11-13

11

After Teresa's departure, the atmosphere in the Mayer household grew tense. Stiven suddenly decided to stay. It was rare for him to even come over for the night, but here he was, an early arrival, an expensive gift for his wife. Paulina, on the other hand, was nervous about the whole incident and didn't want to wonder what her husband was up to. His presence was so irritating that this time she decided to leave the house and, without saying a word to Stiven, simply left.

She called a taxi, leaving her new baby in the garage. It was approaching 7:30 p.m. She thought, then, that she should visit the Sanset-restaurant and relax with the director of some...

The restaurant had a typical atmosphere for that weekday. Not noticing Leon, she walked over to a vacant table, sat down comfortably, and while studying the wine list, she heard the waiter's polite voice

. "Excuse me, a gentleman asked me to tell you he's waiting for you in the VIP lounge.

" "Thank you," Paula replied, and calmly walked to another room.

She wore a fitted, knee-length black velvet dress with seductively open shoulders. The strap fastened at the neck was adorned with beautiful burgundy stones. The custom-made hair clip in her updo also had burgundy stones, but with additional, beautifully incorporated, diamonds set in gold. Underneath, she wore lingerie from the Chantelle collection, purchased for the special occasion, and skin-colored stockings. Elegant, semi-open black stilettos with a pointed burgundy toe matched the outfit beautifully.

"Oh, how nice of you to come," Leon said, inviting Paula to the comfortable booths. "I took the liberty of ordering champagne, I hope you don't mind.

" "No," Paula replied indifferently

. Meanwhile, a waiter approached to take the order. The lady had only requested a seafood salad. Leon, on the other hand, ordered the daily special and, without persuading Paulina, asked the waiter to open the champagne.

"I suggest Bruderschaft," Kuc said, raising the champagne glass. "We can go on first name terms, if you'll allow it

." Paulina nodded. At that moment, she didn't care; she simply wanted to relax.

When the champagne bottle was empty, Paula was slowly starting to like the pleasant, well-mannered blond. He's not so bad, she thought, there's something alluring about him; she noticed that she hadn't really objected to him before. Just as she wasn't in the habit of going on dates with men she met at a bar, one could say Leon was one of the few she graced with her presence. Usually, if she felt like romance, she chose her own victim, luring her in and disappearing like a beautiful butterfly the next day.

"Shall we dance?" Leo asked shyly.

"Later," Paola replied seductively.

"I feel like having another drink," she said, and took the wine list

. "I suggest a stout Chardonnay," Leon said, "it will be perfect with the delicate crabs in your salad

." "I think a vibrant Sauvingnon Blanc will suit me better," she replied, and began searching for the waiter.

After the wine tasting, when the waiter left, Leon could no longer tear his eyes away from this flawless, elegant, and mysterious woman. Dancing in the cozy room, specially commissioned for this meeting, they gazed deeply into each other's eyes, transmitting a magnetic current of desire. Kuc couldn't believe he would finally be able to forget, even for a moment, about Karina. This red-haired woman has a gift for attraction, he thought, and he hugged her with increasing boldness. By the time they finished dancing, it was almost midnight. Paula wanted to call a taxi, but she couldn't. When they stepped outside, standing in the fresh air, she slowly came to her senses. She was intoxicated by an explosive mixture of desire, exhaustion, and alcohol. Kuc gallantly offered to give the woman a ride. He opened the door of the arriving taxi, placed Paula in the backseat, sat down next to her, and embraced her tenderly. When the taxi driver asked "where to," no one spoke. After a moment, Kuc noticed they had stopped in front of his house. The taxi driver recognized Leon from having often picked him up from the Sanset restaurant, so, without disturbing the kissing couple, he drove them to the address he had previously learned.

"We're here," Kuc said, and helped the woman out.

As Leon, supporting the woman with one arm, tried to pay for the taxi, Paula noticed she was at the gate of a building. She tried to speak, but her mind was pounding. She couldn't utter a word. At that moment, she was completely dependent on Leon; her steps followed his. Unaware of her own actions, she entered the apartment.

Kuc's house was located in a single-family housing development, a semi-detached part of a row of houses with identically aligned front entrances and a garage. At the back of each house was a spacious terrace and a beautifully manicured lawn. Leo led Paula to a guest room with a bathroom.

"How are you feeling? I'll help you undress," he said, and began unbuttoning her dress. Paulina didn't protest, but as soon as she felt herself lying in bed, she pushed Leon away, wrapped herself in the duvet with the last of her strength, and fell asleep. Kuc took off her shoes, adjusted the sheets to make her more comfortable, and went to the living room. Excited by the new adventure, he poured himself a stronger drink, listened to a few messages, and went to the bathroom. After finishing his drink, he felt tired and wanted to send a few more emails, but unable to overcome his exhaustion, he went to bed.

Paulina woke up around seven in the morning. Not fully understanding where she was, she got up and went to the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed she was wearing a dress that was begging to be taken off. The pins in her hair irritated her, and her puffy eyes, with remnants of makeup, practically begged for mercy. She undressed and stepped into the shower. The falling streams of cool water awakened Paula, and her memory slowly began to return. She emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. A moment later, she noticed a bathrobe on a chair. She put it on and felt a slight pang of distaste for the situation. How could I have allowed myself to do this? She wondered. What bothered Pulina wasn't the thought of something happening between her and Kuc, but the fact that she couldn't control her own actions; she simply felt ashamed. What would that director think? But in a moment, I won't be here, she decided, and with that in mind, putting on last night's dress, she called a taxi. When she realized she didn't know the address, she hung up and, shoes in hand, left the room as quietly as possible. There was no one in the living room, so she quickly went to the front door. When she tugged on the handle, she found the door locked. She fumbled with the lock for a moment and was out. She stepped through the gate. Luckily, it was open. She looked at the address sign and hailed a taxi.

Leon woke up in the afternoon, hardly believing his eyes, unable to believe he'd slept so long. The phone was ringing like crazy, but Kuc decided he'd deal with it later. For now, he had more important matters to attend to; the red-haired beauty was in the next room. When he noticed Paulina wasn't there, he finally answered the next persistently ringing phone with surprise and a touch of annoyance. It was from the company where he worked as a development director, so he replied with a dismissive tone and hung up. Looking at the phone, Leon realized there was no Paulina number. Anger surged through him. "How am I going to track her down now?" he thought. "Oh well, she'll call herself," he decided, and went to get dressed.

On

the sunny shore, at Tamara's summer house, the sisters, after a somewhat tiring morning jog along the beach, were preparing a low-calorie breakfast.

"Do you know, my dear Tinulka, that oatmeal is very healthy?

" "I know, but I don't like it; coffee is enough for me.

" "Coffee with milk, I understand?"

"Yes, later we'll make a fruit salad with that delicious topping. I see Tamara has filled the fridge as if it were for a hundred hungry soldiers," Tina laughed.

"I hope you're not dieting, you look like a clothesline already, do you live only for love?" Karina joked

. "Who's talking? You're always dieting. I have no intention of doing so, I just can't eat much in the morning. Speaking of love, tell me what happened? I can't believe you and Leon aren't together.

" "Maybe we should go swimming?" Karina said, pretending not to hear the question. She avoided the subject; she didn't want to reopen her wounds.

"No, honey, this time I won't be so easily put off by anything. I deserve a little honesty. Tell me!" Tina said commandingly, and pulled her sister into the living room.

Karina had buried all her feelings so deep in her soul that she didn't know how to begin or what to say. Pondering, she sat down so she could see the sea through the wide-open window, which had a soothing effect on her. She gathered her thoughts and fell into a whirlwind of painful memories.

"Two days before I decided to come here, I left work earlier than usual. Leon was away somewhere, so I didn't wait for him. When I got to the parking lot, I heard a familiar male voice whispering something intriguing. I was intrigued, so I quietly approached. Since I'd parked next to a larger car, no one noticed me. The familiar voice was saying something about an oblivious poor woman named Karina, so, as you can imagine, I strained my ears to the limit. After five minutes, I learned that Leon had gone to visit his daughter and his mother half an hour ago. I didn't listen any further. When he picked me up that evening, I acted as if nothing had happened. I remember Leo being exceptionally cheerful, bursting with energy, and taking me out for a romantic dinner to some newly opened place outside the city with a large terrace and a swimming pool. When I arrived, a huge bouquet of fresh roses and a welcome from the local band were waiting for me. I was so enchanted that I almost forgot everything; I almost fell for it. But his phone rang. Then I accidentally heard "Dad." After an hour, I couldn't take it anymore and ran away. I treated it like our last dinner together. It was over.

Memories made tears involuntarily flow down Karina's cheeks. She stopped talking and just stared at the image before her, where instead of the sea, she saw Leon's face, his sky-blue eyes with thick lashes, a beautiful smile that made adorable dimples appear on his full cheeks. Until recently, that smile had been a cure for stress, and his tender hands led her to a paradise of oblivion. She felt just like she had then, safe and strong, happy. Tina's voice brought her back to earth.

"Leon has a child! It's crazy, but then again, if you think about it, he could have a bunch of kids, he spends so much time on business trips. Okay, we won't dwell on this anymore," Tina said, hugging Karina tightly

. "My dear sister, I'm sorry!" After a moment, she added, stroking her sister's hair.

"While we were running, I noticed a cute bar next to the sailing club. I think it's time to go there, what do you think? And besides, I won't take no for an answer. Come on, get dressed, we have to look pretty today."

Karina was defenseless against her cousin's resolutions, who had always had her way since childhood. So, with the comforting thought that the conversation about Leon was behind her, she turned to her wardrobe. But mixed emotions and a heart screaming with pain prevented her from concentrating on what she was doing. All the memories she had so desperately hidden deep within her soul came flooding back, mercilessly tearing at her frayed nerves. She wanted to scream; in her head, she heard demonic voices commanding, "Call him." The pain intensified, and Karina couldn't bear it any longer. Taking advantage of the moment Tina was bathing, she picked up the phone and went out onto the terrace. She dialed a painfully familiar number and almost fainted when she heard Leon's voice. Unable to say a word, she hung up.

"Hello, hello," Kuc shouted, "it's Paulina."

He didn't recognize the number, so he thought it might be her. No one answered, so he called the same number again, expecting to hear the voice of the red-haired woman who had left without his knowledge. Suddenly, after the long beeps, he heard the voice of a nondescript Tamara Samer, asking to leave a message. Just like Karina, overwhelmed and ashamed, she threw the receiver onto the large armchair in the living room and ran to her room. Neither of her cousins ​​heard the recorded message. But Leon already knew who was calling him. He experienced a delightful moment of triumph. But she had called! He was as happy as a child.

"My dear little rascal, you'll never be free from me, you'll always be mine, only mine, do you hear me!"

Leon exclaimed, almost bursting into tears of joy. Those tears of triumph will long remain etched in his memory. At that moment, the red-haired beauty ceased to have any significance. Only she mattered—his Karina. He desperately wanted to see her; he was ready to go and fetch her right now, wherever she was, but he couldn't afford it. He decided to wait it out. After all, only a shrew could make him humiliate himself, beg, and lose his mind, wondering where she was, why she wasn't answering, what was wrong with her?

Meanwhile, the sisters were already ready to leave. They strolled silently along the beach. When, an hour later, they reached their destination, the open-air bar next to the Sailing Club was swarming with vacationers. A group of fit, mature men were getting ready to set sail. Some of them, bored with waiting for the team captain, were sitting at the bar, enjoying the pleasant sight of beautiful, scantily clad women. One of the men noticed Karina. She, on the other hand, absorbed in her own thoughts, ignored the seductive gaze of the well-built man. However, the man couldn't resist and approached the sisters' table.

"Do you ladies come here often?" I've been at the hotel for two weeks, but this is the first time I've seen such a beauty.

Part of the beach, along with the club and bar, belonged to a hotel with the charming name "Cirrus." At the open-air bar, you could meet hotel guests and club members. The summer houses were four kilometers apart, so their occupants rarely visited.

"We don't stay at the hotel," Tina replied calmly.

"Well, ladies, allow me to introduce myself. Arthur Worner, I'm here because sailing is my passion.

" "Tina, this is my sister Karina," the girl introduced herself, nudging her sister with her elbow when she didn't respond

. "Hmm? Nice to meet you!" Karina snapped out of it, looking up at the man.

"We have training in a moment, but in the evening, maybe you could be persuaded to go on a little cruise on the new yacht?"

Karina didn't react, but Tina decided to take advantage of Worner's invitation

. "I think it could be fun," she said with a charming smile

. "See you in two hours then," Arthur said, and walked toward the sea.

By the time Tina finished her speech on "How to behave and what to do when you're in love with the wrong person," Karina had already returned to reality. At some point, she took control of the situation. She ordered two fresh fruit juices and, after drinking them, went to play beach volleyball, dragging her reluctant cousin along. They joined the women playing, who were delighted to see them, as they didn't want to lose to the men playing on the other side. The match ended in a draw, and a large champagne was served to some of the players by the men. Relaxed, tired, and a bit hungry, the girls sat comfortably at a table in the open-air bar. While they were wondering what they wanted, a beautifully smiling Arthur approached.

"I'm glad to see you, ladies. We're leaving soon, so I invite you on board now. We'll discuss all the details along the way; I think we'll be fine; the yacht is well-equipped

." "Wait, but I didn't agree to anything. Why should we go to sea with someone we don't know?" Karina said indignantly.

"There's a ceremonial cruise being organized for club members and hotel guests today. It'll be lots of fun," Artur continued

. "But we're neither hotel guests nor club members, we haven't bought any tickets, so why should we go?

" "The ladies are invited by one of the main organizers of this cruise. I won't have time to print the invitations, but I cordially invite you in person.

" "Karina, agree, don't let me ask you again. Besides, I already agreed, so I hope we'll sail together," Tina interjected cheekily

. "I see this is some kind of conspiracy. Well, I have no choice. You've cornered me, you're definitely not going alone."

"Oh, thank you so much for your help, Tina," Artur replied, and with an impatient gesture of invitation, he and the girls headed towards the yacht.

Everyone

had already gathered on deck. The cruise participants were represented by a group of athletic Navy medical officers, some of whom, behind the shelter of the hospital walls, had long since forgotten the sound of waves and the wind whistling through the rigging. So, when the opportunity arose, the group of daredevils took advantage of the opportunity to sample the long-forgotten sailor's bread. However, this time, accompanied by their wives and friends, they decided, together with the hotel management, to organize a recreational cruise for their loved ones.

The captain introduced his nine-person crew and, wishing them a good time, informed the participants of the "terms" of using the yacht. Once they could finally take a breather from their mounting emotions and begin to think clearly, Karina, excited by the new situation, was grateful to her sister for convincing her to go on the cruise. The girls learned from the captain that the yacht had eight air-conditioned double cabins available for guests, with a capacity of 12. Artur escorted the cousins ​​to one of these cabins. Tina jumped with joy when she noticed toothbrushes, suntan oil, and skincare products. She felt guilty for taking her cousin out without the basic necessities every woman needs. She had thought it would only be a few hours' journey. But after reading the three-day itinerary planned for the cruise, she began to worry. Surprisingly, Karina didn't say a word about the situation. She loved the sea, and such a trip was her dream. Normally, she couldn't afford such luxury, so it didn't occur to her to dwell on such mundane matters as hand cream or toothpaste. Artur left, giving the girls time to settle into their cabin. Tina rummaged through the cabinets and found two swimsuits and beautiful bathrobes.

"This will have to be enough for us," she said and went to the bathroom.

Karina turned on the TV, found a music channel, and, like her cousin, decided to freshen up. When Artur arrived, the girls were almost ready. A moment later, everyone was in the dining room. Most of the guests had already taken their seats. The wives of two of the Navy medical officers were exceptionally cheerful women in their forties; the wife of the third, Tomas, was in her thirties, but had already enjoyed the company of the lovely ladies for nearly five years. In addition to Artur and Tomas's son, the yacht also included the two daughters of Georg and Rika. They always spent time together, so they could be considered one large family, who welcomed their cousins ​​warmly and without question. Two people who were supposed to be on the cruise had canceled at the last minute, so the girls' presence wasn't particularly surprising.

Looking around the room, Karina noticed a familiar face: a portly man in his fifties. She had seen him at official receptions with Kuc. It was Tomas, Leon's uncle. At first, she felt awkward, but as time passed, the situation began to soothe her frayed nerves. The fact that Artur was Tomas's son from his first marriage added spice to the whole affair. Karina began to suspect that her presence on this yacht was not at all accidental. After several lengthy toasts, the guests left the dining room to breathe in the fresh sea air and give the crew time to prepare the rooms for the rest of the musical program. Artur seized the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Karina, but Tina's constant presence prevented any further advances. When two young, beautifully dressed ladies approached Worner, the sisters finally had a chance to leave and talk quietly. After listening to her cousin, Tina sincerely regretted dragging her along on this cruise. She was aware that Leon would find out, and knowing him, she feared further unnecessary scenes from him.

Suddenly, a loud gong sounded, and everyone moved to the hall, where refreshments, plenty of drinks, and a place for dancing had been prepared. The host announced the "Best Dancing Couple" competition and organized a drawing of lots for those who would participate. As a result of the drawing, three couples were lined up: Rik's son and Tomas's wife, Artur and Georg's daughter, and Tina and George. While everyone's attention was focused on the contestants, Tomas approached Karina.

"I wonder who will win!?" the officer asked.

"Yes, I wonder!" Karina replied with surprise and a bit of caution.

"Are you alone? I see Leon doesn't realize what he's doing. You can't leave such a beautiful woman alone," Tomas tried to joke.

"Thank you

." "I called Leon, but he's not answering. Do you know how he is?

" "We haven't seen Leon lately; he's obviously busy."

"Well, you'll have a chance to meet. He should be joining us in an hour."

Karina didn't have time to respond, as the couples had finished dancing and were just announcing the results. Tina and George had won. Tomas sincerely congratulated the winning couple; he enjoyed dancing himself, but he was never as good at it as George.

During the next competition, a disoriented Karina retired to her cabin. But persistent thoughts prevented her from sitting still for long, and she went out on deck. The calm sea calmed her nerves somewhat. The roaring in her head had stopped, and thoughts of Leon were beginning to take on color. Now she could see that there were some harbors nearby, meaning they hadn't yet sailed far from shore. After a moment, she heard the hum of a motorboat engine. It must be Kuc, she thought, and to avoid a meeting, she returned to her cabin.

When Leon arrived, the atmosphere on the yacht was cheerful; the healthy competition during the competitions ensured that the participants had a wonderful time. Even Kuc joined in the fun, at her uncle's urging. Tina, engaged in a pleasant conversation with Rik's son, noticed Leon only after he asked her to dance. Surprised, as she danced, she searched for Karina, but she wasn't there.

"What are you doing here, dear Tina?" Leon asked. "I see you've changed partners. Bravo! Rik's son is a good candidate for a husband.

" "No! Where's Karina?" a confused Tina blurted out after a long moment of thought.

"Karina? Well, she's probably making out with some handsome guy," Leo said, smiling.

They continued dancing in silence, observing each other. When the dance ended, Leon led Tina to Rik's son and, wishing them a good time, a little worried, went to Karina's cabin. The door was unlocked, and Leon entered without hesitation. Karina was asleep. Her dark curls settled comfortably on the pillow. Kuc approached and purred with satisfaction. You're so beautiful, he thought, and gently kissed her hair, inhaling the blissfully soothing scent of the woman he loved.

Things then accelerated. Tina, at Leon's urging, moved into the cabin next door. After several days of heated discussions, Karina finally gave in to her beloved man, but their relationship was still far from perfect. For now, everyone enjoyed a break from everyday life. Scooter rides, exploring untouched islands, diving, and evening chats by moonlight brought everyone closer together. Only a slightly disappointed Artur couldn't accept the fact that his chosen one belonged to another. Because of his father, he respected Leon, but he wasn't on good terms with him, especially now that he had become his rival. The beautiful Karina had unwittingly become the cause of conflict between the two men.

Tina became close friends with George's daughters and Ron, Rik's son, the younger members of the group, creating a tight-knit crew that dreamed up increasingly sophisticated activities. Besides fishing and waterskiing, riding on inflatable tires behind a motorboat, wearing fins, masks, and snorkels, proved unforgettable. Even the officers and their wives, though without diving gear, joined in. Eventually, Arthur gave in and joined the group. Everyone was overjoyed, especially one of George's daughters, who had been secretly in love with him since childhood.

The couple also shared wonderful, happy moments. Walking happily along the uncharted shores of the island, they whispered sweet nothings to each other. Then they found strange places where no one could find them and indulged in each other's company. They made love everywhere: on the sand, in a cave, under a waterfall. Then in the shower cabin. They pretended nothing had happened. But Karina couldn't accept what she knew. Simply not wanting to spoil the fun, she didn't say anything yet. Leon, satisfied and confident, triumphed over his rival and wouldn't let Karina get even an inch away.