Marina started her day as usual, waking up before dawn in her small apartment. As soon as the old alarm clock barely rang, she quickly turned it off so as not to wake her younger brother, Yura, who was still sleeping soundly.
His pale face and labored breathing reminded her of the illness that was slowly wearing him down. While preparing a modest breakfast, Marina thought about the money needed to pay for her brother’s medication. Her cleaning lady’s salary was barely enough, and the bills seemed to multiply every week.
“Today will be better,” she told herself, straightening her gray uniform before heading off to work. The luxurious corporate skyscraper sharply contrasted with Marina’s life. Every morning she passed through the glass doors with a timid smile and headed straight to the locker room to start her workday.
She was invisible to most of the employees, which, deep down, suited her just fine. That day, Igor Vasiliev, the owner of the corporation, was unusually tense. The millionaire, known for his indifference and strict standards, was preparing for an important meeting with foreign investors.
His impeccable appearance and haughty posture made him a daunting figure to everyone around. Everything had to be ready. “I will not tolerate any mistakes today,” he ordered his team before heading to the conference room.
Meanwhile, Marina quietly cleaned the nearby corridors, noticing the nervousness of the employees bustling about as they prepared for the meeting. When the time came, Igor entered the meeting room with his group of lawyers. The investors were already waiting, reviewing documents and exchanging calculating smiles.
Marina, who had been assigned to quickly clean the room before the meeting began, tried to remain unnoticed as she wiped the table. The doors closed, but not completely. From her position in the corridor, she could catch snippets of the conversation.
One of the investors, an elderly man with a strong accent, insisted that Igor sign the contract immediately. “This is an opportunity that must not be missed, Mr. Vasiliev,” he said. Igor replied in a cold tone, “I do not make hasty decisions. My team will check everything before we proceed.” Despite his firm stance, Igor seemed under enormous pressure. Marina, finishing her work, froze when she heard the name of one of the investors.
Her heart stopped—it was a man connected with the financial collapse that had ruined her father’s life many years ago. Memories of that painful time rushed over her. Her family had lost everything because of fraud that had cost her father his life.
Without hesitation, Marina felt an uncontrollable impulse. She quickly entered the meeting room, ignoring the astonished looks of those present. “Igor Nikolaevich, stop! Do not sign this contract,” she said in a trembling yet determined voice…
The room fell silent. Igor slowly rose from his chair, his face expressing a mixture of perplexity and anger. “What are you doing here?” he spat out with disdain in his voice.
Marina, feeling that she had crossed a dangerous line, lowered her gaze but did not retreat. “I just want to warn you. This man is unreliable. My family lost everything because of someone like him,” she declared. Igor looked at her with a cold, scrutinizing sneer. “And who are you to tell me what to do?” The cleaning lady, eavesdropping on a conversation not meant for her, felt his words cut like a knife.
But Marina stood her ground. “I have nothing to lose, Igor Nikolaevich. I just wanted to warn you,” she said, not hiding the tremor in her voice.
Igor smirked sarcastically and turned to his team. “Get this woman out and make sure she never interrupts me again.” Marina was escorted out of the room; her heart pounded wildly, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She risked her job, but she knew she could not have acted otherwise. Even when the conference room doors closed behind her, she could still hear muffled voices inside. In the room, Igor tried to quickly regain control of the situation.
His face was unreadable, but the tension in his eyes was unmistakable. He glanced at the investors, whose attention was clearly diverted by the unexpected interruption. “I apologize for this misunderstanding,” he said calmly, betraying none of his emotions. “Sometimes it’s hard to avoid such situations. My employee must have simply been overwhelmed. We will definitely address this.”
The investors exchanged looks, and then the senior one, a man with a thick foreign accent, spoke. “Mr. Vasiliev, we understand that such things can happen, but this situation…” He paused, rather unusually. “Are you sure everything is under control?” He nodded, maintaining confidence.
“Of course. I appreciate your understanding. We can continue the discussion,” Igor replied.
Yet the atmosphere in the room remained charged. The investors whispered among themselves, and Igor noticed that their moods were beginning to change. They were no longer as favorable.
After another half hour of discussions, the investors concluded that it would be best to postpone the meeting. One of them, perhaps wishing to avoid raising further suspicions, said, “Mr. Vasiliev, perhaps we should continue negotiations another time, when everything is more appropriate.” Igor nodded, realizing that insisting further now would be pointless.
“Certainly, gentlemen. We will agree on a new date and continue our dialogue. Thank you for your time.”
After the investors left, Igor stood alone. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his irritation. His thoughts involuntarily returned to Marina.
Her words, her determination, and the way she had burst into the room now troubled him. He couldn’t simply ignore what had happened. Meanwhile, Marina returned to the cleaning room where she always left her things.
Her hands trembled, and her heart was still filled with anxiety. She knew her actions might cost her her job, but she had no other choice. As the conference room doors closed behind her, she still heard muted voices inside. Inside the room, Igor tried to regain control of the situation quickly.
His face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed his tension. He looked at the investors, whose attention was evidently drawn away by the unexpected interruption. “I apologize for this misunderstanding,” he said calmly, not revealing his emotions. “Sometimes such things are hard to avoid. My employee, it seems, just got overly excited. We will get to the bottom of it.”
Investors exchanged glances, and then the lead investor, a man with a heavy foreign accent, spoke up. “Mr. Vasiliev, we understand that these things happen, but this situation…” He paused unusually. “Are you sure everything is under control?” He nodded, maintaining his composure.
“Of course. I appreciate your understanding. We can continue our discussion,” he assured.
Yet, the atmosphere remained tense. The investors murmured amongst themselves, and Igor noticed their attitudes shifting; they were no longer as sympathetic.
After another half-hour of talks, the investors decided it was best to postpone the meeting. One of them, perhaps wanting to avoid further suspicion, remarked, “Mr. Vasiliev, perhaps we should reconvene another time, when everything is more appropriate.” Igor nodded, realizing that pressing the matter further now would be futile.
“Certainly, gentlemen. We will arrange a new date and continue our dialogue. Thank you for your time.”
After the investors left, Igor was left standing alone. He took a deep breath, trying to quell his irritation. His thoughts inevitably returned to Marina.
Her words, her resolve, and the way she had intruded into his affairs continued to haunt him. He could not simply let it go. Marina, meanwhile, continued with her duties, though she was consumed by anxiety over possible repercussions.
At the end of the workday, Marina gathered her courage. She went to her boss Irina’s office to clarify the situation. “Marina, how can I help you?” Irina asked sternly, looking up from her papers. “Irina Sergeyevna, I wanted to apologize for my actions. I know I overstepped my authority, but I couldn’t remain silent,” Marina confessed honestly. Irina looked at her, mixing firmness with curiosity. “Igor Vasiliev—a man hardly ever impressed, let alone interrupted—could have fired you on the spot,” she remarked. “I know, but I felt it was the right thing to do,” Marina replied, lowering her gaze. Irina paused, then said, “Continue working as usual. Don’t worry.” Marina left the office with a slightly lighter heart, though she knew that uncertainty still lingered.
Igor, from his office, watched Marina leave the boss’s room. Over the years he had learned not to trust people, especially those who challenged his authority. However, this woman had not only risked her job but seemed to expect nothing in return.
Reviewing a stack of documents on his desk, he sighed deeply. For the first time in years, someone had disrupted his usual cold world. Marina, meanwhile, tried to hold herself together as she continued her daily tasks.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Igor was watching her. Every time she heard approaching footsteps, her heart would race. Her thoughts whirled—he still hadn’t taken any action—but what if this was the calm before the storm? Meanwhile, Igor delved deeper into the documents concerning those very investors.
With each new piece of evidence uncovered, Marina’s suspicions were confirmed. Financial reports revealed uncertain transactions with dubious intermediaries, hidden lawsuits that had not previously surfaced, and numerous contracts that had led other companies to bankruptcy.
Putting all the facts together, Igor felt his irritation grow. He realized that his team of analysts, responsible for verifying the investors’ data, had put not only the company’s reputation but its future at risk.
He pressed the intercom button. “Klara, call the analyst who was checking these investors,” he ordered sharply. “Immediately,” his voice was cold and curt.
“Of course, Mr. Vasiliev,” Klara replied. Within minutes, a middle-aged man with a cautious demeanor entered the office. This was Viktor Sergeyevich, the senior analyst in charge of reviewing the deals.
“Did Igor Vasiliev call me?” Viktor asked, trying to sound confident. Igor looked up from his documents, his face showing restrained irritation. “Sit down, Viktor Sergeyevich,” he said, indicating the chair in front of his desk.
Viktor sat, noticeably nervous. “Explain to me how you could have missed such information?” Igor began sharply, throwing printed details of dubious transactions and lawsuits on the table. Viktor Sergeyevich frowned, quickly scanning the documents.
“Igor Vasiliev, we verified the investors following standard protocols. At first glance, everything appeared clean,” Viktor attempted to explain. “At first glance?” Igor interrupted, rising sharply from his chair. “This isn’t mere negligence. You have jeopardized our company and the thousands of employees who depend on us. Do you understand what this could have led to?” Viktor Sergeyevich nervously swallowed. “I… we can conduct a recheck. I’m confident we can fix the situation.”
Igor looked at him with disdain. “It doesn’t matter now. I don’t need apologies or promises. I need results. And if you can’t handle such an important task, then you have no place in my company.” “But, Igor Vasiliev,” Viktor tried to interject.
“Enough,” Igor stated firmly, returning to his chair. “You are fired. I cannot afford to work with people who fail to ensure the safety of our deals.”
Viktor Sergeyevich paled but did not argue. He understood that the situation was beyond repair. “Alright,” he replied curtly as he rose. “Thank you for the opportunity to work here.” He left the office, and Igor remained alone. For several minutes he sat in silence, trying to calm his irritation.
This situation showed him the importance of not relying solely on formalities and protocols. After the conversation with the analyst, he called the company’s chief lawyer. “Alexander, I want to suspend any negotiations with these investors until we obtain complete information,” Igor ordered. “May I ask what made you change your mind, Igor Vasiliev?” the lawyer inquired. Igor paused, recalling Marina’s face. “Let’s call it intuition,” he replied shortly.
That same day, Marina returned home with a heavy heart. She still fretted over the possible consequences of her actions. Yura, seeing her, slowly got out of bed, holding a pencil and an old notebook.
“Mari, I finished another drawing,” he said with a smile. Marina sat next to him and looked at his work with interest. On the paper was drawn a large, cozy house surrounded by a garden filled with flowers and a bright sun in the sky.
“It’s wonderful, Yura. Someday, we will definitely live in such a place,” she said, trying to sound confident. “Really?” he asked, hope shining in his eyes.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Marina replied, kissing his forehead before heading off to prepare dinner. Yet her thoughts kept returning to Igor. Why had he not taken any action after her intervention? At the same time, in the main office, Igor was still in his office.
The contract he had almost signed lay before him along with other documents. He could not shake off the words Marina had spoken. “This person is unreliable. My family lost everything because of someone like him.” The face of that young woman, her gaze full of courage and despair, kept coming back to him. He sighed heavily and pressed the “Call Assistant” button.
“Klára, bring me all additional information on these investors. I want to conduct a full analysis,” he ordered. “Of course, Mr. Vasiliev,” his assistant replied politely.
While he waited, he leaned back in his leather chair and looked at the city lights at night. He tried to convince himself that his distrust was merely part of his usual caution, yet he knew that something wasn’t right. The next day, Marina went to work feeling as though every step she took brought her closer to judgment.
Her colleagues, though friendly, threw curious glances at her. The news that she had interrupted the meeting in the conference room spread quickly among the employees. “What were you thinking, Marina?” they whispered in the locker room. “I don’t know. I just felt I had to do it,” Marina replied, trying not to show her anxiety. “I hope Igor Vasiliev doesn’t fire you. You know what he’s like,” they said. Marina silently nodded, understanding that her colleagues were right. Igor Vasiliev was known for his ruthlessness toward those who questioned his authority.
Igor continued delving into the data on the investors. The more documents he reviewed, the clearer it became that Marina had perhaps saved him from disaster. Financial reports revealed uncertainties in transactions with dubious intermediaries, hidden lawsuits that had not surfaced before, and many contracts that had led other companies to bankruptcy.
Gathering all the facts, Igor felt his irritation mounting. He realized that his team of analysts, who had been checking the investors’ data, had endangered not only the company’s reputation but also its future. He pressed the intercom button. “Klára, call the analyst who handled the review of these investors,” he said. “Immediately,” his voice was cold and sharp.
“Of course, Mr. Vasiliev,” Klára responded. In a few minutes, a middle-aged man with a cautious look entered the office. This was Viktor Sergeyevich, the senior analyst responsible for reviewing the deals.
“Did Igor Vasiliev call me?” Viktor asked, trying to appear confident. Igor looked up from his documents, his face showing restrained irritation. “Sit down, Viktor Sergeyevich,” he said, indicating the chair in front of his desk.
Viktor sat, noticeably nervous. “Explain to me how you could have missed such information?” Igor began sharply, throwing printed details about dubious transactions and lawsuits on the table. Viktor Sergeyevich frowned as he quickly scanned the documents.
“Igor Vasiliev, we verified the investors according to standard protocols. At first glance, everything seemed clean,” he tried to justify. “At first glance?” Igor interrupted, rising sharply from his chair. “This isn’t mere negligence. You’ve jeopardized our company and thousands of employees who depend on us. Do you understand what this could have led to?” Viktor Sergeyevich nervously swallowed. “I… we can conduct another check. I’m sure we can fix the situation.”
Igor looked at him with contempt. “It doesn’t matter now. I don’t need apologies or promises. I need results. And if you can’t handle such an important task, then you have no place in my company.” “But, Igor Vasiliev,” Viktor attempted to interject.
“Enough,” Igor said firmly, returning to his chair. “You’re fired. I can’t afford to work with people who aren’t capable of ensuring the security of our deals.”
Viktor Sergeyevich paled but did not argue. He understood that the situation was beyond repair. “Alright,” he replied curtly as he stood up. “Thank you for the opportunity to work here.” He left the office, and Igor remained alone. For a few minutes, he sat in silence, trying to calm his irritation.
This situation made him realize how important it was not to rely solely on formalities and protocols. After his conversation with the analyst, he called the company’s chief lawyer. “Alexander, I want to suspend all negotiations with these investors until we obtain complete information,” he ordered. “May I ask what made you change your mind, Igor Vasiliev?” the lawyer asked. Igor paused, recalling Marina’s face. “Let’s call it intuition,” he replied briefly.
That same day, Marina returned home with a heavy heart. She was still anxious about the possible consequences of her actions. Yura, seeing her, slowly got out of bed, clutching a pencil and an old notebook.
“Mari, I finished another drawing,” he said with a smile. Marina sat beside him and looked at his work with interest. On the paper was depicted a large, cozy house surrounded by a garden with flowers and a bright sun in the sky.
“It’s wonderful, Yura. Someday, we’ll definitely live in a place like this,” she said, trying to sound confident. “Really?” he asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Marina replied, kissing his forehead before going off to prepare dinner. But her thoughts kept returning to Igor. Why had he done nothing after her intervention? At the same time, in Igor’s office, he remained absorbed in the documents.
The contract he had almost signed lay before him alongside other documents. He couldn’t shake off Marina’s words. “This person is unreliable. My family lost everything because of someone like him.” The image of the young woman, her look full of courage and despair, kept replaying in his mind. He sighed heavily and pressed the “End Call” button on his phone.
He felt a mix of relief and anger. On one hand, he had made the right choice, yet on the other, he was irritated by the manner in which they tried to pressure him. Igor took a deep breath, realizing that this step was necessary.
In his mind, images of Marina and her story resurfaced. Her courage, honesty, and resilience repeatedly flashed before his eyes. For the first time in a long while, he felt he was on the right path, even though he knew that further consequences were yet to come.
That very evening, Marina returned home. Yura, seeing his sister, smiled at her from his bed. “Sister, you look tired today,” he remarked.
“A little, sweetheart,” she replied. “Just a tough day at work.” She got up and began preparing dinner from what was available in their modest pantry.
As she stirred the soup in the pot, the restrained tears she had held back all day streamed down her face. “Why couldn’t I just remain silent? What will I do if I get fired?” she thought. Meanwhile, Igor sat at his massive glass table.
The contract he had nearly signed lay in front of him along with other documents. He couldn’t shake off Marina’s words. “This person is unreliable. My family lost everything because of someone like him.” The image of that young woman, her gaze full of courage and despair, haunted him repeatedly. He sighed heavily and pressed the “Call Assistant” button.
That night, as Marina sat in her apartment studying documents, Igor’s words still echoed in her ears, stirring feelings of shame and despair. Her modest uniform was wrinkled and soiled after a long day at work, but she paid it no mind. The first thing she did upon entering her apartment was to look at the bed where her brother slept.
“Yura,” she called softly as she approached to stroke his forehead. The boy barely opened his eyes and managed a weak smile. “You came home late today,” he said.
Marina smiled, trying to reassure him, though inside she felt shattered. “It was a tough day at work, but it’s all fine,” she replied. She got up and began preparing dinner with what was in the modest pantry.
While stirring the soup in the pot, tears she had held back all day began to flow freely. “Why couldn’t I just stay silent? What will I do if I get fired?” she thought. Meanwhile, Igor sat at his massive glass table.
The contract he had almost signed lay before him along with other documents. He couldn’t shake off the evidence that increasingly confirmed Marina’s warnings. What troubled him more was how she could have known about these people.
The next day, while passing by one of the cleaning rooms, he noticed Marina cleaning the windows. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Marina quickly looked away, feeling her heart race. Yet Igor said nothing, continuing on his way with his usual composed demeanor.
However, that brief glance left Marina tense for the rest of the day. She was sure she would soon be called in to be told she was fired. At the end of the workday, Marina decided she had to do something.
She went to her boss Irina’s office to clarify the situation. “Marina, how can I help you?” Irina asked sternly, looking up from her papers. “Irina Sergeyevna, I wanted to apologize for my actions. I know I overstepped my authority, but I couldn’t stay silent,” Marina admitted honestly. Irina looked at her, mixing sternness with curiosity. “Igor Vasiliev—a man hard to impress, let alone interrupt—could have fired you on the spot,” she said. “I know, but I felt it was the right thing to do,” Marina replied, lowering her gaze. Irina paused before adding, “Continue working as usual. Don’t worry.” Marina left the office with a slightly lighter heart, though she knew uncertainty still lingered.
From his office, Igor watched as Marina left the boss’s office. Over the years, he had learned not to trust people, especially those who challenged his authority. However, this woman not only risked her job but also seemed to expect nothing in return.
Reviewing a stack of documents on his desk, he sighed heavily. For the first time in many years, someone had disrupted his customary, cold world. Meanwhile, Marina tried to keep going with her daily duties.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Igor was watching her. Every time she heard approaching footsteps, her heart began to race. Her thoughts raced—he still hadn’t done anything, but what if this was the calm before the storm? Meanwhile, Igor delved deeper into the documents concerning those very investors.
With every new piece of evidence discovered, Marina’s suspicions were confirmed. Irregularities, hidden schemes, bankruptcies—all pointed to their dishonesty. Now he was convinced they were trying to deceive him.
“This cleaning lady saved me from disaster,” he thought, feeling a mix of surprise and embarrassment. He wasn’t used to relying on anyone, especially someone so far removed from his world. The next day, Marina came to work with her usual sense of dread.
She expected the day when he would fire her, but that day never came. As she cleaned the windows on the upper floor, Igor Nikolaevich passed by again. This time, his gaze was different—attentive, almost scrutinizing.
“Good morning, Igor Nikolaevich,” Marina said quietly, trying not to meet his eyes. Igor gave a barely perceptible nod in response and continued on his way. But even that brief moment left her anxious all day.
Later that day, Igor decided he needed to know more about Marina. With a few clicks, he opened her personal file. There was nothing unusual: a punctual, hardworking employee with no disciplinary violations. But one detail caught his attention—her home address and a brief note about her family situation. A dependent brother. Mother deceased, he muttered while reading the file.
Although there were few details, it was enough to understand that Marina’s life had not been easy. Her history, full of sacrifices, stirred in him a strange discomfort. For the first time, he realized how far her world was from his own.
Marina returned home later than usual. Yura was sitting on the bed, drawing in an old notebook. His face looked painfully pale, yet his eyes shone with joy when he saw his sister.
“Mari, today I drew another house,” he said with a smile. Marina sat beside him and looked at his drawing with interest. On the paper, there was a picture of a family—a boy, a girl, and a man standing before a big house with a garden. “We will live in a place like this, right?” Yura asked hopefully.
Marina smiled, though her heart ached inside. “Of course, Yura. We will be happy, I promise,” she said, embracing him.
Yet, while preparing dinner, she couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened and why Igor Nikolaevich still hadn’t fired her. The next day, while she was cleaning in the conference room, Igor unexpectedly entered. Marina froze, feeling a knot forming inside…
“Good morning, Igor Nikolaevich!” she greeted softly, setting aside her cloth. Igor folded his arms across his chest, his gaze focused. “You’re an unusual woman, Marina,” he began. “Me?” she managed to utter, struggling to remain calm. “Few in your position would dare interrupt an important meeting and address me the way you did.” Marina lowered her eyes, feeling her cheeks redden.
“Forgive me, but I did what I thought was right,” she said, clutching the cloth tightly. Igor stepped closer, his voice softening. “And how did you know these people were untrustworthy?” he asked. She hesitated before answering, then took a deep breath and met his gaze.
“Because my father lost everything because of people like them,” she said, barely holding back tears. Igor fell silent, deeply moved by her words. He realized that behind the modest cleaning lady was a story he knew nothing about—a story that explained her courage and perhaps her pain. Her voice was soft and tremulous, but she continued, “You might still not understand why I intervened. But I couldn’t stay silent. These people—they remind me of the man who ruined my family.” Igor, listening with a stony face, studied Marina intently.
Her words struck something inside him, yet he did not interrupt, allowing her to continue. “My father was a good man. He worked tirelessly so that my brother and I had everything we needed. He dreamed of a better life for us. When a man came to him promising huge investments, my father believed him. He invested everything we had in that project. But it was all a lie. A deception. That man vanished, and we lost everything. We lost our home, and we had no money left. My father couldn’t bear the blow. The stress and guilt killed him. I was still a teenager, but I had to take care of my little brother. Yura was very young. Since then, I have done everything to keep him safe and ensure he lacked nothing.” Igor listened intently, his expression softening as he absorbed her story.
Marina paused to steady herself. “The moment I heard one of those investors’ names, it seemed to me that it was the same man or someone connected to him. Maybe I’m mistaken, but I couldn’t just stand by.” She choked up. “I know how these swindlers cheat people like my father. I couldn’t allow anyone else to suffer, not even you.”
She fell silent, realizing she had said more than she intended. Her breathing was uneven, but she felt a tremendous weight lift from her soul. Finally, Igor spoke, his voice low but calm. “You have told me much, Marina. More than I expected to hear. I am grateful for your honesty.”
He stood, looked at her once more, and slowly left, leaving Marina alone with her thoughts. She didn’t know what would come next, but she felt that she had made the right choice. Sitting alone in her office, thoughts of Marina still haunted him. Her words, her look—everything reminded him how little he truly knew about the people who worked for him. He tried to focus on his own affairs, but his mind kept returning to her. Looking out the window at the city, he felt a strange unease.
Her words made him ponder. “What kind of life does she lead? What path brought her here?” he wondered. The next day, Marina continued working, trying not to think about her conversation with Igor.
She felt vulnerable after sharing part of her story with him. Her friend Sonya noticed her condition. “Are you alright, Marina?” Sonya asked during a break. “Yes, I’m fine,” Marina tried to smile. “You don’t look convincing.” “Did something happen? Is it about Igor?” Sonya continued. Marina just shook her head, unwilling to share details. But deep down, she knew that Igor had changed in some way after their conversation. She felt his eyes on her, catching every subtle change in his behavior, even though he tried to hide it.
Meanwhile, Igor increasingly found reasons to cross paths with Marina. Sometimes he lingered in the corridor when she was cleaning, other times he made his way into common areas where she worked. Although he maintained his professional demeanor, there was now a softness in his gaze that Marina noticed but couldn’t quite understand.
He couldn’t ignore that Marina had changed his perspective on many things. She had taught him to see more in people than he was used to noticing. One evening, while sitting in his office and gazing at the city lights, he couldn’t stop thinking of her. Her image haunted him. He felt that her strength and sincerity had broken down the wall he had built around himself over many years. The next day, he made a decision.
“Klára, arrange a dinner at my place. Invite Marina and her brother,” he told his assistant. Of course, Ms. Vasiliev’s assistant Klára responded without question, though she was surprised by his request.
When Marina received the invitation, she was taken aback. She wasn’t used to such gestures and didn’t know how to react. But her friend Sonya persuaded her to go. “This is your chance, Marina. You deserve to relax and feel important. Especially with someone like Igor Nikolaevich—your colleagues will be so envious,” Sonya insisted.
Marina hesitated, but in the end, she agreed. Dinner evening arrived. Marina came in a simple yet elegant dress that Sonya had helped her pick out.
Yura was excited and beamed all evening. When they entered Igor’s apartment, they were greeted by the host himself, who looked relaxed yet quietly joyful. “Welcome,” he said warmly.
The evening passed in a cozy atmosphere. Yura excitedly shared stories, and Igor listened with genuine interest, occasionally casting attentive glances at Marina. She, in turn, felt her tension gradually melt away.
As the dinner came to an end, Igor walked them to the door. Before they left, he took Marina’s hand. “You have changed so much in my life, Marina,” he said quietly. “I want you to know that it means a lot to me.” Marina, flustered, only nodded, not knowing what to say. But in her heart, something new was kindling—a feeling she had been afraid to admit.
A few days passed after Igor’s dinner. Marina couldn’t stop thinking about that evening. His words, his gaze—all left a deep impression on her soul.
She had never experienced such attention, especially from someone who belonged to an entirely different world. Yet her fears and doubts persisted. One day, during lunch, Sonya approached her with a conspiratorial smile. “Marina, have you noticed that Igor Nikolaevich often seeks you out?” “Sonya, stop!” she protested. “He’s just interested in how Yura is doing,” she added, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Sure, of course,” Sonya replied. “You just don’t want to admit the obvious. That dinner—don’t you think it was more for Yura?” Sonya teased. Marina just shook her head, but her thoughts drifted back to Igor again.
Her heart began to believe that his interest might be something more, though her mind said it couldn’t be. Meanwhile, Igor was equally conflicted. He felt that Marina had become someone special to him, but he wasn’t sure how to express it.
Her modesty, her strength, and her selfless love for her brother made him admire her more with each passing day. He understood that their lives were too different, yet for the first time in a long time, he didn’t want to push his feelings away. The next day, Igor invited Marina into his office.
When she entered, he rose from behind his desk and gestured for her to sit across from him. “Marina,” he began quietly but firmly, “I want to speak to you frankly.”
She tensed, not knowing what to expect. “I understand that our lives are completely different,” he continued, “but since you entered my life, so much has changed. You have shown me what it means to be strong, honest, and caring. And I want you to know that you are not just an employee to me.” Marina looked at him in bewilderment.
His words stunned her. “Igor Nikolaevich,” she began, but he interrupted, “Please, call me Igor.” Marina lowered her gaze, feeling her cheeks flush. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered. “You don’t need to say anything,” Igor replied gently, “Just allow me to be by your side. Let me help you and Yura—not out of obligation, but because it matters to me.” Marina felt her heart fill with warmth.
She hadn’t expected to hear such words from someone she had once considered untouchable. That night, Marina found it hard to sleep. She lay awake watching Yura sleep, contemplating how much her life had changed in recent weeks.
For the first time in many years, hope began to take root within her, though doubts still lingered—could she allow herself to trust Igor’s feelings? The next day, Igor did not wait. He once again invited Marina and Yura over for dinner.
This time, he wanted them to feel part of his life. When Marina and Yura arrived, Igor greeted them at the door. His smile was warm, and his eyes shone with sincerity.
During dinner, Yura proudly showed off a new drawing. “Look, I drew you with Marina,” he said proudly. Igor laughed and accepted the drawing, then turned to Marina. “Your brother is truly talented,” he remarked. The dinner passed in a relaxed and warm atmosphere.
After the meal, when Yura dozed off on the sofa, Igor suggested that Marina step out onto the terrace. Under the starry sky, he looked at her and softly said, “Marina, I’d like to ask you one question. Are you ready to let me into your life? Not just as a benefactor, but as someone who truly wants to be with you?” Marina gazed at him, unsure of how to respond. Her heart pounded and her mind raced with thoughts. But in his eyes, she saw genuine sincerity, and for the first time, she felt that she could possibly trust him.
“I…” she began, her voice trembling, “I don’t know what to say. It’s all so unexpected.”
Igor smiled, his eyes softening. “I just want you to know that you are not merely someone I want to help. You mean so much more to me.”
Marina felt tears well up in her eyes. She tried to smile, though her emotions were overwhelming. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You have no idea how much your words mean to me.” Igor slowly moved closer, but did not rush her. He simply stood by, giving her time to gather her thoughts.
After a few moments of silence, Marina met his eyes. “I’m afraid,” she said. “I’m afraid that our worlds are too different, that all this might end before it even begins.”
Igor smiled slightly, his voice confident and calm. “The differences in our worlds don’t matter if we both want to be together. This is just the beginning, Marina, and I’m willing to take this path with you, no matter what.” Marina nodded, her heart beating faster. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to hope.
In the days that followed, life began to change for both of them. Igor became increasingly involved in Marina and Yura’s lives, demonstrating that his words were not mere promises. Weeks passed since the evening when Igor and Marina decided to move forward together.
Their lives gradually began to take on new meaning. Yura recovered; his energy and joy returned. And the relationship between Marina and Igor grew ever closer.
Their wedding was modest but incredibly moving. Only the closest friends and colleagues were present. Yura, dressed in a neat suit, proudly stood beside his sister, holding her hand.
As Marina approached Igor, her eyes shone with happiness. “You are everything I have ever sought,” Igor whispered, looking at her. “And you are my new chance at life,” Marina replied with a smile.
When they exchanged their vows, the room filled with applause. It was a moment that would forever remain in their hearts. After the wedding, Igor, Marina, and Yura began a new life together in a cozy house in the suburbs.
