Okay, this can be done later. It is important to simply keep the situation under control and, in case of unforeseen circumstances, simply remove the obstacle.

At the appointed time, Herman was already sitting at a long table in Regina's office, having taken his place after the deputy director of affairs of the district administration and the secretary of the City Duma. The deputy, or as feminist-minded organizations are required to call it today, Marzhanskaya's deputy, a plump and unkempt Roza Dmitrievna, turned out to be just opposite Herman. This both irritated and made it possible to annoy Regina.

Marzhanskaya rushed in, spreading the scent of confidence and Clive Christian...