Having bought milk on the highway from his ex-cleaning lady who had been caught stealing, the office director did something incredible the very next day…
Sergey Vladimirovich had always been a man of action. That’s why, just a week and a half later, on one bright May day, leaving his manager in charge, he got behind the wheel of his SUV and set off, not exactly knowing what awaited him.
It is worth noting that the head of the company “New Thresholds” hadn’t taken the wheel merely for pleasure in a long time. Usually, his trips were related to business matters—transporting documents, meeting with clients, or resolving urgent issues. But this time was different. As soon as Sergey Vladimirovich hit the highway, a long-forgotten sense of freedom overcame him. The ease with which he drove and the absence of his usual hurry reminded him what it truly means to enjoy the journey.
He wasn’t in a rush. Deep down, he harbored a fear that upon reaching his destination, he would be disappointed with his plan. Thus, Sergey Vladimirovich drove unhurriedly, curiously observing the surroundings. Spring had fully taken hold: nature, having shed the drowsiness of March and the sluggishness of April, now roared with colors and scents.
The preparations for the trip had been spontaneous. Sergey Vladimirovich didn’t meticulously prepare for the journey – he simply tossed a couple of things into the trunk, bought a few cans of preserves and semi-prepared foods. He wasn’t sure his plan would succeed, so he didn’t want to waste time on unnecessary preparations. However, closer to the end of the route, with only a few kilometers left until the needed turn, he felt a strong hunger. And then, to his delight, he noticed a group of women on the roadside, sitting by carts laden with homemade food.
Sergey Vladimirovich had passed by such makeshift “markets” many times before, but had never stopped. He had always been skeptical of homemade food, preferring tried and true cafes or restaurants. But now, there was no alternative. Deciding to make an exception, he slowed down.
“Pirozhki! Chebureki! Homemade apples! Mushrooms!” voices rang out from all sides.
Sergey Vladimirovich did not rush his choice; he carefully examined the counters. Then his gaze fell upon one of the saleswomen, standing off to the side. She wasn’t shouting or beckoning customers; she simply looked at him with a strange, almost familiar expression. Next to her were old milk cans and empty jars.
Sergey looked up and froze. It was Maria, his former employee. She appeared simpler than he remembered her—scarf on her head, plain clothes, and a slightly more mature face. But it was definitely her.
Sergey Vladimirovich Veretnov, owner of the real estate agency “New Thresholds,” was a principled and honest man. He disliked lying or deceiving unnecessarily, preferring to speak plainly or remain silent when the situation demanded. For this, he was respected by his staff—a small but tight-knit team of three agents and a secretary.
The agency was located in an administrative building that housed dozens of similar offices. Despite its modest size, “New Thresholds” was spoken of with warmth. Sergey Vladimirovich always prioritized quality over quantity, and his motto “Less is more, but better” became the firm’s calling card. Thanks to this, the agency gained regular clients and earned a reputation that attracted new customers through word of mouth.
However, success also brought new challenges. The influx of clients grew so much that the existing staff could barely handle the workload. They had to hire new employees, expand office space, and even consider employing a permanent cleaner. Previously, cleaning had been handled by cleaning companies, but now that wasn’t enough.
It was at that point, on the recommendation of one of the clients, that Maria came to the agency—a young girl from a village who had come to the city to study and work part-time. Despite his prejudices against the youth, Sergey Vladimirovich decided to give her a chance.
He had always been skeptical of the new generation, believing that young people were incapable of serious deeds and preferred to live off their parents. His opinion was based on personal experience: he had grown accustomed to hard work from an early age, having gone through many trials before finding his place in life.
But in Maria he saw something special. She was hardworking, responsible, and, contrary to his expectations, quickly fit into the team. However, their paths had diverged, and now, after some time, they met in such an unexpected place.
Standing by the roadside, Sergey Vladimirovich looked at Maria, and memories flashed through his mind. He thought about how life sometimes brings surprises and how important it is not to judge people by first impressions. Perhaps this encounter would become a new lesson for him.
Despite a slight inner discomfort, as he spoke to Maria for the first time, he couldn’t help but think: “She looks young! Beautiful! But she seems a bit naive and simple—such girls are usually ‘chewed up’ by the city without pity. Well, I’ll take her, see how she handles it. And who knows, she might even get pregnant by some local guy. Although… who knows? Man proposes, and life disposes as it will. We shall see how it turns out. Besides, I’ve safeguarded myself—I contracted her on a civil law basis. So, if anything happens, I won’t have to worry about maternity benefits.”
Reassuring himself with these thoughts, Sergey Vladimirovich signed the necessary documents, stamped them, and politely reminded the new cleaner not to be late for work. To his surprise, Maria proved herself extremely responsible from day one. She arrived at the office precisely on schedule, greeted everyone warmly, and then quickly and efficiently completed her duties. After cleaning, she went off to her classes and in the evenings, if necessary, returned to tidy up the office after especially hectic days.
Over time, trust in Maria only grew. She was given a separate set of keys to the office so she could come in independently in the evenings to clean the premises. She was also included in the list of permanent employees, which was handed over monthly to the security agency. Maria was even shown how to set the office alarm. Initially, everything went smoothly: cameras captured the girl, turning on her favorite music on her phone, effortlessly handling the cleaning. Her movements showed that she had been accustomed to household chores since childhood and wasn’t afraid of heavy workloads.
Gradually, Sergey Vladimirovich began to interact with Maria more warmly. In turn, she, like the other employees, developed respect for her boss. However, this did not go unnoticed. The secretary Olga, although married and not harboring any special feelings for Sergey Vladimirovich, felt a twinge of jealousy. She was one of those people who were used to being the center of attention, especially among men. And now, as Maria began receiving more praise from the boss, Olga nursed a grudge.
Everything culminated in an unpleasant incident in the middle of the workweek. After one evening, a large sum of money—the deposit for the purchase of an apartment—disappeared from a small safe where money was kept before being sent to the bank. All the evidence seemed to point to Maria, who had been cleaning the office that very evening.
Continued in the comments👇
