The future of a lazy bull is for sale to butchers.

(Arabic proverb)

© Vida Lagodina, 2021

ISBN 978-5-0050-4288-0

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

PROLOGUE

– Ira, my dear, do not fidget! – For the hundredth time, the camera clicked in front of my face. – Keep your back straight and your chin slightly raised, in the end, through you I try to recreate the personification of the Russian aristocracy.

I laid aside a napkin, which a minute ago was lying peacefully on my lap, and burst into laughter.

– Oh, I can’t! Dad, what should a Russian aristocrat do on an advertising sign of a Russian restaurant in the middle of an Arab city? Take some beautiful photos of the dishes you cook here and hang them all over the restaurant. For example, this wonderful culinary masterpiece. – I carnivore looked at the ruddy pie with berries, feeling the delicious aroma emanating from it. – Do not torture me all day. After all, I am not a model, and we are not aristocrats. In any institution, and even more so in a Russian restaurant, the main thing is soul and friendly attitude towards visitors and employees. – I tried to convey to my stubborn father.

– Well, what are you, Ira! – Mom left the kitchen in the restaurant hall, waving her hand. Her golden hair was neatly arranged in a bun, green eyes were framed by thickly colored eyelashes, and her lips were painted in bright scarlet lipstick. Despite the fact that now is still a day, she was wearing an evening gown. Her slightly plump figure did not spoil her at all, on the contrary, she was graceful. – Your father, from birth, believes that life was unfair to him and that he deserves some kind of royal title. – Therefore, let him try to bring to you what he will never reach.

I laughed again, looked from mom to dad and saw in his blue eyes what my mom was talking about.

– You’re not serious? – The answer was silence. – Okay. – I got to my feet. – I’m tired. And anyway, I have to go to collect things. I’m coming home tonight.

First I kissed my father on the cheek, and then my mother and went up to the second floor of the restaurant, where my parents and sister lived. A year ago, they left everything and decided to leave in search of a better life. Naive. They thought someone was waiting for them here. I pulled out my suitcase from under the small, worn-out bed that was allotted to me in my little sister’s room for the holidays, and energetically began to pack my things in it, which I definitely would not need before leaving home. House. In Moscow, probably now everything is covered with snow or slush, and here even in winter the sun mercilessly fries.

I really want to go back to university. To my friends and lectures. No instructions from parents, worries about them and indulging their whims.

Just think… in five months everything will end and I will start a completely different life. I will become a graduate, find a job and live independently, independently of anyone and from nothing.

I love my family, but lately my love for them lasts only a few days spent together. In the end, I am also human, and my responsiveness has a limit. I threw the last T-shirt in my suitcase and closed it, waiting for my return home.

CHAPTER 1

Three hours in traffic jams on the way to the airport, almost six hours by plane, and now two more to go in a cramped bus. I wade through the crowd to take my luggage, I feel out of place. This is not the first time I come here, but today some strange feeling does not leave me. Something is unclean here. The insistent offer of parents to visit them, paying for my trip to business class (it’s good that I managed to exchange a ticket for a regular one, and I could save a little). The phone rang, and I decided that I would answer as soon as I received my luggage, which I managed to do in ten minutes. All this time my phone rang continuously. It turned out to be my father.

– Dad, the plane landed twenty minutes ago. I’ll find now how to get to you and…

– Wait, dear, – he interrupted, not letting me finish the thought. – Get out of the airport and go to the main entrance. I’m waiting for you. – And disconnected.

Without understanding anything, I put the bag on my shoulder, took the suitcase by the handle and went to where my father was waiting for me. And he really was waiting for me with a wide smile on his swarthy face. His blue eyes shone today in a special way, and dark hair with gray hair on his temples developed in a warm, caressing wind. Over the past few months, he has gained a little weight (probably he was influenced by a calm, measured life), he looked funny with a round face, and when he walked, he swayed from one side to the other.

Dad! Why did you come? I would calmly come myself! – I ended up in his strong hands and looked at him, raising his head up, as he was a little taller than me.

– I missed you too much for another two hours to think that you ride public transport. And in general, when there is such an opportunity, it must be used, – he winked, moved away, and examined me from head to toe. – Just think about it! With each visit you become more beautiful! A real Russian beauty! Do not be embarrassed. – He smiled and touched my cheek with his fingers.

– Thank you – I replied with an embarrassed smile to his compliment. – You can’t argue with genes. – He smiled with satisfaction, and I looked behind him at the expensive car and the man standing next to her, arms crossed at hip level. – Who is this?

Father absentmindedly followed my gaze and smiled.

– Ah… this is our new driver Azat.

– Do you have a driver? I frowned incredulously at my father, and then at the swarthy driver who stubbornly avoided my gaze.

– Recently … – his father began uncertainly.

– Welcome, Mrs. Irina! Let me? – In pure Russian, the driver met me and reached for my things.

– Thank you, yes, please. I answered distractedly and stood until my father led me to the car.

Once in the car, I tried to understand what was happening. My father gave vague, abstract answers to all my questions, saying that I need to be patient, and soon I will find out about everything. We drove for about an hour, first around the city, then through some small village, and finally stopped near a small stone two-story house with large windows and a balcony above the entrance.

– Well… we have arrived, – my father sighed. – Come in, dear, and now I’ll settle something and come. Azat will bring your things, so don’t worry.

– Where to go dad? Why did we come here and not to the restaurant?

– Go to the house, Ira, and I’ll come and explain everything to you. – He answered in a soothing tone.

I got out of the car and looked around. Around the house was a small atypical garden for this area, surrounded by a low forged white fence. All this looked good, but for some reason I could not get rid of the feeling that something bad was hidden behind all this, perhaps even dangerous. Stopping in front of a beautiful white door with frosted glass and beautiful intricate patterns of colored glass, I wondered if I should knock or just go in, and I decided to knock first and then go in. Before I could close the door behind me, I immediately fell into the arms of my younger sister Alina.

– You finally arrived! How I missed you. So much has happened to us, you can’t even imagine! Come on, I’ll show you my cool bedroom!

– Alina, catch your breath. – Mom stopped my sister’s emotional speech, gracefully going down the wide marble staircase. – Let your sister bounce back after a long journey.

I opened my mouth to greet her, but could not say a word, shocked, looking at her elegant evening dress, embroidered with rhinestones. And this is despite the fact that now it’s only three in the afternoon! Her hair was trimmed in neat waves and emphasized her straight posture, graceful neck and high cheekbones. From her I had pale, almost transparent skin, an oval face and an hourglass-shaped figure, and from my father – my eyes and the ability to get out of any, even the most difficult situation. She kissed me on both cheeks and, like my father some time ago, examined from head to toe.

– Mom, you look … – I tried to find the right word – great, but where did it all come from? – I once again looked expressively at her, and then looked around the house and looked out the window onto the street where my father walked to the house, giving some instructions to Azat, who was carrying my suitcase.

– Honey, let’s wait for my father, but for now… come in. But take off your shoes! she added and pointed a finger at my sandals. – I sighed heavily and obediently took off my shoes. – Alina will show your room. – Mom looked expressively at Alina, who nodded, took my hand and led me to the second floor.

On the floor were chic rugs with high fibers and intricate patterns of bright colors.

– Alina, well, at least you explain. – She smiled slyly and I realized that I was right in my suspicions. They hit something.

– The parents themselves will tell you everything, but for now … – She solemnly opened the wooden door and pointed her hands at the room. – She’s yours!

It was difficult to call this room a bedroom. It was dark here, despite the windows and light walls. The bed was covered with a multi-colored plaid, and on the dresser stood a vase with freshly cut flowers. Trying to reassure myself that this is only a week.

– Thank you, – I looked at her and smiled weakly. At this moment, I felt a huge fatigue lying on my shoulders. Alina looked at me with her green eyes, framed by thick black eyelashes, after which she stepped towards the door. – Wait, – I called, and she stopped. I went to the dresser, where I got a vase of flowers and handed it to Alina. – Take them to yourself. I hate cut flowers.

She looked at me in bewilderment, but she took the vase.

– Good. She answered embarrassedly. – Come on, I’ll show you my room. By the way, the bathroom is down the hall. I have my own bathroom in the bedroom, so we can say that this one will be your own, because the parents also have their own bathroom in the bedroom.

– Excellent … – I muttered, following her along the long corridor, feeling a little prick of envy. Finally we stopped. Alina impatiently opened the door, and as if I got into the dollhouse. Everything was so pink and white that it caused nausea.

– Here! Design itself developed. And she chose the furniture herself. Everything is as I imagined since childhood. And what a view from here! – she went to the opposite wall. – Look, one window overlooks the garden and the other overlooks the pool. – We have our own pool, can you imagine? At first glance, I fell in love with this house. The first few days I didn’t go anywhere. I could not believe that I really live here. The school is almost across the road, but I still drive with Azat. – A smug smile appeared on her face, and I continued to try to understand what was happening here.

– When, you say, you moved here? I asked cautiously, taking a few uncertain steps toward the window. The view from it really opens beautiful.

– Uh… This… probably three months have passed. she answered embarrassedly and tried to pretend that she was interested in the pleats on her skirt.

– Three months! – I opened my eyes wide, feeling how everything in my head was throbbing with tension and indignation. – Why didn’t you tell me anything?

I felt irritation, anger, resentment. I was overwhelmed with emotions, and I realized that I was ready to explode.

– Our parents wanted to surprise you. They pulled to the last. – She pouted her lips as a child and was offended as if I had been hiding a luxurious house from them for three months.

I closed my eyes, ran a hand over my face, and then abruptly turned around and quickly went to my parents, whom I found in the living room on the ground floor.

– Three months! I thundered, walked around the sofa and stood in front of them, arms crossed over his chest. – You lived here for three months and didn’t tell me anything! – Mom looked in panic at Dad, who slowly straightened up and calmly met my angry look. – When I was worried while studying, I thought about how hard it was for you, and was ready to give the last penny so that only you all would be fine, you… move to a luxurious home, hire a personal driver, buy expensive clothes! What’s happening?

– Yura, I think you should tell her. – Mom put her hand on her father’s hand, and he comfortably patted her hand, and then, grunting, got up from a huge soft sofa.

– You’re right, Annushka. – He came to me, put his hands on his shoulders and looked into my eyes. – Honey, we haven’t told you anything to make sure of everything. Our business has gone uphill. Do you know what business opportunities are here! he said with a broad smile on his face, and I narrowed my eyes. – Let’s just say that we found a partner who became interested in our restaurant. He invested his money, and here we are. A dazzling smile appeared on his face, and a light lit in his eyes.

– And all this happened in a matter of months, – I concluded, arms crossed over my chest and not believing in such magic.

– Yes. – He nodded impatiently.

I sighed heavily, unable to get rid of the feeling of anxiety that gripped me.

– Good, – I was in no hurry to believe them, in any case, sooner or later I would find out the truth. – I will pretend that I believe, but… if you are deceiving me, then know that I will be very offended.

– Well, what are you, dear! – Father squinted at mom, and then took my hands. – So! I suggest tonight to mark your graduation. You can’t imagine how proud I am that I have a daughter like you! – I hugged my father, trying to suppress tears. Actually, I’m not a very emotional person, sometimes even a little callous and rude, but when you hear such words from relatives and loved ones, everything inside you turns upside down from an overabundance of feelings.

– I don’t even know… is it worth the money. – Maybe we should stay home together? – I pulled away from my father and looked at my mother, who was still tense. – A simple family dinner.

– I do not accept any objections! – Father again drew my attention to himself. – More recently, a wonderful restaurant with a view of the bay has opened in the city.

My father was determined, and I had no choice but to give up.