“And he said you cheated on him!” Tanya threw me in the back.

“Me?!” I specified indignantly.

I just can't believe it! It turns out these meetings with Diana are nothing, and I, therefore, cheated!

“That's what he said."

The neighbor got an exceptionally shrewd look. Clearly, she wanted details. Gossip is an important part of some women's lives. In fact, she has plenty of details to gossip about. If she thinks about it a little more, she'll give me a story that I'll have to sneak home for the next ten years.

He's mad because I pointed him out the door. Caught him in a restaurant with someone else.

“You did? “

The neighbor's eyes widened. She obviously didn't expect me to tell her that! We'd never really talked to each other – just to borrow a couple of eggs or ask each other to pick up the courier. But we were not close friends to discuss our personal lives.

“I luckily met an acquaintance, and he played along. "Now Alex thinks I evened the score, and he's pissed off about it," I added.

"You should have told him about it! Why lie? You'll be alone with the cat."

"I don't have a cat," I was confused.

"Here, you don't even have a cat. And you don't have a man."

I was stunned by her rant. "Wow!" That's female solidarity!

“Call him. Apologize. Tell him you lied to him because you wanted to make him jealous. Call him back. And while he's on his way, make him something delicious.”

I was so stunned I listened to the whole thing.

“Thanks for the advice, but I don't want to! “

"Some hussy is gonna steal him away, and you'll regret it later," Tanya said admonishingly and disappeared into her apartment.

I stood alone, trying to understand what was going on. I had never read such a thing even in a novel! Although there was one positive outcome of this conversation: I was angry, and I lost the desire to cry into my pillow. So, according to the people around me, I'm nothing without him. The man's a light in the window!

I flew into my apartment, hissing with anger, and scattered the purchases in the refrigerator. I changed my mind about drinking wine. Tomorrow I have a new life, I'll get a new job. Remembering the job, I thought of Andrew and also remembered the phone I had to find. After searching through my entire bag, I realized that it might be in my jacket pocket. The message had already been received.

"Tomorrow at ten in the morning, go to the editorial office of a fashionable men's magazine. I've made arrangements, they'll take you. Don't forget your papers."

“Wow!” I exhaled and, undressing as I went, went first to the bathroom and then to the bedroom. I had no energy left after that long day.