Vera and Nikolai started their family as soon as they reached adulthood. Their romantic feelings had begun back in high school. Vera wasn’t eager to marry early because she believed in the importance of education. However, her chosen partner countered that without financial support and useful connections, it would be nearly impossible for them to enter a prestigious university, and afterward, they’d be forced to work as sales clerks—a job he argued could be done without specialized education. Besides, scholarships were clearly not enough to make ends meet. As a couple, they could earn together. With no relatives around to offer an alternative, Vera consented.
Initially, their relationship progressed harmoniously. Their financial situation wasn’t ideal, but it covered everyday needs. They found joy in simple things and didn’t make grand plans.
After three years of living together, Nikolai secured a managerial position at a major company. Constantly observing his well-dressed colleagues and the meticulously made-up female employees, he began hinting to his wife that she needed to improve her appearance.
“Kolya, with what funds? These women probably earn enough to maintain their looks, while I work as a sales clerk at grocery stores. And yet there’s always a shortfall that I end up covering from my own pocket.”
“I’m really tired of these constant deficits. Perhaps you could find another job that isn’t in retail?”
“Who would hire me for an office job without a diploma? You yourself discouraged me from pursuing further studies.”
“Now you’re blaming me for everything. You can find a job without formal education—I already did,” he proudly declared.
A few months later, Nikolai realized that without a formal education, advancing in his career was impossible. Ultimately, he applied for a correspondence course, taking out a loan to cover the tuition. Only after finalizing all the formalities did he inform his wife.
“Kolya, if it’s necessary, then it’s necessary. Besides, after you get your diploma, your salary will increase, and we can cover the loan repayments. Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“Vera, I was afraid you’d be upset about my decision to study.”
“You care about the family’s well-being,” she replied affectionately.
How mistaken she was. Over the next three years, Nikolai transformed beyond recognition. While the family budget didn’t grow, he completely overhauled his wardrobe, arguing that his position now demanded an appropriate appearance.
Nikolai quickly advanced within the company. The academic process posed no difficulties for him; he even found subordinates to delegate tasks, showing up only to record results in his logbook. At work, he knew exactly with whom to display friendliness, with whom to maintain a casual rapport, and from whom to keep a distance. Meanwhile, for the past six months, Vera had been working as a cleaner. She managed to secure a job in a reputable organization where the pay was higher than what she earned as a sales clerk—there, any financial shortfalls were nonexistent.
One day, Vera struck up a conversation with a friendly colleague named Olga. As Olga spoke about marketing strategies, Vera realized that she was genuinely interested in this field. When Olga asked for her opinion on a particular tactic, Vera detailed her thoughts and suggestions.
“Vera, you have a natural talent. Of course, there are some errors that professional training will eliminate, but overall you did a fantastic job. Would you like to pursue an education?”
“With pleasure—but how would you finance it?”
“And what about your husband? Doesn’t he earn a decent income?”
“Apparently, yes. But he says that a lot of money goes toward his education and those obligatory restaurant outings he dislikes.”
“Don’t be upset. Tomorrow I’ll bring you the electronic textbooks I used, along with my handwritten notes. My handwriting isn’t perfect, but I’m sure you’ll manage. In the meantime, we’ll prepare you for this new venture.”
Vera returned home in high spirits. She prepared a delicious dinner, baked an apple pie, and eagerly waited for her husband to come home, excited to share her plans for self-study and her efforts to secure a job as an intern or assistant manager.
However, he never arrived for dinner—ignoring her calls. While she waited, Vera browsed through available colleges in her chosen field.
Close to midnight, Nikolai finally appeared and, somewhat surprised, summoned his wife to the kitchen.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m waiting for you. Did you want me to warm up dinner?”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“Maybe some tea and pie?”
“Pie? For what occasion?”
Vera smiled and was about to share her news when he interrupted her.
“Don’t tell me you’re expecting a baby. That’s pointless right now. And we haven’t been intimate in ages. Or have you been unfaithful? Tomorrow, you’ll go through an abortion procedure.”
“I’m not pregnant,” she murmured quietly.
Nikolai relaxed a bit, sat on a chair, and took a piece of pie. Vera began to relay her news, expecting support from him—but then he burst out laughing.
“Oh, it’s been ages since I laughed like that. That girl just joked, and you believed her. What kind of marketing specialist are you? All you’re good for is waving a rag,” he mocked.
After laughing, he got up and went to take a shower. Holding back tears of hurt, Vera cleared the table and went to rest. She settled on the living room sofa, gazing out the window as Nikolai silently passed by into the bedroom. The next morning, she left the apartment before him. When he discovered that breakfast wasn’t ready, he sent a flurry of angry messages—but she didn’t even bother reading them.
Arriving at work early, she was greeted by the security guard, Vladimir Petrovich, who was surprised to see her so early. Noticing her distress, he offered her tea and started a conversation. Without fully understanding why, Vera briefly confided everything to him.
“Listen, dear. Don’t give up. You’ll make it. Just leave him. My friend has a vacant room in a communal apartment. Let me contact him to see if it’s still available. It’s just two buildings away, and the tenants are nice. For now, focus on your work, then ask Palych for a day off—my shift is about to end.”
Vera went upstairs to tidy up. Most things were in order, but since some employees had stayed late the previous day, the office needed extra cleaning. Later, Vladimir Petrovich informed her that she could move into the room that very day. It came furnished, and if she only had a few belongings, he would help her with the move. His shift was ending in an hour.
Vera was overjoyed. She approached the head of the maintenance department, Viktor Pavlovich, and asked for a couple of hours off. Knowing the situation from Vladimir, Viktor, a longtime friend, agreed, noting that everything was in pristine order. And tomorrow, she would come in even earlier.
Vera and Vladimir Petrovich drove in his old car toward her new life. Her few possessions fit neatly in the trunk and backseat. The room was small but bright and well-kept—it had a table, a wardrobe, and a bed, which was all she needed. The shared bathroom contained a washing machine available to all tenants, along with a schedule posted for convenience.
That same evening, she met her neighbors. In a similarly modest room lived Galina Nikolaevna, a retired higher mathematics teacher. In a larger room, a family with two small children resided. Twin boys, about five years old, ran over to introduce themselves to the new neighbor. Five minutes later, their mother came rushing in to apologize for the disturbance.
“They didn’t disturb me at all. Don’t worry,” Vera reassured her.
“I’m Ekaterina,” the woman said with relief. “They often played checkers with the previous neighbor, so they just ran in out of habit. He always said they were clever and even played with them. He promised to visit.”
“And I’m Vera. Nice to meet you,” Vera replied.
That evening, everyone in the shared kitchen enjoyed tea together. For the first time in years, Vera felt part of a community.
Before bed, she reviewed a series of angry messages from her husband—first complaining about the missing breakfast, then dinner, and later gloating over her departure. He even said that, since cleaners were poorly paid, he would file for divorce himself so that she wouldn’t have to pay the fees—a “noble” parting gesture. Vera simply erased all the messages and went to sleep.
The next morning, she arrived early and found everything sparkling clean by the time the staff arrived. Olga, true to her word, brought Vera study records and a flash drive with learning materials.
“I finally found you. I searched all day yesterday until Palych mentioned you wouldn’t be there. Did something happen? Can I help?”
“Thank you, Olga. Everything’s fine now. It’s just that I don’t have anything to read the flash drive with—but I’ll buy one soon. I’m even taking on extra work.”
“Vera, I have an old laptop that I’ve had lying around. I bought a new one six months ago. This one isn’t very powerful and its battery doesn’t hold a charge, but it works when plugged in. It’s perfect for reading and the internet. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”
Vera couldn’t thank her friend enough. The next day, Olga brought the laptop, and Vera rewarded her with her signature apple charlotte.
The two women often chatted during their lunch break. While Vera continued her self-education and asked Olga many questions, Olga was delighted that Vera was genuinely learning and offered every bit of help she could. Months passed, and one day after work, they went to a café.
“Vera, don’t worry—it’s on me, and there’s a reason. But I’ll tell you only at the café,” Olga said from a far table.
Over coffee, Olga revealed that she was being promoted to head of department and transferred to a new office in a nearby town. Vera rejoiced for her friend yet felt a pang of sadness.
“Don’t be upset. We’ll keep in touch—call and meet up when I come over.”
The next morning, Vera mechanically carried out her cleaning duties in the office. Her friend’s departure deeply troubled her, and she was in an emotional turmoil. Suddenly, a man burst into the office where she was working and immediately began loudly scolding the manager.
“What do you think you’re doing? Your tactics are completely ineffective. How am I supposed to proceed now, and who will compensate for the wasted funds?”
Angelika looked at him, puzzled.
“Hello. Which project are you referring to?” she asked, struggling to remain calm.
“Media-text. My assistant came to see you.”
Vera remembered that girl well—she had been present during Angelika’s conversation with the client. The memory was vivid because Vera had considered implementing some ideas differently and had discussed them with Olga, although she made sure not to reveal the girl’s affiliation with their company.
“And what do you say?” the man continued, raising his voice further.
At that moment, Vera’s nerves reached their breaking point. She approached him and asked, “What is your name?”
The man, taken aback, replied, “Mikhail Konstantinovich.”
“Listen, Mikhail Konstantinovich, please sit down so we can discuss this calmly. As far as I know, your advertising campaign only launched a few days ago. Results don’t always show immediately. If you’re dissatisfied with the chosen strategy, let’s discuss it constructively—no need for shouting. You still have an organization to run, and you wouldn’t want to lose your voice, would you?”
“Vera. A cleaner,” read the name on his badge. “Well, Vera, let’s talk.”
Calming down, Vera was about to resume her duties, but he stopped her.
“We’ll talk, Vera. Angelika, please leave us.”
Angelika practically flew out of the room, and Vera took her seat at the table.
“Do you have the strategy documentation with you?” she asked calmly.
The man handed her a bundle of papers. Their conversation lasted about half an hour, after which he stood up and declared, “Vera, you no longer work here.”
Stunned, Vera couldn’t believe she might be fired over this incident. Perhaps the man was a friend of the director or an important executive.
“Don’t worry. Let me introduce myself again. I am Mikhail Konstantinovich, the new head of the main office. I was conducting a stress-test inspection looking for promising employees for the central office. I intended to transfer Olga, but when I learned of her impending relocation, I was directed to Angelika. She didn’t manage, but you performed exceptionally. However, I can’t understand how a cleaner knows so much.”
“If I weren’t a good cleaner, I wouldn’t know the company’s operations,” Vera replied calmly and with a smile.
“Then for now, you won’t be promoted to department head. Instead, you’ll be a senior manager—on the condition that you begin training in September, at the company’s expense, of course. But you’ll have to work for a long time. Agreed?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Now, please go to the HR department; I’ll notify them to process your documents.”
Though the manager had said she could leave early, Vera stayed to finish her work, bid farewell to Viktor Pavlovich and Vladimir Petrovich, and leave as best she could. The security guard was already delighted by the news.
Vera began her studies, attending various professional development courses alongside her job. Two years later, she became the head of the department. By that time, Mikhail had begun showing a romantic interest in her, and following the advice of a friend over the phone, she decided she deserved happiness. Neighbors saw her off from the communal apartment, expressing how much they would miss her.
Three months later, everyone—including her friend Olga—attended the wedding of Vera and Mikhail. After their honeymoon, another promotion awaited them. Mikhail became the CEO, and Vera was appointed his deputy. Together, they led the company to a new level of development.
“Vera Alexeevna, we have an unforeseen situation—Nadezhda Viktorovna is ill, and several interviews are scheduled for today. Who will conduct them?” asked Lenochka, the secretary, as she entered the office.
“Lenochka, I’ll handle it myself. Where are the questionnaires and resumes?”
“They’re on Nadezhda Viktorovna’s desk. The first candidate will arrive in half an hour.”
“Good. I’ll come down now.”
Vera barely had time to open the first resume when a knock came at the door—ten minutes earlier than expected. How impatient!
“Come in.”
A man entered, and Vera froze—it was her ex-husband. He confidently sat down across from her.
“Oh, Vera, what are you doing here? Where are the mop and bucket?”
“Hello. For you, I’m Vera Alexeevna. And if you’ve come for an interview, you can leave immediately—you’ve already failed. Only decent people work in our company.”
“Who do you think you are? I worked hard to get to this position. I’m going to complain.”
“That’s your right. Goodbye.”
After this encounter, Vera couldn’t compose herself. She left the office, apologized to the remaining candidates, and invited them to come back the next day. Then she went to the cafeteria to collect her thoughts.
Soon, Mikhail joined her.
“Your ex came by and complained about you. I offered him the cleaner’s position, but for some reason he refused, saying you’d be missed.”
“Sorry—I didn’t think he’d really file a complaint.”
“Don’t worry, dear. I’m glad you’ve always been honest with me, and I already know everything about him. How about we go to a restaurant after work?”
Vera embraced him.
“Let’s do that,” she replied, already thinking that it was in that restaurant she would share the joyful news: their family would soon grow.
