- I'm scheduled for nine. he said softly, without taking his eyes off me.

- Yes, ahem , I was just looking for your phone number to remind you of the meeting with German Petrovich.

- I remember everything very well. That is unnecessary.

The man grabbed the handle of the door leading to Nevsky's office, but I stopped him.

- Igor is there now. Igor Germanovich.

- Ha. Igor Germanovich, you say? Excellent. Exactly what is needed. A contented smirk tugged at his mouth. - So even better.

Morozov resolutely entered the office and closed the door behind him.

Literally ten minutes later, screams and obscene language began to be heard from the director's office. With every curse I heard, my eyes widened. I did not hear what the interlocutors discussed before. But what I heard now spoke of the extreme degree of Morozov's disagreement with both Nevskys on some issue. A few minutes later, the speakerphone squeaked: “Victoria?! The documents! Where the hell are you? I'm leaving for production in five minutes!" A second later, like a hurricane, Morozov flew out of the office and left the reception room without looking back. Igor Nevsky followed him with an imposing gait, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

- Thanks for the coffee, lovely lady. - said the man and proceeded to the exit by his predecessor.

I hurried with the folder to the director.

With a displeased face, Nevsky scribbled over the documents with such force that a hole from a fountain pen even formed on one. After that, he casually threw the documents into a folder and slammed it and turned to me:

- I'm going to work now. Next, I have a meeting with an investor at the Plaza restaurant. Your task is to check the availability of the booked table before one o'clock in the afternoon. That bitch Katerina could have missed that too, since she took a duplicate of the keys to my office.

- Katherine?

- Previous secretary.

- I understand you. Can I be free?

- Yes, go. And do not forget to contact the economic department, they will make a duplicate of the key.

Silently nodded and left the office. Nevsky left the office almost after me.

While the director was at work, I contacted the Plaza and clarified the information about the availability of a booked table. Not such a perishing Katerina and klub turned out to be. Still booked a table. Then she called the economic department and took the keys to Nevsky's office. They promised to bring a duplicate after dinner. The rest of the day, I sorted through the documents on the shelves and on the desktop of the laptop. And in one place and in another, there was just some kind of widespread chaos. This is a consequence of the too frequent change of secretaries. At about six in the evening, Nevsky called me on a work phone and announced that I could be free for today, just before that I would add a new meeting with an investor to his calendar in early December. To celebrate that it would be possible to leave without delay, she called Dimka and asked me to pick me up by car.

- Vikul, I need to linger. There are things.

- What's the matter? You always got out on time.

- In order to get a promotion, I need to work harder. Do not be offended and wait for me at home.

In frustrated feelings, anticipating a long standing in the cold, I went outside. It was already getting dark and the snow was falling in large flakes so densely that nothing could be seen at arm's length. I remembered the message that came to the phone with a warning from the Ministry of Emergency Situations about heavy snowfall and gusty winds. The bus stop was already packed with people. Hard workers from the second production shift. The bus pulled up and most of the people managed to push through. Only me and a couple of men remained at the bus stop. Fifteen minutes passed before I began to realize that I could no longer feel my legs. And I was about to return to the office to call a taxi, when a black S-Class Mercedes stopped in front of me. The door on the driver's side opened and I saw Igor Nevsky. He, smiling as always and repeating the words of a well-known children's fairy tale, asked:

- Are you a warm girl? Are you warm red?

To be honest, I can't feel my legs anymore. The bus is delayed. Probably because of the weather. She answered, jumping from foot to foot.

- Get in, I'll take you. With weather like this, you'll have to wait a long time.

That's honest! I didn't even think about giving up. Well, what is it? A colleague offered a ride. Nothing criminal.

- I will not refuse and I will even be grateful.

Igor opened the front door on the passenger side for me, and as soon as I got into the cabin, I felt blissful warmth.

Nevsky specified the address of the destination and whistled. Too far. Well, he suggested what to do, I thought. Slowly we moved along the snow-covered road. Even with the headlights on, the road was barely visible. We drove in silence for the first five minutes. I noticed that Igor turned in my direction a couple of times at a red traffic light and looked intently. When the silence became awkward, she said:

- Thank you for driving me. I don't know how much longer I would have to stand there.

- Yes, nothing, it's not difficult for me. Transport in the industrial zone is always tight. The plant has several service buses, probably some of them are either out of order or in service. Therefore, such difficulties. Will have to check that out tomorrow. - Igor answered without taking his eyes off the road.

“Nevertheless, I am in your debt.

- I'll remember it! - Here already Igor turned and asked with a wide smile. Victoria, how old are you?

- Slightly inappropriate question! I laughed. Warming up more and more, I removed the scarf from my head and the curls scattered over my shoulders. - How much do I look?

We finally got stuck in a traffic jam at the entrance to the city center and Igor, unfastening his seat belt and leaning his left hand on the steering wheel, began to examine me.

- I won't give you more than eighteen.

Well, actually I'm twenty-five. - exposed herself. - Although it's nice, of course. Thanks for the compliment.

- What a compliment, I was almost afraid that my father began to use child labor! Honestly! - in confirmation of his words, he pressed his right hand to his chest closer to his heart.

Here I laughed out loud. I was often told that with my height of 55 meters and forty-five kilograms of weight, I look like a teenager. But at the same time, the volumes of the ninety-five-sixty-ninety figures gave femininity. Everything always suited me, but looking at the long legs of Dasha's friend, she sometimes sighed dreamily. At school, we were called Tarapunka and Shtepsel in honor of the comic duo of USSR artists, because we looked just as funny next to each other.

- And your smile is beautiful, and the dimples on your cheeks are simply charming. Igor continued.

She felt herself blush. I haven't heard so many compliments in a long time.

Stop it, you're embarrassing me. - I turned to the window so that Igor would not see my embarrassment.

Then everything happened in slow motion, through the wall of snow in the window I saw the approaching light from the headlights of a car. And then a big blow. Pain in the region of the right temple, and then darkness.

I dreamed of my mother. She combed my hair and told a parable about a girl and a lion, which taught that a person is capable of much, especially if he has wisdom and patience. And kindness and affection can turn any situation in your favor. As a child, I loved this parable very much and knew it by heart. Literally feeling the touch of her hands on my hair, I was thrilled by what was happening. But very soon the image of my mother began to evaporate. Mommy, mommy, where are you, stay with me some more ...

- Victoria! Vika! Vika, look at me!

She slowly opened her eyes. The first thing I saw was Igor's frightened face very close to mine. I realized that I was lying in the snow, while Igor was holding my face and trying to ask me something. I didn't understand anything. The head was shaking terribly. She stretched her hand to her right temple. Igor grabbed her and pressed her to his chest.

Don't move, don't move, the ambulance is coming.

- My head hurts. She croaked and didn't recognize her own voice.

- I know, honey, I know. Be patient.

Somewhere in the distance, the approaching sound of an ambulance siren was heard. Igor straightened up and disappeared from my field of vision. I felt so good lying in the snow. I did not feel the cold at all and enjoyed the way the snow lay in soft fluff on my face. I felt like I was falling asleep.

- And who are you actually and what are you doing in my bride's room?

- Brides?

Yes, brides. And yet who are you?

I heard voices breaking through the dream. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. The characteristic strong smell of a medical institution hit my nose. She grimaced. My head hurt like crazy. In front of me I saw two men - my Dimka and Igor Nevsky. Both men were dressed in white coats, casually thrown over their shoulders.

- Igor Nevsky. I am a colleague of Victoria. She was in my car when it all happened.

- What the hell was she doing in your car?

Dimka’s abrupt transition from “you” to “you” made me understand that it was time to stop this skirmish.

- Dima, calm down.

Both men turned in my direction and rushed to the bed on which I was lying.

- Vikul, how are you? Dimka grabbed my hand and began to peer into my face.

- What happened? - I did not answer the groom and turned to Igor.

- At the intersection, where we were in a traffic jam, a minivan crashed into us at speed. Just from your side. The damn airbags didn't deploy. - I saw how Igor clenched his hands into fists. “The driver seemed to be out of control. The car was rented, registered with a legal entity. This bastard abandoned the car and fled the scene of the accident. Police are now looking into the identity of the driver.

- You weren't hurt? - looked Nevsky from head to toe in search of damage.

- You look at her! Lies with a concussion and still thinks about others. You are an angel Victoria. Igor smiled warmly at me. - Everything is fine. Yes, a couple of bruises.

I felt how Dimka squeezed my hand. He clearly did not like the way Igor communicated with me.

- Concussion? - Raised her eyebrows and felt a sharp pain in the area of ​​​​the right temple. Instinctively, she reached out with her hand to the source of pain and felt with her fingers a large bump with an abrasion sealed with a band-aid.

- Yes, but before the wedding, apparently, it will definitely heal. - Igor squinted at Dimka. Then, clapping his hands, he said: - Well, ladies and gentlemen, for this I am leaving. Victoria, at work I will warn you that you will be on sick leave for some time. All the best.

Nevsky turned around on the heels of expensive shoes and left the room, leaving me alone with the groom.

- What is that pretzel? Dimka immediately went on the attack.

- Dim, don't start already, your head hurts.

What were you doing in his car? - my fiancé did not let up.

- Well, you yourself could not come for me. Did you see the weather? I was standing at the bus stop, Igor offered to give me a lift. Well, now ... - she spread her hands, pointing to her position in the hospital bed.

- I don't like him. Namely, the way he looks at you.

I sniffed it. What's that smell? Women's perfume? Unfamiliar scent.

- Dima, why do you smell like women's perfume?

Dima let go of my hand and took a step away from the bed.

- What spirits? Don't invent. You've got a concussion and you're imagining it.

I looked at the wall clock in the room. Half past twelve at night. And how did they let them into the ward only at such a time? Not otherwise Nevsky gave a bribe.

- No, I didn't think so. Where were you if you had just arrived?

At work, I told you. I got a call from the hospital only at ten in the evening from your cell.

Dimka started to fuss. He began to take food out of the bag and try to push their mini fridge. I looked around.

- What a good ward and a single one, finally, they began to put things in order in our hospitals.

- This is a paid clinic. You were most likely brought here in an ambulance at the behest of this pretzel. Your content here will cost us a pretty penny Vic! You can forget about the fur coat for the New Year - Dimka muttered while squatting by the refrigerator.

- Paid? I rolled my eyes. - No, Dim, it won't work like that. I'll go home. Help me get together.

She tried to get out of bed, but a severe dizziness forced her to lean back against the pillows.

- Lie down already. Where are you with such a concussion? Okay, I'll go home. Tomorrow early for work. I'll call you during the day. By the way, here. Dima took my smartphone out of his bathrobe pocket. - In the emergency room they gave me. Found in your coat pocket.

- Good night, Dim.

Dima hugged me and kissed me on the cheek goodbye. I smelled that again. The smell was strange and I decided not to focus on it. Maybe that's really how the concussion affected my sense of smell.

Dima left, and I was left alone in the ward. She took the cell phone. This afternoon, I imported into my smartphone a file with the phone numbers of all employees working in the plant management. Found the number of Igor Nevsky. I didn't dare to call, it's getting late. I decided to write a message in the messenger.

“Igor, why did you say to take me to a paid clinic? I would feel great in a municipal hospital. Victoria."