In Search of Your Soul

The room was filled with the warm light from the fireplace, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere, the logs crackling peacefully and driving the depressing thoughts from my mind. Slowly, I swirled the whiskey glass in my hand, watching the drops flow down in a thin, wriggling line.  

The muffled clatter of heels could be heard in the hallway. One could tell by the frequency of the sound that the owner of that gait was walking confidently. The door creaked softly and opened. 

“How did they let you in here? The manager said it was a private club, and no one could disturb me,” I asked with a smirk, knowing there were no closed doors for this woman. 

“And I'm glad to see you,” she kissed me on the cheek and sat on the chair at my side. 

“What can I pour you?” I asked politely.

“Something light. We'll move on to the heavy stuff after the case.”

In her beautiful blue eyes, the devils were running. 

“Hmm... And what business brought you here?” I handed Lika a shot of her favorite drink, mint liqueur. 

“You know exactly why I'm here. It's time. A year has passed.”

“Really? How quickly the year has flown by...”

I went to the fireplace, took a poker, and started stirring the logs.

When I stirred the charred wood, I made sparks fly upward, which soared and flickered in the air. I enjoyed watching this dance of fire, which had always fascinated me.

“I feel weird that I'm the one who's been looking for you. Mostly, you show up at the appointed time and enter the fray with excitement in your eyes.” 

“Lika, I'm not an adventurous boy anymore. You know how this year has worn me out. I'm not sure if I want to continue this childishness.”

Turning to my sister, I looked into her eyes cautiously. I didn't want to upset her since we'd been playing this game since we were kids. It seemed to be the thread that still bound us together. Over the years, we'd grown apart, but, as time went on, the game got a little too intense. And when life's about to knock you down, you don't need that extra dose of adrenaline. 

“Alex, I know you've worked hard this year to keep your company. Although, I will remind you that I offered you an installment plan. But you're so proud that you chose to give up 20% of your company just to do it alone. You even refused Dan's help.”

My opponent shook her head. 

“I intend to continue. This game is the kind of magic kick that sometimes you just need.”

“I thought the last round was really hard on you. I was sure you didn't even want to continue,” I snickered.

Last time, we bet on whether my sister could survive six months on a waitress's salary, working honestly for the entire period. The stakes were high, and to my surprise, she not only lived those six months by all the rules but managed to become the receptionist of that establishment quite quickly. As a result, in the last two months, she could pay for a separate apartment, tiny but separate from her neighbors, which was the most important and difficult challenge for her. And since there was no violation of any established rules, I had to pay every penny of the agreed amount. As a consequence, this year became a struggle for my own company. My overconfidence has played tricks on me.

“You're right. It's been extremely difficult for me. There were moments when I wanted to drop everything, get in my favorite car, and drive to the mansion. But you know what stopped me?” 

She turned her head to the side and looked at me with big blue eyes. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulder. 

“I guess the prize money kept you firmly in place,” I said ironically, taking a scalding sip of my drink.

“That's exactly what I expected you to say. What else could a man who spends his entire conscious life solely on increasing his wealth say?” Lika sighed. 

I wanted to answer her, but she did not let me continue her admonition. 

“But that's the wrong answer and the right one you'll find out for yourself. At least, that's what I'm hoping...” 

“Lika, we're not children anymore. I know you've been patronizing me for too long, and it's simply become a habit. You want to change my lifestyle, but at least try to accept the idea that I'm okay with it.” 

“This conversation, alas, will lead nowhere. It is possible to convey something to you only by action.” 

Lika sighed heavily. 

“I want to show you how much you're missing out. Yes, this world depends on money, but just filling your pockets doesn't make you richer emotionally. Look, no amount of money can cover the hole in your soul.”  

“Look, I don't have the energy or the time for another bet. Whatever you're trying to tell me, I don't need it right now.”

“What if I told you that Villa Del Rado would be at stake this time?” 

“Are you kidding?” 

I looked into her eyes. She knew how much I desired to get that piece of land. 

Why now, exactly, is she willing to risk it? Angelica must be up to an elaborate game, but whatever it is, it's definitely worth it, I thought.  

“There's that gambling look. I take it you are in?” Angelica asked cheerfully.

“Would you be so kind as to state the terms,” settling back in my chair, I directed my full attention to my interlocutor.

***

Two days have passed since I met with Lika. There was a lot of work today, like always, but my thoughts were occupied with the villa. I couldn't think about anything else. I was confused — such a prize and yet such an elementary task. Any minute now, Lika was to appear with a notary, who had to check and notarize all the documents. 

Rising from my chair, I felt my back and neck stiffen.

Too bad my workout at the gym is postponed today. But, very soon, I'll get to a winery in southern Italy, and it will be completely at my disposal. That thought made a smile spread across my face. 

“I see you're all excited.”

 Immersed in my thoughts, I didn't notice how Lika had entered the office. 

“It's so good to see you. You look just dazzling today.” 

“Ah, how nice to hear. It's a pity it's all pretense,” Lika twisted her mouth, and we laughed.

I've forgotten the last time I was in such a marvelous mood.

“Let's get down to business, shall we?” 

I rubbed my hands together and took a seat at the head of the table. The guests sat on either side of me. 

“Mr. Heifetz, have you read the contract?”

“Yes, Mr. Frai. All the clauses are clear. All I need are your signatures and my seal. Have you discussed all the points of the deal?” 

The notary gave me a meaningful look. 

This question made me tense. I have known Gidon Heifetz for a long time. For many years, all significant papers have gone through him exclusively. He's a man of his word and incredibly pedantic, which is a great advantage in his work. And if a question like that comes from him, you have to get to the bottom. And I'd be surprised if it was as simple as my sister told me earlier. 

“Hand me the contract,” I asked, frowning.

 Taking the papers, I glanced at my sister. But she was completely calm. It wasn't surprising — she knew I would do anything to get the villa. 

 I scrutinized every page. In the paragraphs, everything was as discussed before, but the appendix was twice the size of the contract itself and contained many new terms.

“It would take me at least half an hour to study the papers in more detail.” 

The great mood began to fade rather quickly. It smelled like a trick. 

“Al, are you saying anything is stopping you on your way to your goal?” Lika asked with a smug grin. 

“It's unlikely, but I don't habitually leave my signature on unchecked papers.”

“Mr. Frai, I've spent much time studying every letter in these documents. If you'd like, I'll give you the highlights.”

I trusted Gidon as much as I trusted myself, and his suggestion could save us time. 

“I would be very grateful to you.” 

I put the papers aside and looked at the notary. 

“The basic agreement is that you need to induce three different girls to have intimate relations for money. For each girl, you have a maximum of three weeks. Their fee is unlimited, but payment will come from your personal funds. Two girls are chosen at random by Mrs. Masters. One girl will be chosen at random by you...” 

“Gidon, please familiarize me with the attachment. I have no questions about the main part.”

I was beginning to lose patience as I wondered what my one and only sister, Mrs. Masters, could have come up with. 

“The appendix is just that if one of the girls refuses, no matter which one it is, you will need to live in the same place with her for six months,” Heifetz said with one eyebrow raised.

What is her grand plan? No, of course. I'm used to privacy. But I can tolerate a roommate for such a prize. 

This question continued to plague me.  

“Lika, let's go straight to the pitfalls. And let's not waste time testing my patience for strength.”

“Alex, your patience has grown with you. When you were a boy, you barely had any. But as a man, it seems to me you've learned to wait. You don't know how much I love seeing that boy's curiosity in you again.” 

A smile spread across her face, but my good mood vanished completely. Apparently, my sister realized from the look on my face that I was about to explode, so she hurried to continue. 

“Okay, look, it's all spelled out right here.” 

Lika found the right page and handed it to me. The documents stated that I had to live in the same house with my neighbor and spend with her all off-duty time, training, and meals. In addition, we must sleep in the same bed. At this point, I coughed and raised my horrified eyes to my sister. 

“You're going overboard. Six months without sleep could render me insane. Perhaps we can dispense with that clause?” I asked with hope in my voice.

 It would be silly to expect it to be as simple as my sister had presented it to me the last time we met. But I always slept alone. The presence of someone in my bed implied a lack of proper sleep.

“Al, I'm not changing that. It's up to you. Nobody said it was going to be easy. And you'll have my man in your house to report to me on compliance.”

Her eyes literally glowed with smugness. 

“And besides, aren't you the one who said that everything in this world can be bought and sold? You just have to name the right price. If you really believe that, then you have nothing to fear.”

I was unable to respond to this attack. 

“There are a couple more points you should pay attention to,” Heifetz broke the silence and turned to me. 

I took a deep breath, rubbed my temple tiredly, stood up, and walked towards the bar. Pouring a glass of whiskey, I took a big gulp. 

I need to weigh everything up. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to talk three people into s*x for money. But knowing my sister, there's no way around it, so we need to be prepared for any outcome, I said to myself.

(on behalf of Anna)

    It was a wonderful day. The air smelled of spring. Nature was waking from its winter sleep, spreading green buds and replacing grayness with a riot of colors. The sun was shining brightly, warming me with long-awaited warmth. The birds sang, diluting the city noise with a pleasant chirp. This weather was perfect for a walk in the fresh air. 

    Munich is an incredible city that is so easy to fall in love with, as it turns out. I can't even believe now that I was so resistant to coming three years ago. The local architecture is simply marvellous. It's impossible to walk down the street without closer looking at each house. Of course, the box houses that are familiar to my eye are also present here, but even they look neat. I especially like the absence of skyscrapers. There are a few tall buildings, but their presence does not spoil the overall view and does not create a sense of pressure. And the biggest plus, undoubtedly, is the many parks, in w