Marina placed Alexey’s final garment carefully into his luggage. After years of marriage, preparing for his work travels was a peaceful ritual she treasured, placing each thing carefully.
“Don’t forget your laptop charger,” she said, closing the luggage.
Alexey looked at his watch, nervous.
“Thanks, love. I must go—the cab is here.”
He kissed her cheek, grabbed his luggage, and ran to the door.
“Call me when you get there!” Marina yelled.
“Will do!” he screamed as the door closed.
She looked from the window as the automobile drove away. Their goodbyes were usually lengthier and more loving, so his quick departure surprised her. She shrugged—he was probably nervous about the encounter.
Suddenly, the space seemed chilly and empty. Marina visited the Meridian shopping mall to divert herself and eventually purchase the items she wanted.
A few hours later, she went through the mall carrying bags. She was about to eat lunch at her favorite café on the third level, but her phone rang—a coworker recommended meeting at the Almond restaurant on the second floor to test its new menu.
Marina agreed; the restaurant was nearby and she enjoyed the ambiance despite seldom going.
She could see the inside via Almond’s wide windows on the second story. Suddenly, her feet stuck to the floor and Alexey sat at a window-side table.
His opponent was a young lady Marina had never seen. They animatedly spoke while leaning together.
Marina observed a long-lost emotion in Alexey’s eyes as the lady chuckled and delicately touched his hand.
Time froze Her heart stopped and eyesight clouded. The guy purportedly flying to Novosibirsk was lunching with another lady.
Her initial reaction was to barge in and demand answers. She was kept back by pride or fear. Marina breathed deeply and left gently.
With shaky fingertips, she canceled lunch with her coworker and contacted her closest friend.
Hi Lena, may we meet? Her voice shook as she spoke.
“What happened?” Alarmed, Lena inquired.
I spotted Alexey with a lady at a restaurant. He should be flying.”
“Where are you?”
At Meridian.
Wait for me in the first-floor Aquarelle café. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.”
Marina sat in a corner, mindlessly stirring her drink. Questions flooded her head. Who was she? How long did this continue? Did Alexey take those trips? The midnight calls, late work hours, and new phone password…
“Marina!” Her back jerked at Lena’s words. She sat opposite Marina and squeezed her hands.
“Explain everything.”
Marina narrated the event, unable to speak.
“Lena, I’m clueless. Some part of me doesn’t want the truth.”
What if it’s not what it seems? There may be an explanation.”
Marina grinned bitterly. “What explanation fits a man who lies about a business trip and lunches with another woman?”
“I don’t know,” Lena said. “But before you decide, maybe learn more?”
“How? Ask him directly?”
Lena pondered. “What if we follow them? Look where they go.”
Spying on her spouse was degrading, but uncertainty stung more. Marina nodded.
For illustration only, they hid in the bookshop next the restaurant, pretending to browse. 40 minutes later, Alexey and his friend arrived. A graceful brunette approaching thirty, she had a perfect body.
“They’re leaving,” Lena muttered.
Keeping their distance, they followed. The lady took a cab outside. Alexey assisted her in, they shook hands briefly, and the cab drove away. Alexey waited on the lot, called someone, and grabbed a taxi.
“Let’s follow him,” Marina suggested.
The cab followed Alexey to the Aquamarine business center, his company’s headquarters. He tensely spoke with the receptionist before disappearing into his boss’s office.
“Maybe the trip was canceled last minute,” Lena said.
Who is the woman? Why not call?
They waited. Alexey went downstairs with a folder 30 minutes later. Marina and Lena hid behind a column and ran for a cab.
“Home,” Marina instructed the driver. She correctly predicted Alexey’s taxi dropped him off at their building. Marina left Lena and climbed alone.
Alexey stared at his laptop in the kitchen.
“Marina! You home? Real astonishment on his face.
“As you see,” she said calmly. Shouldn’t you be on a plane?
He tightened. “The trip was abruptly canceled. I was going to call, but it was crazy.”
“So crazy you couldn’t text?”
I’m sorry.” He dropped his eyes. Marina sat across.
“Who is she, Alexey?”
“Who?” He frowned.
She lunched with you at Almond.”
He became pallid. “You followed me?”
“No. I saw you randomly.”
Silence stretches. He finally said, “It’s not what you think.”
“What should I think? You stated you were flying out, yet you had lunch with a lady!”
Anna Viktorovna. She represents German investors.”
Why did you lie about the trip?
“I told the truth. I was at the airport when it was canceled. My boss called—an investor was in town for one day. I must meet her.”
“Why not tell me?”
He paused. Because that wasn’t a normal meeting.
Marina’s heart tensed. “I knew.”
No—not like that! My employer said I’d be promoted to commercial director if I got her to sign a special contract.
“You couldn’t text?”
“I wanted to surprise you if it worked. Why upset you if it didn’t?
Did it work? Marina asks.
A grin from Alexey. “Yes. A tentative agreement was struck. The major delegation arrives next month.”
She questioned him. He opened the drawer and saw Anna Viktoria Müller’s signed agreement. He then brought out a velvet box with Marina’s favorite sapphire jewelry.
“I bought this last week, planning to give you tonight—along with the news.”
One question remained once her wrath subsided. Why were you beaming with her?
She accepted our terms—relief, nothing more.”
Her hand was squeezed. My only lady is you. My excursions happen.”
She craved faith. “May I ask two questions?”
“Sure.”
What did you eat?
“She ordered house salad and truffle-sauced steak. I ordered fish platter.”
“What else did you discuss?”
“Russian culture—she loves ballet.”
His responses were nice. Tension subsided. After ordering pizza and drinks, the evening returned to normal.
Marina checked Alexey’s phone as he showered—the password was their wedding date. Nothing suspicious. He received an early morning call from his supervisor.
She thought the problem was routine until Alexey sang their favorite tune. They’d ceased surprise one other.
She cooked breakfast and kissed him the next morning.
I have a surprise. I took today off—you should too.”
He murmured, “What for?”
“A little ‘business trip’—just us, no phones.” She gave him two train tickets to their first anniversary retreat in the country.
He beams. “You know I love you.”
“I love you—and I’m done checking your phone.”
He chuckled, “So you did spy on me!” She laughed as she threw a pillow at him.
She believed that sometimes you must trust and take the first step to reignite the flame.
A week later, Marina got a Cologne postcard in her mailbox:
“Dear Marina,
Your spouse praised you at our meeting. Our family business makes the chocolate he picked for you. Hope you like it.
Sincerely, Anna Müller.”
A elegant chocolate box accompanied it. Marina grinned and laid it away till Alexey got home—she had a bag to pack for tomorrow’s trip and would assist him again.