See you in St. Tropez

“I know it’s energy exchange!” She seemed agitated. “Let’s talk about something else so that he doesn’t sense I’m thinking about him now and…”

“…and doesn’t get a frisson in his pants?” I laughed out loud.

“You’re so crazy. I envy your imagination! Anyway. Tell me can you believe her mom’s a doctor?” asked Elly not even trying to conceal the look of disgust as she glanced at the opposite end of the table. “Just look at her. She’s so ratchet. Like a white trash. Can’t anyone else see it?”

“White trash?”

“Of course! Just watch her. No matter how hard she’s trying to hide her essence, I can see right through her. You know, you can take her out of a trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer part out of her! Zero elegance and evil less sophistication. And you know why?”

“Elly, if i have to be honest…”

But my friend didn’t let me finish knowing I was about to change the subject.

“Sophistication…” – she went on and on as if she didn’t hear me – “…is an innate trait. It’s a privilege, transmitted by certain genes, you can’t just work it out in yourself, you can’t cultivate it, no matter how many diamonds your jewelry features, or a fancy university diplomas you have. Sophistication, much like feminine is a thing one’s born with, it can never be attained.”

“I think you got off the wrong foot, having woken up on the wrong side of the bed after a sleepless night.”

“On the contrary, I slept fine. It’s just seeing that trash drives me insane.”

“Please, spare me the drama. Elly, I strongly disagree. Even if she were from a trailer park, don’t you think there are doctors too! Why do you think this way of people?”

“I speak nothing but the truth! Truth of life. I’ve nothing against trailer parks, villagers, and small shit-hole towns. But I can’t stand grifters such as her. She lies through her teeth and makes things up as she goes,” Elly shrugged her shoulders. “Look at her friends! It’s like some kinda shapito circus.”

“Just friends. What’s wrong with them? And they’re born here, the same city you were born in. They even go to the same school you go to.”

“So, what. We may be from the same city, and even go to the same school. Only I was born, and have always been living by the Kremlin. And those are just suburban queens.”

“Elly! How are you even friends with me? I come from another country!”

“Oh, don’t get me started here. Your bloodline speaks for itself. You’re an honest, decent lady with iron integrity. Sometimes, way too good. You know how they say – a tattler is worse than a thief?”

“Here we go. Even I got my fair share,” I laughed. “Elly, you’re such a chauvinist. Did you know?

“I take after Rose,” Elly roller her eyes. “I don’t even care who comes from where. Even if she -” my friend glanced in the direction of Bella – “…was born inside the Kremlin, or on the Red Square, she would still scream trailer park to me. Look at her, she’s nothing.”

“Elly. Will you stop it! I can’t listen to this anymore. This can’t be you!”

“Sorry. It’s just they’re so annoying. I don’t want to share a table with a bunch of whores. They are kind of from wealthy families. And don’t look at me this way, Eva. You know the lady’s first rule: not to sit at the same table with night walkers.”

“I think you’re getting a PMS. She’s not one of those. She’s just a silly girl. Way to trusting.”

“Can you even hear yourself? Trusting? You are too trusting, Eva! Where do you think she got all those diamonds from?”

“She said she…”

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Her daddy died and left her a fortune. Australian golden mines and blah blah blah… You can’t be that stupid to believe in all this?”

“You can’t accuse someone of lying just because you don’t like them!”

“I can’t stand her and I can’t help it.”

“I can see that. Calm down, chew some mints.”

“As if it will help. Besides, I know I have a great intuition.”

“One would argue. Your intuition was quite silent when you agreed to this dinner with…”

“Shut up! Don’t even say that name. Are you even my friend? Please, forget all about this.”

“My silence comes at a price.”

“No doubt about that,” Elly smirked. “You see that friend of hers, the one who looks like a depressed mouse? Who is she? And the fat one? I wouldn’t be surprised if she looked hard for them to bring them with – to look like a superstar next to them.”

“Elly! You’re so vicious! Knock it off!”

“Whatcha girls talking about? Me?” Vlad suddenly appeared behind us. He had finally made it to the restaurant. He was the only decent guy from our hangout who we both liked as a friend.

“Here you are, finally,” Elly snidely hissed.

“Bet you hoped I wouldn’t make it?” he grinned.

He bent and gave kissed each of us on the cheek. Instead of saying hi to Bella and her friends, he resorted to a polite nod. He sat down next to me, thus making me one in the middle. “In between the rock and a hard place, as always,” I thought to myself.

“Vlad, what’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong, Google? he asked Elly laughing.

“You don’t love us, Vlad.”

“I love Eva, but you… you are a real bitch.”

“Asshole!”

“Because of you, my best friend has been suffering for two weeks. Doesn’t leave his house. You didn’t have to turn him down that harshly. You know he’s so into you. I warned him it’s not gonna end up good. He sounds like he’s been flushed down the toilet and here, look at you laughing and shining social butterfly. You haven’t even thought of him once… poor guy.”

“Vlad, let’s not start, ok? I don’t need a man who can’t keep his promises.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, first he was begging me to go to Paris with him for the weekend. I said right away, we’re not sharing a room in the Ritz. He said he wasn’t even thinking to suggest that and that each of us will have our own room, that he already payed for two rooms. Besides, my visa expired, and so he said he’d take care of it, too. He said that will send his driver to take my passport… and that was it.”

“Well, he failed his exam because got high night before and his dad pulled his plug… cut his ‘allowance’…”

“My point exactly. I don’t need a sucker who can’t go to the bathroom without his daddy’s permission.”

“A trip to Paris isn’t exactly going to the bathroom…”

“I didn’t say it was. You did…”

“I know you. You don’t think twice to say something nasty about anything.”

“What’s wrong? By the way, speaking of Paris. Even Paris stank shit up until nineteenth century, my dear Vlad. Karamzin, traveling at the time around post-revolutionary France, was utterly shocked, traumatized if you will, having seen luxury and shit intertwine. You know what he suggested?”

“He didn’t tell me…” Vlad burst into laughter.

“He recommended to stay at the terrace of Tuileries Garden. It is from there that you could enjoy a stunning look over the city without having to smell its fragrances. ‘Don’t get any closer’ he’d say, because it stinks,” concluded Elly, disgust written all over her face.

“Yes, I remember that,” I joined the conversation. “His son, years after that in his letters described his trip to Paris in a funny way. He wrote something like “closer and closer, it stinks more and more! Hurray. We’ve arrived.”

“You could come up with a song. You nailed it. You get an A”

“So, do you!”

We burst into laughter. Vlad seemed bewildered, with a hint of pettiness, watching us laugh.

“Eva, let her be silly. But you, why are you laughing?” he looked at us as if we were out of our minds. “You girls want a piece of advice?”

“No!” we answered in a perfect unison.

“Then listen and don’t’ tell me I haven’t warned you. If you want some decent guys – like myself – to like you…” he went silent for a moment to emphasize the importance of what he was about to reveal, “-stop it with your overly intellectual pretentious jokes, OK? I mean it like an older brother. That’s a turn off.”

“Hey bro, can I ask you something?” asked Elly with a clear sarcasm in the voice.

“See what I am talking about? Sometimes it’s better to say nothing…. and life would get so much better. When I didn’t know you Elly well enough I used to think ‘she was a hot as fuck’, pardon my language, but that’s like the best compliment we guys use.”

“You guys?” Elly smirked.

“Us…. decent serious guys. Shut up for a minute, will you? I’m not done yet… So. ‘Crazy long legs and stuff’. But once you opened your mouth and spoke…. and you spoke two words to each that was said to you. So, then I stopped thinking of your legs and started thinking you sounded like a Google-Sirt hybrid.”

“You’re so retarded, Vlad,” Elly laughed.

It went without saying Vlad did have the privilege of being able to tell the truth to our faces, like a true friend. It was mutual. Elly never took offence, just ignored it at times. We knew nobody besides three of us will ever hear it. Vlad didn’t hesitate to stick out for us and defend us to anyone who dared to say anything disrespectful or even cast a weird look. He was indeed like our older brother. Despite being young, Vlad possessed quite a few qualities of a mature men. Not only was he generous, but he also cared deeply about his friends and those he loved – a very few people. Most importantly, he knew how to keep secrets. Among his flaws was his brutal honesty. The words he sometimes chose would cut those he happened to talk about like the sharpest blades. There was however one person he had never joked about. That was me. Occasionally he would say something funny, silly, and not super offensive about Elly and I together, never once was his fun making directed at me. Rumor had it amongst our friends, that we were secretly dating – an utter nonsense. What I thought it was all about was his respect towards me.

“Eva. You seem very quiet today. Or Siri won’t let you say a word?” He looked over at Elly but saw nothing but indifference.

“Don’t say that about Elly. Don’t call her Siri.”

“What about Ok Google?”

Vlad really enjoyed and would often laugh at his own jokes and if someone happened to not get it, they were immediately “blacklisted’ by Vlad. I was lucky, I liked both his sense of humor and the way he laughed. Such an infectious laughter he had, I never heard anyone laugh quite like that.

“Come on, Vlad. Better tell me… I know you don’t like me that much, but Eva. Why don’t you like her?”

“I don’t get what you mean…” Vlad was sincerely confused.

“Well…. we talked about having dinner, just three of us, right?”

“Elly, don’t be weird. Do I have to get lost when guys call me asking where I am at? Or ignore them when they come to say hi?”

“I’m not talking about your guys…. tell me, what are THEY doing here?” Elly quietly hissed.

“Well…they’re with D.”

“Right. When I heard David’s gonna be here too, I almost threw up.”

“Siri, I am proud of you didn’t,” Vlad burst into loud laughter.

“Honestly, that David of yours is the source of all problems. I’ve never even seen someone that fat. Even if I looked hard enough I wouldn’t probably find anyone like that.”

“Why look then? He’s one of the kind and you’ve found him already. Everyone knows D. He can solve any issue, right bro?” Vlad spoke loudly now addressing a chubby guy with a silly smile who had just approached the table behind Elly. Don’t be fooled, his silly smile was paired with sharp, intense, and calculating gaze.

“Sure, bro… you just let me know and I’ll fix it,” the chubby guy was spitting saliva as he spoke with his usual lisp. “Elly, Eva! Hi girls, looking good tonight.”

“Hi dear,” I tried my best to smile.

I didn’t despise David the way Elly did. In fact, I was quite indifferent to his or his friends presence. I was quite entertained watching them interact.

“Yo D! Here’s the thing. Elly was just saying you lost weight. And some muscles going for you. She’s been thinking of you all the time and wondered why you didn’t notice that. She’d love a date night.” Vlad was laughing once again having winked at bewildered David who was now smiling in a silly way, but now looking directly at Elly.

“Vlad! Are you forgetting to take your meds? You shouldn’t skip.” Trying her best to make indifferent look, Elly replied and took her electronic cigarette out of the red silk purse. “Oh, now I AM gonna be sick for real,” she whispered to me.

“He’s looking at you now… “I whispered back. “I think he didn’t get it… that Vlad was actually joking.”

“Fuck. I don’t even wanna smoke now.”

“A good opportunity to quit. Let’s call it David Effect.” I could barely contain the laughter that was filling me up.

“Still looking?”

“Who? David… or the handsome billionaire?”

“Oh, right. I forgot all about him because of these freaks.”

“Well… the billionaire isn’t. He’s looking, but at our laughing guys now.”

“Here we go. I’m so done. They’ve ruined it.”

“What have they ruined? There was nothing to ruin in the first place.” I laughed.

“But there could have been! They’re killing the game.”

“What can I say: c’est la vie.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But if this will make you feel better, David is still looking at you like a big crazy-in-love cat.”

“Shut up, will you?”

“No way!” a wave of laughter was growing in me.

“I’m begging you!” Elly herself was on the verge of laugher.

She was sitting with her side to David and looked stunning her dress that reached all the way to the floor. The long slit revealed her incredible sexy legs. Of course, she had stroke a pose initially to attract the attention of the handsome billionaire, but the pose seemed to backfire having drawn David.

“He’s eating you with his eyes…” I tried to be careful and not to look at David directly. “He’s drooling now.”

“So disgusting,” Elly closed her eyes. “He’s horrid. You know his managed to talk his parents into buying his ex – that bag of bones – a used Bentley”.

“I know who you mean… be quiet please.”

“Well… I know, to each their own, but still… but how could anyone sleep with him for a used Bentley? No one could fall that low. She must have a zero self-love or respect. You know, one thing…. when you hook up with a friend, drunk. Then we’d be talking about poor taste. And everyone has different tastes anyway…”

“So smart of you, I’m writing it down…” I giggled.

“So, she conned this tub of lard, and dumped him. Left him crying into the pillow, drinking and feeling worthless…

“So…?

“So, what?”

“What are you trying to say? If memory serves me correctly, I have seen it and heard all about it. It was actually me who told you all that.”

“Are you sure?” asked Elly jokingly. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”

By then the restaurant was packed. On Friday evenings every table featured a company of very rich and influential men – much like the one Elly seemed to be obsessed about that evening. Most of them were accompanied by younger girls, however it was the kind of work that they engaged in that added a few extra years to their looks. Our table was good. It may have been not the best one, but considering the hierarchy of people who were present, we occupied a decent level.

“Hey Google, Chunky wants your number. Your dress slit overloaded what’s left of his brain… take my advice…”

“NO!”

“…go on a date with him, you have a chance he’ll stick around. He may even give you a beat up ‘Rolls’ He’s into non-conventional personalities, such as…”

“Are you serious? Did you just compare me with that bag of bones of his?”

It was then that Vlad realized he may have gone too far. He was raised by a good father and knew the difference between decent lady and a whore. He knew better not to mix one with another.

“Sorry, boo. My bad. I’m really really very sorry. Don’t get mad, Elly babe.”

“Vlad… how could I be mad with someone who’s clearly mentally challenged?”

“You’re such a bitch, though. Poor, poor David,” Vlad rolled his eyes.

“I think we’ll be on our way.”

“What?” Vlad couldn’t hide his surprise. “What’s up? Eva, you too?”

“Of course me too. You want me to stay here alone. You know all the things they’ll come up with to talk about tomorrow.”

“But what happened? Anyone care to explain?”

One of the Vlad’s flaw was that when something went not according to his plan he would turn into a small, spoiled boy.

“I’ve been trying to ask you a question for the last fifteen minutes and you don’t give me a chance and interrupt!” fired Elly, clearly annoyed.

“Ok, ok, I’m listening,” Vlad expression was now serious. He seemed to have transformed into one giant listening ear.

“I wanted to ask you two very simple questions. First, how could you do it to us? Arrange for us to be sitting at the same table with those whores…” with her eyes she pointed at the opposite end of the table, “ – and the second question; for how long are you going to continue feeding those free-riders?” with that she looked up at the people who had approached our table.

“Hey Vlad, what’s up man?”

In front of us now stood the capital’s two most notorious slackers who we had nicknamed Chip and Dale. And don’t be fooled with their second-hand Ferrari with out-of-town license plates, and their expensive garments, which they wouldn’t mind wearing price labels on. This particular couple emitted a cold and detached arrogance which I found especially repulsive. I never wanted to be at the same tables with them as seeing them would always spoil my appetite. Those were true freeloaders. It was acceptable to invite and treat dinner to actual public figures, someone who’s really popular, such as an actor, a tv host, or an extravagant politician – the expenses are justified by having an insightful and mutually beneficial conversation and time spent. I agree it’s so wrong, but at least there’s an explanation. However, having those two at the table had zero benefits. It would have been fine, if they possessed a nice, friendly personality and sense of humor. The only thing that they had going for them were their cold, condescending, arrogant faces.

They seemed to accidentally run into Vlad at various trendy places. With a look as if it was them who were paying for everyone, they would join the crowd at a table, looking down at everyone around them. I never did understand how come Vlad always allowed this to happen. I once confronted him about this, but all he said was: “Come on, why not be nice?”. It was how what was initially planned as dinner for three, turned out to be a crowded event with so many participants that a bigger table was often required which inevitable skyrocketed the check’s amount every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The fact that they brought along their friends didn’t help the matter. We were always bewildered by those who were able to date individuals like Chip and Dale – all of their chicks looked the same, most of them resembling pale jellyfish or grey mice. Little did we know…

Vlad

Vlad – a true leader – is an assertive and dominant alpha male, despite being younger than most people in our circle. Being born with a platinum spoon in his mouth, he was used to paying for everyone around him, traveled only private jets, and was always accompanied by his entourage of bodyguards. Everyone seemed to be weary of him, trying not to be a focus of his sharp sarcastic remarks. He didn’t hesitate to address them to whoever he pleased which at times made him look like one of those stupid rich kids. It wasn’t entirely true though, for having always had access to what seemed to be an infinite source of cash, he was always striving to make a living on his own. That aspiration, however, didn’t go hand in hand with the notion of education which he never seemed to care about. Streets were his school as he often would say, having probably picked it up from a gangster movie or two. Street smart as he was he set up an underground casino where his own kind of people – other rich kids – would come gamble, however the idea turned out to be so good that more mature, and “seasoned’ individuals would often frequent his little establishment. Elly and I didn’t like the idea from the start but Vlad reassured us that with his connections in high places, wherever those places might have been, coupled with a big case of cabbage, as he liked to call cash, he would never have to face an unresolvable issue. Despite his reassurance his idea seemed stupid, even dangerous to us. “Trust me, one would need to know everything about my little club in order to cause any trouble. Everything! And there are only two that do, besides me. They’re as interested in making money as I am. So, we’re pretty safe,” he would say. I thought it sounded childish and naive, though the only thing I could do was to shrug my shoulders. We never went there, not that Vlad was actively inviting us, either. Everyone sort of knew that it was a place to go to after our routine Friday dinners. They would play poker and other card games, betting insane amounts of money all night long. Elly and I preferred going to sing karaoke or male striptease club.

Vlad hated karaoke but loved us, and an opportunity to spend money, so he would ask me to let my driver Sasha off for the night. He gave us his driver and bodyguard, and paid for all of our fun. Just because he could. Because we were his friends. Very few people could wrap their minds around this idea, and therefore were often envious, spreading all kind of rumors behind our backs. It only proved my point that the majority of people surrounding us were cowards who could never bring themselves to say what they really thought to our face. Talking shit behind each other’s backs was an accepted norm, or even an example of appropriate behavior.

Spreading rumors is a prerogative of those individuals who still have some brain, as one is prerequisite for such a creative process in the first place. However, it is merely a result of slow degradation that shows, and any further development can only manifest itself in precisely that kind of notions of creativity: coming up with various gossip, hearsay, tittle-tattle, speculations of all sorts. Having analyzed it all thoroughly in my head on multiple occasions, I was no longer surprised and came to piece with the sad fact. I finally accepted it. Not that I consider myself very smart, but I do believe I have a good and ethical conscience. Throughout my childhood I was taught what the good and bad values were. It is precisely because of this it was imprinted in my mind that gossiping was low, and that I should do my best to avoid having anything to do with it. Perhaps my parents strove to cultivate and develop Pavlovian conditioning regarding gossiping, and I must say they succeeded. Elly didn’t like gossips either, however her explanation was that those who gossip have the same facial expression and they get older sooner. It really didn’t matter though what explanation we both had or whether we even shared one, since neither of us enjoyed gossiping. We were nowhere near that kind of conversations and neither was Vlad, not since the time he befriended us anyway. We should never deny or underestimate the power of the impact one’s environment is capable of.

“Bro, I called you but you didn’t pick,” said one of the two freeloaders.

“I was at the gym.”

“I thought that.”

Of course, he “thought that”. It was kind of obvious Vlad didn’t want to pick up the phone.

“Sparring stuff, huh?” the leech continued to inquire.

“Yeah… you didn’t say hi to the girls?” Vlad asked, clearly displeased.

“Didn’t have a chance yet, bro….” “Chip’ tried to appear sincerely confused to Vlad… “-girls, you look stunning as always. Queens!” he added hypocritically.

You know, compliments from such people often sound like insults. We tried to smile. Behind “Chip’, stood “Dale’, accompanied by two grey mice looking girlfriends.

“These are my sisters,” Vlad said in a serious tone, “ – especially this one – Eva.”

The faces of two girls accompanying the leeches seemed to wince. They clearly didn’t enjoy being ignored as Vlad didn’t acknowledge their presence even with a simple nod. That fact however didn’t stop the freeloaders from sitting down at the table and joining dinner at Vlad’s expense which repulsed me even further. People like those two, pursued yet another hidden agenda besides having a free champagne and meal. They wanted to be seen as part of our rich and influential circle, and food and drinks were just a nice bone.

Of course, Vlad wasn’t particularly rich or influential. His father was, and that sufficed. Period. However, Vlad wasn’t merely his father’s shadow. He was a person. Many could debate as to what kind of person Vlad really was – odious, crazy… the list could go on forever, but a person nonetheless. Besides, his condescending attitude particularly towards those two individuals was totally justified. That didn’t mean he would behave this way towards another person. In fact, when it came to me, he was always kind, caring, and charming. He was simple, much like a brother I always wished I had.

“Did you hear his especially Eva?” Elly whispered in my ear. “He’s real asshole.”

“Don’t get offended, you know how he is…” I shrugged my shoulders, trying to calm down Elly.

“Sometimes I wish I didn’t! I’m sick and tired of these kids. And where did my billionaire go, anyway? The evening couldn’t get any worse…?”

“What do you suggest?”

“You know what…” Elly said in a cheerful, cunning voice and squinted.

“No idea…”

“Let’s go over your guy’s…” I could her a hint of begging in her voice. “There are always tons of handsome men. Unlike these kids here.”

“Elly, sorry but I really don’t feel like going there tonight,” I was perplexed.

“Why?”

“Cuz, i just don’t feel like it!!!”

“You actually sound like you kinda do…”

“Well, kinda do and kinda don’t…”

“Why is that, I wonder?”

“Elly. He doesn’t even write me, or call after our last date. I don’t want to chase after him.”

“Chase after? No girl, you just happen to run into him. It’s so plausible you both like the same places…”

“It would have worked if… he weren’t the owner of that place.”

“But you have to admit it’s a darn good place. I like the idea of that restaurant being private…”

“True. I don’t even know whether I like him or his restaurant better… Anyway, next months or something.”

“What kind of nonsense is that. Don’t tell me you schedule your visits there and mark those visits on the calendar with a red marker.” Elly’s eyes rounded with disbelief. “You take everything too seriously. Be simple. It’s not like you’re marrying the guy.”

“Of course not. I am never getting married!”

“Cool. Me too. Not today, at least,” Elly laughed. “Let’s go! Call your Sasha,” she ordered bossily.

“Don’t be pushy ok?” I’m not going anywhere.”

“Don’t tell me it finally happened?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re falling for him, yes? Mr. Shh.”

“What? Are you insane or what? I’m most certainly not…”

“If you weren’t we’d be there already.”

“Screw you. You’re my friends, you’re supposed to support me!”

“That is exactly why I am telling you not to be fixated on someone who doesn’t even call you and not to care about him. Wanna have fun? Get in the car and go. Eva, you never fail to surprise me. It’s not like he’s paying for your fun.”

“Never! I always pay for myself. With my own money.” I laughed and then added: “I mean my dad’s money.”

“My sentiment exactly. Your money. You don’t owe him anything and he should be thankful you even looked at him and went on a date.”

“You know I didn’t want to talk about him this week. I even asked you not to. Look what you’re doing now…”

“Right. You fell for him.”

“Stop it!”

“No, you stop it. I am serious. You can’t fall for his type of men. Never. You’ve got plenty of other guys around. Younger guys.”

“You were saying you hate them young, like five minutes ago. It was you who wanted to go to a place with older men.”

“Listen, we are women. We have the right to say one thing, and then another. Anyway. Any women, if she is in her right mind, has to

relax and tease them older men and shake her tail feathers.”

“Sounds gross.”

“What exactly?”

“Well, first off… women have neither tails, nor feathers.”

“You may not have it…” Elly laughed, “ – Even Rosa has. You should see what happens to her when she spots a cutie.”

“Your grandma? Isn’t she too old for that?”

“Don’t make me laugh…. Au contraire! A real woman is never too old…”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do! Come on, call your Sasha. Let’s go dance. Let’s see how your guy will be staring at you. And I will have fun listening to you constantly asking whether he is looking at you. Please, come on!!!”

I was about to answer but Vlad suddenly joined our conversation.

“We’re heading to that karaoke place. No casino tonight. Someone told me we got busted,” fired Vlad with a frown on his face.

“Vlad, you’ve gotta stop it. You are really getting into something. I know your dad and stuff, but why even get into trouble? Besides, even your dad might get mad and pull your plug. You will be financially frozen. Then what?” Elly was trying to reason with Vlad.

“I know what I’m doing. And don’t bring my dad into it. The universe doesn’t revolve around him. I never complain to him or ask him about anything. I resolve everything myself.”

“Vlad, you’re a true Al Capone,” I added cheerfully trying to break the awkward silence.

“Why are you telling him this. He really believes he’s some kinda gangster. Don’t play along into it. He has no idea what he’s doing. He’s still a baby. A good old spanking is what he needs!”

“Google, I’m starting to suspect you’re into me. Look at you getting all kinky…”

“Yea as if there was anything to be kinky about… the only fantasy I have is you popping out of existence.”

“That is why I love Eva….”

“Finally, you admitted it.”

“Stop this. Vlad, I am entirely with Elly on this one. You’ve gotta stop it,” here I was, between the rock and a hard place again. “Who could’ve said anything?”

“That is a very good question,” Vlad’s face darkened.

For the first time that evening a voice form the opposite table spoke:

“Vlad, if you’ve got any trouble, let me know. I know people who could fix stuff,” the voice belonged to Bella Tuning.

“I’ll take care of it,” Vlad snapped in a tough voice. He didn’t like Bella and was not trying to hide it. “What I do want to know, what kinda rat did that…”

“I hope nobody from the people around here,” Elly said.