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Chapter 56
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Michael looked her straight in the eyes. She looked concerned, so he decided to keep saying what he felt.
“Do you know what I mean?”
She looked at him waiting for explanation.
“I have lived for more years than I have left waiting in front of me now. Time flies inexorably. I am getting older and I am closer to retirement, and I have nothing. I don’t have a home, a family, children. I will miss the joy of their first independent steps, the first words spoken, I won’t see them grow up. I will never see my grandchildren. I have nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
It sounded serious. This time she knew that what he just said was him not just playing around, but words flowing from the depths of his soul, from the heart. Finally, a tough guy showed a human face, and in fact, he was starting to fall apart.
“You are one of the greatest columnists I know. I admire you!” Without thinking, she said. “You are my u
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“Michael, get in.” She said impatiently. Seeing that he was completely unresponsive, she opened the door for him from the inside.“Michael, we don't have time!” She repeated louder this time.Eventually it dawned on him that this was not a dream, but a reality in which he was a participant. In that car, he could go to the end of the world.He immediately jumped into the car, plunged into a comfortable leather chair and fastened his seat belts. He didn't trust Alice if he was being honest about it.He rode with her once with his soul on his shoulder. They were supposed to test the car at an unused airport, and ended up driving on bumpy roads around the airport.Besides, he saw her in action on several off-road rallies. At the wheel she was erratic, more dangerous than Alex.The fears turned out to be not unfounded. As soon as he fastened his seat belts, Alice tore out what the machine had given. Before he could catch h
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He wanted to ask Alice about it, but he didn’t have the courage and didn’t find a favorable situation for it. After all, she had to pay a high price for her independence, as his grandmother and mother had paid. Alice never complained, staying with them at night in the magazine, if necessary. While she worked, she gave it her best. She also never mentioned her private life, if she had one at all. He wondered if she had a private life. Like everyone else, she spent a lot of time at work, so there was not much left for normality, contacts with family and friends. Nobody has ever seen her in any pub, club or restaurant. Until now, the editorial team didn’t know where she would go. She had to go somewhere, like everybody else. Only once with Nicolas and friends, on the occasion of his birthday, they took him to an excellent French restaurant. From then on, he began to visit that place regularly, but he never met her there. He didn’t understan
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Alice knew he didn’t mean that Thomas would be a poor pilot as he was a great driver, but that he would win the editorial bet about which of them would appear in public with her.She had heard a bit about that. Michael will lose his monthly salary. She didn't worry about it. He'll get another lesson, maybe he'll stop gambling once and for all.She was also not worried about the result of the competition. Even if she won’t win the race, she will still have a great time. She wasn't afraid to fight Alex or anyone else. She could lose with dignity.And they had even raced earlier whenever and wherever they could find time and place for it. She had to admit that he was a worthy opponent.She also had another reason to be happy. A sly plan, co-developed with Alex and Adam, had worked well. Michael will lend them his new car.After so many efforts and fruitless attempts, they will finally have the opportunity to test his car in the field. It was great i
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Michael was glad when he heard the sound of her phone. It saved him. He didn't have to make an effort and play pretending to be happy. Besides, he was a poor actor in her presence.He slowly followed Alice, listening carefully to every word she uttered, admiring her perfect French. She spoke great French.After a few minutes of walking, they reached the port. Despite the wonderful weather, several dozen different size moored vessels were waiting for their owners.Looking at them, he wondered what he was going to do with his sailing today. As they passed more yachts, quite decent in his opinion, suitable for getting on them at all, he concluded that it didn’t matter much.At this point, the only thing that mattered was the size of the toilet, because he didn't think he needed more to be happy besides this space. A large toilet where he could sit comfortably on the floor, stretch his legs freely with his head in the toilet bowl.This was the im
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Without thinking, Michael downed it in one gulp, but the drink was so strong that he could barely swallow it. It had an intense anise smell and a nasty herbal flavor, like grandma's indigestion drops.He wondered what the medicine was, because it definitely wasn’t alcohol. Now he was sure that he would end up with his head in the toilet bowl. ‘What a nice perspective!’ He thought. He had the opportunity to sail on a luxury yacht, but he will spend the cruise in the toilet.After some time, more guests began to appear on board. An older, salt-and-pepper man named Math, with his pretty decent-looking wife, Natalie, and two drop-like guys in their forties boarded the luxurious yacht.Math announced that todays’ team was complete, so all together they went to the upper deck.The section they reached looked like a cozy, luxurious English-style lounge. The furniture, made of dark brown wood, gently blended with the cream upholstery.
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Michael felt like a fool. He put his fork and knife back on the plate and picked up a napkin from his lap, wiped his mouth, washed it down with wine, trying to buy some time.It was appropriate to express an opinion, say anything, but he couldn't quite see what they were discussing before he interrupted them.“Michael, despite a few remarks, has a similar opinion. He thinks it is a good idea, but it needs to be refined.” Alice rescued him, amused by the situation. “I also think it's a great idea. We will refine it together.”“What’s going on? What idea?” He whispered to ask her.“You have just accepted a new project! Congratulations!”“What's the project again?” Surprised he tried to find out. “Can you tell me what's going on?”“You're a complete retard!” She accidentally said it.For a moment she regretted it, but at that moment she saw no other
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“Michael, you need a doctor. Look at my hand. How many fingers do you see?” She showed him three fingers.“Three.”“And now?”‘So what if he sees well, he is still talking nonsense!’ Alice thought.He didn't look good, his face was terribly pale, his eyes were bloodshot and he was talking nonsense. She didn’t know how long he had been under the water.“Two. I'm fine.”“You're raving. You need a doctor.”"But I'm saying I'm fine." He muttered.Seeing that Michael was not at all happy about getting him out of the water, she decided to leave him alone on the beach.For a moment, she regretted saving him at all. She should have let him drown, there would be one less goddamn cocky man in the world.It was not her fault that he was a poor swimmer, but considered walking straight into the water after sitting in the sun for more than an hour as
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He was driving in the left-hand lane and could not turn into the right, because the cars were on a string. His car was right behind the car ahead and so on, thus it was impossible to squeeze anywhere. With no other option, he began to apply the brake hard. He slowed down with difficulty.He heard the horns of the cars behind them. Somehow, he avoided the bump. His legs trembled with fear at the mere thought of what would have happened if the cars behind him had not kept the proper distance and had not slowed down in time. He breathed a sigh of relief and was silent.He waited to hear Alice saying ‘I told you so’, but she said nothing."I won't be surprised if one day I hear the news that famous Mr. Johnson tragically died in a car accident." She said in a completely calm tone without a trace of anger.Then, with a sneering smile, she added: "And breaking the rules is my private business. I don’t meddle in your affairs and expect the same
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Without waiting for Alex to bring clean clothes for Michael, she took him home. As she parked the car in front of the entrance, she wondered if she should go in. Her heart was pounding like crazy, she couldn't control her emotions. It was so hard to keep calm. For the first time in ten years, she found herself in a place with so many memories and not only the good ones. She was surprised to see that Michael didn’t change much in the interior. “Did time stop here?” She asked. “For me it has stopped.” He smiled that she noticed that. “Here, you have always had good taste and an unusual sense of daintiness. That's why I didn’t change anything, apart from the kitchen decor.” “Can I have a look around?” “Sure. After all, it's also your home.” “Not any more. I have a few of my own. That's enough.” “Will you allow yourself to be invited for tea?” Michael timidly suggested. “I will just run to my bedroom to put something on, I will be back in 5 minutes.” “Why not, but only green tea wi
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"It's been ten years. I don't want to mess with your life, but it's pathetic to watch a great man tumble down. Too painful to look at." “It's my life. You don't want to mess with it? Really?" If she was telling the truth, why did she invade his world again? “You took everything from me. Even the children I fell in love with. Go away!” He drawled through his teeth. “Michael, finish this show.” She knew he was starting to play to make her feel guilty. She knew him too well. In a completely calm tone, she continued: "I didn't take anything from you. I was in an accident in which their parents and my dear friends died. I promised their dying mother that if I survived, I would look after the children. When I picked myself up after the accident, I returned to arrange the adoption.” “What else do you want?” He asked, tr
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In front of the clinic, taking advantage of Alex's moment of inattention, while talking to his friend, Michael broke free from him and started to run, but he was still too drunk and his legs were not obeying him. He hit the nearest curb and fell down. He felt the pain and for a moment he had black spots in front of his eyes. He couldn't move and he just raised his head up. He felt a wet trickle on his face, and felt its sweetish taste. “I'm not crazy!” He started screaming as Alex caught up with him. “You are not!” Picking up from the ground, Alex calmed him. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and put it on his friend's forehead. “You'll stay a few days to detox.” “I'm not crazy!” He continued to defend himself. “You must have my permission to lock me here!”
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Alex was even glad that Michael wasn't home. In a hurry, he picked up everything from the floor and neatly put it on the table. He also put his shoes against the wall so they wouldn't get in the way and headed for the kitchen to search for some food.He was surprised to find an empty whiskey bottle on the kitchen table, and there were no signs of his friend having any guests recently. He didn’t see any dirty dishes or pots around the place.The dishwasher was almost empty too, only a few cups and a plate were inside. To his despair, the refrigerator was practically deserted.There was nothing to eat, no leftovers. Just a few pieces of different kinds of French and Swiss cheeses, which he didn't like because they smelled horrible.There was not much choice, so he pu
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A few days ago, his older brother's only daughter, Michael’s favorite, turned eighteen years old. On this occasion, as a gift, he sent her a check for a considerable amount, thus wanting to compensate for his absence at the birthday party.Looking at the photo of the party, he had remorse that he didn’t accept the invitation and didn’t fly to them.He checked his email, then agency services, nothing fancy happened. Another coalition has broken up again, the prime minister is threatening to dissolve parliament… The mess has been the same for years.At times like this, he wished he had emigrated like his brothers. Now, he felt too old for any changes.He only dreamed that he would be able to work in relative peace, until he retired and be able to d
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On Monday, he returned on the same plane with the same bloated, slant-eyed individuals.He was greeted by an ugly, rainy, completely not July weather. He drove straight from the airport to work. However, he found the editorial office to be empty.“Have you visited the solarium?” Alex greeted him unusually.“Solarium?” Totally surprised by his friend's question, he decided to simply ignore it. “Hello, Alex! How are you?”“Hmm… Not too bad. Where did you get so tanned in such weather?”“I was on a trip by the warm sea.”“Sure, probably on a bike?” Alex said with undisguised irony, knowing very well that M
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“You look very pretty, Alice. What's the occasion?” Michael asked.“As always, I know. Thank you. An occasion?” She thought, confusion crossed her face. “Do you not know anything? I'm hosting a party today for my friend at my home.”“I noticed already.”“I forgot to ask you if you brought any suitable outfit.”“Our tastes are very different. Appropriate, what is that?”“Did you pick up any of your linen suits that you parade around at work?”He wondered. In fact, he was only pretending, because he hadn’t thought about a typical summer linen suit.
Anemones Chapter 65
La Croisette was the most famous promenade of the Côte d'Azur, covered with palm trees, providing shade on a hot day like today. He decided to walk along it.The place was known for the fact that the most famous representatives of show business and the crowds of onlookers looking for their idols were walking around it, if they blended into the crowd somewhere. This was a regular phenomenon and not something that happened only during the film festival.Along the promenade, he met many artists of various kinds, painters who painted portraits of tourists for a dozen or so euros, a caricaturist who wasn’t as good as his editorial artist Simon, acrobats kicking goats, a clown and some quite serious musicians.He paused for a moment next to one of them, a young boy with a storm of blond hair, who looked to be
Anemones Chapter 64
He was driving in the left-hand lane and could not turn into the right, because the cars were on a string. His car was right behind the car ahead and so on, thus it was impossible to squeeze anywhere. With no other option, he began to apply the brake hard. He slowed down with difficulty.He heard the horns of the cars behind them. Somehow, he avoided the bump. His legs trembled with fear at the mere thought of what would have happened if the cars behind him had not kept the proper distance and had not slowed down in time. He breathed a sigh of relief and was silent.He waited to hear Alice saying ‘I told you so’, but she said nothing."I won't be surprised if one day I hear the news that famous Mr. Johnson tragically died in a car accident." She said in a completely calm tone without a trace of anger.Then, with a sneering smile, she added: "And breaking the rules is my private business. I don’t meddle in your affairs and expect the same
