— Nastya, are you serious? Fourteen million! That’s a whole fortune! I’ve never even seen that kind of money in my wildest dreams! Her sister squealed with excitement so loudly that Nastya involuntarily smiled. Eva had always been emotional, but this time she was clearly overdoing it. — Keep it down! — the woman hissed, … Read more
Valentina signed the last document and leaned back in her chair. Outside her office window, rows of sewing machines could be seen. Their small women’s clothing factory was operating at full capacity. After major Western brands left Russia, orders had tripled. Domestic stores were literally lining up for their products. Five years earlier, she and … Read more
They had gathered the way they always did, for the kind of occasion that practically organized itself: Valentina Petrovna’s sixtieth birthday. To be honest, Svetlana had thought about finding an excuse not to come. Too many clients. Accounting not finished. Or simply, “Sorry, I’m sick.” But Mikhail had looked at her with such guilty, puppy-like … Read more
“You’re not the one in charge here.” “Either your mother is not moving in with us, or there will be no wedding,” Ella said, surprised at how calm her own voice sounded. Sasha stood by the kitchen window as if a draft had pinned him there. His phone was still in his hand. On the … Read more
“You’ve completely lost it, Marina,” Igor said quietly, yet every word rang like a wire pulled too tight. “My mother only hinted that we had a spare room, and you’re already building a border wall.” “It is not our spare room,” Marina replied without raising her voice, which made her words cut even deeper. “It … Read more
“Liz, we need to talk,” Roma said as he walked into the apartment and headed straight for the kitchen, where Liza was making dinner. “Did something happen?” she asked, turning around and wiping her hands on a towel. “Mom called. She wants to come stay for a week,” he said, sitting down on a stool … Read more
“Sell your grandmother’s apartment? Are you serious right now?” Yulia could barely process what her husband was suggesting. “Completely serious,” Lenya replied, sitting down across from her at the kitchen table. There was not the slightest hesitation on his face. “My mother urgently needs money. A lot of money. And this is the only way.” … Read more
He walked into the room and broke the quiet of the evening. “Did you talk to Mom about moving in?” Lenya asked. Lika looked up from her magazine, surprised. “No. Why would I? We just got settled. Your mother gave us this apartment so we could live separately.” Lenya sat down on the edge of … Read more
“What if I told you that starting tomorrow, a third of your salary would be going to my sister—what would you say to that?” Misha’s voice carried an unfamiliar tension. Nika froze, her fork suspended in midair. The Friday dinner she had prepared so carefully after a long, exhausting workweek instantly lost all taste. “You’re … Read more
Elvira had barely opened the door when her neighbor Valya held out an envelope to her right there on the landing. “Elya, have you seen this?” “What is it?” “It’s from the court. I was checking my mailbox downstairs and noticed yours was open. This was sticking out.” Elvira took the envelope. The moment she … Read more