Ivanich Guest House. Nikolay Lakutin

pointed delicately to a chair.

      The girl narrowed her brow, put the mobile phone she was still fiddling with in her pocket, and sat down. The chair was very comfortable. It made for a long, pleasant conversation. And the older man's suavity was also endearing.

      "So, I see you know a little more about me than I have told you about myself," Ivanitch asked, and put down his book, evidently having read something with which he was satisfied.

      Alina stared at the man sitting across from her and put something together in her mind. Ivanich noticed this and lowered his gaze, smiling faintly, giving the girl the opportunity to calmly, without visual crosshairs, finish her conclusions.

      – I called my … – the girl paused for a moment, but then quickly continued, – my good friend. I explained the situation to him, told him what had happened, and he was about to send help for me, but when I said that I was staying with a certain Ivanich…

      The girl paused, looking at the owner of the house a little confused, he in turn nodded approvingly, and the girl continued.

      "Well, when I told him that I was staying with you, he somehow changed his tone and overall plan of action so abruptly that I must admit I was very surprised.

      "What did you say?"

      The girl shrugged her shoulders, batted her eyelashes, and blurted out, almost in a rapid voice, what she had heard from her friend on the phone: "As long as you're at Ivanich's, you're safe. Don't be in a hurry to leave him, it will be one of the best periods that you have ever had and will have to go through."

      The man remained incredibly calm, and seemed to have no intention of commenting on this statement. Alina continued:

      "I asked him what it all meant, but …

      – Pavel Andreevich didn't really say anything… Am I right? Ivanitch interrupted at a good moment.

      The girl's mouth dropped open in surprise.

      "He just told me to call him tomorrow morning and hung up." I don't understand anything at all. How do you know that I called Pavel Andreevich? Are you a clairvoyant ?

      "A little.".. For the most part, I hear, see a lot less, but… Under the mood, I can even look at something like this… Ivanich's

      tone and delivery completely misled Alina. She couldn't tell if the man was joking or serious.

      "When you get there, be sure to say hi to the Pasha." He's a good man, " said Ivanitch. After these words, it became clear that he, at least, was not joking. – We crossed paths with him, there was a case, however, quite a long time ago.

      – This, as you dare to put it, Pasha, for a second, the chairman of the board of directors of a construction holding company. Are we really talking about the same person?

      – Believe me, Alina, you and I are allowed to call the chairman of the board of directors Pasha. We won't be damned for this, I give you my word.

      – Hmm…, – the girl pondered, – then maybe you can tell me where mine came from…