Lena had always known the value of her apartment. Not in rubles, but in the meaning her late father put into it when he said, “Daughter, this is your fortress. As long as you have your own place, you don’t have to bow to anyone.” The two-room apartment on the fourth floor of a panel-built […]
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Marina stopped in the bedroom doorway, watching Roman hurriedly pack his things into a scuffed backpack. His movements were sharp, jittery—as if he were getting ready to flee. The zipper snapped shut with a metallic click, and he turned his back to the wardrobe. — Going somewhere? — She stepped into the room. — Rom? […]
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“The Boy on Fifth Avenue” The sun had only begun to nick the edges of Manhattan’s towers when Alejandro Vargas stepped out of his Fifth Avenue building. Madrid was a lifetime behind him now; here he was Alejandro-the-mogul—deals, press, a glassy S-Class idling at the curb. In an hour he’d be pitching a billion-dollar Miami […]
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Rain drummed against the café windows where Kira was waiting for Pavel. A year of dating is no small thing, and at last the guy had decided to introduce his girlfriend to his mother. Kira was nervous, adjusting the dark blue dress she’d bought especially for the occasion. She wanted to make a good impression. […]
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Marina was slowly wiping the glass surface of the dining table when she heard the familiar sound of keys in the lock. Ilya had come home from work earlier than usual. She straightened up, fixed her hair, and greeted her husband with a smile. “Hi, dear,” she said, approaching him. “How was your day?” “Fine,” […]
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Anna Sergeyevna always came to work fifteen minutes early. Not out of zeal or a desire to impress—just because it felt right. While other employees were hastily finishing their coffee in the hallway, she was already sorting the mail, preparing documents for signature, and checking the director’s meeting schedule. Her workstation—a small desk outside the […]
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Galina Petrovna heard the familiar sound of car doors closing and involuntarily tensed. Friday, half past six in the evening. Like clockwork. She didn’t even approach the window—she already knew what she would see: Nikolai’s blue Logan, from which his whole family was already climbing out, and behind it, Svetlana’s battered Lada with her brood […]
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The road home stretched out like an old film reel stuck in a projector—slowly, with crackling sounds, with the feeling that every kilometer demanded something new from her: trembling fingers, pain in her chest, tears she did not allow herself to shed. Svetlana was rushing along UDO Street—a street that led to the past, to […]
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Negotiations with the client ended an hour and a half earlier than expected. That sometimes happens—when people immediately understand each other, there’s no need to waste time on idle chatter. Irina stood in the middle of the parking lot, twirling her car keys in her hands. Where to go? It was too early to go […]
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— Ninochka, hello,” said the mother-in-law, entering the hallway. “How are you? How’s the renovation going?” “Almost done,” Nina replied, closing the door. The mother-in-law slowly walked around the apartment, peeking into every room, then sat down at the kitchen table. Nina noticed how carefully she was inspecting everything. “Is there any tea?” Valentina Petrovna […]
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