It could have destroyed the fruit, sent a pestilence, or killed a whole herd of horses from a neighboring camp. I also turned to her for help more than once, she gave me a long life, but with the condition that I had to give something in return. But I didn't know then that the dark forces would take my Dana, my soul. Vadoma, having lost her daughter in childbirth, cursed all her gods and asked them to take away all the dark forces from her. Her gods were merciful and returned them … you… I kept the secret of Vadoma for a long time, but when you turned eighteen, Suleiman began to say that he felt strange around you, that you could read minds and get into heads. He also said that the Professor who taught you history jumped out of the window…
"Daddy, it's not me… himself… he just pestered me after lectures.... – Arina was on her knees near her dying father and wept…
– Light of my eyes, I don't blame you, you are my soul. Forgive me.
"For what, daddy?"
"Before she died, Vadoma said that in exchange for your gift, which the gods returned to you, they would take what was most precious from you. You will always be barren.
"What?" Dad? Daddy?!Ahhh!!!
Suleiman ran into the room to the screams, disheveled, tearful, and barefooted Ara tried to shout to the helpless old man.
Only for a moment did the Perst open eyes that had once been black and transparent with age.
– Dad!
– Dana, my Life, I have been coming to you for so long…
After a lavish funeral of the criminal business legend, Ara received an inheritance and lived the life of a rich, fashionable lady. She wasn't interested in drugs, prostitution, or begging.
Having made Suleiman their right-hand man, they hired a staff of the best lawyers to open new, absolutely legal businesses in the field of IT technologies. Arina graduated from the American University with a degree in modern computer programs and websites, so after understanding the Russian market, she invested part of her inheritance in their development.
"Dad would be laughing at me right now if he knew that robots bring me money.
Suleiman silently smiled in the next seat and adjusted his holster out of habit.
– Mila, who's next? Arina asked her Secretary over the phone.
– ArinaPetrovna, Oleg Bryantsev, a post-graduate student from Moscow State University with the project "the Future of computer technologies".
Chapter 7
Vera regained consciousness in the clinic room. Her head was heavy, leaden. Her eyelids didn't open. She fumbled for the nurse's call button.
A few minutes later, the doctor entered the room.
– Anatoly Ivanovich, what's wrong with me? Why I'm here. Can I have some water?
"Yes, Verochka. The nurse will bring you some water and dinner.
"Dinner?" Is it evening?
"You've been here more than a day. Another surgical intervention was necessary.
"What? What happened? Doctor, I felt very well. I had excellent tests. It's been so many months, what's the problem?
– Verochka, I am very sorry to inform you that you can no longer have children. Inflammatory processes in the uterus caused fever and dizziness. You passed out in the restaurant bathroom. You were discovered by Oleg Bryantsev's wife, Arina. She was the one who brought you in her car. You should be grateful to her now. If not she, I don't know how it would have ended…
Vera couldn't believe her ears, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. Nightmare. Nightmare. She pinched herself painfully, and her vision went dark.
"I don't understand, I don't remember…"
"That's normal. At a high temperature, it happens so that to save energy, the body shuts down for a more important, in simple terms, fight. Now everything is fine, rest. The discharge papers will be ready tomorrow, and today you will take another blood test, and the nurse will measure your blood pressure and temperature. If everything is all right, you'll be home by tomorrow night.
Oleg's phone was disconnected or out of network coverage. Vera dialed the number she knew by heart over and over again with a stubborn, stupid persistence until she was exhausted.
– Hello, Vika, hi. It's alright. Can you come tomorrow to two on the Dnieper Promenade 180, I'll send the address? No, nothing serious. I'm being discharged from the clinic. Thank you, see you tomorrow – last word Klimova said hysterically, the voice wavered and she instantly hung up.
Vera didn't want to feel sorry for herself, she was afraid to start and then not stop. She texted the address of the clinic to a friend, put the empty battery phone on the charger, wrote to her worried mother on her twenty messages "mom, a lot of work, I can't call for a few more days, we rent objects, love, and kiss, hello to dad", turned to the wall with unusual patterns and silently howled.
VikaVolokh, a colleague, and friend was tall, blond, and green-eyed, as precise as a Swiss watch. Filling the clinic's lobby with the aroma of fresh pastries, coffee, and expensive perfume, she gave Vera a businesslike look, introduced herself as a sister, and received all the documents and statements. Vera, like a faded carnation on a monument, leaned against the reception desk, suddenly noticed a familiar silhouette in the distance along the corridor. The girl went to the head doctor's door, but the secretary beat her to it.
– Sorry, Anatoly Ivanovich is busy right now.
"I'm sorry, I…"
– Yes. Klimova, Vera Sergeevna. Anatoly Ivanovich has already signed the documents for your discharge.
"I just wanted to say thanks and say goodbye."
– The doctor has a consultation now, I'm sorry, you can't see him.
Vera had already turned to leave when the communicator on the secretary's desk asked for two coffees in the voice of the chief doctor.
"And juice, Tosha, I need fresh juice," the voice on the speakerphone said with a loud laugh.
– Dasha, bring two coffees and fresh orange juice, please.
– Of course, Anatoly Ivanovich.
– Vera Sergeevna? – the secretary has already left the table and addressed the girl, – Can I help you with anything else?
"No, no, thank you. Tell me, who is in Anatoly Ivanovich's office now?
– This is closed information, – Daria shrugged her shoulders and swam to make coffee and fresh orange juice on perfectly long and straight legs for her boss and ArinaBryantseva, Oleg's wife.
Vika made tea with berries and melissa, put the tray on the small coffee table, and sat down on the sofa next to Vera.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Are you going to be silent for a long time?" What happened?
– Nothing. All right.
Vika nodded and went into the hall.
"Where
