Only around was not a warm bed, but damp earth overgrown with grass. Instead of a silk sheet - a parachute that did not fully open with tangled lines.

Sergei squeezed the bloody, broken body of Katharina, stroked her hair, which was scattered with a fiery halo, covered her forever frozen eyes with kisses, and for the first time touched her lips with his lips.

When did he vow that he would not allow another woman to enter his heart? Even then, bending over the body of Katarina, or already a week after her death - on the twenty-first birthday, which she did not live to see?

Or maybe later, on the day when, in a rage, he threw a case with wedding rings for himself and Svetlana from the bridge into the green water of the Dnieper, stinking with a swamp?

Sergei shook his head, as if shaking out painful memories, took off his jacket on the move and, throwing it on a brown leather sofa, went to the window.

Tatyana clattered after him.

How to inform her that he came home for only two days, and soon a new business trip awaits him?

Sergei mechanically drew the curtains and, without turning around, said:

- Tanechka, dear! I didn't really have a chance to call. But I often thought of you. Well, if you like, this time I promise to call every day.

Tatyana pulled him by the arm, forcing him to turn around.

- What you said?! Her pretty face twisted into a surprised, angry grimace. - What kind of "this time"?

- Tanechka! He called the girl so affectionately every time he got angry. - I'll be back very soon. In just two weeks. You won't even notice my absence.

Sergei tried to wrap his arms around Tatiana's waist, but she pushed him away.

- I know your two weeks! If you're lucky, you'll come in a month and a half. I see you so rarely that I will soon forget your voice and the way you look!

- Tatyana, we have discussed this topic a thousand times! And I have no desire to return to her! Lightning flashed in his eyes.

- I have! - the woman got more and more excited. “Is there really no one else to go but you?”

- Tanechka, dear! Come on, let's not throw tantrums, complicating our already difficult relationship! I have to go and I will go! You know perfectly well that this is my job, - with the last of his strength, holding back his anger, Sergey muttered through his teeth.

Who would have known how tired he was of all this!

- To hell with your job! - unexpectedly for him, the woman squealed hysterically. "Damn you with her!"

- Bite your tongue! Don't forget, you live in my house! And this is my money you spend on expensive rags and trinkets! He grabbed her hand and squeezed hard on her wrist.

Tanya's powdered and ruddy face was covered with spots.

- Are you blaming me? She almost tore the gold emerald earrings from her ears and threw them at the man. - Take it and choke! I'm tired of waiting for you for months! You only come to pay me off with a new fur coat.

The man, without uttering a word, abruptly turned around and headed in the direction opposite to the window.

Tatiana stamped her foot angrily.

- Sergey, come back! I haven't said everything yet!

And he turned around. In his dark eyes, framed by thick eyelashes, two lightning bolts flashed again.

Tatyana instantly realized that she had gone too far. Her brightly painted lips trembled, and she stammered in fright:

- Serezhenka, dear, forgive me, please! I'm a fool! I don't know what I'm talking about! It's all the fault of stupid women's days, I'm sorry. Sorry! She ran up to the man and tried to hug him.

Sergei, preventing an attempt to touch him, grabbed Tatyana by the arms and pushed her away with force.

The woman could not stand on her feet and, having lost her balance, fell on the sofa.

The man pulled out several crumpled banknotes from his pants pocket and, throwing them on the floor at the blonde's feet, said in an icy voice:

- I'll be back in two weeks. Try not to even smell your perfume in my house by this time! And don't forget to leave the keys to the guards. - He went out into the hallway.

But Seryozha...

The sound of the front door slamming shut followed by silence.

Chapter 2

Coming out of the entrance to the courtyard, Sergei took a deep breath.

Strangely, he had just broken off relations with his next passion and did not feel anything at all. Unless he breathed a little easier, as if he got rid of something that was choking.

Although, what's strange? With Tanya they were together for less than a year. Yes, and together? He is constantly on the road, she is in his city apartment in Moscow. Turns out she's right about something.

Sergey took out a cell phone from the borset and pressed only one button.

- Vitek! he growled as soon as he heard the driver's voice on the other end of the line. “Take the Mayrs and blow on the city hut. I am waiting!

Without waiting for an answer, Sergei dropped the call and took a deep breath.

Damp autumn air filled the lungs.

So where did he stop there? Oh yes, on the fact that in the words of his mistress, now the former, there is still some truth.

It must be hard to live with someone you don't see for months. But on the other hand, he did not keep her on a leash and certainly did not promise a cloudless family life. He never promised anything to anyone!

Who knows how long the relationship with Tatyana could have dragged on if not for today's scene, which served as the last straw in Sergei's patience?

Who the hell is she to talk to him like that and make claims?!

She probably thought she was his wife.

At the thought, the man's lips curved into a wry smile.

Brainless chicken! He would never have married her at gunpoint. Yes, and no one at all. And a woman has not yet been born who can force him to change his usual way of life.

And frankly speaking, he didn’t even consider Tatyana a mistress. Her role in his life was clearly defined from the very beginning. She is the one who at the "right moment" should be there, nothing more.

Are all women really the same? Or is it just him so unlucky? Why is each of his mistresses ready to break into a cake for one single purpose: to marry him to herself? While he did not give even the slightest reason to hope for it.

On the contrary, he always asked not to make any plans for himself. He is a lone wolf, he is not created for a serious long-term relationship, and even more so for a family. And never marry.

The reason lies not only in the oath once brought to oneself. Not only in what, by the will of fate and uncle, he does. It's just the way of life that he has long chosen for himself.

He is Casanova, and his share is to seduce women and give them pleasant minutes, hours, weeks, nothing more. And he honestly warned each of the potential mistresses about this before she became one.

So why do all women first agree with such a situation, and after some time, useless and absolutely unfounded reproaches begin?