43 Сhapter
Vladimir
Decided to stop by the house before the club. What do you mean, home, to my dacha. Lina and I had already moved there completely.
Vlad decided to leave first. Well, that’s fine. We’ll meet him at the club. I didn’t drink so much that I didn’t realize that Vlad was being flirtatious and still couldn’t admit he was in love.
***
Lina wasn’t home. She left. Decided to drive herself? She wasn’t answering her phone, and I was starting to dislike that.
“Vlad, where are you?” I decided to call a friend, see if he had talked to her and knew where Lena was.
“Still at home. Why?”
“That Lina’s not answering her phone. She’s not answering her phone.”
“I don’t know, your girlfriend, you must know where she is. Maybe she’s already gone to the club?”
“Can you call Masha?”
“Masha? What for?”
“Maybe she went to see her. And they’ll come together. I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“I had a little fight with Masha. I can send you her number. Give me a call.”
“Okay, thanks. I’m waiting for the number,” I thanked him and disconnected.
The number came just a few seconds later. I dialed it.
“I’m listening to you.”
“Mash, it’s Vladimir. Lena is not with you now?”
“No. She’s not here.”
“Well, where is she? Could she have gone to her parents or something with Kostik?”
“I don’t know. Well, what happened?”
“It’s corporate night. She’s nowhere to be found. She just vanished!”
“Maybe she went to the beauty salon and that’s why she’s not picking up the phone. She’s getting ready for the party. Didn’t it occur to you? How long have you been trying to reach her?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Vova, this is ridiculous. It’s nothing for girls. I’m sure that’s where she is. I recently recommended her a good one. So you’ll probably be in for a surprise. A reincarnated Lina”.
“Her words made me feel a little better. But only a little. ”
“Will you be there?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be welcome there. Vlad and I had a fight. He’s a bit strange. ”
“About what?”
“He’s angry. I don’t know what it was about, but he chased me away. I think something made him angry.”
“Do you think he’s communicating with Lіna?”
“What?”
“Is he talking to your friend?”
“No, he wasn’t in touch with her. He said he hated her. I don’t know why, but that’s what I heard him say.”
“Okay, all right. I’ll meet you at the club. I’ll text you the address. You can be my guest, since Vlad’s so touchy.”
“Thank you. But I’m not in the mood either.”
“Neither am I, but I want to lift it. And so do you. But it’s up to you. I’ll drop the address, it’s up to you to decide,” he added and turned off the phone.”
I hope that Masha is right and Lena really now went to clean up, and not decided to run away. Although things are in the closet and no signs of collecting a suitcase. Everything is in place. Okay, I’ll call you in a little while when I’m at the club.
But luckily, as soon as I get in the car my iPhone starts vibrating.
“You called. I was busy.”
“Lіna, where are you?”
“I will not tell. Vov, I have to report to you every step of my life?”
“I’m worried.”
“Everything’s fine with me. I’ll be at the party, don’t worry. But I need to fix myself up.”
“You’re already beautiful.”
” I understand. You want me to pick you up?”
“You’re not at the club?”
“No. So?”
“I’m not ready yet.”
” I’ll wait.”
“No, I’ll come by myself,” she says and hangs up.
You’re on your own. Soon you’ll have to take my opinion into account too, Lina Rostova!
***
Lina
At first I wanted to look beautiful and festive, to dress up so that Vlad would see me and wish he’d taken his chance.
Then I wanted to run away from the city altogether and never meet either one or the other again in my life. But in the end I opted for the third option – modest makeup and a warm pink sweatshirt with jeans. No dressy costumes, no tutus or scares. It’s not a masquerade, it’s just a New Year’s Eve party and a party.
Vova lied, I was not in any beauty salon. I went to my place, I had to water the flowers, clean up a bit, and think. My own walls are more familiar. And to think in your shelter is much easier.
Thought and thought, but it is too early to talk about it.
The club was noisy; it was a famous, expensive, and very posh place. I searched for information about it before I went. Everything was done under the entourage of the new year, the main thing is the Christmas tree, huge, on the half of the dance floor. The DJs and waiters were dressed as Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden.
I knew I was late. But neither Vlad, nor Vova, much less Mashka, called me. They were not waiting for me? But Masha certainly wasn’t. She did not come at all. My former bosses were dressed in black jackets and pants, and under each burgundy shirt.
“Oh, Lina,” Vova waved at me, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Vlad. He’s such a… Bastard!
Both of them are holding amber liquid in their hands and together they go in the direction of the table and leather sofas. Natasha is also here, as well as several other colleagues I did not know. I did not have time to get acquainted with all of them, because usually my work was done in Vova’s office, and then later and just a little bit in the office of my second boss. Who actually appointed a competition for the vacant analyst position.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
I come up. Vova immediately hugs and kisses me. I do not even have time to say hello to Vlad.
“Hi, Lina,” he squeezes out, and I purposely continue kissing Vova in front of him. I want him to get a kick out of it….
“Have you missed me yet?”
“Vova always misses you, Lina. He was worried that you were gone,” Vlad answers instead of his friend.
“Missed you. Damn! Who’s that again!” Vlad scolds when his phone starts to vibrate.
“Yes? I can’t hear very well! I’ll be right outside!” He waves his hand and walks away, but I still make my way ahead of Vlad to sit on the couch.
“Ready for the proposal?” He misses no opportunity to mock me, as he likes to do. Exactly in Vova’s absence.
“What about you?” I look at him defiantly and reach for the glass of champagne, already filled. There are several tables here and I understand that no one was going to sit at the common one. An appetizer, dessert, spirits, hookah. What more do you need to feel like a party?
“I’m always ready, Lina. Even now,” he sits down next to me, forcing me into the armrest of the couch.
I take a few sips to calm myself a little. His close proximity weighs on me.
“You can unzip my fly and stick your hand in to see for yourself.”
“You’re not normal! I sip my glass, I have no strength to be so close. It feels like my body is electrocuted when he touches my hand.”
“Yes. You know I’m leaving. That’s why I have nothing to lose! I want to fuck you before I go! I want you to ride my dick, and then, as you should do with an expensive whore, give it back to your master!”
What does he think he’s doing? I know exactly why he says and does it.
“And what about Masha? She won’t be able to go without you. Will you take her with you?” I remain unperturbed.
“Is that all that bothers you?”
Surprised? I can keep my emotions bottled up so they don’t hurt me more.
“There are a lot of things in this life that bother me and worry me. But certainly not your relationship with Masha or anyone else.”
Stop! He’s leaving! He’s leaving! For me after my tirade only now came the real meaning of the previous words! This is not a prank! This is the truth?!