Chapter 2

Three hours of filming, a languid expression on the camera, and something else constantly stands before your eyes: a man from the past. Like a bright, blinding flash. I thought I had forgotten, resigned myself and calmed down, but when I saw Jan, my heart skipped a beat and my imagination ran wild ... I remembered our last meeting and all subsequent events ... There are no easy solutions in difficult situations. So mine turned out to be difficult.

“You are so thoughtful,” Nellie says, picking me up after the shoot. - Everything is fine?

I fall into the seat of her car like a wreck.

- Yes. I shake my head, trying to switch, to drive away annoying thoughts and flashes. - I think ... if you don’t take your phone away from your ear while driving, then I’d probably better take a taxi to the restaurant. OK? - I give out a pathetic semblance of a joke.

Nellie rolls her eyes and makes a funny face again, and I smile broadly.

- If only Angelica would come with such a decollete! Nolik retorts, pointing at himself with his hands. - And she did not take her eyes off Neiman! I'll look at your "good" mood then.

Neumann, huh? It seems that you recently said that she stared at Lenar and tried to stick to him? I tell my friend.

I love it when Nolik gets angry. So funny at the moment.

“Damn, yes! she sighs noisily and immediately becomes more serious. - Glued! Her dad is the immediate boss of Lenar. My husband and his team are in good standing with Ivashchenko. Naturally, it was not without brainwashing: they say, look, Angela, what kind of men work in my company! Here Angela is now circling over them like an eagle. No matter how many times I visit my husband's office, this flier is constantly hanging around there. And okay Neiman, he is a free man, but Lenar is married! Nothing sacred with this busty! - Almost in one breath, Nellie delivers a long and fiery speech.

- You're jealous, aren't you?

- And how! friend confesses. “For me,” she lowers her eyes to her chest, “everything is not so impressive against the background of Angela. And dad is not a St. Petersburg magnate.

"You've been a bit on edge lately." And too emotional, I notice. - Everything is good?

- Full. But let's talk about something nice. By the way, why didn't you put on that dress that my assistant brought?

- I have my own very personal. I stroke my waist. — And his dry cleaning will cost a penny. And if I splatter yours with food or champagne, it will cost a lot. Such expenses are not included in my plans now.

- In vain. I'm from the heart, Alain. And dry cleaning, if anything, I would pay for it myself.

Having parked the car on Nevsky Prospekt, Nelly calls someone again. Fortunately, this time Lenar, who comes out to meet us. with Neumann. Heinrich looks amazing. Black fitted shirt, gray trousers. Handsome, tall. Thoroughbred. We look very harmonious with him.

A month ago, at one of the evenings that I attended as Heinrich's companion, we were photographed, and recently these pictures caught my eye ... Angelica, of course, will also look great with Neumann. With external data, Ivashchenko's daughter is in perfect order. But female beauty is not only the seductive curves of the body and a pretty face. This is also energy, which Angelica is very weak. And in general, her behavior is too vulgar and repulsive. However, blondes are often in demand among the stronger sex, even having a not very pleasant character. Here everyone has the right to choose what suits him best. Judging by the choice of Janis, he no longer looks in the direction of black-haired witches.

- Hello Alena! Heinrich offers me his elbow and smiles a charming smile. - I'm glad you came.

From the pleasant timbre and voice, from the way Neumann looks, confidence and warmth spread in his chest.

"You look amazing," he compliments her without letting her say a word. "How's your little wizard doing?"

This is Heinrich about Andryusha. In the year he fell unsuccessfully on the playground and broke his forehead. The scar in the form of a zigzag will now forever remain our common memory of this misunderstanding. Absolutely everyone who sees him immediately has associations with the famous book wizard. But, in my opinion, Andrei is not a magician at all, but a troublemaker.

He's almost three and already covered in marks. Hardly had he and I left the hospital after that fall and cut forehead, when the next day Harry scalded his hand in boiling water. A few months later, he sprained his leg and earned a new scar, almost like mine: on the right thigh. I have killed quite a few nerve cells over these three years, but it seems that all the most interesting things are ahead of us. If I don't have a heart attack before.

“It's all right, Heinrich. Thank you. When Andrei grows up a little, I will give him to judo or boxing, maybe tennis, so that he can throw out his irrepressible energy somewhere and not injure himself in search of dangerous adventures.

- Sports? Nyman squints.

- Of course, I won’t give it to a professional one, but interest in an amateur one is welcome. How is your niece? When is the next clinic visit?

We'll be back to visit you in a week. Most likely for surgery. Stephi says that she dreams of looking at the world without glasses and talking with your magical boy again. She liked him,” Neiman says with a touch of warmth and puts his hand on mine, stroking it with his fingers.

Next to Heinrich, I feel very calm. And the fact that he is a close friend of Lenar really adds points to Naiman.

For some time after the birth of Andrei, I had no time for men and their attention: too many worries at once fell on my fragile shoulders. But now I seem to have finally come to my senses after all the events in my life and I am ready to reciprocate Heinrich.

“Don’t be fooled,” Nellie whispers, approaching me. “They are so gallant for a little while. In half an hour they will leave us alone and go to their men's club. But on the other hand, we will talk enough without extra ears. I have some very good news for you...

“I love to take you down,” Lenar intervenes in our conversation and kisses Nelly on the temple. He looks at me with a smile: - I report, Alena: Andrey will soon become not the only favorite in our friendly company.

- Well, Lenar! Nellie screams. - Why do you tell the girls all the important news, and not me? I won't tell you anything more.

- At all? Kamaev laughs.

- Yes! When the contractions start and I'm going to give birth, you'll find out from the girls. I won't say a word to you! - Nellie puffs discontentedly and fakely blows her lips.

The meaning of Lenar's words does not reach me right away, but Nolik's reaction is incomparable. I partly understand why Kamaev does this. Nastya and I also love to evoke emotions in Nelly. She had to go to acting, and not to go to designers. In this case, we would definitely have a family contract: a singer, an artist, a choreographer and an actress.

“God… What wonderful news! I congratulate you.

I look down at my friend's belly. Still flat. Almost.

Maybe Nellie put on a little weight from stress? I didn't attach any importance to it. Here is this yes! Tomorrow morning I will call Laska and "set" her on her future mother, so that she will shower Andryusha with pictures from his very birth to the present. And then she tortured me with stories about how he roared at night when his tummy hurt or his teeth cut. Then Nastya and I took turns on duty at the crib.

On that happy note, the four of us enter the restaurant.

When Heinrich and I walk away from Nelly and Lenar, who are already vigorously discussing their vacation trip next month, Neumann hands me a glass of champagne and breaks into a smile:

- You have an interesting relationship with your friends.

I raise my eyebrows slightly, not understanding what he means.

- I used to think that Nelly is the main one in your party, but it turns out that this is not so. Everything rests on you, they circle around you like moths. Now it's clear why. When I got to know you better.

- Why? I chuckle.

- Don't spread panic out of the blue. Heinrich moves his chin towards Lenar and Nelly. “You also know how to upset others with just a glance. Not everyone dares to approach you. I thought it was about having a baby. But it's not. Some internal blocks. Why do you keep me at a distance? Maybe move closer? he asks, not taking his eyes off me.

“Maybe,” I flirt. - When Andrei was born, too much responsibility fell on my shoulders. But at the same time, his appearance made me softer - that's a fact. In every sense of the word. It is very pleasant that you do not separate us from Andrey and you understand that the reason for my isolation is not at all in him. By the way, thanks for the flowers, Heinrich. But it was a pity to leave such a beautiful bouquet in the salon...

- Do not be sorry. Neiman takes my hand and raises it to his lips. - I'll give you more.

For some reason I am very embarrassed. The feeling that a burning match is driven across the face and shoulders does not leave.

- You seem to stay in St. Petersburg until Wednesday? Can I ask you to join your company and offer to take a walk? Before you answer, you must take into account the fact that I know the city very well. When I was young, I dreamed of working as a guide, and I have a lot of funny stories in my piggy bank. I promise you a sea of smiles and a good mood, ”Heinrich assures and lowers his eyes to my lips. You won't regret it, Alyona.

- Good. I'll think about your offer, - I smile back, allowing Neiman to hold my hand, and even agree to dance with him.

After the solemn part and Ivashchenko's speech, in which he reports how happy that business partners came to share the joy with him, Lenar and Heinrich step aside to discuss work issues, and Nelly and I are left alone.

“Of course you’re quiet, Zero,” I nod at her stomach, watching as my friend devours goodies from the buffet. - I held out again that Lenar betrayed you.

"Actually, I thought he'd do it sooner," she replies with her mouth full, avoiding making eye contact with me. “It’s become something of a family tradition with us. On the street, I was a little indignant for the sake of appearance, and then only because Lenar likes it when I gush with emotions. He is my energy maniac. It feeds like this.

“I realized this a long time ago,” I chuckle, watching my friend.

Nellie chuckles nervously and pushes the pieces of cheese into her mouth one by one, trying to act as usual. But I know her too well and I see that she is very worried about something and is trying to hide it.

“Tell me what happened,” I demand calmly.

Zero leaves the goodies alone and raises his head. The face is pale, the eyes are feverishly shining.

“I swear, Alena, I didn’t know anything about this,” she begins, throwing a worried look at me. - Lenar said something about new partners, branches abroad, connections, agreements and the like. He has been traveling a lot lately. But I could not even think that this cooperation would be with him and his family! Familiar surnames did not flicker, honestly! Yes, I would have told you right away and would never have brought you here!

I listen to Nelly, falling into a daze. And without a voiced surname, it is clear who will be discussed now. In the chest again it is painfully compressed, and it is impossible to take a breath.

Just don't turn around too fast. Behind you stands Bagdasarov,” Nelly continues more quietly.

Anxiety, which has not left me since the meeting with Janis in a beauty salon, reaches an emotional peak. Now, too, her hands are trembling, like Nellie's. Not listening to the advice of a friend, I turn my head and, seeing Janis in the company of Ivashchenko and several other men of respectable age, I bite my lower lip painfully. So that's why the whole evening did not leave the feeling that someone was watching me.

All this time I did not find out anything about Janis. There was no attempt on my part. There were plenty of opportunities though. According to Goncharov, with whom at first we occasionally called up on one common issue, I knew that Jan had flown abroad, but I didn’t understand where and for how long. Consciously fenced off from this information. Interesting, and Ian? We parted badly ... In his place, I would not have experienced anything but hatred. And judging by the fact that he didn’t even nod at me in the cabin as a sign of greeting, he is.