Читать книгу My Dear Bitch. V#1 Bride - Margie Fillin - Страница 5

One other day of work in the company was almost at its end. The bosses left and nobody cared about the customers and their problems. Statistics and high standard of service didn’t cause worry any longer either. With the present course of events in the company, namely layoffs, it was clear that everyone was busy searching a new job, and it was quite natural that all my colleagues got so tired with listening and discussing endless weird and scary everyday stories about the job interviews.

No wonder that my bold plan and extreme attempt to obtain a visa to the USA at the very moment of the company’s reorganization struck everyone and arouse group discussion at once. There you are! The real sensation!

The information about my visit to the American Consulate somehow spread like wildfire among all my co-workers. That was the reason why that remarkable day all my colleagues headed by Julia, the secretary, hang on my desk like wasps around jam.

Everyone in my department was looking forward to my coming back from the Consulate with some news.

– Nothing ventured, nothing gained! —pronounced the secretary.

– Vicky has left the office approximately two hours ago. Still there, – said one of my colleagues.

– I wouldn’t run risks as she is doing now. The Consulate knows about layoffs in this company because of its reorganization. Unfair it is here, but where isn’t, I just wonder.

– Irene called them regarding this issue, didn’t she?

– Who knows? Nobody will ever know the truth. She could call them easily in regards of Vika’s wish to get an American visa.

Everyone knows how much Irene loves and hates Vika at the same time.

– Girls, are you talking about “Shaking Dummy?” She is really blockhead! And no one knows what to expect from her now or the next moment. Irene is such a bitch.

– And what, guys? Do you think Vika would love to stay in America permanently?

– Ask her!

– It’s rumored that her relatives have been living permanently in the States for almost ten years already.

– And some of her friends are living in America as well now. Do you remember that young Russian couple from Miami at the recent company’s picnic?

– Yes! The boss introduced the guy as his best friend from America – a bigwig in this company’s Miami office. Probably, he offered Vika a job there. Do you remember that homely man?

– He is not a homely man!

– I know that the invitation Vika got is from that couple. They are friends.

– Do you know that Vika has already been to America?

– Really? When?

– A couple years ago she spent her vacation in California.

– I’ve never heard about this! She is amazing!

– And I’ve heard she had visited New York.

– No, she was in Santa Barbara. Inga, the assistant director, told me.

– You should remember bisexual Inga. She worked before Julia’s time, when “Pinocchio” ruled over the company. Do you remember?

– Of course, we do.

– Vika is a lucky devil!

– Stop being a prophet of doom! Knock on wood!

– I have good eye!

– If she could obtain the visa the very first time and came back home, they will not refuse credence.

– It’s not necessarily so; it depends on many other reasons.

– She has no intention to stay there.

– Are you sure? She could stay there easily after getting her visa today. The consulate officers are not complete fools. They will get the real intention of everyone. Like a hell you can cheat them!

– What the hell does she need it for? She is brimming over with life here. She has everything or almost everything.

– You’ll see! She will stay in America.

– And her son? Will he go to America with her?

– No, he’ll go to the United Kingdom in September with the International Student Exchange Program.

– That’s cool!

– I’ve told you she has clout everywhere!

– You are a real wicked creature, you know? Do you feel envy?

– And what about her apartment?

– Does she have a plan to sell her apartment?

– No, she doesn’t. It’s her favorite dwelling. I haven’t ever heard a word from her concerning a wish to sell it.

– What type of visa is she asking for?

– I have no any idea.

– How long is she really planning to stay in America?

The secretary Julia tried to make the things clear.

– Girls, listen to me! – Julia exclaimed. – She is going to go there just for three weeks and she has filled the application form to obtain a guest visa. I’ve typed and printed a special letter-support on behalf of company’s name for her in order to give it to the American Consulate. By the way, when I asked the boss to sign this letter, he was not happy with this at all. Later on, he gave her his own opinion of the whole situation. Sometimes he is so faint-hearted.

– He is so miserable! He is concerned for his own skin. He doesn’t trust anyone, he is so suspicious. He is afraid she will stay in the States. But she will not stay in America illegally. I know her.

– How could you know and be so sure about her? A week ago she refused from the vacancy in one of the banks, wasn’t it a surprise? We were sure she would grab that opportunity.

– Folks, just a second please. Recently I’ve spoken to one of my closest friends. She knows everything about all the banks in the city. The salary they had suggested to Vika was a bit more than nothing.

– The reason was not in the salary. Vika just has another plan.

– How is she going to live on air?

– Oh, my. She has always been living above her income.

– It’s not your business, dears.

– Well, folks! You’ve had your talk and that’s it! She is attagirl and a very brave one. Is it better to sit cross-legged and play the ass as you used to do?

– So mean… To each his own!

The heated discussion of the local skilful debaters was suddenly interrupted. I appeared in the office, and someone noticed me in the doorway.

The silence followed.

All the girls stood agape and stiffened with astonishment. They fixed the eyes on me.

To clear the air, I gave them my entire disarming smile and loudly said,

– My dear colleagues please relax! The American Consulate refused my US guest visa! I’ve been refused. Do you know why?

At the very same moment I felt how my colleagues breathed again, breathed freely, breathed with relief and then they were all gone in a split second.

– For shame! Oof! – I had no any other words for my sorrow.