Intertwined Fates. Ariana Bazhenova

performed well today! Finally, it’s all over, I’m so tired, – he leaned back in his chair and looked at me again inquiringly.

      – Yes, you and I are great! – I smiled softly and encouragingly.

      They brought us beer poured into tall glasses, and we clinked glasses.

      – So, how did they offer you the new position?

      – Oh, it’s not a very pretty story… But I’ll share it with you. It’s all intrigue.

      – I really don’t like these tricky games, – he nodded his head. – What’s the problem with calling an employee right away and telling them why they’re not happy with their job? I’ve noticed in our company that no one will tell you directly – they’ll take a roundabout approach until they fire the person.

      Purity of intentions and soul, honesty, rejection of intrigue. That’s exactly how he seemed to me now, and I was drawn to him. I smiled warmly and took a sip of beer. That’s exactly what I valued in people, especially in men, because I was the same. Alas, there’s a lot of dirt and lies in the world… But how did it happen that Leo and I, both so honest and pure, found ourselves in such a sticky situation, having dinner in a restaurant in secret from everyone? I again involuntarily glanced at his ring, which he continued to restlessly twist on his finger, and looked away.

      «If he was against getting closer to me, he wouldn’t have invited me to a café after the training,» I thought.

      – Once, Eva Schwein called me and said that she wanted to offer me this position because, in her opinion, the person occupying it could not cope with his responsibilities alone. Did I have a choice then? Could I tell her to her face that she was wrong and that she should not act like that? She is a top manager, and she knows better how to deal with employees, – I bowed my head. – And honestly, I really wanted a promotion, and at that moment it was not that I could not refuse – I did not want to.

      Having expressed this thought, I was at a loss. I had not yet had time to think about this situation, and only now did it dawn on me – I was not as honest as I considered myself.

      – An unpleasant story, – he said slowly. – Now you will have to live with it.

      – I know, – I snapped and took a sharp sip.

      I had a premonition that we both would have a lot to live with, burying burning questions and memories inside. The restaurant hall plunged into darkness. The waiter came up to us and with a slight movement of his hand placed a burning candle on the table between us. I looked up at Leo’s face, illuminated by the dancing reflections of the fire, the reflection of the tongue on the tip of the wick dancing in his expressive dark eyes. He looked straight at me, also bathed in fiery light, and in his gaze an expression of… recognition clearly appeared?

      What did he remember? Who did he recognize? What strings did this image touch in his soul? – Petersburg… Just think. A year ago, I was going to study in the Czech Republic – I studied the language for two years, saved money. But then something incomprehensible suddenly started happening in the world, and going abroad became unsafe.

      – The Czech Republic. The beer in Prague is good, – he said dreamily in a quiet voice, resurrecting the events of the past days. – We went there once… With my wife, – he added after a brief hesitation, and again unconsciously began to twist the ring on his finger, as if trying to take it off.

      I nodded with understanding, looking away so as not to show my pain.

      – It must be very beautiful there. I dreamed of seeing Prague with my own eyes, I wanted to live in Brno. Now the borders are closed, there is no way to get in… It’s a nice city. Kafka lived there, I wanted to soak up the atmosphere in which he created.

      – Kafka? He is my favorite writer! And also Lovecraft, – Leo exclaimed in surprise.

      I looked him in the eye and smiled broadly. Just think, the second time that day an intellectual conversation with Leo, and it turns out that we have similar tastes not only in philosophy, but also in literature.

      «How can I not fall in love with him?», I thought with a mischievous gleam in my eyes, looking at his face in the golden glow of the candle. Just like in that dream the day before. I hope I don’t lose myself in this dubious story…

      – Really? I read them all in school! Only they are a bit gloomy, I’m surprised that you like them. I thought you were so positive.

      – I liked to tickle my nerves, and there is something to think about, especially in Kafka.

      «You like gloomy things. That means you will like talking to me,» I thought ironically. I was drawn to my opposites – cheerful, easy-going people, but I couldn’t imagine it working the other way around – that someone would be drawn to someone as serious and calm as me. Today our conversation flowed freely, we discussed various little things as if our dialogue had begun a long time ago and was just being resumed today.

      «I can’t believe it. I’m actually sitting with Leo in a restaurant, we’re drinking and chatting one-on-one. Just recently, I couldn’t even imagine such a thing,» I glanced at him again, trying not to think about the fact that later he would go home to his wife. Now there were only us, and the rest of the world froze. He smiled slyly and brought his hand to the candle flame.

      «What are you doing? Do you like playing with fire?» I winked.

      «I wonder what he’s thinking now, how he perceives our evening?»

      Leo took his hand away and I brought mine up, but immediately pulled it back when the hot air licked my palm.

      «You have to play with fire carefully. Like me,» he smiled back at me.

      We chatted a little more and got ready to go back. Out of habit, I was going to split the bill, but he confidently brought the card to the terminal, left a generous tip and headed to the cloakroom. This surprised me in a pleasant way, because I had hardly been treated to anything in restaurants before.

      We went down to the metro.

      «Would you like me to show you the secret of Petrogradka?» his eyes sparkled cheerfully.

      He led me to gate 9 – ¾ was cut out near the number. The same platform from Harry Potter.

      «They say they tried to paint over it many times, but it didn’t work. You can take a running jump, I’ll make sure, – he looked through the gap between the gate doors to check if the train was coming, then looked at me and laughed.

      Entering the arriving carriage, we stood very close to each other. The day was drawing to an end, and so were our strengths.

      – Now at home I’ll be washing off my makeup for five thousand, – I said casually, looking at Leo and me’s reflection in the carriage door.

      – Five thousand? Five thousand! For what? For a fleeting pleasure? – He widened his eyes in shock.

      – I think it was worth it. It’s just a moment, one day, but I will remember it, it will warm my soul for a very long time, – I shrugged and turned a sly look at him. – So what if it’s expensive? It turned out well, right?

      He just chuckled sheepishly in response. «It’s hard for him to compliment, I know,» I thought humbly. The darkness of the tunnel in the windows gave way to light and a long row of white columns – we had entered the station. I looked up:

      – Here is my station. Well, bye…

      I didn’t finish. Leo suddenly leaned over and hugged me. My heart jumped, goosebumps ran through my body.

      – We’ll