Nastya handed me a tray of vegetables, took the second one and headed towards the exit.

I was close to hysteria.

As we walked, I played thousands of scenarios of our meeting with Maxim in my head. I also prayed to God that he would have the sense not to talk to me or something. Ignatov will kill me. Or God forbid accused of treason.

My legs were shaking, my heartbeat accelerated three times, but the perception of the world around me, on the contrary, slowed down. I felt like I was in slow motion. I heard the replies of the audience as if through tons of water.

Having found...