After hesitating a bit, I opened WhatsApp and looked at his last message.
"Babe, has something happened? Where did you disappear to?"
Suddenly I felt cold and lonely. And really wanting to cry to switch gears, texted Ramila, asking how she was doing. I got a lot of smiles and raptures in response. Glad that at least someone was doing well, I headed for the exit. I need to eat lunch, preferably something tasty and sweet. I also need to buy sugar. There was hardly any left in my locker.
" Are you going to the dining room?"
Julia jumped out of a box and ran toward me. I couldn't help but look away.
" No, there's a little coffee shop across the street called Orange. So many experiences, I wished I could sit in a quieter place."
And there was a more "star" place nearby, where I hoped the whole management would go. Which meant Dimitri wouldn't have to go to the Orange.
" That's a great idea. I'll keep you company. We'll have a little chat. I'll tell you more about the rules."
" Come on," I smiled.
I began to guess that Julia is a big fan of our boss. And wants to be friends only to glimpse more often in front of his eyes. Besides, what can I say, she looks much more spectacular against my background. But I didn't claim to be the boss, but the information about the company interested me.
***
"The orange turned out to be a nice place, besides, the owners wanted to create a private effect, and the sofas had high backs. I sat down in a corner by the window and ordered a business lunch and coffee. The worst thing for me in Moscow turned out to be the need to get up at half past six. And then, forty minutes to wash up, almost an hour on the bus to sleep. And then a fight in the subway for survival. And as a result, half an hour to catch my breath after a morning of "relaxation" on the road. So I felt like I'd just been woken up and forgotten to wake up.
" You must think I'm weird. I'm all over you, running around, asking you to join me for lunch."
" Oh, come on. Not at all," I lied.
" Oh! " Julia laughed. " Don't, don't lie. I can imagine how it looked from the outside. If I were you, I would start fleeing, and in the corridors running over… running over."
Imagining this situation, I supported Julia with laughter. Really, it would be funny.
" I won't lie to you, I have a vested interest."
" Honestly, " I grinned.
It turns out that someone has had a vested interest in me all my life. This one, at least, honestly confesses, without any love and friendship.
" Tell me, did you translate the letter? You know, from Chinese?"
" Yes, it was hard, really. I don't know the language very well. I taught myself. I took a few lessons at the center."
" That's a lot more than me or any other manager. And it's my first contract with them. No specialists. I only got this case because no one wanted it."
" Well, I'm glad I helped you."
" So, uh."
Julia moved closer to me and smiled. I moved a little away from her in surprise.
" Help me…" Julia purred in her Garfield voice.
" How? " I was surprised.
" The Chinese have a tasty project. A new tracker for training. We will represent their program in Russia. Well, there's adaptation, launch. The bonuses from this endeavor will be so… I'll tell Ms.Adams that we're working together, you as a translator, and we'll split the bonus between the two of us."
