Чтение онлайн

на главную - закладки

Жанры

The Universal Passenger Book 1. Someone Else
Шрифт:

“Please, come in,” Sophia said, returning to the office and adjusting her already impeccably pressed lab coat as she sat in the chair. “How can I help you?”

“First of all, I’d like to apologize for yesterday,” Constantin began searching for the right words.

“No, I should be the one apologizing,” Sophia said, anxiously rubbing her hands together, mimicking human behavior when they’re upset. “I should have been more tactful and not meddled in things that aren’t my business. Besides, I really did like the painting.”

“Next time, I promise to behave more courteously,” Constantin smiled.

The heavy energy from his meeting with Sayana still lingered in the air, but he hadn’t come for that.

“Next time?” Sophia was surprised.

“If of course I haven’t scared you off,” Constantin hesitated. “I’d like to see you again, outside of this clinic.”

“Why not?” Sophia shrugged and he thought she seemed bored. “But this time I’ll choose the place for our meeting.”

“It’s settled then.” Constantin stood up to leave but suddenly remembered. “Can I have your number?”

“Of course. Is that why you came here?” she asked, dialing the number to call.

“Yes, I had to find some way to reach you, Sophia,” Constantin replied, feeling a bit shy.

The smartphone screen lit up with the precious call.

“Call me Sophie,” the girl smiled. “If you don’t mind, you can address me more casually.”

“Gladly,” he nodded and hurried to leave.

* * *

A week passed and Sophia still hadn’t called. Constantin waited patiently, comforting himself with thoughts that she had a lot of work. In the meantime, he painted and considered the concept for his next exhibition. He wrapped the painting of the twins in a blanket and stashed it in a distant corner, out of sight.

In the evenings, he met up with friends from the creative world. One of these friends invited him for a ride on a motorcycle to the waterfront. Constantin didn’t often use his iron steed. Perhaps it was due to the fear of getting carried away and losing track of speed, or maybe because he had made a promise to his parents long ago to sell it. But he never found the heart to part with his speedy friend.

Instead, he took him to a quiet enclosure behind the studio, away from onlookers. Now, as the cool sea air seeped through his helmet and filled his nostrils, he sped toward adventure, trying not to think about the girl for at least a couple of hours.

“Constantin!” his friend broke into a smile and waved.

“Hi, Max,” Constantin said, shaking his hand. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“How could I not? Good to see you, buddy,” Max said, turning to the two guys standing behind him. “Let me introduce you. This is Albert and Denis. They have their own photography studio.”

Constantin looked at them and nodded politely.

“What a cool motorcycle you have! The red paint looks bold,” Albert said, approaching the bike.

“And you can even control the navigation system without taking your hands off the handlebars!” Denis chimed in.

Constantin looked at the guys and smiled. Nothing took him back to childhood like toys, even if they were grown-up ones.

“Want to take a ride?” he offered.

“Of course! I’m driving,” Albert said, jumping onto the bike and putting on the helmet as he went.

“Alright, just don’t show off on the road,” Denis warned.

The guys sped off in a flash, while Van ordered a double espresso at a nearby cafe and returned to Max. He was a chubby guy of short stature, but he had a certain charisma that shone through at times. When Constantin was in the clinic, Max was the only one who didn’t pry into his personal life, never criticized or judged him. A priceless quality these days. And it was Max who had accidentally found Constantin on the floor that day.

“So, what are you up to now, my friend?” he asked, scratching his left eye. It seemed he just couldn’t get used to the contact lenses.

“You know me. I’m painting, spending long hours in the studio.”

“Sorry that I didn’t come to the exhibition. I was on a business trip. I hope you took photos of the paintings before selling them?” Max sighed sincerely.

Constantin always painted in one copy, so his paintings never lived in two places at once.

“Of course. I couldn’t leave you without news,” Constantin chuckled, lightly punching him in the shoulder. “By the way – speaking of news – I met someone.”

“Now that’s interesting. Who is she?” His friend immediately got to the point.

“You’ll laugh, but she’s my doctor. Not the best candidate for a relationship, I know.”

“Well, why not?” Max laughed. “Keep the most important things close at hand, as they say. It’ll be good for both the soul and the body.”

“You’re always joking,” Constantin replied, appreciating the tease.

While they chatted, time flew by, and the guys on the bike returned.

Denis jumped off the motorcycle like he’d been scalded, adjusting his curly, unruly hair as he went.

“I told you not to show off,” he scolded Albert, who, with a triumphant look, handed Constantin the helmet. “You almost made my heart jump out of my chest.”

“But it didn’t jump out,” his friend retorted. “Next time, don’t hold on to me like a girl.”

“What, like a girl? Oh, you!”

Denis kicked Albert and they engaged in a playful scuffle.

Constantin finished his invigorating coffee and went to toss the paper cup in the trash.

It was already quite dark on the waterfront and the streetlights had come on. This was his favorite time, when the sea, with its calm, barely noticeable waves, marked the end of the day. Turning his head toward the benches, he saw her.

The graceful silhouette of the girl stood out against the backdrop of the evening sunset.

She was sitting on the bench, reading something on her tablet while adjusting her hair, which the breeze was swirling around. A moment later, Sophia took a hairpin from the pocket of her gray blazer and neatly twisted her hair into a bun. She set the tablet aside and looked in Constantin's direction, as if expecting to see him there.

He approached her.

“What a coincidence.”

“For some reason, I’m not surprised, Constantin,” Sophia replied. “The evening waterfront is perfect for a stroll after a long day. Oh, right – you like to work after sunset.”

Поделиться:
Популярные книги

Тайны затерянных звезд. Том 1

Лекс Эл
1. Тайны затерянных звезд
Фантастика:
боевая фантастика
космическая фантастика
фэнтези
5.00
рейтинг книги
Тайны затерянных звезд. Том 1

Кровь эльфов

Сапковский Анджей
3. Ведьмак
Фантастика:
фэнтези
9.23
рейтинг книги
Кровь эльфов

Барон нарушает правила

Ренгач Евгений
3. Закон сильного
Фантастика:
фэнтези
попаданцы
аниме
5.00
рейтинг книги
Барон нарушает правила

Я – Стрела. Трилогия

Суббота Светлана
Я - Стрела
Любовные романы:
любовно-фантастические романы
эро литература
6.82
рейтинг книги
Я – Стрела. Трилогия

Штуцер и тесак

Дроздов Анатолий Федорович
1. Штуцер и тесак
Фантастика:
боевая фантастика
альтернативная история
8.78
рейтинг книги
Штуцер и тесак

Сын Петра. Том 1. Бесенок

Ланцов Михаил Алексеевич
1. Сын Петра
Фантастика:
попаданцы
альтернативная история
6.80
рейтинг книги
Сын Петра. Том 1. Бесенок

Имперский Курьер

Бо Вова
1. Запечатанный мир
Фантастика:
попаданцы
аниме
фэнтези
фантастика: прочее
5.00
рейтинг книги
Имперский Курьер

Вечный. Книга I

Рокотов Алексей
1. Вечный
Фантастика:
боевая фантастика
попаданцы
рпг
5.00
рейтинг книги
Вечный. Книга I

Его маленькая большая женщина

Резник Юлия
Любовные романы:
современные любовные романы
эро литература
8.78
рейтинг книги
Его маленькая большая женщина

Корсар

Русич Антон
Вселенная EVE Online
Фантастика:
боевая фантастика
космическая фантастика
6.29
рейтинг книги
Корсар

Зауряд-врач

Дроздов Анатолий Федорович
1. Зауряд-врач
Фантастика:
альтернативная история
8.64
рейтинг книги
Зауряд-врач

Генерал Империи

Ланцов Михаил Алексеевич
4. Безумный Макс
Фантастика:
альтернативная история
5.62
рейтинг книги
Генерал Империи

Мерзавец

Шагаева Наталья
3. Братья Майоровы
Любовные романы:
современные любовные романы
эро литература
короткие любовные романы
5.00
рейтинг книги
Мерзавец

На границе империй. Том 7

INDIGO
7. Фортуна дама переменчивая
Фантастика:
боевая фантастика
космическая фантастика
попаданцы
6.75
рейтинг книги
На границе империй. Том 7