Marina carefully folded the last shirt and stuffed it into Alexey\u2019s suitcase. After years of living together, packing for his business trip had become a quiet ritual she treasured, packing each item carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t forget your laptop charger,\u201d she reminded him as she zipped up the suitcase. Alexey looked at his watch, clearly nervous.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, honey. I have to go. The taxi\u2019s here.\u201d She kissed him quickly on the cheek, grabbed her suitcase, and hurried to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall me when you get there!\u201d Marina called. \u201cI will!\u201d he shouted as the door slammed shut.<\/p>\n
He walked to the window and watched the car drive away. His hasty goodbye seemed unusual; his goodbyes were usually slower, more affectionate.<\/p>\n
The rest, however, was important; he was probably just worried about the upcoming meeting.<\/p>\n
The apartment felt empty and cold at once. To distract herself, Marina decided to visit the Meridian Mall and finally buy some of the things she had been meaning to buy.<\/p>\n
A few hours later, she packed her bags and walked through the mall. She had planned to have lunch at her favorite cafe on the third floor, but then her phone rang: a colleague suggested they meet at the Almond restaurant on the second floor to try out their new menu.<\/p>\n
Marina agreed; the restaurant was right there, and she liked the atmosphere there even though she rarely visited.<\/p>\n
When she climbed to the second floor, she could see inside through the large windows of Almond. Then her feet seemed glued to the ground: Alexey was sitting at a table by the window. Across from him was a young woman Marina had never seen before. They approached, chatting animatedly.<\/p>\n
The woman smiled, lightly touching her hand, and in Alexey\u2019s eyes Marina saw an expression she had not seen for a long time.<\/p>\n
Time stopped. Her heart stopped, and her vision blurred. The man who was supposed to be on the flight to Novosibirsk was having lunch with another woman.<\/p>\n
Her first impulse was to rush in and demand answers. Something\u2014pride, maybe fear\u2014held her back. Taking a deep breath, Marina slowly turned and walked away.<\/p>\n
With trembling fingers, she canceled lunch with her colleagues and called her best friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cLena, can you see me? Right now,\u201d she said in a trembling voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Lena asked, alarmed.<\/p>\n
I just saw Alexey with a woman in a restaurant. He was supposed to be on the plane.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Meridian.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wait for me at the Aquarelle cafe on the first floor. I\u2019ll be there in fifteen minutes.<\/p>\n
Marina sat in a corner, absentmindedly stirring her iced tea. Questions rushed to her. Who was that woman? How long had this been going on? Had Alexey ever made these trips before? The midnight calls, the late nights, the new phone password\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThe little gate!\u201d Lena\u2019s voice interrupted her. She sat down opposite and squeezed her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina recounted the scene, trying to control her voice.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know what to do, Lena. Part of me doesn\u2019t even want to know the truth.<\/p>\n
What if it\u2019s not what I saw? Maybe there\u2019s an explanation.<\/p>\n
Marina smiled bitterly. \u201cDo you have any explanation for a man who\u2019s thinking about a business trip and having lunch with another woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Lena admitted. \u201cBut before you decide, maybe you should find out more?<\/p>\n
How? Ask him directly?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena thought, \u201cWhat if we follow them? See where they go.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was humiliating to follow her husband, but the uncertainty was even more painful. Marina nodded.<\/p>\n
They hid in the bookstore across from the restaurant, curious. Forty minutes later, Alexey and his companion appeared. The woman was an elegant brunette, about thirty, with a perfect figure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re leaving,\u201d Lena whispered.<\/p>\n
Keeping her distance, she followed her. Outside, the woman got into a taxi. Alexey helped her into the car, they exchanged a brief handshake, nothing more, and the taxi drove off. Alexey stayed in the parking lot, called someone, then took a taxi himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s follow him,\u201d Marina said.<\/p>\n
Their taxi followed Alexey to the Aquamarine Mall, where his company\u2019s office was. Inside, he had a tense conversation with the receptionist before disappearing into his boss\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe the trip was canceled at the last minute,\u201d Lena suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo who was that woman? And why didn\u2019t she call?\u201d<\/p>\n
They waited. Half an hour later, Alexey came out with a folder and went downstairs. Marina and Lena hid behind a pillar and ran to find a taxi.<\/p>\n
\u201cHome,\u201d Marina told the driver. He guessed right: Alexey\u2019s taxi had dropped him off at his building. Marina let Lena go and got in herself.<\/p>\n
Alexey was sitting in the kitchen, staring at his laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle Port! Are you home yet?\u201d She looked genuinely surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you can see,\u201d she said coldly. \u201cAren\u2019t you on a plane?\u201d<\/p>\n
He tensed. \u201cThe trip was canceled at the last minute. I meant to call, but things are crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo crazy that you can\u2019t even send a text message?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d He looked down. Marina sat down across from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is she, Alexey?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d He frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe woman you had lunch with at Almond.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paled. \u201cWere you following me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I just happened to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The silence stretched. Finally, she said, \u201cIt\u2019s not what you think.\u201d<\/p>\n
What was I supposed to think? He said he was flying, and he was having lunch with a woman!<\/p>\n
Her name was Anna Viktorovna. She represented German investors.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why you lied about the trip?\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t lie. The trip had been canceled while I was at the airport. My boss called: an investor was passing through town. I had to meet her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated. \u201cBecause\u2026 it wasn\u2019t a regular meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina fell silent. \u201cI knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s not like that! My boss told me: if I convince her to sign an agreement with special conditions, I\u2019ll be promoted to commercial director.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you can\u2019t even send a text message?\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to surprise him if it worked. If not, why bother him?<\/p>\n
\u201cDid it work?\u201d Marina asked.<\/p>\n
Alexey, annoyed. \u201cYes. She signed a preliminary agreement. The main delegation will arrive next month.\u201d<\/p>\n
She still doubted him. He opened the file: inside was the agreement, signed by Anna Viktoria M\u00fcller. Then he took out a velvet box; inside was a sapphire necklace that Marina had admired.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought it last week and was going to give it to you tonight, along with the news.\u201d<\/p>\n
His anger subsided, but one question remained: \u201cWhy do you seem so happy with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe agreed to our terms; it was a relief, nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n
He squeezed her hand. \u201cYou\u2019re the only woman in my life. My travels are real.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wanted to believe. \u201cCan I ask you a few questions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you eat?\u201d<\/p>\n
She ordered a homemade salad and a steak with truffle sauce. He ordered fish.<\/p>\n
What else did they talk about?<\/p>\n
\u201cRussian culture: she loves ballet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their answers flowed smoothly. The tension melted. They ordered pizza, opened some wine, and soon the evening returned to normal.<\/p>\n
While Alexey showered, Marina glanced at her phone: the password was still their wedding date. Nothing suspicious. The call from her boss earlier that morning was still there.<\/p>\n
Hearing Alexey humming his favorite song, she realized that perhaps the real problem was habit: they had stopped surprising each other.<\/p>\n
The next morning she woke up early, made breakfast, and kissed him awake.<\/p>\n
Only with fine illustrations<\/p>\n
I have a surprise. I took the day off today, and you should too.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat for?\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little business trip, just us, no phones.\u201d They handed her two train tickets to the rural resort where they had spent their first anniversary.<\/p>\n
He sounds radiant. \u201cI love you, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too, and I don\u2019t want to look at your phone anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you spied on me!\u201d he laughed. She threw a pillow at him, laughing too.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, she thought, you just have to trust, and sometimes you have to take the first step to rekindle the spark.<\/p>\n
A week later, Marina found a postcard from Cologne in the mailbox:<\/p>\n
Dear Marina, your husband spoke fondly of you during our meeting. The chocolate he chose for you is a specialty from our family factory. I hope you enjoy it.<\/p>\n
Sincerely, Anna M\u00fcller.<\/p>\n
Next to her was an elegant box of chocolates. She marinated loudly and set it aside until Alexey returned home. She had to pack a suitcase; the next day\u2019s trip was real, and she would help him again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Marina carefully folded the last shirt and stuffed it into Alexey\u2019s suitcase. After years of living together, packing for his business trip had become a quiet ritual she treasured, packing each item carefully. \u201cDon\u2019t forget your laptop charger,\u201d she reminded him as she zipped up the suitcase. Alexey looked at his watch, clearly nervous. \u201cThanks, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30549"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30550,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30549\/revisions\/30550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}