The Before Short Story Series. Part 1 - стр. 18
‘Are you ready, Bosch? Let's go to the hotel?’ Elena blushed.
Bosch looked at her:
‘Well, let's go.’
Bosch's personal capsule took passengers to downtown Baltimore via an underground highway in ten minutes. After walking around the city, the couple finally arrived at a hotel on the Patapsco River.
‘Will you come up?’ Elena asked without apparent embarrassment.
‘OK.’
The Bell
‘Hi! You are looking great, honey! Well? Tell me! I can’t wait to hear your story,’ entering the factory office, Susan began to question her friend straight from the doorstep.
‘I don't even know where to start, Sue’, smiling broadly, Elena handed her friend a small box wrapped in a stars-and-stripes paper.
‘What is it, dear?
‘A gift for you. A small souvenir from America.’
‘Wow! We love some surprises,’ Susan shook the box. ‘What is it there? Tell me!?’
‘Open it and have a look.’
‘Well, okay, then’, the friend started tearing up the package.
Having dealt with the box finally, Susan almost screamed.
‘Ah-ah!, isn’t it charming! Oh my God! What a beauty!’
‘Quiet, please! We’re going to be fired straight away!’ hushed her Elena.
‘Not both of us together! Someone has to do the job! Ah? That's it!’ reasonably objected Susan, carefully examining a small bell.
‘It's from the Washington Cathedral.’
‘Elly, thank you so much! It’s so beautiful! My collection will soon deserve a personal exhibition—“Bells from Cathedrals of the World”! Would you come?’
‘Well, of course. For sure. Just get me, Sue, dear.’
‘I got it that everything was fine with the cultural program’, Susan carefully put the bell down on the table. ‘Is there anything else you could tell me?’
‘I’d say so, you also need to use the services of this travel agency. Su-san, this is something unimaginable. I had never ever had such impressions from trips…’
‘Elena, Susan, good afternoon,’ greeting the ladies, a tall dark-skinned man dressed in a business suit and tie entered the office. ‘What’s the status of the report? Elena, I see you've had a good holiday. I am very happy for you. Now, as they say, recharged and back to work. The report for September will be ready, as I expect it, today.’
‘Good afternoon, Gustavo. Thanks. Yes, I am very happy with my holiday.’
‘I'm glad, Elena. Very good. What about the report? I’d like to have some more information, please.’
‘We plan to finish the work this week, Gustavo.’
‘I need a final version, not a draft, by Friday. Early next week, we report on the results to the council, so, ladies, I ask you not to let me down. Agreed?’
‘Of course, we will do everything by Thursday.’