Olga eagerly flipped through the culinary magazine, making notes in the margins. The new recipe for French julienne seemed especially interesting to her.
“I’ll have to try adding white mushrooms instead of champignons,” she thought, imagining how she would surprise her husband with the unusual flavor.
Cooking had always been her passion.
She could spend hours experimenting in the kitchen, creating new flavor combinations. Lately, she had been dreaming more and more about writing her own cookbook, where she would compile all her original recipes.
Lost in her search for new ideas, the wife didn’t notice the front door open. Only when she heard heavy footsteps in the hallway did Olga realize her husband had returned home.
“Olezhek, you’re already back? I found such an interesting recipe!” she exclaimed joyfully, stepping into the hallway. “Can you imagine, we can combine French and Russian cuisine! It will be something extraordinary!”
The man silently walked past her, not even glancing her way. He smelled of expensive perfume and women’s cologne.
Olga felt an unpleasant chill run down her spine.
“Dinner’s ready. I made your favorite…”
“Enough!” Oleg interrupted sharply. “I’m tired of your culinary experiments! That’s all you ever talk about! I’m not interested. I’m tired!”
He walked into the living room, pulled out some papers from his briefcase, and threw them forcefully onto the coffee table. Several sheets scattered across the floor.
“What’s this?” the woman asked in a trembling voice, picking up the documents.
“Divorce papers. Sign them. And let’s not have a scene.”
Olga felt the room start to spin in front of her eyes. She grabbed the armrest of the chair, trying to keep herself upright.
“What are you talking about? A divorce? Everything is fine between us! Just recently, we celebrated your promotion. You yourself told all our relatives how great a wife I am.”
“You were a great wife!” Oleg shouted, undoing his expensive jacket. “For a mid-level manager, maybe. But now I’m the deputy CEO! I have a different circle of people, different prospects. I have a new level of life. Standards you don’t fit into. I’m already ashamed to admit you’re my wife. A disgrace in front of people! Just think about it, who are you? A housewife obsessed with recipes! A grey mouse! You’re not on my level!”
“But I thought…” tears rolled down Olga’s cheeks. “I wanted to write a book. Open my own cooking channel.”
“My God, how petty and pathetic that sounds!” he said, shaking his head. “You hear what I’m saying? I need a woman of a different level. Educated, well-groomed, speaking three languages. Not a cook with dreams of a cookbook.”
“So, there is someone else?” the wife clutched the papers with white knuckles.
“Yes. And she’s a hundred times better than you. With her, I feel proud and respect myself. With you, the situation is the opposite. Unfortunately, our marriage is no longer relevant.”
“Two years! Two years I was by your side! When you started as a simple manager! When you didn’t even have money for a decent suit! I cooked, I washed, I ironed.”
“Exactly!” he interrupted her. “You’re still just a laundress and a cook. And I’ve grown! Alright, enough of this empty talk! Sign the papers, and let’s end this circus. The apartment is yours, so I’ll move out. I’m not claiming anything. Tomorrow, I’ll send people for my things.”
Oleg headed for the door, dialing a number on his phone as he walked.
“Yes, honey, I’m on my way. Wait for me at our restaurant.”
The door slammed shut. In the ensuing silence, the ticking of the clock and the sound of water dripping from the kitchen faucet could be heard.
Olga slowly sank into the armchair, holding the divorce papers in her hands. The forgotten pie in the oven began to burn, but she didn’t move.
Her entire world, which she had worked so hard to build over the last two years, collapsed in just ten minutes.
“How did this happen?” she thought in her head. “When did everything go wrong? And why didn’t I notice?”
But the answer was only silence and the bitter smell of someone else’s perfume, forever embedded in her memory.
The next morning began with a knock on the door. A woman who hadn’t slept all night slowly shuffled to open the door to the unexpected guests. Two strong men in moving company uniforms stood on the doorstep.
“Hello! We were sent by Oleg Vladimirovich. We’re here for the things,” one of them said politely.
The hostess silently nodded and led them to the bedroom. There, in a large wardrobe, hung her husband’s suits — expensive, branded. She ran her hand over the fabric of the jacket she had chosen for him on their anniversary. A bitter lump rose in her throat.
“Here are his things,” the wife said quietly. “Just be careful with the blue suit. It’s his favorite.”
“Was his favorite,” she corrected herself mentally.
While the movers gathered the things, Olga dialed her friend’s number.
“Alla? Hi! Are you at work right now?”
“Yes, what happened?” her friend asked, sounding worried. “You sound strange.”
“Oleg… yesterday he brought divorce papers,” the woman’s voice trembled.
A heavy silence hung on the other end of the line.
“My God… Olya, I’m so sorry! Although, to be honest, I was afraid of this. After his promotion, your husband became a completely different person.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sit down. This will be a long conversation!” Alla sighed. “Since he was made the deputy CEO, it’s like he’s gone off the rails. He started being rude to his subordinates, humiliating everyone. Especially women. And then this… Marina Vitalievna showed up.”
“Who?”
“She’s the new head of HR. Young, ambitious, from a very wealthy family. She quickly got Oleg under her spell! They started having lunch together, staying late in the office.”
Olga felt her hands start to shake involuntarily.
“Did everyone know about this?”
“Sorry, darling! I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t dare. I thought maybe it was just a temporary lapse. But they’ve completely gone too far! They openly flirt in meetings, go out to lunch together. And last week, she was showing off a diamond ring — a gift from ‘a special man.'”
At that moment, one of the movers dropped a box of belongings. The sound of it made Olga flinch.
“I’ll call you back,” she quickly said and hung up.
The next hour passed in the blink of an eye.
The movers took all of her husband’s things, leaving a gaping emptiness in the wardrobe. Olga mechanically picked up the scattered ties, closed the empty drawers.
In the pocket of an old jacket, she found their joint photo: happy, smiling. Unable to bear it, the woman tore the picture into tiny pieces.
The phone rang again. It was Alla.
“Olenka, how are you? I can’t stop thinking about you! I’m so worried!”
“You know what I just thought? I’m even grateful to this Marina. She showed me my husband’s true face. Or rather, my almost-ex-husband.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’m definitely not going to sit here and cry. Enough!” Olga’s voice became steely. “For two years, I lived his life. Maybe it’s time to start my own?”
“That’s right, girlfriend!” Alla brightened up. “But you know what? Don’t be in a hurry to sign those papers. Let him suffer a little.”
“No! I’ll sign them. I don’t want to humble myself and hold on to someone who betrayed me. But that doesn’t mean I’ll forget everything and forgive him. He’ll pay for every tear I shed!”
After saying goodbye to her friend, the woman approached the window.
A car with her husband’s things slowly drove down the street. Olga watched it disappear and felt that her past life was leaving with it. Ahead of her lay the unknown, but for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t afraid.
She quickly took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Good afternoon! I’m calling about organizing a corporate event. Yes, I’d like to reserve a large hall for next Friday. For two hundred people. And also… I need to discuss special conditions for the evening.”
… “Grand Hotel” sparkled with lights. A line of expensive cars was parked at the entrance: the entire senior management of the company had gathered for the annual corporate event.
Oleg helped Marina out of the car, admiring her long legs and the tight red dress.
In the past month, his life had changed radically.
The divorce went quickly: Olga unexpectedly signed all the papers with ease. Now he was free and happy with a woman from his circle.
“Honey, look how everyone is admiring us,” Marina purred, adjusting his tie. “We’re the perfect couple! I envy myself!”
In the luxurious banquet hall, the festive atmosphere was palpable. Waiters were serving champagne, and live music played.
Oleg and his companion took the central table, his place as deputy CEO.
“Can you imagine?” his lover whispered to him. “They say that the owner of the company is coming for the first time tonight! A mysterious woman! No one has seen her, but there are rumors that she’s a very influential person.”
The man only smirked.
“Probably some old bitter woman who inherited the business. I’ve seen those types!”
At that moment, the CEO stepped onto the stage.
“Dear colleagues! Tonight is a special evening. For the first time in the history of the company, its owner is present at our meeting. Please welcome — Olga Sergeevna!”
Oleg choked on his champagne. His ex-wife was walking up to the stage with a light step.
But how she had changed! The elegant black dress accentuated her perfect figure, her posture was confident, her hairstyle stylish. There was no trace of the old housewife.
“Good evening, esteemed colleagues!” Olga’s voice was calm and authoritative. “I’m glad to finally meet you in person. All these years, I preferred to watch the company’s development from the sidelines. But it’s time for change!” She paused and surveyed the now-silent room. “Starting tomorrow, I will personally be involved in managing the company. I have big plans for the future. I’m sure that together we can take the business to a whole new level. Serious changes and rapid growth are ahead. And tonight, I wish you all a wonderful rest!”
Olga’s speech was met with thunderous applause. Employees surrounded her, eagerly offering champagne. She held herself with royal dignity, taking the time to speak to everyone.
Her former husband rushed toward the stage, pushing people aside.
“Olya! Wait! We need to talk! I want to understand and figure this out!”
But she seemed to disappear into the crowd. Marina remained sitting at the table, nervously crumpling a napkin.
“How could you not know?” she hissed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me your wife owns the company?”
“I didn’t know myself! You think if I had known, I would have left her? Stupid! She never…”
“Don’t come near me again,” Marina snapped, grabbing her purse. “You’re a complete loser! Why do I need you now?”
The woman turned and quickly headed for the exit.
Oleg stood alone at the empty table. His ex-wife had long since disappeared, leaving behind a trail of admiring conversations and a whirlwind of emotions. The only thought spinning in his mind was, “What have I done?”
At exactly 9:00 AM, Oleg was called to the CEO’s office. Stepping into the spacious room, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The boss didn’t even look up at him.
“Please sit down, Oleg Vladimirovich,” the CEO said dryly, flipping through some papers. “This conversation will be short. The company no longer requires your services. Your candidacy no longer meets the new requirements.”
“But how… why?” the man turned pale in an instant. “I just got promoted recently!”
“Here’s your termination order. Please sign it. The security will escort you out.”
An hour later, Oleg stood before the door of his former apartment. His former home. In the fifteen minutes it took to get there, he must have rehearsed his speech twenty times, but all the words seemed empty and fake.
Olga didn’t open the door immediately.
When it finally opened, the man was momentarily speechless. She had changed so much! The housecoat had been replaced with an elegant pantsuit, the messy bun with a stylish updo.
“Why are you here?” his ex-wife asked coldly.
“Olya… Olenka…” Oleg stepped into the apartment. “Forgive me! I was a complete fool. I’ve realized everything. Let’s start over!”
“Stop! You know what I hate the most? Pitiful men who humiliate themselves and others. Especially women.”
“Tell me!” He grabbed his ex-wife by the arm. “Where did you get this company? Why did you stay silent all these years?”
Olga freed her arm and bitterly smiled.
“You never asked. You were only interested in me as a housewife. Apparently, that’s the case. But if you had asked, I would have answered. I have nothing to hide. My grandfather created this company. Then my father ran it. When he got sick three years ago, I gradually started managing the business. But I did it quietly, without making a show of it. I wanted to be seen as a professional, not as a housewife who inherited everything.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why? So you could start sucking up to me? Or bragging to your friends about having a rich wife? I wanted you to love me, not my money and status. But you couldn’t pass the test, Oleg. The first position went straight to your head.”
“I love you!” the man blurted out. “I’ve always loved you! It was a lapse in judgment. It happens to everyone!”
“No! It was and still is your true face. Your insatiable thirst for power and money!”
At that moment, a tall man in an expensive suit slowly walked out of the living room. His movements were calm, his smile friendly, but there was a hidden strength in them.
“Is everything alright?” he asked quietly, looking at Oleg. “I heard shouting, so I thought I’d check. Just in case.”
“Everything’s fine, Alexander,” Olga replied softly. “My ex-husband is leaving now. Right, Oleg?”
“I strongly recommend you leave the apartment,” Alexander added, his voice calm but firm. “I don’t like using force, but if I must…”
Oleg retreated toward the door. His face was pale with humiliation and anger. Another few seconds, and the door slammed behind him.
Olga sighed with relief.
“Thank you, Sasha! I’m so grateful you agreed to help.”
“Who said I’m just helping?” he looked into her eyes. “I’m serious about fighting for your heart, Olga Sergeevna.”
The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise, but a satisfied smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
“Is that so?” she tilted her head to the side. “And how do you plan on doing that?”
“First, I’m inviting you to lunch. I promise! No clichés. Just sincerity and respect.”
Olga looked at her watch.
“I have an important meeting in an hour. I need to discuss the company’s reorganization.”
“Then we’ll have dinner tonight. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
There was no pleading or posturing in his voice, just the confidence of a man who knew exactly what he wanted.
The woman smiled. It seemed that life was indeed taking a sharp turn. And this time, in the right direction.