Лидия Антонова
The invitation is not for me/Приглашение не для меня
1 chapter
The powder compact desperately resisted and didn't want to open – either it was frozen, or my hands were simply shaking.
The ambiance was also not conducive to tranquility. In the restaurant, even the bathroom was luxurious, with golden fixtures and a chandelier that belonged in a ballroom, patterned marble, and all this splendor was reflected in a hundred mirrors!
Amidst the luxurious setting, I felt insecure. Perhaps all the women present are adorned in diamond and haute couture dresses, while I remain unformatted.
How much does it cost to dine at this place? You don't get invited to places like this for nothing. Has Alex finally made up his mind?!
An offer?!
But why spend so much money? We still have a wedding to play.
Defeating the unyielding powder compact, I pulled out my powder puff and powdered thoroughly, removing traces of slightly mascara, touching up my lips, and combing out the tangles in my hair hat.
I took the invitation with me too, it was nothing special – just the name of the restaurant, the time, and the signature "A". It was a very romantic message to me, though. I pulled it out of a bouquet of red roses.
After twirling in front of the mirror and making sure I was ready, I went out into the hall. Alex wasn't there for some reason. I had to ask the receptionist. Probably stuck in traffic. "It's okay, he'll be here now. I'll wait, just sit at the table, I won't even order anything. Except for a coffee," I decided.
“Are you Marina?” asked the girl who looked like she was about to appear on the cover of Italian VOGUE.
"Yes," I said, a little surprised.
"I'll walk you out."
I followed her to the far corner, which was enclosed by a small lattice screen. Only the place was already occupied. A man in a dark suit and gray turtleneck sat at the table.
"There must be some mistake," I muttered as I saw the receptionist
leaving.
"There's no mistake. You didn't receive any flowers from me?" His voice was deep and velvety. But that was the last thing I was interested in at the moment.
“Are you saying you sent the flowers?” I snorted, intending to turn around and follow the
receptionist.
“I did. Please, sit down. Alex will be right with you. Literally from minute to minute.”
I froze. The news that my Alex was about to show up pleased me. But the tone of his voice was alert. Perhaps Alex had asked a friend to meet me, and he just didn't like me. Alex is a promising manager, and I'm just a simple teacher of Russian language and literature.
I sat down, put my bag on my knees, and smiled at him faintly. He looked at me like a mongrel puppy – cute and clumsy roly-poly toy, but not to my liking.
"What do you all see in him?" he asked lazily.
"I beg your pardon?
What do you want to order?" he asked, gesturing to the waiter.
"Coffee, black, no sugar," I said, not wanting to eat without my fiance.
"That's it?" The "friend" was surprised.
I nodded in concentration and looked out, hoping to see my lover.
“Sit tight. I didn't pick this table by accident. It's gonna be a surprise. It's gonna change your whole life”
He smirked and downed the "poison" with the amber liquid. I realized that there would be no continuation or explanations. Not knowing where to put my hands, I looked at my phone, made sure there were no messages or calls, and tucked it back into my bag. The coffee saved the day a little. Now I could drink it in small sips and pretend that it was a very interesting thing to do. The main thing was not to look at my neighbor.
”Oh! Here we go! “ He grinned and finished the contents of his glass in one gulp.
I perked up and wanted to get up, but he grabbed my arm roughly and sat me back down.I was speechless with amazement.
"You'd better watch it," he advised as if nothing had happened.
Alex didn't appear alone, a girl came along with him. The blonde threw back her hair and gave Alex a charming smile. My insides boiled, and I even prepared to say something sarcastic to them, but they suddenly passed by and sat down at another table.
I watched with growing indignation as Alex pushed back her chair, caught her hand, and kissed her wrist. Then they sat down, and their fingers intertwined. The epiphany came suddenly: I was witnessing cheating! I was invited here to witness treason! So it had been going on for a while. And I, the fool, was sitting, waiting, frying cutlets!
Suddenly I realized that I was looking at myself from the outside, and I wasn't moving or even blinking. "A," whose name I still didn't know, looked at me with increasing surprise. He had expected anything but a "frozen statue" reaction.
At the next table, however, the date went on as usual. The couple ordered, chatted vivaciously, and even kissed, leaning over the table.
I jumped up and flew over to them, snatching the cocktail from the blonde's hands and pouring it over Alex's head. My ex-boyfriend (my ex-boyfriend for a minute already!) was so surprised to see me that he didn't even flinch! He just looked at me with round eyes of surprise.
"What are you…? How…?" he muttered.
And then I realized: the restaurant was not for the middle class, not even for the slightly upper class. By dating her and living with me, he was risking nothing. We couldn't even cross paths by chance,only with the help of a staged meeting.
"Baby, who's that?" the blonde asked a little stiffly.
"Baby?!" I laughed.
"Really, explain to me who it is?"
“Just an acquaintance… “ he mumbled confusedly.
“Who "just an acquaintance"? Me or her?” I asked
sneering.
“Let's talk calmly. You've got it all wrong.”
I laughed, the phrase clichéd and hackneyed. I was suddenly disgusted, wanting to cry, but I couldn't let him see my tears. It's okay, I'll be patient; they didn't train me at the school's councils for nothing!
As I rushed to the exit, I remembered my bag. I had to make a detour and come back.
“ And what, you won't even take the keys to the apartment? “ The "well-wisher" asked lazily.
The phrase shifted my thoughts again. I rushed back and grabbed Alex by the hem of his jacket.
“Give me the keys! This is my apartment! My grandmother gave it to me! “
“Young lady, what are you doing?! “ The blonde was outraged.
“I'm taking what's mine!” answered her and took out a bundle from the inner pocket of his jacket.
“Marina, what are you doing?! Calm down!”
“Ha!” I snorted and, unhooking the apartment keys from the rest of the bundle, threw it on the table. The glass they hit shattered and the plate burst.
“Get out of my apartment and live wherever you want!” I said the most terrifying phrase for a non-Moscow resident.
Turning around, she ran her gaze over to A. The man mimed a round of applause. He had gotten the gig he had hoped for and he was happy. Bastard! Flying up to him, I pulled a thousand rubles out of my bag and threw it on the table.
"It's for coffee," I informed him.
Now we can go out! Under the attentive gazes of the audience! I took my coat from the closet, found a corner and finally burst into tears! Tears were already running down my cheeks, but I managed to hold back the sobs.
***
I ran out of the restaurant, rounded the corner where the parking lot was, and dashed towards the lot. The car that backed up didn't hit me hard; I was more scared and hurt when I hit the asphalt. But that was the last straw! I burst into tears, hiding my face in my palms, sitting on the ground almost under the huge car.
“Are you crazy?!” The driver jumped out of the car.
“Get up! It's a good thing I slowed down in time.”
Hearing a very familiar voice, I looked up and was convinced that the world had decided to run into me today
“You?!” I sobbed and got up, only to fall back down again. A sharp pain shot through my leg.
“Shit!" he said and looked around. He bent down and picked me up in his arms.
"I guess I don't have to ask if you can walk.”
“Let go of me!" I demanded.
"I'd leave you here, but there are cameras," he said.
I was so stunned by his confession that I let him put me in the passenger seat. When he got behind the wheel, he started so quickly that I almost hit the dashboard.
“Did you decide to finish me off?” I asked.
“I decided to take you to the doctor. He's a friend of mine and will examine you. Appreciate my kindness.”
“Kindness?! You ruined my life!”
“Me?! I opened your eyes. You wanted to waste another six months on that man?”
“Why six months?” I was confused.
Usually they talk about a few years, but here is the exact timeframe!
"Alex" and Diana were getting married in six months. I don't think he would have left the apartment before then. You'd have ironed his wedding suit, too!” He laughed.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. He was right: he probably would be!
“No!" I muttered.
"Don't worry, there won't be a wedding now. Diana wouldn't survive a public scandal. When I left, she was already running toward the exit. She'll probably go back to London and continue her studies.”
He was so pleased with himself that he glowed like a light bulb. He's ruined my life and he's happy!
"You… " You…
I couldn't get anything else out of myself. Instead of words, I took action and hit him several times. The car swerved, the driver swore, and managed to straighten himself out.
“Do you want us to crash?” he asked angrily.
“Let me out!” I demanded, trying to fumble for the handle. Tears filled my eyes, and I couldn't see anything.
“I won't! You'll jump out into the road and get hit, and I'll be a murderer, albeit indirectly. I'm saving my karma.”
“What?!” I'm so shocked by his revelation. Even my tears dried.
"We're here," he said.
"Where to?" I didn't understand.
We stopped in an underground parking lot, and I didn't know which building it belonged to. Somehow I missed this moment!
When he got out of the car, he opened the door and helped me out. I immediately pushed his hand away and stood up on both feet, yelped, and almost fell. He grabbed me in time and threw me onto his shoulder.
“Let me go!” I demanded.
“I won't!” he retorted.
I tried to break free, kicking my legs and pounding him on the back with my fists. I was ignored in the most insolent and gesturing way.
***
“Take off your shoes!” He said, throwing me down on the couch.
He had a couch in the hallway! And the room itself wasn't much smaller than my bedroom! "A" went into the room and, talking to someone, came back out. With the words "hurry up," addressed to the person on the phone, he handed me a half-filled glass.
“Hera will be here now; true, he is a plastic surgeon, but I'm sure he'll be able to fix your leg. You drink, it's whiskey. Go on, chug it! It's good for calming the nerves.”
I basically agreed, I read that it helps, but I haven't tried it myself. I exhaled and drank all the contents, as advised, in one gulp. The whiskey collapsed into my stomach, and a warm wave traveled through my body. I felt dizzy. He kept saying something, but I couldn't make sense of it, as if I was in a cotton cocoon. I heard everything, but for some reason I couldn't react.
“Andrew, where are you injured?” came from the entrance.
"So that's his name," I thought distantly.
“Yes, here, sitting. Eyes in a bunch. Hey!”
He waved his hand in front of my nose. Somehow I didn't care. Another man appeared in front of me, and he looked into my eyes, looked at my hands, and turned to Andrew:
"What did you do to her?"
He held up a whiskey glass. The doctor rolled his eyes and sighed.
"You better be careful. I don't want alcohol intoxication, with her chicken weight. I don't recognize you, first you hit a girl with your car, and then poison her.”
I agreed with him, but I couldn't answer. An attempted nod resulted in me falling on my side.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" exclaimed the doctor, catching me. "Let's take her to the room."
Andrew unbuttoned my coat and, while his friend held me, took it off. Then he threw off my boots and picked me up in his arms and carried me somewhere. I couldn't fight his self-rule; all my strength was thrown into keeping awake.
I was consciously aware that my injured leg was being felt.
“Here needed bandages and ointment, and also take off stockings. I'll get what you need.”
The offer of one of the men to take something off made me come to my senses a little. I tried to crawl away from him, but it didn't work: his hand slowly crept upward, tugging at the hem. I gathered my will into a fist and pushed him away.
" That's what we're reacting to! " Andrew snorted. " I've never been able to take off stockings…
***
When I woke up, for the first time I couldn't figure out what had woken me up, or rather, which of my feelings was the primary one. My leg hurt, and the best thing to do would have been to take a painkiller. I was also thirsty and needed to use the bathroom. As I stood up, I realized something was wrong. There should have been a wall next to the couch, leading to the door even in the dark. And why hadn't I turned on the nightlight?
Limping, I walked across the room and tripped over to the curtains. It turned out that their thickness plunged the room into complete darkness. Outside the window was not an ordinary courtyard at all, but all of Moscow in the palm of my hand! I instantly realized that all the horror was not a dream, but a reality!
Forgetting all my desires, I headed towards the exit. I wondered where I had lost my bag. There should have been a cell phone in it. Maybe Alex called. I didn't want to talk to him, but it would be nice to look at the "missed" one: after all, it's not easy to fall out of love with a person and forget him.
“Awake?”
Andrew met me immediately as I left the room. He was wearing casual pants and a T-shirt and looked great. But can only imagine how I looked!
“Can I use the restroom?” I asked cautiously.
"And calmed down at the same time. Sure, come on in."
"Where's my bag?" I ventured to ask.
Andrew looked around in confusion, obviously trying to remember if he'd seen it. I exhaled dolefully and went into the bathroom. Today isn't my day: I lost my boyfriend, lost my bag, and in it, by the way, my documents! I can envision the challenge now! I'll have to run to the police, pay a fine, sign up at the MFC and manage to get there. And also SNILS, policy, travel card, cards! The telephone is gone too! And to top it all off, I looked like an avant-garde painting! Mascara managed to smudge, and in some places even mixed with lipstick.
I washed my face, took off the other stocking and threw it in the trash. The best thing for me to do now was to go home. But how? The money's in my bag, but it's nowhere to be found. There was some change in my coat pocket, though. It should be enough for the subway. If only it worked! I need to ask the landlord the address of his apartment and how far it is from the subway. Having made up my mind, I went to look for him. Or rather, to the sounds.
I found Andrew in the kitchen. Listening to a muffled jazz tune, he was cutting something.
"What time is it?" I asked him.
"Two in the morning," he answered, pointing behind me.
I turned around and saw the clock on the wall. I sat down on a high chair, right in front of Andrew.
"You're prettier without makeup," he said.
"Yeah, I saw myself in the mirror before I washed my face."
“I saw you before the smeared makeup. Sorry, but I couldn't find your bag.”
Compliment, though! That's very supportive!
“I want to go home. I just don't know the address.”
I was going to say I'd call a cab, but then I remembered my phone. Although there's some change in my coat pocket, it should be enough for the subway.
"Stay until morning, I'll drive you myself."
"I can't now, I've had a few drinks and I can't drive."
"Can I stay until morning?" I sneered.
"You can stay until the next night," I was graciously allowed.
I hummed, showing my attitude towards what was happening.
Diana broke off the engagement. Her father is my father's partner. I was asked to rid the girl of an alfonso…" At this point I burst out, clenching my fists in anger, and he continued, ignoring my indignation: "Before that, Alex was courting the chief accountant. She is a prominent woman, but more than ten years older than him.
"I'm glad you're happy with what happened," I said.
"Don't be angry, just think how fortunate everything turned out for you. Eat."
Andrew put a plate of meat, cheese, and vegetables in front of me and added a glass of wine to it. I looked at him suspiciously: what else he had mixed in....
“Drink calmly. With whiskey, it really turned out stupid. Hera told me that you already have nervous stress, and here you have a whiskey. Now you’ve slept, calmed down a little, but it’s still better to eat first.”
Almost without taste, I ate a couple of slices of meat and a tomato. It was strange: Andrew and I were seeing each other for the first time, and he didn't mind me staying the night.
"I'd better sleep a little longer," I decided.
I didn't really want to sleep, but my leg was aching. I decided it would be better if I lay down and distracted myself, hoping to find a book or magazine in the room. Judging by the bandage, I had a sprain, but it would take a couple of days.
"I'll help," Andrew decided. – "Don't argue. If you don't feel sorry for yourself today, tomorrow you won't be able to walk at all."
He was right, and I let myself be picked up in his arms. The room was also dark. I didn't know where to turn on the light, and Andrew just hadn't seen fit to do so. Darkness, a bedroom, and a man – the combination made me a little uncomfortable, and I hastily tried to move away from him, leaning on my sore leg. I staggered; Andrew picked me up and pulled me against him. His breath traveled down my neck, and my legs weakened for another reason.
The lock on my dress moved, and a trail of light kisses traveled down my back. The dress fell to my feet, followed by my bra. Principles and moral attitudes also scattered to the corners of my consciousness and lurked so that I couldn't find them. The world shook, changing our position in space. The weight of a man's body added to the kisses. He pulled me under his thighs and pulled me to him, pressing me against his groin.
Consciousness made one last attempt to stop it. To order the barely familiar man to stop. But the first push put an end to extraneous thoughts. His hands, his lips seemed to have time everywhere, the movements becoming sharper, faster, more passionate. All that was left to do was claw at the sheet, scream, and then try to breathe.
Reality ceased to be clear, lost color, feeling, and contours, and even blacked out for a while.
While I was trying to catch my breath, get my thoughts in order, and not burn with shame, Andrew kissed my shoulder, got up, and walked out. Wrapping myself in the blanket, I jumped up. For some reason, I couldn't find any of my things, not even my dress. I couldn't run out of the apartment in a blanket!
"A shower will do us good," Andrew informed me.
I shuddered and tried to hold onto the blanket that was crawling away. Andrew was slowly but surely getting rid of it. It was too late to say anything about shame, and even more so to educate him about the fact that we didn't know each other very well.
"What shower? I have a bandage," I mumbled
From the context, I realized that Andrew was planning to shower together. I was right. Scooping me up in his arms, he carried me into the bathroom and sat me down on the pouf, then, unwrapping the bandage, imprinted a few kisses on my knees.
"Looks like this isn't going to be just a shower," I realized.
"What are you doing?
It was the stupidest question I could think of, but I asked it anyway. I wanted some way to show that I wasn't a willful puppet. But the result wasn't very good.
“What am I doing? Oh, what I'm doing today, and what I'll be doing tomorrow...."
That sounded promising. I was confused. He pulled me to him and kissed me. The thought, "What am I doing?!" flashed at the edge of my consciousness, but I quickly pushed it away. Myself. Could I ever lose my head for once in my life? Finally putting all doubts aside, I responded to the kiss. Andrew pulled me off the floor and stepped under the jets of water. I shrieked in surprise and instinctively wrapped my legs around his hips.
“Good girl," he murmured.
I snorted and kissed him myself, wrapping my arms around his neck. The water was warm, but it felt icy against his skin.
"We were going to take a shower, weren't we?" I asked.
I wriggled out of his arms and grabbed a washcloth and shower gel. I needed to cool down a little. Every time he touched my skin, it seemed to burn. Andrew took the washcloth, ran it over my back and chest, and thinking the washing was over, threw it on the floor. He picked me up and pushed my back against the wall.
"We're going to fall here," I whispered.
Andrew grinned and pushed forward. I exhaled and arched my back in surprise, clutching at his shoulders. The world split into before and after. Finally, lost, I bit his shoulder. Andrew growled, and his movements became stronger and sharper. I dug even harder into the skin on his back, leaving deep nail marks. Andrew exhaled and bit my earlobe.
We didn't fall to the floor after all. Andrew slowly sank to his knees, letting me go.
" Well, now we're washed! " I said.
Andrew laughed and pecked me on the temple. I moved sluggishly, my strength gone. I hope he's taking me to bed.
