The invitation is not for me/Приглашение не для меня. Лидия Антонова

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      I was so hurt, I felt like drowning or, more effectively, jumping out of the car at full speed right now! I could see it all written on my face. Andrew grinned sarcastically. I immediately tried to pull myself together.

      “However, I have more important problems now!” I muttered.

      “I wondered what they were. “

      “I'm getting fired from my job.”

      “For what?! “

      “Do you think a school would keep a teacher with a reputation like that? You saw the video!”

      “Oh, right, you're a teacher.”

      “Uh-huh, Russian language and literature.”

      “I liked the video. I even downloaded it.”

      I sniffled, wishing I could fall through the ground and never see it again!

      “Well, if it's such a problem, Russian language and literature are good education. You could work at some magazine. I know a couple of people, I'll call them today and take them to an interview tomorrow.”

      “Work for what?” I was confused.

      “Editor, of course. Not as an editor-in-chief, of course, not yet, because that would require experience, but as a staff member. “

      Suddenly I felt like Winnie the Pooh, when you want honey, but also "zh-zh-zh" for a reason!

      “Why would you do that?”

      “My plans haven't changed. I'm gonna get Diana away from Alex.”

      “And you need me to do it. Are you going to make me look like an even bigger idiot than I already am?”

      “I'm going to take you to the campground and introduce you as my girlfriend. I kind of like you, so I thought I'd clear the territory first.”

      The man's smugness was off the charts! With a hiss, I turned toward him. I wasn't afraid to hit him now, since we were stopped at the curb.

      “Let's go into the coffee shop and talk. You girls seem to like places like this – lattes and pastries. Or do you prefer champagne?”

      He caught my upturned hand and yanked it toward him.

      "How much passion you have in you!"

      The phrase was not ambiguous, but very definite. I pulled away from him hastily.

      "All right, let's go in. On one condition: Keep your hands to yourself!"

      "Hands? Well, all right," Andrew grinned.

      There was a subtext in that, too, but this time I didn't understand it. Andrew walked out, and I hurried after him, slipping immediately. When I managed to grab the handle of the car door, I straightened up and found him standing across from me, grinning. I was embarrassed. I slammed the door shut and walked past him, heading for the coffee shop.

      The first thing that caught my eye was a huge palm tree. It was on a table and was too lush for its assigned corner, so I had to circle around it. Additionally, someone with a great sense of humor had decorated it with garland and Christmas tinsel and forgot to take it down! Or was that the plan?

      I took my eyes off the palm tree and looked at the girl in the long apron.

      "We need a quieter place," Andrew said, taking me under his arm.

      The girl smiled at him, gave me a strange look, and led me to the far table. I frowned once again. It looked like she had rated my appearance a C, and his a solid 10. And now she was wondering what we had in common. If I were her, I would be wondering the same thing.

      “I'll have an Americano.”

      Andrew looked at me expectantly. I mentally counted all the cash I had left and, deciding that I could splurge a little, ordered a “latte.”

      "And a cheesecake, the freshest," Andrew added.

      The waitress left, leaving the two of us, but for some reason Andrew kept silent and stared at me. His scrutiny was embarrassing and infuriating.

      "Why did we come here? I have a lot more to do today."

      "To go to the store and finish watching the show, yeah!"

      “Really? I wonder what they are? “

      Andrew smiled at me, and I realized with annoyance that I had almost answered his smile. What is this?! I'm a grown, independent woman who knows how to control her emotions. Especially these days, I'm getting better at it.

      "The latte arrived on time, and I hastily hid my confusion behind it.

      “Tonight, I'll let you know what time you need to be ready. We'll go to the editorial office.”

      “And what in return?" I asked suspiciously. “

      I didn't believe in his unselfishness and conscience. But I believed in the saying about

      "cheese and a mousetrap.”

      “You'll go on vacation with me.”

      Here comes the mouse trap!

      “What?!” I was indignant, putting the glass on the table and rising.

      “Calm down. Alex will be there too, as well as Diana. Your mere presence will make them fight all the time. “

      That's what I believed. Even if Alex didn't care, Diana wouldn't just let it go.

      “What's in it for you?”