Andrey, a young chef with great talent and even greater ambitions, always dreamed of freedom. He wanted to create, try new things, and break rules. However, working in a prestigious restaurant, where at first glance everything was provided: a good salary, a famous name, and an audience willing to pay any amount for dinner, turned … Read more
The house was warm and cozy, with logs quietly crackling in the stove, a favorite TV show playing, and a blizzard howling outside. Antonina, an elderly woman and former local paramedic, comfortably settled in an old, worn chair, watched the movie and stroked her cat, Vasily, curled up on her lap. Suddenly, there was a … Read more
I need a caregiver with a degree in psychotherapy to be around my daughter 24 hours a day. I have a well-appointed country house with excellent living conditions. You will be provided with full comfort, but during the three-month probationary period, you will not have a single day off. A generous salary will compensate for … Read more
The night was unusually dark, and Elena couldn’t sleep. A sudden creak at the door made her freeze. She glanced at the clock—it was three in the morning. Who could come at such an hour? Through the silence, short, neat knocks were heard. Elena held her breath and tiptoed to the door, trying not to … Read more
When the phone rang in the dead of night, Lena felt a cold wave of fear run across her skin. An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen, but a strange premonition made her answer. On the other end of the line came the muffled voice of her lifelong friend, Lera. Panic laced Lera’s voice, and … Read more
Lately, Valentina had been extremely unlucky. Absolutely everything seemed to be against her. Her husband left her for another woman, and she couldn’t recover for a month, never even suspecting that such a thing could happen to her. Eventually, she survived, burying the pain inside herself, having trusted him as she trusted herself. Just when … Read more
You’ll come running to me in a week begging me to come back.” “Don’t flatter yourself!” Larisa smirked, once again amazed by her husband’s overconfidence. Since his youth, Vadim Gordeev had been distinguished by his excessive self-love, often overestimating his abilities. Perhaps that’s why Larisa had chosen him as a husband; she likely wouldn’t have … Read more
Mom, why does Uncle Vanya come to visit us so often?” Artem pondered as he idly stirred his spoon in his soup bowl. “Because he’s kind and helps us while Dad is on shift,” Olga felt her voice tremble treacherously. The old washing machine hummed noisily in the bathroom, drowning out the awkward silence. Olga … Read more
No guests!” Viktor barked, glaring at his wife, “I want no one here. Katya, look at yourself, what have you become? You’re eating enough for three, you look like a shapeless heap. Again you’ll gather your friends, and you’ll demolish a two-week supply of food in one evening? No celebrations! Lately, Katya had been feeling … Read more
Outside the windows of a two-story house, a January blizzard was howling. Tatyana stood at the panoramic living room window, watching as snowflakes slowly covered the garden paths. The house had come to her after her divorce—her ex-husband insisted that she and her son live there, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. … Read more