Cказки Призраков. Tales of Ghosts. Премия им. Эдгара По / Edgar Poe Award (Билингва: Rus/Eng)

What are you feeling right now?»

«A Wind of Changes.»

«Good or bad?»

«Cardinal ones!»

«Anything more specific? Will you finally get rid of the fear of getting fat after childbirth and agree to become my wife?»

«Olga is coming, cut her a piece of melon,» I said calmly, not reacting to his skeptical jokes.

In a couple of seconds, there was a knock on the door, and a cheerful and blooming Olga, the HR manager, appeared on the threshold.

«Hello, friends!» she said and took a seat next to me.

«From our table to your table,» I handed her a piece of melon on a plate.

«Thank you, Arisha! And I have some news for you!»

«Good or bad?» George asked to clarify.

«I’m looking for a job… If we are going to be liquidated, there’s nothing else to wait! It’s better to prepare a straw in advance! So, I noticed a vacancy, published by some recruitment agency. In fact, as it turned out, they have two vacancies!» Olga said enigmatically.

We exchanged glances with George.

«Well, it’s getting more and more interesting!» he grinned.

«In brief, a foreign company with the same sphere of activity needs a financial manager and… chief accountant!» Olga summed up in a solemn voice.

«Wow!» I exclaimed in surprise and exhaled deeply.

«It’s not just „wow“!» said Olga offended. «It’s a sign from Heaven! Destiny! Where else will you both find such a fateful combination to work together further?»

«Perhaps,» George agreed without much enthusiasm. «However, I would prefer not to work with Arisha, but to live! Happily and forever!»

«One doesn’t exclude the other!» I declared.

«Yes, yes, Arisha, I’m about to sell you both! With giblets!» she exclaimed triumphantly. «No names yet, of course! I called that agency, without specifying our company. I asked if there was anything for me as well, throwing the fishing rod… Well, their HR specialist will contact the customer and let me know the result for you! I’ll tell you then! Just don’t forget to take me there when you get the job.

«Agreed!» George promised.

Olga finished her melon and went home. I washed the plates in the kitchen, anticipating the Wind of Changes, when a strange thought suddenly pierced my mind, and I flew back into George’s office.

«Isn’t it strange that another foreign company appeared in our narrow sector, when…»

I didn’t finish the sentence, as the lights went out throughout the building.