“And I’m interested in when we get the promised money,” I say dryly.

“The first tranche is already,” says the partner. I thoughtfully look out the window of our 14th floor.

“Nick,” I say. - Is it really impossible to get out without him? To restructure debts to banks, to issue shares on the open market?

- Well, we discussed everything ... You understand that.

I always suspected that Bessmanov pressed Lesnikov to give him our company. We simply gobbled up. I expressed this thought out loud, and Foresters only lowered their eyes in response. He did not want to justify himself, but he did not intend to retreat from his opinion.

“The Bessins will arrive in a couple of hours,” said the partner, and I retired to my office.

Soon the secretary let her in to me. Nastya put a large package on the table.

- Here, Alexander Grigorievich, - and the girl, tearing off the bag, opens up a toy layout for me. In front of me on the table was a figure of the Snow Maiden. Big doll, but made amazing. Just like a living. I froze, so the toy on the table seemed to me like ...

Looks like Nastya herself. Does it seem?

- The layout is ready in the original. I'll show you everything now, ”the designer began to fuss, and I looked alternately at the doll, then at the girl. Nastya clicked the remote control, demonstrating the functions of the toy Snow Maiden, she sang and danced, in general, the full range of services from the fairytale character. For children of preschool and school age.

- Wow, - finally, I voiced the assessment.

- Did you really like it? - she flushed, flushed from the praise of the boss.

“And my son would have liked it,” I suppose. Trying to remember Nastin age, he must be in a personal form.

- How old is he?

She learns about Vlad and about the fact that the boy grows up without his mother. No, not a divorce, death at birth. I note the reaction of pain and regret on her face.

“He probably misses you,” Nastya sadly suggests. - You are so busy.

It remains only to agree. But Vlad lacks not only me. Well then ... It's time.

- Nastya ... - I faltered before my proposal. - Do not take it for obsession ... and even more so for the order ... I need your help. Let me invite you to dinner tonight, I'll explain everything there.

I catch embarrassment on her face. For a long time I have not seen a similar reaction in women to the usual invitation. Any Kira at that moment looked different - confidently and flirtatiously. A young girl, but I can not do otherwise. I adhered to the rule not to have romance at work, and I hope not to break it even now.

- Well, - requesting shyness agrees Nastya, and I let her go. I look after the leaving slender legs. It was like a winter wind in my office, dispelled doubts, but brought hope.

- Until the evening, Nastya.

... Bessin entered my office with Lesnikov. Five minutes to the new owner. A tall, dryish man of indeterminate age (maybe forty-five, and fifty-six) with a hard, steel look. Needless to say, shark business. We greeted each other, and Bessmanov immediately went to work.

- Sasha, you are responsible for the staff of the company, and so. Starting tomorrow, I’ll highlight a new HR director for you. This is a top-class professional, working with me for many years. It will help to clean up the frame.

- Yes, there are no problems with personnel, Konstantin Igorevich, - I notice, trying to sound as friendly as possible.

- But you have no objections? - Specifies Bessenov. A tone that does not tolerate failure. The new owner begins to arrange his people in the business, well, a common thing. I agree, mentally spitting on the boot. If the new HR director comes together to cut personnel, he (and Bessmanov) will have to deal with me, no matter what the Foresters would say to me there. Bessonov seems satisfied with how quickly we give him control over the business, and then he notices on the bedside table the layout of the Snow Maiden, left by Nastya.He literally stuck to the figure with a changed look. To say that the toy caught his attention is to say nothing.

- Where did you get this doll? - asked Bessenov. I thought his voice was trembling.

“This is a model of a toy planned for production next year,” I explain. Why did the Snow Maiden so attract him? Although the toy is really super. Already in turn, I click the remote and demonstrate the characteristics of the model to Bessenov and Lesnikov.

- Who thought it up? The oligarch asked impatiently in his voice. His eyes gleamed feverishly, as if his stock price had flown up on the stock exchange. The foresters frowned visibly.

It was as if someone had pricked my brains at that moment. Why is it so interesting to him? Some unknown feeling told me the answer.

“I myself, Konstantin Igorevich,” I said. - Invented.

FIG he learns about Nastya, I decided. Talented designers let him find himself. Arsenal frustrated rose from his chair.

“I didn’t think that you have such talents,” he said dryly, and left the office.

... I waited for Nastya to leave the building, turned the corner, and caught up with her in her car. Gossip office subordinates to me to anything. She stopped, raised her fur coat and sat down through the door that I opened. Our first business (yes, business, that's exactly how I decided) the date begins.

But when I turned my head to the girl sitting next to me in a snow-white fur coat and with eyes wide open and glittering with the purity of the sky, the purpose of the meeting was lost somewhere, opening the doors to a completely different desire. How good she is, this Nastya.

- Let me tell you ... - a boy sounds in me, enchanted by a girl who does not want to be the boss with his requests at this moment, but wants to be just himself. - You are very beautiful, Nastya, and very ...

The words disappear, I do not recognize myself, but she no longer hesitates, only with a slight smile thanks for the compliment. Staring at the road, I notice out of the corner of my eye how she looks at me. Do I like her like a man? We are driving around the New Year's Eve winter city, she praises the streets illuminated with illumination, and I know that Nastya is brighter than all the New Year's lights. Already in the restaurant we speak on all sorts of topics, and note how easy it is for me with this girl. I am charitable as never before. She was very open, told me that she grew up without parents, her grandfather was engaged in her upbringing, and now, due to certain circumstances, he is far away, and Nastya is all alone in this city. Himself telling her about myself. The thought flashes about how many Nastya had men, and I think that, judging by her, a little. Time flies amazingly fast, and Nastya notices that it is time for her.

- Nastya, - I remember why I invited her. - I have a request. My little son wants a real Snow Maiden to come to him. He believes in fairy tales, and you ... You are special. It seems to me that Vladik will believe that you are she ... real. Will you help?

“Don't you believe in fairy tales?” - Nastya specifies with a smile. I notice that she was not at all surprised by my request. As if waiting for her. Well, so much the better.

“Well, I'm already an adult boy,” I answer her cheerfully. Nastya agrees. In the evening, the 31st.

I bring the girl to her house. I stand next to her at the front door and do not want to let go. Otherwise, be next to each other, some kind of sexy woman, whom I rolled around restaurants and so on, it would be useful to kiss, but with this girl ...

“Thank you for the wonderful evening, Alexander Grigorievich,” she says graciously, shakes my hand and leaves. There were no offers to drink tea at her house, but my tongue seemed to soured. I press disappointment in the lack of continuation of the evening. But I know that if fairies disappear, they always come back later.

* * * * * *

The working day of the next day was marked by the appearance in the office of the company presented by the Headless Personnel Director. Hmm, more precisely the director. From the very morning she brought her to my office to represent the Foresters.

- Meet Sasha, Natalya Petrovna Yagotskaya, new ... Read more →