Chapter 3: A New Meeting

Part 3.1

The rest of Sunday evening and the entire following day were spent in constant thoughts about Irina. While my subordinates were reading their reports to me, the blonde’s ass clad in black panties kept spinning before my eyes. It took immense effort to wrench my mind away for just five minutes at a time to hand out instructions to my staff, only to plunge right back into those delusions even deeper.

At one point, I realized the clock already showed four in the afternoon. I had skipped lunch, and my stomach was rumbling slightly because of it. But it wasn’t hunger that worried me—it was the realization that Irina hadn’t called me yet. Hesitating for a moment, I dialed her number myself—she didn’t answer. A quarter of an hour later, I called again with the same result, and then a third time.

Anxiety took hold of me. Leaving my workplace half an hour earlier than usual, I drove to Soichyne Hnizdo. Having parked on the establishment’s lot, I didn’t dare get out of the car for a while, but eventually, pulling myself together, I headed for the entrance. Inside, I approached the very first waiter who crossed my path.

“Tell me, is Irina working today?”

“Irina? Um,” he replied, looking flustered. “Today is her day off. She should be in tomorrow.”

“Do you happen to know if she’s alright? I’m an acquaintance of hers; we were supposed to call each other today, but she isn’t answering.”

“I really can’t say anything about that.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Leaving the cafe, I got into my car and drove to Irina’s building. Not knowing which entrance was hers, I spent half an hour just watching the building. I even got out and walked around it.

“And why am I worrying about her so much?” I whispered to myself, but dismissed the thought immediately.

I returned to my car and drove home, where, after eating dinner, I went to sleep feeling anxious and hollow inside. My sleep passed in an instant—I closed my eyes and immediately heard the alarm clock. Leaping out of bed and switching off the alarm, I called Irina again, and again received no answer. After that, letting out a heavy sigh, I headed first to the kitchen, and then off to work.

The workday went by in a complete blur, and as soon as it ended, I drove straight to Irina’s cafe. There I saw the short brunette waitress, whom I recognized as the girl who had served us on Sunday.

“Excuse me, is Irina here right now?” I addressed her.

“Hm?” The brunette looked me over in surprise, and recognizing me, said, “She left an hour ago. She has some business at the immigration service.”