December 23 began at six in the morning with Marina burning her finger on a baking tray. She yanked her hand back, muttered a curse under her breath, and held her index finger under cold water. Inside the oven, the final—third—batch of cookies for the school fair was finishing. The night before, her youngest, Mishka, … Read more
Larisa heard those words while she stood at the stove. She was stirring risotto—the dish Igor had requested for dinner because, as he liked to say, “that Italian restaurant makes it disgusting, but at least you actually try.” The wooden spoon stopped mid-circle in her hand. “What a sad excuse for a woman,” Igor repeated, … Read more
Nika stood in the entryway, staring sadly at her favorite Italian sneakers. They weren’t just in the wrong spot—someone had shoved them into the deepest, dustiest corner of the shoe cabinet. And in their rightful “front-row” place, right on the doormat that said Welcome, stood a pair of glossy patent stiletto ankle boots—sharp, predatory, finished … Read more
They announced the bonus amount on Friday, right before lunch. Marina was in the accounting office, checking the quarterly report, when Svetlana Grigoryevna—the finance chief—peeked in with a light, almost conspiratorial smile. “Congratulations. They’re adding fifty thousand to your paycheck.” Marina didn’t even grasp what she meant at first. Then it clicked: the quarterly bonus … Read more
Victor was sitting in his office, sorting through contracts, when his phone exploded with a frantic shriek. “Vitya, do something about your wife! She threw me out on the street! Who does she think she is?!” His sister Kristina’s voice shook with fury and tears. Victor shoved the folders away, a familiar headache already pulsing … Read more
When Lena saw the amount on her phone screen, her heart froze for a split second—then started beating so happily she almost wanted to shout. A bonus. A quarterly bonus for smashing her target. It meant she could finally afford her first real vacation in three years. Not those miserable five days wedged between holidays … Read more
Valery Petrovich liked to believe he had everything under control. At work he was a department head, at home the unquestioned patriarch, and in life the man steering his own destiny. He was used to the world moving according to his schedule, and the moment something slipped out of line, his voice filled the apartment … Read more
Irina was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea that had already gone cold when the phone rang. Her sister’s number lit up the screen. She winced, but picked up anyway. “Ira, what the hell are you doing?!” Sveta’s voice practically crackled with indignation. “Anton and I have been standing at the gate … Read more
Olga heard the doorbell and, for some reason, tensed immediately. Her husband Dmitry was at work, and they weren’t expecting anyone. Through the peephole she saw a familiar figure—Svetlana, Dmitry’s sister, dragging suitcases. Beside her hovered her eternally silent husband, Viktor, and between them stood five-year-old Artyom with a tablet in his hands. “Ol, open … Read more
Marina snapped her laptop shut and leaned back in her chair, feeling the tightness of the past few months slowly ease out of her shoulders. December 23rd. Project complete. Acceptance papers signed. The money had landed in the company account. — Congratulations, — Oleg Viktorovich, her direct supervisor, said as he handed her an envelope. … Read more