Elvira didn’t like to remember that place, but the gray institutional walls of the orphanage, the dreary, dirty courtyard, and the worn swings and benches would never be forgotten. Like many children from the orphanage, she never knew her parents, and no one ever visited her. She was left at the gates as an infant, only three or four months old. As a result, the girl grew up without maternal affection, always unusually thoughtful for a child, not playing much with her peers, mostly keeping to herself, away from everyone. She loved watching nature and became particularly attached to a kitten that somehow ended up at the dining hall. She fed it, stroked its fur, and cared for it as if sensing something familiar and familial in it. She also devoted her time to her studies, excelled academically, grew curious, and read a lot. She was particularly good at mathematics and the sciences, easily calculating large numbers in her head and even solving complex equations! The teachers were amazed at her abilities and praised the girl, providing her with various books and interesting puzzles.
Elvira didn’t care for pointless mischief, silly jokes, or taunting others, and because of this, she was disliked. She dreamed of growing up quickly and escaping to freedom, fleeing the province for a place with more opportunities for an interesting and fulfilling life. Physically, the girl resembled a Turgenev maiden: quiet, modest, with long, waist-length blonde hair, and sad gray eyes. The cruel teenagers, who had long given up on school and tried cigarettes and some even alcohol, mercilessly teased her! All she ever heard was: “Swot! Bore! Think you’ll study well and become a millionaire? Fat chance! Take that! People like us are needed by no one! So your effort is wasted!” Elvira often cried, choked by hurt, but despite all hardships and deprivations, she successfully graduated from the orphanage and was even awarded a certificate for her excellent academic performance. After that, it seemed all roads, all paths were open to her!
Elvira moved to the metropolis with great hope. She had long decided that she would definitely pursue higher education, submitted her documents to the correspondence department of the economic university, and, after successfully passing the exams, she was admitted on a budget! But to exist and provide for herself, she needed to find a job. She knocked on many doors, hoping to get a good position, but she was not hired anywhere without experience and a diploma! And then, by an advertisement, she barely managed to get a job in an office, and only as a cleaner. Of course, this wasn’t the job she dreamed of, she was very upset, but there was no other way out. The girl hoped that over time, when she finished her studies, she would be noticed and offered a better position, the main thing in this business was to get a foothold.
The team she worked with was somehow disjointed, unfriendly, everyone watched and gossiped behind each other’s backs. The office workers were cool towards Elvira: young, pretty, she already seemed like a threat to them in the future, and she was studying at the university. She didn’t like all this herself, but there was nowhere to escape to, money was more important for her now. And then the deputy director added fuel to the fire, for him it was important to have his person in all departments. He tried to involve Elvira in this matter, since a cleaner was an excellent spy, present everywhere, generally unnoticed, but could hear and see a lot! However, the new employee flatly refused to be a snitch, which seriously enraged Boris Andreevich, and he only waited for a convenient opportunity to fire her. The firm was managed by Vitaly Sergeevich, an elderly, imposing man who was very pedantic, well-groomed, dressed to the nines, but for some reason wore a funny wig! Apparently, he was embarrassed by his baldness, and thought that it made him look younger. The employees behind his back simply died of laughter, as he indeed looked comical in it. Employees often discussed in the smoking area that he disliked his son, Roman, always finding fault with him, and also went for manicures and had rejuvenating masks done, which also was a subject of mean jokes for many.
Elvira suffered greatly from loneliness, for she was essentially alone in this huge city, with no one to even share, help, or sympathize with! She desperately wanted to find her parents, look them in the eye, find out why they abandoned her? There must be some reason, right? Children aren’t just abandoned for no reason? She periodically called and wrote to the director of her orphanage, Fyodor Petrovich, with whom she had a warm relationship, and begged, just pleaded, him to help find any traces!
One day, when important negotiations were planned at the firm, Elvira heard a baby crying on her way to work, near her stop. Looking in the direction from which it came, she noticed a basket. Approaching closer, she saw a newborn baby struggling in swaddling clothes. The girl’s breath caught: “Where’s the mother? Not a soul around! Could it be abandoned? Oh, what a horror!”
Without a second thought, she took the baby and rushed to work. She couldn’t just leave the foundling! After all, it was pitiful! She immediately remembered how she herself had been left at the gates of the orphanage! But that was an orphanage, and they would definitely accept the child, but to leave your own child at a stop, that’s simply barbaric, unimaginable to her!
The security guard at the gate whistled and was greatly surprised, but still let her in, grumbling:
“It’s never happened before, coming to work with babies! Some kind of madhouse! If the boss finds out, we’re all in trouble! Well, pity the little one, go through quickly, maybe they won’t notice!”
Just then, unfortunately, the baby cried loudly, Elvira was flustered and didn’t know how to calm him down. The baby was obviously hungry and very cold. And at that very moment, the nasty Boris Andreevich himself entered the building! A whole delegation for business production matters was due to arrive any minute, and seeing the girl with a crying baby in her arms, he literally boiled over:
“That’s all we needed! Not only that you’re not coping with your duties, working sloppily, but you also brought a child here, set up a nursery! This is beyond all limits! You probably got pregnant, huh? I’ll fire you without severance pay!” he yelled, turning red and foaming at the mouth, pointing a finger at the baby.
Scared Elvira didn’t know what to answer, and only stutteringly tried to explain:
“I’m sorry, Boris Andreevich! You misunderstood. This isn’t my child. Don’t shout so loudly, he’s already crying, you’re scaring him even more! He needs to be fed. Understand, I was walking to work, and there he lies in a basket near the stop and cries. All alone! What, was I supposed to leave him? Pity the little one!”
But these excuses only enraged the deputy even more, and he didn’t hold back in expressions:
“No, look at this, she’s even lying! Don’t you shut me up here! Look at this impudent loose woman! So, I’m supposed to feed your brat too? Look at her.. acting like Mother Teresa here!”
Elvira was completely upset, rocking and trying to calm the little one and cried herself, not knowing what to do now! At this moment, the owner of the company appeared at the gate. He, it turns out, was watching this scene through a surveillance camera in his office and saw how his deputy was tormenting and humiliating the poor girl in front of everyone. The owner was so shocked and enraged that he even pulled off his wig in anger. He decided to intervene immediately and put an end to this self-will.
Vitaly Sergeevich said in a quiet voice, boding nothing good for the deputy:
“What are you doing, Boris, behaving so disgracefully with employees? Allowing yourself to humiliate and insult? Who gave you such a right? You see, this is an emergency situation, force majeure! And after all – this is a child, he needs help, and as quickly as possible, and you’re yelling here with foul language!”
He looked paternally and warmly at Elvira, then at the baby:
“Well, tell us, what happened to you? Where did you find the baby?”
Elvira calmed down, stopped crying, and told him everything, where and how she discovered the foundling, and at the end she added:
“You can fire me, but I don’t regret my action for a second. Now is not the time to think about that. The baby is clearly hungry, and freezing. And I don’t even have anything with me for him… Who knows what happened to his mother and why he ended up abandoned in the middle of the street? Something bad might have happened to her! Anything can happen in life! It’s clear that he was just born, he’s not even a month old! What should I do? I feel so sorry for him! Such a tiny one, and already not needed by anyone, just like me!”
Her sincere emotions affected those around. They sympathized, and Vitaly Sergeevich’s eyes even moistened!
He immediately, without wasting time, instructed the head of security to take the child to a baby home. Moreover, he ordered to buy everything necessary for him for the first time. Elvira didn’t want to let go of the tiny bundle, her heart was breaking. She sadly handed over the baby and waved goodbye, thinking to herself: “I wish you, little one, that your mommy is found! Be happy!”
After this incident, to everyone’s joy, the harmful deputy was transferred to a smaller branch at the edge of the city. All employees understood that this was akin to exile, and now Boris Andreevich’s harsh weekdays and work without weekends would begin. But few pitied him, as the deputy deliberately pitted colleagues against each other and caused disputes in the team. With his departure, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, it became morally easier to work.
The director did not forget about the foundling and, using his connections in the police, found his mother. When they informed him who it was, he nearly lost the ability to speak and clutched his heart! It was hard to believe, but the baby was abandoned by Roman’s fiancée, the son of Vitaly Sergeevich, Alice! The director and his son rushed to the wayward mother that very day to find out everything! What prompted her to such a nightmarish act? After all, Alice was not a poor girl, but very impulsive! Roman met her by chance at a party with mutual friends and couldn’t resist, she was so bright and charismatic! How she danced so passionately, everyone clapped and shouted “Bravo!” Roman’s affair was turbulent and swift, but the lovers were completely different and often quarreled. The girl wanted freedom, thrill, and the feeling of flying! But Roman was a serious guy, worked a lot and really didn’t like parties, attended entertainment events very rarely and only for a special occasion. Soon the fiancé grew tired of the flighty and frivolous character of the bride, and they quarreled fiercely and broke up for good. Roman didn’t even suspect that Alice was pregnant!
When Vitaliy Sergeyevich and Roman finally reached Alisa, she reluctantly opened the door. The men entered the well-furnished apartment. The hostess sat in the kitchen, absently stirring her coffee with a spoon. Roma had never seen Alisa so depressed and shattered! He tried to appeal to her conscience:
“Alisa, how could you? Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant? I would have helped, even if we’re not together anymore! Why did you leave your own child at the bus stop? What kind of mother does that? It’s just unimaginable!”
Suddenly, the woman jumped up as if scalded and screamed at the top of her lungs:
“What are you doing here? Lecturing me on morals? You, Romochka, left me, so why would I want this child! I only regret not having an abortion sooner! When I came home from the maternity ward, I was so overwhelmed with despair! Just so you know, his name is Artem. He cried day and night, nonstop, I thought I’d go mad! So I took him as far away as possible! I’m still young and want to live! A child is such a burden! I’d be tied down for life, with no freedom! Both of you, get out, I don’t want to see anyone!”
The father couldn’t hold back anymore and harshly replied:
“You are a disgraceful woman, Aliska, heartless and cold as a biscuit! I thought something might have happened to you, and the child ended up on the street by accident, but you… you wanted to get rid of him..”
At home, during a family council, it was decided to take little Artemka into the family and raise him themselves! It was unacceptable for their own flesh and blood to be shuffled around orphanages! The director’s wife, Svetlana Petrovna, insisted on getting a DNA test just to be sure, given Alisa’s promiscuous nature, to make sure he was their actual grandson! The results came back positive, now everyone was at ease, they hired a professional nanny, and Artemka finally found a family! Roman cherished his son, now dedicating all his free time to him. Svetlana Petrovna made sure her grandson had the best of everything, she loved him dearly, as he resembled Roma so much! Meanwhile, Alisa heartlessly signed off her parental rights and led a reckless life! Maternal instincts never awoke in her, alas!
The news quickly spread across the company, and everyone talked about it except the lazy! Many respected Elvira for such a noble deed, and she even got a bonus. But a better position was not offered, and she continued to clean offices.
Temporarily, the director’s son, Roman Vitalyevich, was appointed in Boris Andreevich’s place, the one his father disliked. Elvira was curious to see him, having heard so much about him indirectly. To her surprise, the new deputy turned out to be a very pleasant young man, tall, attractive, and very charismatic. Cleaners are usually overlooked, and Elvira was used to it, but the director’s son always greeted her warmly when entering the building, and charmingly smiled, even adding: “Have a good day, Elvira!” or just joked. And it made her feel so good! They started with meaningless phrases and gradually began to talk.
Then something happened that Elvira couldn’t fathom! Roman Vitalyevich called her to his office! She walked to the office a bit nervous: “Why does he need me? We have no business together by status, it seems I haven’t made any mistakes. A real mystery!”
Elvira knocked and quietly asked:
“Excuse me, Roman Vitalyevich, did you call for me? Is something wrong?”
The deputy was very thoughtful and serious, and gestured her to a chair:
“Please, Elvira, take a seat. I’m in big trouble and really need your help! I simply can’t do without you!”
Indeed, this day was the most mysterious in Elvira’s life! Later in the evening, the orphanage director called her:
“Good evening, Elvira! I have fulfilled your request, and found your mother! This is not a conversation for a phone call, you understand, so I’m waiting for you here!” — and he hung up! Elvira’s heart was ready to burst, and tears welled up in her eyes:
“Lord! Could it really be happening, and I’m finally going to see my mommy!”
All weekend, Elvira was a wreck, shaking and trembling, sleepless. She sat in the kitchen, drank bitter coffee, cried, and kept wondering, what was her mom like? Maybe a successful woman, or maybe a fallen, alcoholic wreck? Did she have other children? And how should she behave with her, what to say? To ask bluntly: “Why and for what did you abandon me?” It seemed too harsh! But pretending that she had forgiven her immediately seemed unlikely! And if she doesn’t want to talk to me at all, then what?
These thoughts swirled in her head, and tears fell onto the tablecloth…
Finally, Monday! Elvira flew to her orphanage, as if on wings, having taken time off from work! The director, Fyodor Petrovich, was already waiting in his office, as agreed.
Elvira greeted:
“Good day, Fyodor Petrovich! How long has it been? Thank you for responding to my request and finding my mommy! I still can’t believe it happened? Don’t keep me waiting, tell me, who is she? How do I find her? Will I really see her soon!”
Fyodor Petrovich coughed and fiddled with his glasses:
“Well, sit down, Elechka! Yes, I put a lot of effort into finding out anything about your birth, but I have nothing good to report. Your mother died a long time ago, and you were brought to us a bit later. Someone told me that your mom’s friend initially took care of you, but apparently couldn’t handle it, as a baby is such a responsibility, and gave you to the orphanage. Here, I wrote down where to roughly look for your mom’s grave, and how to find that friend. If it’s really her. I can’t guarantee that what I heard, I told you.”
Everything inside Elvira suddenly sank and fell! She had hoped, believed in a miracle, but now it was all… over! She grabbed her head and sobbed bitterly!
Fyodor Petrovich comforted her:
“Now, Elechka, stop, don’t tear your soul unnecessarily! You can’t return anything, there’s nothing to be done! I’ve worked here for so many years, yet I’m always amazed. Home kids often don’t appreciate their parents, often overlook them, ignore them! And you, my poor orphans, so dream of finding them, despite being abandoned! You’re ready to forgive them anything, justify any of their actions, just to have a close person nearby! What a paradox! My poor ones! Well, nothing, you need to live on and look forward, not back! Once you get married, have your own family, it will be easier. Who if not you, Elechka, surely deserve it! So don’t mourn, go home! Good luck to you!”
The girl wiped her tears and thanked the director:
“Still, thank you for everything, Fyodor Petrovich! At least some result! I sincerely thank you for your care and participation. And all the best to you! Goodbye.”
Elvira decided not to go home but immediately went to her mother’s grave. She barely found the leaning, grass-overgrown grave among other burials at the cemetery. There was no photo, just a plaque, and that’s it! The girl stood as if enchanted, staring at her mother’s life dates without looking away! Elvira couldn’t comprehend that here lay her closest family member for many years, and she had no idea! The girl quietly cried and said aloud: “Mommy! My dear! Forgive me for holding a grudge against you all these years and hating you, thinking you were heartless and abandoned me! Turns out, you gave your life so I could be born! How sad that we will never meet! I miss you so much, I so want to hug you, to hold you close! Forgive me, mommy! I promise, I will often come to talk to you! I believe you can hear me!”
At least her heart felt somewhat lighter, at least now Elvira didn’t feel like a rolling stone without kin or clan! She firmly decided to refurbish her mother’s grave and order a monument! This was a tribute of respect to her kin!
It took great effort for the girl to find her mother’s friend, the very one who, according to rumors, had taken her to the orphanage gates. The woman’s name was Antonina and she lived in a small suburban village, just ten kilometers from the city. Elvira knocked on the gate of an old, shabby house, her heart sinking! How to start the conversation and what to say?
An elderly, unkempt woman appeared on the porch. She was dressed very poorly, in a washed-out and patched robe, with an old tattered jacket on top. It was evident she was ill, as she coughed heavily and hoarsely.
Elvira decided not to beat around the bush and started with the main question:
“Good afternoon. Are you Antonina?”
She nodded and also looked surprised:
“Yes, my name is Antonina Ivanovna. And who are you? You’re so young and pretty, and I think I’ve seen you somewhere? Are you from the social services by chance?”
“Not at all, my name is Elvira, I’m the daughter of Valentina Uvarova. The one you reportedly carried to the gates of the children’s home yourself! I need to talk to you!”
The woman’s face suddenly changed, turned pale as a sheet, and she gestured for her guest to come inside. The house was cramped, full of clutter, and smelled of damp and dust!
The hostess sat down on a chair and began a difficult conversation:
“Yes, my child, I have such a sin, I confess! I thought no one would ever find out! Here’s what happened. Valentina and I were friends from childhood and grew up together. Valya later trained as a seamstress, and I foolishly went into construction. Your mother, Elvira, was a real beauty, you’re just like her! I don’t know where she met her beau, but she loved him so much she was ready to die for him! He also swore eternal love to her, such a passion, indescribable. But as soon as your mom got pregnant, that wealthy suitor left her! Doctors advised against giving birth, her heart was weak, but she insisted, wouldn’t hear of it! She really wanted a child from her beloved, to have a memory remain! But see, it wasn’t meant to be, your mom died in childbirth, and she had no one but me! Well, I scraped together whatever I could for the funeral, went into debt. And I did take you from the maternity ward, God knows, I wanted to adopt you! I felt so sorry for you, being an orphan myself, I know life in an orphanage isn’t easy! But I quickly realized I couldn’t, I wouldn’t manage to raise you! They paid pennies at work, and if I had quit and stayed home with you, we’d have been at the very end! And my live-in partner, Stepan, flew into a rage right away, wouldn’t accept you at all. He said, choose, either me or someone else’s child! He said, we’re barely making ends meet as it is, and you brought another mouth to feed! I was scared, and so I left you at the gates of the orphanage! I know there’s no forgiveness for me! God has punished me, I have no children, never managed to get pregnant no matter how much I tried, Stepan eventually left me anyway, and I lived alone. I’ve thought about you many times, my conscience won’t let me rest, though it’s been many years! But what can be done, the past can’t be brought back.”
Elvira quietly said:
“Indeed, nothing can be undone! Tell me more about my mother, perhaps you have a photo of her? I would like to order a monument for her grave with a photograph.”
Antonina rummaged through a cupboard and pulled out an old photograph. She handed it to Elvira:
“Here’s one. This is your mother at about your age now. Isn’t she beautiful? She didn’t need any makeup! No wonder that rich man lost his head over Valyusha! Take it, keep it as a memory, and forgive me once again! You see how I live, poor as a church mouse! I’ve also fallen ill, this cough has been torturing me, making life unbearable!”
The woman and Elvira warmly said goodbye; the girl managed to forgive her and even gave her some money for medicine. Who knows, maybe at that moment she really couldn’t have acted any differently. Perhaps it was fate! The photo of her mother was now always in her purse, like a talisman!
On her way home, a small, skinny, and ugly puppy with a cropped, stubby tail followed her. It looked up at her with devoted eyes and whimpered. The girl stomped her feet several times and clapped her hands to scare it away, but to no avail. It only cowered, expecting an inevitable hit, obviously used to being mistreated! Elvira even got angry: “Why are you sticking to me, little one! Leave me alone! I have nothing to feed you with, and nowhere to take you! The landlady will find out and kick us out right away! She explicitly warned against any pets!”
But the puppy didn’t lag behind for a single step and followed her all the way to her apartment building. Elvira had already entered the building but couldn’t resist looking back. The little one sat down on its haunches and looked at her so pitifully, tears welling in its eyes! The girl felt so sorry for the poor creature, utterly helpless! She suddenly thought: “It’s just as lonely as I am… it must be so frightening for it, nowhere to go! No one to feed it or show any pity! Well, come what may! In the end, it chose me! So be it!” The girl picked up the dirty little thing:
“What am I going to do with you? So be it, come along! You’ll live with me! If we get kicked out, we’ll be kicked out together! I’ll call you Chernysh (Blackie)!”
Elvira first bathed the puppy, fed it, and made a makeshift bed in the hallway, deciding it would sleep there. To her surprise, when she came out of the shower, she found her guest peacefully snoring on her bed! What’s funnier, the puppy had washed up and turned out to be snow-white and fluffy! Elvira laughed and threw up her hands:
“Look at that! A snow-white puppy named Blackie! Just hilarious!”
She gently moved the little one and lay down beside it. It woke up, wagged its stubby tail, and licked her face! It was so touching! Inside, she felt warm and good, as if this little warm bundle was warming her troubled soul! Thus, Elvira found her best and most faithful friend, her beloved Chernysh! Now she had somewhere to rush home to in the evenings, for her little one was waiting! They walked together, played with a stick and a ball, and she no longer felt so alone!
Meanwhile, back at the company, passions were running high. The director unexpectedly fell ill, after so many years of stress his heart failed, and he was urgently hospitalized in the cardiology department. But business is a tough affair, and without strict control, the company couldn’t stay afloat for long. They had to involve the son in managing the company. Although the businessman was very reluctant to do this! The thing is, Roman wasn’t his biological son. Vitaliy Sergeyevich married Sveta when she already had a little son from her first, unsuccessful marriage! Vitaliy Sergeyevich always treated his stepson coolly, no matter how hard he tried, he could never truly love him as his own! Although the boy grew up fine, studied well, and always tried to prove to his father that he was worthy! He would win first place at an olympiad, run home joyfully:
“Mom, Dad, look! The tasks were so difficult, but I still managed! Look, I took first place!”
Mom, as usual, would rush to hug and kiss her child, praising him, while his father would just frown and say:
“Well done, son, but it’s not nice to boast!”
And so it was every time, no matter what it concerned! Roman was always hurt by why his father didn’t love him. He repeatedly asked his mother about it, she just felt sorry for the boy and tried to justify her husband:
“You see, sonny, your dad can’t be changed! That’s just how he is, sometimes he’s harsh! But it only seems that way. In reality, he loves you very much, he just doesn’t show it! After all, overall he’s not bad, he doesn’t harm us, he doesn’t deny us anything!”
Vitaliy Sergeyevich himself didn’t know why he distrusted his stepson, but he couldn’t do anything about it! Even today, lying in a hospital bed, he couldn’t help but make a sharp comment:
“Roman, here’s the thing. You see, I’ve been eaten up by ailments, and work can’t tolerate delays, you know. So be it, I trust you with the company for a month, as a trial period! I hope I won’t regret my decision!”
The son was simply thrilled and assured his father:
“Thank you, Dad, you won’t have to blush for me! I won’t let you down! I promise!”
Roman took on the task with enthusiasm, he knew many of the company’s processes well and had management experience. But from the very first day, everything went awry! The team didn’t accept him, that’s all! Many cast sidelong glances and whispered, always comparing him to his father! They only murmured that he was too young, weak, wouldn’t cope! We’ll all sink! Roman Vitalyevich tried to encourage the workers, issued bonuses, sometimes, true, he had to scold, it couldn’t be avoided, but the atmosphere in the company was extremely tense! The only person who didn’t hold back, and treated him positively, was, surprisingly, Elvira. She always genuinely and warmly smiled at him, wishing him a good day.
And recently, his father threw him a nearly impossible task!
Vitaliy Sergeyevich instructed him with the following:
“Listen, son. You have a responsible and important task. I found very profitable partners, the company ‘Signal’, you need to sign a contract with them, it will lift our company to a completely new level! So go on, take care of it. Don’t let me down! We need to sign a contract with them, such an opportunity might not come again!”
Roman was really nervous, ‘Signal’ was one of the largest companies in the city! It was well known that the partners trusted only family people. That was their thing! His father knew this very well, and deliberately put his son in a tight spot, assuming he would falter and not cope! The thing was, ‘Signal’ was a completely family-run business, all executive positions were held by family members, and the general director was a woman! They were very proud of this and believed that this was the only way to build a successful business.
Roman panicked. Who to take to the negotiations? Surely not the flighty Alisa? Ridiculous! That’s when he remembered the new cleaner. Elvira was good-looking and appeared very decent, she could be trusted and it wasn’t embarrassing to be seen with her in public. So, he called her to his office for a talk:
“Elvira, I have a serious and responsible task for you! I have important negotiations with ‘Signal’ in three days, you’ve probably heard of them. Well, its owners don’t trust partners who don’t have a family. I need you to play along and pretend to be a ‘wife for an hour.’ You don’t need to delve into the intricacies of business, just behave naturally, smile sweetly, and nod occasionally. That’s all. Well, do you agree? I really hope you do! You’re not losing anything, really! On the contrary, you’ll have a pleasant time in a cozy restaurant.”
Elvira was taken aback by such a proposal! She thought the boss was going to scold her, but here was this! She was both scared and flattered at the same time! Thoughts raced through her head: “What if I can’t handle it? What if I let someone down and embarrass myself?” But, on the other hand, Roman was very pleasant to her as a person, so why not help? Such an opportunity certainly comes once in a lifetime!
And she decided:
“Frankly, I’m scared, but I agree! I’ll try not to let you down!”
And they began to discuss the format and details of the upcoming meeting. Although both were very nervous, they were confident they could handle it! Such a thing in business history definitely hadn’t happened before, a company director showing up to a business meeting with a cleaner! No one knew how it would end!
Elvira was all nerves, the meeting was tomorrow, and she had absolutely nothing to wear! Surely not going to a restaurant in jeans, and it wouldn’t hurt to update her hairstyle either! She decided to call Roman Vitalyevich:
“Excuse me, don’t think I’m being forward, but I’ve looked through my wardrobe and realized I have absolutely nothing to wear! I don’t know what to do!”
The man babbled:
“Lord, forgive me! What a fool, I didn’t even think of that! We need to work on your image, and there’s almost no time! Wait at home, I’ll come pick you up now, we’ll sort it out!”
Roman Vitalyevich took Elvira to an expensive boutique and told the accommodating salespeople, who practically rolled out the red carpet upon seeing an important client:
“Ladies, this woman needs a dress that will knock our important guests off their feet. Is the task clear?”
After half an hour, Elvira came out of the fitting room, unrecognizable! A turquoise long flowing dress was simultaneously not vulgar and very seductive, as it highlighted her impeccable figure! Against its backdrop, her gray eyes brightly sparkled!
The man even whistled:
“Great! This is exactly what we need! It suits us. Wrap it up!”
Then he turned to Elvira:
“You are simply enchanting! I’m at a loss for words! Now, let’s head to the salon, we need to add a few touches!”
For several hours, the beauty salon staff worked magic on the client, gave her a gentle manicure, refreshed her hairstyle, did a face mask and massage, and she was simply unrecognizable!
Roman was absolutely speechless, Elvira was already very attractive, but now she resembled a diamond in an expensive cut.
And the hour X arrived! The partners turned out to be very pleasant people, they conversed lively and quite trustfully about everything, Elvira felt quite comfortable and even interested in spending time with such people! She stuck to the script, was restrained, supported the conversation, intuitively knowing when to keep silent and when to just smile sweetly. The negotiations were a success and the contract was signed! The general director of ‘Signal’, a tough, stingy with praise woman, said to Roman at parting:
“Roman Vitalyevich, I admit you made the right choice. Nowadays, it’s so rare to meet a tactful and smart woman who also understands economics well. Truly, a reliable support! With such a wife, you certainly won’t get lost!”
Roman was amazed! Indeed, Elvira was not just a beautiful silent doll! She so skillfully and subtly conducted the conversation, knew how to steer the conversation in the right direction, and did it all so charmingly and unobtrusively!
When the guests dispersed, he poured a full glass of champagne, exhaled, and said:
“Thank you so much, Elechka! I don’t know how to thank you! You were simply outstanding! The contract is in our pocket, which means profits will multiply! I’m surprised! You shouldn’t be fussing with a rag and mop, you deserve more! I will definitely talk to my father and get you a promotion! And also, I want you to know how beautiful and smart you are! Such people are rare nowadays, all taken over by artificial, doll-like beauties who know all the brands of clothes and shoes, but that’s all! But you have natural charm and intelligence! Bravo!
Elvira was very pleased and replied:
“Thank you, Roman Vitalievich! I had a great time! It was like a celebration! Well then, to the bottom! To the success of the deal!”
They happily drank aromatic cool champagne and talked heart-to-heart for a long time. Roman was very likable to Elvira, she felt so easy and comfortable with him, as if they were close people and had known each other for a hundred years!
The happy Roman rushed to the hospital to see his father the next day, so eager for him to appreciate his outstanding success now! Pulling off such a complex deal was no joke! But contrary to his expectations, when Roman told him about the success, his father lashed out at him with accusations:
“Yes, I know, I’ve already been informed! That the contract is signed is good. But that you brought a cleaner as your wife to the meeting at the restaurant is outrageous! What were you thinking? What if she had embarrassed you? Who is she even? Who does she think she is? Why does she interfere where she’s not wanted? One minute she’s saving Alyoska’s child, the next she’s playing at being a wife! Isn’t that taking on too much? Well, invite her to me, I’ll deal with her myself! Turning the company into a circus!”
Roman felt so hurt, right to tears! He said nothing, slammed the door so hard that plaster fell, and ran out of the ward! Anger overwhelmed him: “What was I actually hoping for? I was always a stranger to him, and I will remain so!! All my life I’ve been bending over backwards to please him, and where’s any gratitude! And I even implicated Elvira! Now he’ll give her a hard time too! Well, nothing, I definitely won’t let her be fired! We’ll see who outdoes whom!”
Elvira walked to the hospital on unyielding legs, terribly nervous: “Well, that’s it! The fairy tale is over! Vitaly Sergeevich will grind me into powder! He will definitely fire me, as sure as eggs!”
And sure enough, as soon as she entered and greeted him, the director began to mercilessly scold her:
“I called you, Elvira, for an unpleasant conversation. I was informed that you appeared at a negotiation of huge importance pretending to be my son’s wife! Who gave you such a right? You are nobody, just a cleaner, your job is to mop floors and not interfere, especially in matters you know nothing about!”
Elvira was deeply hurt, as she was humiliated for no reason, and she couldn’t hold back:
“Why are you so harsh? Firstly, Roman Vitalievich himself asked me to do this, and secondly, I am not nobody to you! I have an economics education, I’m studying part-time! And just because I’m an orphan with no one to stand up for me, it doesn’t give you the right to insult me! I never thought you were like this!”
The girl cried bitterly and reached into her purse to grab a handkerchief; she was nervous and dropped a photo of her mother on the floor, the very one that Antonina had given her. It flew right under the businessman’s feet. He bent down, picked it up, looked at it, and suddenly turned pale as a wall! He clutched at his heart and started gasping for air! Elvira was terrified and screamed:
“Lord! Are you okay? Should I call a doctor? I’ll do it right away!”
But the man waved his hands and pointed to the medicine on the nightstand:
“Give me a pill under my tongue, please, oh, something’s caught me again!”
After taking the pill, the man caught his breath and asked hoarsely:
“Where did you get this photo? That’s Valentina! My Valechka! My first love! I met her when I was very young. What a beauty and smart girl she was. From an orphanage herself, but her manners, as if she was raised in a noble maiden institute! What a love we had, I remember! I introduced her to my parents, wanted to marry her! But they utterly rejected our relationship! They were categorically against it! So I gave in, left her, I confess! She was probably pregnant too! I persuaded her to have an abortion, even gave her money. I don’t know how her life turned out. And then I married Sveta. She already had a child, Roman, so he’s not my biological son! And it’s been gnawing at me ever since, to be honest! So where did you get her photo from?”
Elvira in shock, she cried even more and barely squeezed out:
“I’m her daughter! And she’s my mother! As you see, she didn’t have the abortion! She gave birth to me, and she died during childbirth! Her friend took me in at first, then chickened out and returned me to the orphanage. I only found out about this a week ago. Oh you! I spent all my childhood in the orphanage dreaming of finding my parents, suffering so much from loneliness, I thought that once I succeeded, I would become so happy, and it would be easier for me! But now I’ve found both my deceased mother and apparently, my father! And it feels so nauseating about everything! Maybe it would’ve been better if I knew nothing!”
The businessman could not recover from the shock, he felt terribly ashamed of his words and actions, he didn’t know what to respond:
“Forgive me, Elvira! I didn’t know, I didn’t think.. Basically, I was wrong! It doesn’t add up in my head! Turns out, you are my biological daughter? What a thing! I never hoped that I would have biological children! Sveta never gave birth to a child for me, so besides Roman, I had no one! But it always bothered me that he was not my own! I don’t know why!”
Elvira suddenly flared up:
“That’s wrong of you! Your son, although not your own, is a very good person! It was you who raised him and made him that way! So you can be proud of your son!”
Vitaly Sergeevich couldn’t settle down:
“Elvira, I still can’t believe what I’ve heard! Would you mind doing a genetic test? Just to be absolutely sure that you are my daughter? Please don’t be offended!”
“As you wish! After everything that’s happened to me this month, nothing surprises me anymore! But it doesn’t really change anything! Our relationship is unlikely to become warmer because of this! Excuse me, I need to collect myself! And also, I’m resigning. After such humiliations and insults, I will not work a day in your company! All the best! Get well!”
Elvira rushed out of the hospital and ran away, not looking where she was going! She felt so bad and disgusted! Why is everything like this? Mommy died, and the father turned out to be a harsh tyrant, and now there’s no job anymore! The full set! She locked herself in her apartment and decided not to go anywhere at all! Let them fire her! For some reason, such apathy overtook her! She just didn’t want to live. Chernysh, sensing his mistress’s mood, started cuddling up to her and licking her hands, looking into her eyes as if encouraging her:
“Hey, what’s up? Keep your chin up! Here I am, your favorite! Aren’t you happy?”
But already the next morning, someone was ringing the doorbell! The little dog barked loudly, sensing a stranger!
Elvira grumbled displeasedly:
“Who’s there, won’t they let me die in peace!”
She was stunned when she saw Roman at the threshold with a cake and a bouquet of flowers! He simply beamed and radiated happiness! He hugged the astonished girl and blurted out:
“Well hello, sister! Lord, how happy I am! Dad told me everything! It’s great that I’m no longer alone in this world! No wonder I liked you right away! Elly!”
The girl sadly said:
“Regarding you, Roman Vitalievich, I’m also glad. It’s easy and good with you! One can only dream of such a brother. But right now, I somehow feel so sick at heart… Probably already fired from work, and spoke with dad in raised tones, I don’t know, I have no emotional closeness with him! Only Chernysh makes me happy, my little positive bundle!”
The man became serious and sat down next to her on the couch:
“Firstly, stop addressing me formally! We’re family! Secondly, dad’s a complicated man, I’ve had quite difficult relationships with him all my life too. But on major issues, he’s a proper and fair man! Thirdly, I have great news, I talked to dad, and you are being transferred to the economic department! And fourthly, stop moping! Now get dressed, grab the puppy, and let’s go for a walk! I’m telling you as your older brother!”
For Elvira, this was so unusual, she was now not alone in this world, she had a brother! How great it was! They walked in the park with the dog for a long time, the dog was happy, barked loudly, and brought them a stick, relatives chatted about everything in the world, as it turned out, they had very similar tastes and interests! Bad mood and sadness immediately flew away, and there was peace in her heart!
When Elvira was transferred to the economic department the next day by order, colleagues initially complained and gossiped:
“Where have you seen such a thing? What economist from a cleaner, tell me? Madhouse, not a company!”
As the information that she was the owner’s daughter had not yet reached the employees, they looked askance at her and deliberately loaded her with complex reports, not really explaining anything. But Elvira was only happy to have finally gotten a proper position and no longer had to drag a mop. Now she was engaged in her favorite business. The girl worked hard, often staying late, and took documents home, and soon her colleagues began to respect her, seeing that everything was always done conscientiously.
While they were getting things done, Vitaly Sergeevich finally conducted a genetic test, and it showed that Elvira was indeed his biological daughter! There was a difficult and unpleasant conversation with his wife, as the woman had no idea about his youthful sins. In the end, she forgave him, after all, they had been together for many years, what now, and all this had happened long before her appearance in his life.
After a long treatment, Vitaly Sergeevich decided it was time for him to retire, especially since his son Roman was adeptly managing the company. But, since he now had two children, he could not offend Elvira, seeing that she was very tenacious and determined, and the businessman made an extraordinary decision. He gathered all the relatives at a big table and solemnly announced:
“My dear ones! I’m old, my health is increasingly playing up, and all these daily shocks and nerves at work are unnecessary for me! And in the end, shouldn’t I give my wife the attention she deserves, having given my whole life to the company, only sporadically and in bits at home! Little Artemchik barely sees me, it’s about time to babysit my own grandson! Therefore, I’ve made the following decision! From this month, the company will be managed by two people, brother and sister, Roman and Elvira! I see that you work excellently in tandem, get along well, and will put all your efforts into making the business of my life grow and prosper!”
Stunned by such trust, Roman was flabbergasted:
“Wow! Thank you, dad! Finally, you appreciated our efforts! We won’t let you down, right, Elly?”
She nodded, herself in shock, how radically her life was changing right this second! And Vitaly Sergeevich added:
“Children! I want to apologize to both of you! To you, Roma, that I always nagged, tested you, and didn’t appreciate you enough. To you, daughter, that I treated your late mother so badly, and didn’t even inquire about her further fate! I could have raised my own daughter for so many years! Well, what’s done is done. But I’m glad that now we are all one big and friendly family, no more secrets and misunderstandings, and it feels warm and good in my heart!”
Everyone teared up at such warm and sincere words, and began to hug each other. Elvira, for the first time in many years of bleak loneliness, felt that she was part of a family, needed and important to someone!
The company’s affairs were booming, work was relentless, and Roman and Elvira worked tirelessly. The new year was approaching, and they decided to organize a corporate event for the employees, so to speak, to unite the team a bit and give people a chance to relax. Roman invited his best friend, Nikita, to the celebration at the restaurant. They had been friends since childhood, were inseparable! But after school, their paths diverged: Roman followed in his father’s footsteps and went into business, while Nikita became a geologist, and for long months went on business trips and traveled. And he had just recently come home for the holiday! Of course, the old friends decided to meet and celebrate the occasion! Just the reason had arisen! They sat at a table and chatted, reminiscing about their school years, and suddenly Nikita asked:
“Listen, Romka. Who’s that girl who’s running everything here? So beautiful and confident! I’ve fallen in love!”
Roman laughed:
“That’s my half-sister by father, we now manage the company together. Her name is Elvira! I’ll introduce you now!”
He waved her over, and she approached:
“Sister! Enough worrying and double-checking everything. The table is heaving with snacks, the musicians are trying their hardest, everyone’s relaxing to the full! Everything’s fine! Relax already! Meet my best friend, Nikita! By the way, he’s already fallen in love with you! So sit down with us, or you’ll miss your chance!”
Elvira laughed and greeted the young man! He looked at her so piercingly! It felt like boiling water was poured inside her! She really liked Nikita! He was fun and joking, invited her to dance, made compliments, and didn’t leave her side all evening!
When all the guests dispersed and the restaurant closed, Nikita called a taxi and took Elvira home! She was not against it, and then they lingered outside in the cold in front of the building, like schoolchildren, unable to part, and Elvira decided:
“Nikit, maybe you’ll come in to warm up? We’ll have some hot tea? Chernysh has been waiting for me, I need to walk him!”
Nikita was just waiting for these words and gladly agreed! They walked the dog together, then drank tea with candies, and couldn’t stop talking! They parted only in the early morning, Elvira managed to sleep just a couple of hours, but she didn’t regret it at all! A smile didn’t leave her face, she wanted to laugh and sing! Roman immediately noticed the changes and cunningly glanced at her:
“Dear sister, haven’t you fallen in love, my dear? I’ve never seen you this happy? Come on, confess.”
Elvira blushed and smiled dreamily:
“Well, to be honest, I really liked Nikita! He’s so cool! It’s so easy and good with him! Maybe I did fall in love! What about it?”
Her brother suddenly became sad and serious:
“You see, Nikita is a great guy, he has a golden character, he’s honest and kind! But there’s one thing, though! He can’t sit still for long, that’s why he travels all his life! I’m worried about you, he’ll soon leave for another long geological expedition, and you’ll be crying and missing him! Think carefully, do you need such relationships? Are you ready for them?”
Elvira also got upset, and quietly answered:
“Honestly, Roma, I don’t know! But I understand that I can’t do without him anymore! We’ll live, we’ll see! Okay, let’s get to work! Some investigator you are!”
One day, a secretary, Elena, knocked on Elvira’s office door and brought in a huge bouquet of roses! There was a note “To the best and most desired, the sweetest, loveliest, there’s no one more beautiful in the world, be my Elly!”
The girl simply melted from such romance! Not only flowers but also poetry! How pleasant! And a moment later, a call came:
“Hello, did you receive my little present? If you don’t mind, I’ll pick you up at six, got two tickets to a concert, I promise, it will be very interesting!”
Elvira was so delighted, her heart fluttered! She happily agreed:
“I’m all for it! I’d love to spend another evening with such an interesting gentleman. The flowers and poetry are simply impeccable! Thank you, I’m touched! But there’s one problem, what about my Chernysh? He needs a walk! And there’s absolutely no time for that!”
Nikita solved it all right away:
“Don’t worry, I’ll come earlier, you give me the keys, and I’ll walk Chernysh! So everything’s fine! He seems to have liked me!”
And so their whirlwind romance began, Elvira and Nikita couldn’t get enough of each other, they were so good together! The New Year’s holidays passed, and it was time for Nikita to leave. He put it off until the last moment and said nothing to Elly, understanding that she would be terribly upset! And then, when his things were packed, he decided to have a conversation:
“Elly, my love! I’m leaving early tomorrow morning! I so don’t want to part with you, but this is my job! It’s just for two months! I’ll be back at the end of March! And we’ll be together again!”
The girl suddenly got up and sharply replied:
“And you’re only telling me about this now? I thought we were serious! Or how do you imagine our further relationship! You’ll be away for months, and I’ll have to be content with crumbs of your attention? Is that normal? Well no, I don’t need such relationships! I want a real family, a child, like everyone else! If you don’t need that, then it’s better we say goodbye right now! All the best!”
And she ran out into the street in tears! Everything inside her was boiling with anger: “How could this be? So he used me and left? What a fool I am! And I had to fall in love with him! And Roma warned that this would happen! Well, let him roll on to his expedition! I’ll live without him!”
Nikita was worried, tried to call Elly, but she stubbornly didn’t answer the phone, mortally offended at her fiancé! So they parted, still in a quarrel!
The man believed that he was doing everything right, after all, he was a geologist, it was his calling, his beloved job, the romance! How could he live without it? But days and weeks went by, and nothing pleased him anymore! Neither singing by the campfire nor searching for minerals, his heart was torn there, to her, to this beautiful gray-eyed princess!
Elvira, try as she might, couldn’t get her romantic out of her head! She remembered those very roses and poems and carefully kept that note as a talisman!
Roman, of course, saw her state and tried to console her as best he could:
“Don’t be sad, sister! It hurts to look at you! You’ll make up yet! Nikitka is a fool, of course, I wouldn’t have left such a beauty! What’s so special about him, did the world converge on him? Want me to introduce you to another friend? Or shall we go somewhere, have some fun?”
Elvira suddenly burst into tears:
“I don’t want anything without him, you understand? I love him and that’s it! Seems like I’m angry, but I still can’t forget him! I felt that we were a perfect match! Something like this will never happen again! Forget them all! Give me your report, I’ll check it!”
On the weekend, Elvira and Roman decided to visit their father, check on everyone, especially little Artemchik. He was the family’s beloved! The men went to grill kebabs, and Elvira and the businessman’s wife, Svetlana, set the table. Little Artemchik cheerfully rattled a new toy in his walker and babbled in his own way!
Everything was ready, and a whole crowd barged into the house, Roman carrying smoking kebabs, father tasty sausages, and behind them came Nikita, dressed as Santa Claus, with a real beard and a bag over his shoulder!
Elvira was simply stunned and couldn’t understand how he appeared there! Miracles. Nothing else!
The men smiled cunningly, and took their seats at the table, and Nikita loudly began:
“Hello everyone! Here are my gifts! To you, Svetlana Alekseevna, a lace shawl, handmade, so your shoulders don’t get cold on winter evenings! To you, Vitaly Sergeevich, a real briar pipe, I know you adore these! To you, my friend Roma, a collectible bottle of wine from the early nineteenth century, to you, my little rascal, such a pistol! And now the main gift, for my princess! He took out a box from his pocket, opened it, and handed it to Elly, inside was an unearthly beautiful ring! The young man, as befits, knelt down, and earnestly said:
“Elly, I confess, I behaved like a pig, just took off and left! Only in separation from you did I realize that without you nothing is dear to me, even my beloved travels and expeditions! Forgive me and marry me! I swear, I won’t leave you for a step, and we’ll enjoy distant countries together, on vacation! Do you agree?”
The girl was so happy that she couldn’t control her emotions, she immediately threw herself on Nikita’s neck and burst into tears! She kissed his prickly cheeks, they smelled of frost and something very familiar, and whispered:
“I agree! I love you so much! I can’t do without you either! I won’t let you go anywhere, just know that!”
Everyone became emotional, started congratulating the groom and bride, and wishing them happiness! The dinner was a great success! Now Nikita was part of their big and friendly family! Elvira dreamily sat by the fireplace and listened as the men strummed cheerful campfire songs on the guitar, and she felt so good inside! She thought casually: “And it all started with that found baby in a basket! Thank you, Artemchik! If it weren’t for that incident, she wouldn’t have found her relatives and met the most beloved man on earth! Miracles do happen, she now knew that for sure!”
