Muse for the artist. Naty Daybs

is it better? Max always asked me to get better, but I love to take care of myself and I don’t want to be like that..

      It is obvious that our paths with Max parted completely and irrevocably. But the smell of his perfume still seemed to reign in the apartment. The whole sofa was impregnated with it. No, I can’t do this anymore. It is necessary to change the situation. Rita is right, I’m a complete fool. Enough to go out on Max. Most likely I will still sign the contract. Otherwise, I’ll just go crazy in this apartment. And even worse – I’ll go humiliate myself and ask him to return to me. Or start following him…

      After a hard day, my thoughts were confused and I realized that I should at least try to sleep. She turned on the TV, there was some kind of black and white film. After some time, I still fell asleep.

      Part 2

      The next day started off quite interesting.

      First, I saw a message on the phone from Mikhail. «Good morning and good day to my muse.»

      – I thought for a long time what to answer, but then I wrote.

      «And have a nice day, Mikhail. I ask you to call me by name if you hope to continue our communication.»

      The answer came in five minutes. «I beg your pardon, Yana, I didn’t mean to offend you. I like you very much.»

      I smiled a little, but it was nice.

      «It’s okay. I just prefer the name.»

      I got a smiley face again with a smile. And a message. «Yana, can I call you?»

      – Yes, I answered Mikhail. And then I heard the call.

      – Hello, Yana? What are you doing?

      – I’m going for a walk.

      Keep company?

      – No thanks. I like to walk alone in the morning. Helps to collect thoughts.

      – You approach the process thoroughly, right?

      – Yes I am trying.

      – Can’t you set aside an hour to go somewhere with me? In the cinema, for example, or in the theater? Or just have a coffee?

      – Sorry, I really can’t today. I have to be at work in a couple of hours.

      – Good. Tell me when can we meet?

      – On Tuesday after six I am free. In Mikhail, I want to say about your proposal.. If they give me a vacation, I agree. Only on one condition.

      – I am very glad, but what is the condition?

      – You won’t touch me with your finger without my consent, and more: there should be a window in my room and the room should not be higher than the first floor and be closed from the inside.

      – Are you afraid of me?

      – It’s just my terms. My parents just also have a room on the ground floor with windows to the courtyard. Habit.

      «These are reasonable security requirements, Yana. I understand. And to calm you down, I’ll tell you that you can invite guests, for example, a friend. But only once a week. I do not like strangers in the house when I work.

      – Yes, because it’s calmer. Can I come with her. She just read the contract yesterday and she convinced me to agree. I just don’t really like this kind of extreme. A close relative of Rita works in the police and if that…

      – Yes… You really approach everything thoroughly. But this is correct. And let your friend come with you for a couple of days. This will make you more comfortable.

      It is unlikely that it will be comfortable for me to live in the same house with a stranger.

      – Why then did you agree?

      – We’ve got rats in the entrance. The house committee called a special service, but they asked to wait two weeks. They have a queue of such applications there. And these creatures ignore mousetraps and even poison and constantly catch my eye.

      – Understand. Do not worry. Come with a friend, I’ll show you the house. You can go to the sauna or pool. I always have warm water there.

      – Do you have a sauna and a swimming pool in your house?

      – Yes, you need to somehow relieve stress after work. I write a lot to order, even abroad. Old connections help.

      – Clear. Oh well. Then on Tuesday at half past six in the cafe «Our yard». This is about my job.

      – Good. I hope you don’t change your mind until Tuesday.

      – I’ll try. Goodbye, Mikhail.

      – See you, Yana.

      I was partly true about rats. Once I saw a mouse in our entrance. True, that was a long time ago.

      On Tuesday I went to work in my burgundy pantsuit, which was complemented by a white blouse. She gathered her hair in a high ponytail and complemented her image of a business woman with a scent with spicy notes. All the same, in the evening I had an important meeting. All day I sat on pins and needles. I almost spoiled the report and kept looking at the clock. They also gave me a vacation. True, at their own expense.

      Colleagues at first whispered, and then Masha still asked where I was in such a hurry. I just said that I have an important meeting. And that one of these days I will take a vacation at my own expense and leave the city. I didn’t say anything about Mikhail to anyone. In principle, I do not like to lie. And I always tell the truth, but I didn’t want to tell anyone but Rita this truth. I needed it. This move for a while, a change of scenery. This is an adventure and extreme. Now I really needed it. And so, my ordeal ended and I exhaled deeply, leaving work. I felt that this decision would somehow change my life. Change finally and irrevocably. I was very scared, but my legs carried me towards the cafe.

      Mikhail was waiting for me at the entrance, as usual. And in his hands was another bouquet of five roses, only these were not pure white, but with a pink tint.

      – Do you always look that good?

      – Not really.

      – I do not trust you. You are beautiful, Yana. And this cafe is not for you.

      – I like it. Everything is simple and clear here.

      – Good. But a guest will join us. This is my notary. In case you want to sign a contract.

      – In case I change my mind, will you just let me go?

      – Yes. have you finished reading yet? You will still receive a third of the promised amount.

      – I read the contract. Just clarifying. But I don’t understand why?

      – Just. Consider it just an accident. Or imagine winning the lottery. Have you solved your vacation issue?

      – Yes. Things are good.

      – Well. Read the agreement again and sign if you agree. Evgeny Nikolae HIV will be here soon, he will assure everything as it should be.

      In about ten minutes a tall, thin man joined us. We discussed the details of the contract and I am a lawyer convinced me that the contract is very beneficial for me and I have nothing to worry about.

      I signed. In addition, Rita still punched Misha through the database. More precisely, it was her uncle who did it. Wright Mikhail Yurievich. Pure as water in holy springs. A friend finally convinced me to accept the artist’s proposals and asked me to introduce him.

      I wrote an application retroactively at work and tomorrow I am free and can move.

      The lawyer left, having done everything necessary.

      We agreed that I would move the next day after lunch.