There, she had done everything she could to make him invite her to visit. She needed this house and its owner, and if she had to lie to be able to come here, she would lie. Pretend. Act as if she were in love. Once upon a time she had been hurt, so hurt that she thought she would not survive it. But that was over ten years ago, and in her heart there was no need for revenge, in her heart there was nothing for this man. Empty. As if nothing had ever happened. But if for her work she had to cause him pain, she would do it without a seconds thought. It could not possibly hurt any more than the pain she had experienced. And even that, as she learned from bitter experience, can be survived. And so Solovyov would survive if he had to suffer a few unpleasant minutes when his eyes opened to the real feelings and motives of the woman to whom he was attracted.
Solovyov took her by the hand and pulled her toward him. Nastya jumped down from the low window sill and sat on his lap. He gave her a long, tender and very expert kiss, every now and then pulling away from her lips and moving his lips along her long neck. One hand was behind her back, the other caressed her breast under the loose sweater. Nastya paid attention to her reactions. She didnt feel a thing. God, twelve years ago she would have died from caresses and kisses like this. But now nothing. It was not unpleasant, she did not want to tear away in a grimace of disgust, as she would have if it had been a stranger. But there was no delight as in days of old, either.
She pulled away carefully from his arms and went back to the window sill.
I didnt hear an answer, Solovyov. I still dont know whether you want me to come back.
You dont want to.
He looked at her closely and tenderly with his incredibly warm eyes.
Dont kid yourself, Nastya. You dont need me. Im a cripple and youre a young healthy woman with normal needs that I cant satisfy. You dont feel a thing when I embrace you. So what is this all about?
I told you that you havent grown up. Sex is still the most important thing for you. You were a stud and you still are. She smiled and patted his hand. And you havent understood. Im going back to my honored husband, and you take some time to think about what I said. Ill come back tomorrow, and well talk. I hope your business associates wont be in the way tomorrow. Thats all, Solovyov, Im off. Dont sec me out, Ill leave quietly, so that I dont have to say good-bye to your sharks of capitalism. Is there only one door out of here to the living room?
No, that door leads to the hallway.
Until tomorrow, dear, she said mockingly, at the door.
He nodded without taking his wary eyes from her.
Nastya slipped quietly into the hallway. The door to the living room was open, and the voices carried clearly. Nastya took a few steps in the other direction and peeked into the kitchen. Andrei was having a peaceful talk there with the long-mustached Zhenya Yakimov. That meant that only the publishers were in the living room.
She got her jacket carefully from the closet, trying not to make any noise, and listened to their conversation.
The Gazelle is what you need for that business, Avtayev the commercial director was saying. We wont be able to manage otherwise.
Thats too complicated, Voronets replied uncertainly. So much effort, and what if its in vain?
Theres nothing to discuss, Esipov cut him off. There it is, and it has to be done. At whatever cost.
Easy to tell whos the boss, thought Nastya, deftly unlocking the front door.
* * *Alexei Chistyakov lay on the couch watching a mystery on TV. On the floor next to the couch was a tray with empty dishes and a cup with dregs of tea. Nastya could tell that her husband had been in front of the TV for a long time, since lunch.
Whats the matter, Lyoshka? she asked in concern Are you sick?
Uh-uh. He shook his head of red hair. Im on strike.
Why?
Those bastards at the college arent paying for my course. They said they would pay after exams. In other words, they want to see how I taught the course and what the students learned.
When are the exams?
May.
Great! Nastya whistled. Well be short again? That puts a damper on our anniversary trip.
Nice euphemism for coffin lid, her husband commented.
They had gotten married last year on May 13. On the same day Nastyas half-brother, her fathers son by a second marriage, got married too. Her brother was very happy, getting ready for a double wedding, and he made joking plans for joint celebrations of their first and all subsequent anniversaries. Alexander Kamensky insisted that all four of them go to Paris for the first anniversary, to Vienna for the second, and Rome for the third. Nastya paid no attention, knowing that she wouldnt go anywhere on her brothers money, and that they couldnt afford such a trip on their own. Lyoshka could make a good salary if he accepted offers from universities abroad and signed contracts to work there. But he refused to move without Nastya, and Nastya refused to leave her job. And so they had to deal with holes in their budget almost every day.
Are you going to have dinner? Alexei asked, getting out from under the plaid blanket and feeling around with his feet for the slippers that always manage to escape.
No thanks.
Where did you get fed? Didnt you come straight from work?
She no longer worried about whether she should lie or not when it came to her husband. The answer was always: dont lie. First of all, Lyoshka had known her since she was fifteen, he knew her through and through, and he grew suspicious the moment she did anything out of character. Second, he was a truly gifted mathematician, a major scientist, and had a mind that was precise and unemotional, which made it very easy for him to see falsehood. And third, he knew what had happened between Nastya and Solovyov many years ago. He courageously hung on through it, but the suffering and fear he went through for a year and a half when it looked that he would lose the only woman he loved had left an ineradicable mark on his heart. With the slightest cause for suspicion, he became insanely jealous, everything inside him boiling and aching with the fear of losing the unpredictable, uncontrollable, and willful Anastasia, the only woman he needed in his life. Therefore Nastya knew that she could not give Lyoshka any cause for jealousy, because he would go crazy.
I was at someones house.
During working hours? He looked at her in surprise. Nastya didnt do that. She never took care of personal things during work.
It was for work. Lyoshka, I was at Solovyovs.
She didnt need to ask if her husband remembered Vladimir Solovyov. She knew perfectly well that he did.
Really?
He tried to appear calm, and Nastya appreciated the effort.
He lives where we are searching for criminals. I needed an excuse to be there. Moreover, I need an excuse to be there frequently until we clean up our case, and Solovyov is perfect for that. We had an affair which ended badly, but now he is a widower and it is quite natural for me to try to pick up where we left off. You do understand?
Yes, of course. It is completely natural. Shall I prepare for a divorce?
Lyoshka, shame on you!
She sat down next to him on the couch, put her arms around his neck, and pressed her cheek on his shoulder.
Its work, Lyoshka. And nothing more. After so many years, Solovyov has no effect on me. Im a big girl now. And Im asking you please, dont worry about this. I could have hidden it from you, you know. You would have never learned. But I dont see why I shouldnt tell you. Solovyov means nothing to me now. Not a thing. The owner of a house where I must be regularly.