana sighed, feeling anxiety building inside her. "I understand, but I can't turn off this feeling. I just want to be sure that everything is okay." Denis took her hand and looked her in the eyes. "You know I love you and would never betray you. Lena really is just trying to be good and not burden us," her husband said. Svetlana really tried to calm down, but doubts continued to torment her. Nevertheless, she decided to agree with her husband and throw all unnecessary inventions out of her head.
The next day, when Svetlana went to work, Denis also went about his business. Before that, he wanted to go into the room but changed his mind at the last moment. But in the evening, when he got home before his wife, he decided to have a serious talk with his so-called sister. "You forgot what I asked you to do," Denis addressed her with a question. He was slightly angry with her for acting so self-willed. As always, she was charming. "Where did such severity come from? You're even more attractive this way," she ran her hand across his chest, then jumped back from him. Denis wanted to immediately stop this, or rather, the reckless behavior of this overly uninhibited woman, who was beyond control. He grabbed her by the elbow. "Lena, you were supposed to get an apartment three days ago," Denis said. "Why? You're right here," she replied, glancing at his lips. Damn, she was cheeky and, even worse, incredibly beautiful. Svetlana was also beautiful, but you have to know how to present your beauty. Elena was one of those women who had fully revealed her beauty, her femininity, and her artistry. Denis wanted to shake her and make her finally come to her senses and behave normally. In fact, he did just that; he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a couple of times. But this didn't affect Lena at all. She looked at him with large brown eyes that were like a magnet; her long eyelashes created a veil, making her gaze so languid and sweet. She slightly opened her mouth, and a spark flickered in her eyes. He didn't know how else to subdue this woman. In the next moment, he pressed his lips to hers—so hot, and her scent, emanating from her skin and hair, drove him mad. Denis squeezed the girl's shoulders even tighter, then pulled off her blouse. Elena was magnificent, just like the first time, four months ago, when he met her. Control completely left the man, as did his hands and mind. They surrendered to their feelings, firmly closing the door to their conscience.
Denis came out of the shower just as Svetlana was entering the house. She was happy to see him. Denis quickly touched her lips. Svetlana didn't pay much attention to it. She was hungry, and besides, her head was full of work. She loved her work and therefore often stayed late, explaining and showing how strokes should be applied, how much pressure should be exerted on the pencil. Her students simply adored her, and now she wanted to have a quick snack and make a small sketch. "You're back earlier than me today; you probably managed to cook something tasty," Sveta remarked hopefully. She undressed, completely forgetting that they were no longer alone in the house. She bumped into Lena in the hallway. Lena was in a short silk robe. "Hi," she said in a sweet voice. "Hi," Svetlana replied, holding her earrings and sweater in her hands. When Elena appeared before her in this way, she seemed to have an epiphany. After all, she had just seen her husband come out of the shower. And now here she was in a robe and with a smile that only appears after you've gotten something you really wanted. Svetlana examined Lena from head to toe; her mouth was open, as a mask of incomprehension and confusion froze on her face. "Something happened?" she asked her sister. "Oh, nothing, it's just…you're in such a state," Svetlana mumbled. "In what state? In a feminine, beautiful, tender state?" she listed possible options. Svetlana was taken aback, continuing to examine the girl. What was she allowing herself? "Okay, I'm going to rest; I'm kind of tired today," Lena said in a flowing voice and headed to her room. "What were you doing here?" Svetlana asked her husband when she returned to the kitchen. By this time, she had already changed, ready to have something to eat. "What?" Denis asked, pretending not to understand what his wife was asking. Svetlana looked at the stove; there was nothing there. She opened the refrigerator, took out her favorite chicken pie, which she had bought yesterday. For some reason, she no longer expected an answer from her husband; she guessed that he would now begin to invent another lie for her. Svetlana hid the disappointment on her face; otherwise, it would turn out that she was again nagging her husband like a jealous fool. "I only just got back from work; I ran around all day like a dog, covered in dust, and decided to take a shower right away," Denis replied. He looked at Svetlana and, of course, saw her offense. But he decided for himself that it would be better if he didn't focus on it. Dinner for everyone passed in a quiet, one might even say silent, atmosphere.
There was no desire to tell anything. Denis also tried not to open his mouth, only occasionally. Le, who seemed to be the only one, felt fine and perfectly alright. Denis was the first to leave the table, without finishing his sausage sandwich. Svetlana took a last sip of tea and also went to her room. Elena remained alone, lowered her eyes to the tabletop. Her lips stretched into a smile; she was pleased with herself.
And Svetlana, as planned, after dinner went to implement her idea. She took out a canvas and with a wide brush began to cover it with paint. Gradually, colored stripes filled the entire canvas. The woman took another shade of paint and with a smaller brush outlined a designation for herself. During this process, she relaxed, and her head was filled with thoughts far removed from worldly problems. Brushes and paints allowed her to detach from the everyday world and restore her strength, helping to bring her mood into order. For today, Svetlana finished the first part of her drawing, washed the brushes, and tidied her workspace before going to bed.
The next day, also after work, she decided to continue. She entered the room, approached the canvas, and froze in place. In the picture, she noticed new elements that she had not planned to add. In addition, the background had been changed, and something else had been done. Svetlana didn't find it difficult to guess who had done it. But why? She went to the kitchen where Elena was drinking her tea.
"Len, you. Why did you go into my workroom?" she asked a direct question.
"Oh, I completely forgot to tell you," Elena began to stammer, as usual, affecting an angelic voice. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled incessantly, saying, "The color, you understand? I know that you are engaged in painting and even work from home, but I have never seen it. I became terribly interested; I couldn't help myself," she said, again smiling somewhat foolishly.
"Well, I see," Svetlana said. "But why did you use other people's paints and brushes? And you even painted…"
"Sveta, forgive me, I'm guilty; I shouldn't have done this," Lena confessed, like a very honest person. "And you? Didn't you like it?"
"On the contrary, it seemed too intrusive, too bright, and besides, such trees don't exist in ordinary life."
"But you know…" Lena said.
Svetlana's indignation knew no bounds; she had encountered such audacity for the first time. Even small children don't allow themselves to show such boldness in relation to someone else's work. She didn't want to have a long argument with Elena; Elena deliberately wanted to get her worked up, but she wouldn't get that.
"Len, let's agree that from today you no longer go into my room."
"Okay," the hostess said.
"Of course, I understand you; this won't happen again," Lena answered like a schoolgirl.
Svetlana silently turned and went to her workroom. Of course, there was no mood to continue. The mood was ruined. Soon it became quite obvious that living in one house with a third person was not as simple as it had seemed to Svetlana in the beginning. Lena often interfered in their affairs; here and there she managed to give advice. In addition, she clearly violated boundaries – rearranging things, hiding Svetlana's favorite plates. There were times when she would say that Svetlana shouldn't wear this scarf because it made her look fat, or say that in those trousers she looked like a sack. Svetlana could endure everything, but when it came to her painting, she understood that this was already too much. Elena allowed herself too much. Svetlana began to feel very uncomfortable; it seemed to her that Lena was constantly evaluating her and their relationship. Denis, in turn, was in a difficult position. He loved his sister and wanted to support her. But he also valued Svetlana and didn't want her to feel uneasy; at least, that's how he always explained it to his wife. The situation was tense, and at the same time, she asked her husband to quickly resolve the issue with his sister. Denis tried to settle the conflicts, to ease the tension, to spend time together. But Denis could not leave his sister without attention.
One evening, after a particularly tense evening when Lena again made a remark about how Svetlana cooked, Svetlana finally couldn't take it anymore and openly expressed her feelings to Denis, saying that it couldn't go on like this.
"I want to state openly and say that Lena must leave our house," Svetlana said in a calm tone. Denis and Lena, putting down their spoons, looked at each other; a real storm seemed to be brewing. Elena wanted this more than anyone, but Svetlana continued to speak in an even voice. "Denis, you must help your sister solve this problem. Find an apartment, a room, a house for her; I don't know what you want to do, but in this apartment, I am the mistress, and I set the rules here. I want to come home and know that my things are in their places, that I can do what I like and dress as I want and not hear any remarks addressed to me. I hope everyone heard me and everyone understands."
Having said this, Svetlana left the kitchen. She was right; lately, she had felt especially isolated and undervalued in her own home. Denis understood that the situation had really gotten out of control and that something needed to be done.
"Well, brother, what are we going to do with the sister?" Lena playfully asked, a smile not leaving her face. It seemed that nothing bothered her; nothing could unsettle her.
"You're not my sister," Denis snapped.
"Oh well, that doesn't change the essence of the matter," she laughed. And Denis got so agitated that he took out a cigarette and lit it. Why was he so nervous? Of course, hiding a mistress in the house who pretends to be his sister is not an easy task. But still, if something doesn't suit you, just throw her out the door. But apparently, Denis had something else that he didn't want to reveal.
"Well, dear, will you find a little house for your sister?" Lena asked with a certain sarcasm. "Or maybe you'll rent an apartment next door, right opposite your windows, and I'll write wishes on my body every evening before bed?"
"You're such a fool," said the fake sister.
A noise was heard in the corridor, after which the door slammed. This was Svetlana, leaving for work. Elena and Denis were again alone. Denis had already had breakfast and went to his room to get dressed. More precisely, he was already wearing trousers and a shirt; he only needed to take his jacket and bag. He went into the room, took his watch from the bedside table, put it on, and fastened the clasp. He didn't hear Elena enter the room. She embraced Denis with both arms and threw him onto the bed.
"Lena, enough, what are you doing?" he began to protest, but the girl didn't want to listen to him. She began to kiss his neck, unbuttoning his shirt with her hands. He sincerely wanted this, but unfortunately, he only wanted it. Elena continued to take off his clothes, touching his skin with gentle fingers.
"Why are you resisting? You want this. I know you can't live without me. You don't need a wife or a family, but admit it already, finally."
And in her words was pure truth. Denis thought he was ready for a family, that he had settled down. He believed that he truly loved Svetlana, but he was wrong, like many of us. We get excited about the idea of love for a particular person, start dating them, then live with them, thinking that their feeling is sincere and truthful, but in reality, they have no idea what it is. Time passes, another person appears in his life who becomes like litmus paper showing the correct answer. And Elena just happened to be such an indicator. She was now pressing even harder against Denis, awakening strong and passionate feelings in him.
As one might guess, Lena was not his relative; she was indeed his mistress. Four months ago, she came to his work as an accountant. A spark flew between them, and a romance began. Lena wanted her lover to get rid of his wife as soon as possible, but he still couldn't decide. The mistress was distinguished by her inability to wait, her spontaneity, and unpredictability; she arranged surprises for her lover. Once, for example, she came to work and went straight to Denis's office, closed the door from the inside, and stared at him.
"Lena, is something urgent?" Denis asked, looking her up and down. The girl was standing in a long leather coat; her hair was loose, and her lips were covered with dark red lipstick. With one movement, she threw her coat on the floor. Denis almost went blind from what he saw; Elena was naked; not a single piece of fabric remained on her body.
"Lena, what are you doing? I have negotiations in a couple of minutes; get dressed immediately," said the department head, afraid even to move.
Elena, pleased with herself, stepped forward, straight towards him. "God, Lena," Denis tried to stop her, but it was already too late. Her lips touched his, kindling a fire in his blood. When she got what she wanted, she informed him that he had missed his negotiations. A knock came at the door; the secretary insistently said that everyone was waiting for Denis. In short, he had to apologize profusely for the delay. And in the same unexpected way, she showed up at their apartment, saying that she was Denis's sister and that she had nowhere to go. Sometimes cunning helps to achieve the desired goal. But will you really get what you want?
In the evening, Svetlana returned home with a letter. Her eyes looked at the envelope with the notary's seal; her heart beat faster. She knew that this might be connected with the inheritance that the social worker had warned her about after the death of her grandfather, Vasily. The news that she had inherited something from Vasily brought Svetlana mixed emotions: joy that her grandfather remembered her and sadness over the loss of a loved one. The letter stated that she was the sole heir to the savings that Vasily had made. Svetlana again recalled how often she had visited him, how they had walked together in the forest, talked about life. The amount of the inheritance, lying in a bank account, was far from small; somehow, Grandfather Vasily had managed to accumulate a fortune. Svetlana decided to consult a lawyer. At the meeting, the specialist explained to her all the nuances: what documents were needed to process the inheritance, what taxes she would have to pay, and what rights she had as an heir. The girl listened attentively, trying to remember. Returning home, Svetlana had the foolishness to tell her husband about it. He widened his eyes; not every day do you receive such news in monetary terms.
"And what do you intend to do with it?" her husband asked.
"I don't know yet; I think first, I need to think carefully before I start doing anything," Svetlana replied. "I would like to use it correctly, and if I invest somewhere, then in a way that I don't lose everything," she said.
"You're reasoning correctly," Denis answered. His sister overheard their conversation, and her eyes gleamed with a cunning light. Of course, she pretended that it didn't concern her, but she herself began to calculate different moves. Finding a suitable opportunity, she cautiously started a conversation with Denis. Sitting on the sofa in her room, she waited. Lena knew that this conversation with Denis would be difficult; she needed to make sure he didn't suspect anything, deciding that Lena, as always, was doing a good deed, helping them properly manage a large sum of money. Svetlana wasn't home; she had gone to a friend's house. Lately, it had become unbearable for her to be at home. Denis moved closer to Elena, sitting next to her. Lena was silent, as if waiting. She really was waiting for Denis to start the conversation with her first.
"I looked at some options for an apartment where I could live," she began to say, although in fact, she didn't need an apartment. More precisely, of course, like any adult, she wanted to live separately from her parents, but in any case, she had somewhere to go. Denis knew this perfectly well. "And I literally accidentally stumbled upon an advertisement. Look, there's such a lovely little house here. Just look! Such spacious rooms, large windows, and wide streets outside. And what a high, reliable fence," she said, opening an advertisement on her phone to Denis. "It would be great if we lived in it together, right?" she said in a gentle voice. This girl always knew when to turn into a cunning fox or a sweet kitten.
"Yeah, it wouldn't be bad," Denis answered lazily. He flipped through the photos; the little house really did appeal to him. Besides, the advertiser was asking for a ridiculously low price. "Can you imagine? If we suddenly had this amount of money, we could buy it and live happily ever after, in love and joy," she said, hugging Denis from behind and pressing her cheek to his shoulder.
"Yeah, that would be nice, but it's all dreams, my dear Lenochka. Have you packed your bags?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject. "We can't be so brazen; sooner or later, Svetlana will find out everything and throw us out."
As if she hadn't heard, she continued to fantasize aloud. "Just imagine, we wake up to the singing of birds; I made coffee for us; we're sitting in armchairs on the street, enjoying the beautiful view around us, the wonderful flowering plants… serenity, right? Great." She waited for confirmation of her words.
"Of course, that would be wonderful," Denis replied, kissing her shoulder, from which her sweater had slipped.
"So what are we waiting for? We can make it all happen!" she exclaimed.
"And how? I can't take such a sum of money from the company's reserve fund," Denis said.
"It won't be necessary," Lena answered with enthusiasm.
"And where will you get so much money then? They're asking for a small amount, but it's still a significant sum," Denis said.
"Forgive me, but I overheard that your little wife received an inheritance," Lena slyly and quietly asked.
"Yes, so what?" He didn't understand where his mistress was heading.
"That you could offer Svetlana a profitable investment in real estate. But you know yourself that the cost of real estate grows every year," Lena said. Her words made Denis think.
"You just explain to her that investing money in buying an apartment or house is always profitable, even much better than putting money in an account," she said.
"No, she won't agree," Denis replied.
"Why do you decide that right away? Talk to her. Carefully; don't pressure her; just steer the conversation so that she herself comes to this idea," Elena said. Denis looked at her, thinking that this little head contained a whole storehouse of useful ideas.
"You're right. Okay, I'll talk to her," Denis said.
Lena fell silent. The man wanted to go out into the corridor, but the girl suddenly stopped him.
"Wait, wait, let's do it casually," she said.
"Yes, I understand," her interlocutor replied.
Lena got up from the bed, went to him, and kissed him on the lips. "You're the best," she told him.
That same evening, Denis started a conversation with his wife; he asked her if she had found a way to use the money. Svetlana replied that she hadn't had time to think about it yet; the economic situation was unstable.
"Today we have one amount in the account, and tomorrow it's already another," he said.
"So what do you suggest?" his wife asked him.
"I'm not suggesting anything yet; I'm just wondering. Maybe you've had some thoughts?" he said. "Last year, a colleague at work bought an apartment for 10 million, renovated it, and is now going to sell it for 20," he said. "As you can see, you can make a good profit."
Svetlana thought. "I'll have to find some time to look at apartments or houses."
"I'm sure there will be suitable options," he said. And Svetlana decided that he had given quite sound advice and became interested in this topic. While Denis was waiting for Svetlana to start viewing suitable real estate, he was eager to acquire it as soon as possible, so that they could live separately together.
"I want to, but you know I'm married," Denis answered.
"Come on, and I thought who this woman was," she laughed.
"Len, I'm serious," Denis said.
"And I'm serious," she replied, raising her eyebrows and looking him in the eyes.
And then one day, the husband came home and happily announced to his wife that he had found a profitable investment of money; moreover… Svetlana looked at him in surprise; her face lit up with a smile.
"You won't believe it; I killed two birds with one stone," he said merrily. His wife had just finished washing the dishes, wiped her hands with a towel, and began to listen to her husband with even greater interest.
"And what is this place? I'm curious to know," Svetlana asked.
"Lena is moving out of here tomorrow," he said, turning the conversation in another direction.
"She found housing?" his wife asked.
"I tried and bought a house for my dear sister," Denis replied.
"Wow, a whole house! You're so great! And I thought she wanted to live in an apartment," his wife mused.
"We looked at apartments too, but she really liked one little house. By the way, I think I showed it to you too," Denis said in a still cheerful voice.
"I didn't know she earned so well," Svetlana said, and Denis looked at her intently.
"No, you misunderstood," he decided to explain. "I invested your inheritance in this house, in the house where Lena will live," his wife clarified.
"Of course," Denis confirmed.
"You spent all my money buying a house for your sister," Sveta asked again.
"What's the big deal? You yourself said that such a sum should be invested in something sensible," he began to get irritated.
"But why didn't you tell me anything about it?" Sveta asked him.
"Because I thought you'd be unhappy. You're always unhappy with what I do; everything doesn't suit you, and you always want more. You need to help your brothers and sisters, but you only think about yourself!" The husband exploded. Svetlana could hardly recognize her former Denis; she was shocked by his reaction. She went out to the kitchen, took a glass of water, and calmed down a little. However, in fact, he was glad that everything had worked out for him. Thinking a little more, Denis decided to apologize to Svetlana and somehow smooth over his sudden outburst of anger and impudence.
"Forgive me; I didn't say it right; today was just too stressful a day; a lot of things, documents, signatures. My head is spinning. Sorry I didn't hold back," he began to apologize.
Svetlana silently sat in her room; she aimlessly scrolled through the book. And Denis continued to explain himself. This option came completely unexpectedly; everything spun so fast, and the discount was good. So, without hesitation, he agreed to this deal. There were people who wanted to buy this house, so they were lucky that he managed to do it first.
"Denis, I understand that you invested my money in the house where your sister will live and will use it as she pleases," she said in an indifferent voice.
"But it's only for a short time; as soon as you decide that you need money, we'll immediately put the house up for sale, and you'll get your entire sum, and even more," her husband said. She understood that her husband was cunning and that he was clearly plotting something with her real estate. And Denis tried to assure her that she didn't need to worry about anything. He said that everything was under control and that she didn't need to react so violently.
"My dear love," Denis knelt down next to Svetlana. "Nothing terrible happened; I told you everything as it is, and besides, we helped a person who really needed it," her husband said. She didn't know what to answer; she turned on the chair to the window, put the book on her knees. Denis looked at her for a while, but not for long; soon he stood up again.
"Okay, you go about your business, and I need to help Lena move her things," Denis said and went to his sister's room to pack her bags. Svetlana remained in the room alone; she heard noise from the corridor. Then she decided to drink coffee with milk to calm down a little. She left the room and saw her husband with a huge vase in his hands. She asked where he was carrying it, and Denis replied that his sister had literally fallen in love with this vase and therefore had asked him to bring it to her new house.
"But this is our wedding gift," Svetlana objected. It was still dusty in the cupboard; no one had used it.
"When was the last time you put flowers in it?" Denis asked, confident in the correctness of his actions.
"Hm, interesting; when was the last time you gave me flowers?" his wife answered a question with a question. Their eyes met, and their gazes froze. Denis opened his mouth but didn't know what to answer. He had indeed forgotten when he last gave Svetlana roses, tulips, or even simple chrysanthemums. His wife was right; he had long since stopped paying attention to his woman.
"Darling, now is not the time or place to have these silly conversations," Denis said. His words further discouraged Svetlana; she smirked, believing that her husband had completely lost it. Although, inside, there was still hope that he would still deign to pay more attention. He was carrying a large purple vase. Svetlana rushed to the exit and grabbed the vase with her hands.
"Put it back; it's my vase!" she exclaimed.
"Calm down, what are you doing?" her husband asked. "Stop this hysteria; it's pointless," he said, continuing to pull the vase towards himself.
"Why are you taking my things to another woman?" Svetlana asked him.
"She's not another woman; she's my sister," Denis replied. "I repeat, don't make a scene," he said and forcefully pulled the vase towards himself, but Svetlana wasn't going to give up. She pressed against the glass object, wanting to hold it; her fingertips and nails turned white from the tension.
"You seem not to understand what you're doing. I'm starting to get really angry," his wife declared.
This time, her husband smirked. "And who is she?" he asked.
"Apparently, your mistress," Svetlana answered her own question. At that moment, Denis loosened his grip, and the vase ended up in Svetlana's hands. However, the weight of the glass object was much stronger than her grip; it slipped from her hands and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces with a loud sound. The husband and wife looked down; the shards of the wedding gift stared up at them. The fall of this vase could mean only one thing: Svetlana and Denis's family life had clearly cracked. The husband didn't even help her clean up the shards; he simply went out the door, and Svetlana knelt down to collect the glass, feeling a rush of heat to her face and tears in her eyes. She couldn't explain why it hurt so much, so unpleasant, because it seemed that her husband hadn't done anything, on the contrary, he wanted to help his sister, who was going through not the most pleasant times in her life, but something told her that this woman was not her husband's sister at all, and today she stated this directly to Denis. But he didn't find the courage, didn't want to, or something else, to deny it.
"It's all not true; I'm just winding myself up; I'm jealous for nothing," she said, thinking the opposite. Denis was too interested in the well-being of his alleged sister. Finally, the woman calmed down and, pulling herself together, cleaned up the corridor. There was no trace left of the broken vase; it had shattered into so many pieces that there was nothing left to do once everything was cleaned up. Svetlana brewed herself her favorite coffee, added some cream, and sat down at the table.
Just at the phase when it could be dangerous to those around him, he turned his back to her for a moment, covered his face with his hands, wishing it would all end soon. Finally, the elevator ascended; its doors opened. However, instead of getting in, Lena suddenly grabbed Denis around the neck, tightening a leather strap from her bag around his throat. Denis was stunned. At first, he thought she was just fooling around again; she was generally a lover of thrills. But then, when his breath began to run out, the man became seriously frightened. His face turned red; he couldn't even cough. The narrow strap dug into his skin. Denis deliberately fell to the floor, trying to fight this wild, crazy woman. Lena's bag opened, and various women's belongings spilled out. A miniature flashlight also fell out and rolled across the floor. Its light, like a ray, illuminated part of the floor. Denis turned onto his back, trying to pin this abnormal woman down with his body. It was unclear where she got her strength from. But she quickly got to her feet. She seemed to have calmed down, then lunged at Denis again, wanting to scratch his face. She took a step toward him, but slipped on something round. It was the flashlight; it disrupted Elena's balance and caused her to fall into the open elevator shaft. She didn't hurry to get up, and the elevator remained open. The man approached the edge and, with horror, discovered that the elevator was broken. Lena fell into the abyss, falling at least 8 meters. She died. Denis looked at the floor; the flashlight was still burning. It had just stopped rolling. He picked it up and couldn't believe that thanks to it, everything had ended like this.
In the hospital, Svetlana was quickly put back on her feet and warned to carefully watch what she ate from now on. Denis told her about the accident that happened to Lena, despite her indecent and impudent behavior. Svetlana felt sorry for the girl. Denis tried to atone for his guilt to his wife, but Svetlana found the strength to tell him that it would be best for both of them if they filed for divorce. Denis did not insist; he agreed. After their family broke up, he immersed himself in his work, and Svetlana moved into a house of her own. She now had serious work to do on herself and her personal boundaries.