What happened?» Larisa asked with concern, but after following her gaze, she smiled knowingly. «No way! Are you seriously in love with our boss? With Viktor Pavlovich? Are you out of your mind? He’s like… like a puffed-up turkey!»
Katyusha barely held back tears.
«And where have you seen puffed-up turkeys?»
«Come on! You know what I mean. It’s like falling in love with a movie star. Look at him, and then look at yourself!»
«I’m not in love with anyone!» Katyusha quickly protested.
«Of course not! My god, you’re almost twenty-five and still dreaming like a schoolgirl!»
Katyusha turned away, feeling hurt. She hadn’t expected Larisa to figure out the feelings she had whenever she saw Viktor Pavlovich.
But the story was far more complicated…
Once, they had lived next door to each other. At thirteen, Katyusha first felt that Vitya had become the center of her world. But for the twenty-year-old athlete, she was just «the little girl from the house next door.»
After Vitya moved away, Katyusha’s life changed drastically: her father died, her mother started drinking, and they had to sell their apartment. Now, her sick mother hardly ever left her bed, and Katyusha worked as a morgue assistant, choosing between better pay and the heavy psychological toll it took on her.
When she saw the new chief doctor, she recognized her old acquaintance. All the forgotten feelings flared up with new intensity.
Larisa ran off to handle some work, leaving Katyusha alone with heavy thoughts. She knew how talkative her friend was, and now she feared the gossip.
Right before New Year’s, there was an unusual silence in the morgue. Katyusha stepped outside for some fresh air and accidentally overheard Viktor Pavlovich’s phone conversation.
«What do you mean ‘can’t’?! Weren’t you the one who insisted we have pairs for the corporate party?… Ah, I see! So you’re just ‘tired’ of me!… You won’t get a penny from me anymore!»
The loud slam of a car door interrupted the conversation.
Katyusha sighed with relief. Whenever they met at the hospital, he didn’t even recognize her, but her heart was ready to leap out of her chest.
Viktor, on the other hand, was furious. Kristina, his influential lover, had dumped him the day before an important event. After failed attempts to find a replacement from his circle, he decided to ask his secretary Elena for help.
«Lenochka, come to my office!» he said firmly through the intercom.
— Lena, why are you standing there like it’s a parade? Sit down, we’re having an informal chat.
Elena looked at her boss in surprise but still sat at the edge of the chair.
«Lenochka, I’ve got a serious problem… I came up with this rule that everyone has to come to the clinic’s anniversary in pairs, and now it turns out I don’t have anyone to go with. My lady friends aren’t keen on joining us. You’ve always helped me… Could you keep me company?»
«Sorry, Viktor Pavlovich, but I can’t,» Elena replied, flustered. «My wedding is in two weeks, and my fiancé, who works in the next department, and I are going together.»
Viktor sighed in disappointment. The problem wasn’t going to be solved quickly.
«What a pity… I’d have to invite someone from outside, and there would be too much talk…»
Elena smiled mysteriously and leaned over the desk.
«You know, Viktor Pavlovich, I think I can help you.»
«Really? How? Are you going to find me a date for the evening? But I won’t need her afterward. Who would agree to such a role?»
«She won’t have to act,» Elena said with a quiet smile. «She’ll believe it’s a real romantic adventure.»
«Elena, stop teasing me!»
Elena began to explain her plan. As she spoke, Viktor listened with increasing amazement, and then he laughed.
«Seriously? The shy girl from the morgue? Well, it’s a funny idea… The team will definitely enjoy it.»
Elena nodded, unashamed.
«What does it matter what she thinks? The important thing is the problem is solved.»
Viktor thoughtfully drummed his fingers on the table.
«It doesn’t look too great, but it’s fun! I haven’t had such easy fools in a long time. If it turns out fine, we can continue the evening after the party.»
Noticing that the boss was lost in thought, Elena quietly left the office.
The more Viktor thought about the idea, the more he liked it. He wanted to have fun, get back at his humiliation—let someone else feel humiliated. The next day, he headed for the morgue building.
«Katy, look!» Larisa whispered, nudging her friend.
Katyusha jumped and dropped the mop, hurriedly picking it up.
«This isn’t mine! Stop, Larisa, what are you saying?!»
The door swung open, and Viktor Pavlovich walked in.
«Hello, girls!» he greeted cheerfully.
Larisa answered confidently, and Katyusha just nodded, feeling her face flush.
«How’s everything here? Need any help?»
After a few insignificant exchanges, he was about to leave when he suddenly turned back.
«By the way, are you going to the clinic’s anniversary?»
Larisa sighed.
«I have a shift, Viktor Pavlovich.»
He looked at Katyusha.
«And you, young lady?»
She shrugged, not raising her eyes.
«No, I’m not going. Besides, there’s no one to go with since it’s couples only.»
Viktor stepped closer.
«How come? Such a lovely lady, and all alone?»
Katyusha blushed even more.
He pretended to think, then looked her directly in the eye.
«Maybe you’ll accompany me? I ended up alone too.»
Larisa’s jaw dropped. Katyusha stared, stunned, at the chief doctor.
«With… with me? Are you joking?»
«Why would I joke? Not at all. We’ll have a great time. A girl like you deserves more than just work.»
Katyusha looked at her friend, who was now energetically nodding and waving her arms.
«Say yes, silly! When will you ever get such a chance?»
Two days before the corporate party, Katyusha sat in her room, burying her face in the pillow. Today, she had accidentally overheard Viktor Pavlovich’s conversation outside his office door. His words about the «naive fool,» «gray mouse,» and «subdued morgue assistant» echoed in her head. She heard how he planned to «have some fun» by making a fool of her in front of everyone, and maybe even use the situation for intimacy afterward.
Katyusha ran out of the clinic, gasping from tears and indignation.
As soon as she calmed down a little, the doorbell rang. Standing at the door was Viktor Pavlovich, self-assured and pleased with himself.
«Katyusha, we never finished our conversation—what time should I pick you up tomorrow?»
She raised her tear-streaked but calm eyes to him.
«You don’t have to worry. I’ll come myself.»
«Well, as you wish… It’s no trouble for me…»
Katyusha buried her face back into the pillow.
«What a fool I am! So naive and blind!»
Later, Larisa told her that the whole clinic was buzzing in anticipation of the «interesting spectacle.»
«Katyusha, sweetie, why are you sitting in the dark?» her mother’s voice came.
The light flickered on, and Katyusha realized that hiding her tears wasn’t going to work.
«Have you been crying? What happened?»
Her mother slowly approached the bed, leaning heavily on her cane, and hugged her daughter. Katyusha couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into tears, telling her everything.
«So that’s how it is…» her mother said softly, once Katyusha calmed down a little.
Katyusha looked at her in surprise. She hadn’t heard such firm, decisive tones in her mother’s voice for a long time—probably not since her father’s death.
«So some scoundrel decided to laugh at my daughter… My only girl…»
«Mom, it’s not just some scoundrel. It’s Vitya… the same one…»
«Let him be the president himself! You say everyone’s waiting for my humiliation and wants to laugh? Well… Let them enjoy the show. Come with me to my room, Katyusha.»
Katyusha watched in surprise as her mother pulled out a worn-out box from an old cupboard that she had never seen before.
«This, my dear, is my special reserve. Even in the hardest times, I never touched it. I saved it for my dowry… But now this money is needed for something else.»
Her mother opened the box, revealing neatly stacked bundles of dollars and euros.
«Now, let’s think about how to turn my girl into the real queen of the ball.»
Almost the whole clinic was gathered in front of the restaurant, waiting for the evening’s main event—the appearance of the chief doctor with the mysterious morgue assistant. Many hadn’t seen her, but the rumors had already done their work.
«How dare she agree to this? She doesn’t belong in this kind of company,» they whispered among themselves. «She’ll probably show up in a simple dress and worn-out shoes.»
«She won’t get it!» one of the doctors said loudly. «She’ll take our mockery as admiration!»
Viktor Pavlovich, surrounded by the crowd, smiled smugly, anticipating his triumph. This evening was supposed to cement his authority.
When a luxurious SUV pulled up to the entrance and an elegant stranger stepped out, Viktor couldn’t help but admire her. «Now that’s style! Too bad I have to waste time on gray mice…»
The crowd on the porch stirred, but quickly became disappointed—it wasn’t the guest they were expecting. However, the men still couldn’t help but glance at the elegant stranger.
The woman gracefully approached the group of medical staff and addressed the chief doctor, «Am I late? I hope you’ve been waiting for me?»
Viktor swallowed hard. Silence hung over the porch. «Ka… Katyusha?»
«Didn’t recognize me?» her voice carried a light mockery. «I know the feeling—when someone only sees themselves. Though we were neighbors, Vitya. Back then, I foolishly adored you.»
Viktor’s memory helpfully conjured the image of a thin girl with big eyes, someone he used to make fun of in front of his friends.
«Katyusha… I’m sorry… I never imagined… You’re so…»
«So what, Viktor?»
The evening was a resounding success. But the one who was humiliated wasn’t the person everyone had expected.
Viktor spent the entire evening following Katyusha like a shadow. He grimaced when he saw her dancing with other men. He almost got into a fight over a compliment directed at her. And at the end of the evening, he tried to invite her to continue their date alone.
«Of course, Viktor. But each of us separately.»
«But… I thought…»
«You know, Vitya,»—her voice turned as cold as steel—»thank you for this evening. Your ‘joke’ helped me finally get rid of my childhood crush. Now I see you for who you really are—petty, vain, and vile. I’m free. Thanks for that.»
She majestically walked away, and Viktor stood there like a statue. Not a single colleague came to support him.
