Vera the Mistress - стр. 2

Vera Klimova was born in an average Soviet family of factory workers. Her parents saved some money and sold their country house on the picturesque riverbank for their daughter to move and study in Moscow. They believed their daughter would be an excellent student with her knowledge thirst and talent for the visual arts. The Headmaster of the school where Vera studied, made patronage to one of the Moscow Universities of design and architecture and also helped with the student hostel. The Klimovs could not hold their tears while packing Vera’s bags before her leaving for Moscow. On the one hand, they were desperately going to miss their only child, and on the other, the only job opportunity in a small town was a post-Soviet factory, a miniature of the whole Soviet and post-Soviet inefficient and failed command economic system. It certainly wasn’t a right place for smart and talented Vera, the winner of all high school educational competitions and Olympics in drawing, graphics, and design. Another additional incentive to send their daughter to the capital city of Russia was Dima, her boyfriend from a family of conventional alcoholics. He worked at the factory and put away a lot of booze on weekends, so for Vera's parents, Dima's future without higher education, studies and career growth was transparent and clear as a rock crystal. In the future they didn't want to see Vera wearing a washed-out dressing gown, with hungry children and hard drunk husband.

After graduating from high school with ease and honors, Vera quickly found a job in a company that produced designer furniture and decor. Oleg was the second client who ordered an interior solution for his country house.

Tall, statuesque, wearing an expensive suit and shoes so much cleaned and shiny, that you could use them as a couple of rear-view mirrors while autumn rainy driving. Oleg could not help impressing and fascinating a young twenty-three-year-old girl at a first sight. In comparison with Dima presenting her with a chocolate bar and field daisies plucked nearby the factory, Oleg did not just seem, but really was a kind of a celestial for Vera.

She stayed with him right after their first date. Vera had neither intention nor desire to say “No”.

And now the order was ready, furniture and decor for a country house were designed, manufactured and delivered on time. Vera understood that she might not see Oleg again and was afraid of the foregoing final conversation.

The conversation did take place, but not the one she had expected.