— Tanya?
Zhanna did not expect to see her ex-husband’s sister at the doorstep. The girl was completely soaked, water streaming down from her long hair.
— On the way here, a downpour started. My things got wet, I need to wring them out… Can I come in?
— Well… come in.
Zhanna understood that Tanya had made quite a long journey: Zhanna’s house was in a gated community, on a far street that took about fifteen minutes to walk from the main gate. How Tanya found Zhanna’s house and got inside the territory was a mystery.
— Will you give me some tea?
Tanya shook the drops of water from her cheek and wiped off the mascara that had run under her eyes.
— First, dry yourself off, Zhanna handed her paper towels. The floor couldn’t tolerate moisture, and Tanya’s wet sneakers posed a threat to the new renovation.
— Thanks.
— Now tell me, why did you come?
— I really need money.
— And what does that have to do with me? I don’t lend money.
— I know, I’m not asking for a loan. I came to ask for your help with a job. I’ll agree to anything. Any job! As long as they pay… I know your new husband owns a hotel chain. Please ask him if he can get me a job…
— Do you have any experience?
— Yes! Tanya nodded. — I worked in a cafe.
— As what?
— Manager… I was supposed to work as one… But temporarily they took me as a waitress! I almost made it to a promotion.
— How long did you work?
— About two months. Two weeks at one place, a week at another… and I left the third one yesterday. I didn’t get along with the director.
Zhanna looked at Tanya in surprise.
— You understand that with that “resume” no one will hire you anywhere, right?
— How come? Three different cafes! I’m super experienced!
— Jumping from place to place doesn’t add value, it’s the opposite.
— So what should I do? I really need money… Tanya looked at Zhanna and burst into tears.
— Why do you need money? And why did you think you could earn it here?
— Where else can I earn it? In our “kolkhoz,” where there are only three houses?!
— Life in Moscow is expensive, housing is expensive… Where are you staying?
— At first, I lived with a friend, then I went to my brother, but he kicked me out… He has a new woman, and she wouldn’t let me stay with them.
— Oh? Zhanna grimaced. Mentioning her ex-husband made her uncomfortable.
— He has become rude and mean with this woman! I wanted to stay with him, but that hag threw me out! Zhannochka, will you help me? I have no one else to turn to except you…
— I can’t promise you anything, because I don’t work myself and therefore can’t get you a job.
— But you’re a woman! You have influence over your husband… please ask him, let him hire me through a connection…
— I can’t promise anything; it depends on what vacancies he has. My husband is on a business trip now, he’ll be back only by the weekend.
— Thank you! I knew you were good, not like that old hag… Zhanna, dear, can I stay the night? Please… Tanya folded her hands at her chest. — See the downpour? It’ll be dark soon, and I have no money for the way back.
— How did you get here?
— Hitchhiking…
— Yeah… Zhanna realized it was dangerous to let the girl go alone on the road at night. Although Tanya was a stranger to her, Zhanna took pity and let her spend the night in the guest room. — Okay. But you leave tomorrow morning. I don’t need any freeloaders.
— Okay, Tanya beamed. She stretched out on the bed and looked at the modern chandelier, the beautiful wallpaper, and expensive curtains.
“No one in our neighborhood has things like this… Zhanna got lucky, snagged a rich husband… I need to find someone like that! Then all my problems will be solved!” Tanya dreamed.
She hoped she would get some interesting position, meet a successful and free man, and marry well, just like in romance novels. But Tanya didn’t realize that successful men don’t look at girls like her, and no one would hire a 19-year-old girl with no work experience to a high position.
That’s exactly what Zhanna’s husband, Stepan, said when he returned from his business trip.
— I don’t know how to help. I only have one vacancy for Tanya.
— Which one?
— One she won’t like.
— She said she’s willing to do any job, Zhanna clarified.
— Really? Then let her come tomorrow at 6:30. If she wants to work so much, she’ll get employed.
Tanya found the modern hotel chain office building quickly. But she was late… she came at 9:00. Still, she didn’t feel guilty—she had a good excuse: the bus broke down.
The building was impressive.
Climbing the stairs, she daydreamed — imagining entering the office as the director’s wife, or at least his assistant.
Tanya even dressed specially for work: uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, a short skirt, and a top that looked like mosquito netting.
Walking was uncomfortable—the heel kept catching, and several times she almost fell. Fortunately, the distance wasn’t far.
Tanya suddenly opened the door and ran into a security guard.
— Where are you going? he looked her up and down critically.
— To work!
— Your pass?
— I don’t have a pass.
— Then you’re at the wrong door. Only people with passes can enter here.
— People like me don’t need passes. Tanya raised her nose. — And you… will be fired tomorrow. You don’t recognize high-ranking people!
The guard looked at Tanya and laughed. He wanted to tell her that dressed like that she was only good for standing on the highway, “catching suitors.” But he didn’t get the chance.
— Hello, Stepan Sergeyevich, he snapped to attention.
— Hi, Nikolai, Stepan greeted, glanced at Tanya and grimaced. He wanted to tell the guard to remove this lady, but didn’t get the chance.
— I’m here for work. Tanya said cheerfully, adding: — I’m Tanya. Your wife’s friend.
Stepan flushed. He didn’t expect Tanya to dress like that, and certainly didn’t want to associate this “miracle” with Zhanna.
— You’re late! By three hours! Okay, come on… he grabbed her by the elbow. — And don’t talk about being friends with my wife. You’re not friends. And don’t dress like that anymore.
— Too fancy, huh?
— No! You look like a woman of low social responsibility! he hissed, dragging her away from colleagues.
— What’s the secret? Ah, I get it—you don’t want gossip that you got me a good job through connections… Tanya guessed. Stepan even choked a bit.
— Who promised you a “good job”?
— Zhanna… And do you have a company apartment far from the office? I thought I’d live there for now.
— Don’t lie! No apartment was promised to you! The best you can hope for is a bed in the shared staff room.
— Well, I thought since you’re the boss…
— What? That I’d make you my deputy?
— Or at least my assistant.
— My assistant has three university degrees and speaks five languages fluently. What language do you know besides your native one?
Tanya thought for a moment:
— Salty.
— What kind of language is that?!
— It’s when after every syllable you add an “s” followed by the same vowel that comes before the “s.”
— You’re joking, right? Well, a sense of humor will come in handy in your new job.
— When do I start?
— Start now. Go to the ground floor and ask for Maria. She’ll show you around and give you a uniform.
— Cool! Tanya imagined a businesswoman’s suit like in the movies.
— You’ll get paid at the end of the week. It’ll be contract work.
— How much?
— Depends on your success. If you work hard, there may be a bonus, Stepan wrote a number on a piece of paper. Tanya was of course disappointed. She expected higher pay. But decided it was too early to refuse. Now she had access to the circle of successful people and the chance to charm one of the local bosses to marry quickly. Then she wouldn’t have to work at all.
With these thoughts, Tanya went to the ground floor. A woman in a white apron was waiting for her there.
— You’re Tanya?
— Yes…
— Let’s go.
— You probably confused me with another Tanya… Tanya raised her eyebrows when she saw the workplace. — I didn’t apply to be a maid! This is a mistake!
— To be a maid, you have to learn the craft. For now, you’ll be the assistant to the junior cleaner. Change clothes. Those heels won’t do you any good.
With that, Maria handed Tanya a bucket, mop, robe, and rubber slippers.
— But I…
— Today you’ll clean floors from the ground to the fifth floor. Don’t forget the stairs.
Tanya wanted to object, but her “boss” was already distracted by a phone call.
— No way. I didn’t sign up for this.
Tanya threw down the cleaning tools and went to confront the boss. But he was no longer there. He was a busy man.
Then Tanya called Zhanna and told her everything she thought:
— Did you decide to make fun of me?!
— What happened?
— Your husband made me a cleaner!
— You said you needed any job.
— But not this! I’m not going to scrub toilets!
— Then don’t — it’s your choice, Zhanna sighed and hung up. She had more important things to do than babysit her ex-husband’s sister.
Hearing the dial tone, Tanya got angry, kicked the door, and accidentally broke her heel. She had to walk home barefoot.
Tuned domestic cars honked at the colorful girl. But there were no oligarchs among the drivers. Tanya had to walk back to her brother’s house—broken heel, torn tights, and bruised pride.
— Listen, maybe you’ll still help me find work? she asked, folding her arms across her chest. — Don’t be like Zhanna…
— No, Tanya. First, study, then come conquer Moscow, he said, slamming the door in his younger sister’s face.
Tanya had to go back home to her parents and put aside the thought of a lucky marriage.
— Nobody appreciated me here… in Moscow, she told her friend, sitting on a bench and munching on sunflower seeds.
— They say everyone here is mean, her friend nodded.
— Mean and arrogant.
They gossiped a little more and then parted ways, hoping for better luck next time.
