«Olga went back to her boyfriend, mad,» continued Oleg. «She didn’t notice she’d been shadowed. Olga was humiliated. She was trembling after such stress, and she needed support, but that fool Sergey started shouting at her. He got angry that she’d failed, and they lost a lot of money. He talked to her the same way as her parents had and that made Olga insane. When she took his gun Sergey didn’t turn a hair. He knew how that girl loved him.»
Oleg paused for effect, then finished. «It was an automatic pistol, honey, and Olga kept firing until the police burst into the apartment and shot her down.»
Oleg did not tell Lana that this guy, Sergey, was one of his closest friends, that they even «worked» together, and this was a real reason he knew all the details of this story.
«Awful.» Lana embraced her lover. «Poor girl. Damn all the money in the world. Long live Love.»
«You bet, my miracle!» exclaimed Oleg, trying to show off all the enthusiasm that he could demonstrate, and they fell onto the bed again.
* * * * *
Oleg impressed Lana as no one had before, and next day she decided to meet Vera Grach.
«I have to talk to her’, she was thinking. «Interesting, did he tell me the truth? I have to find out.»
She parked her car near the apartment building, and knocked on the door. Vera opened it, and smiled. «Did you come to buy a picture?»
Surprised, Lana nodded. «Phew, I don’t have to explain my visit.» She silently went in.
Lana did not understand art. So she just pointed to two pictures, and Vera started packing them. Lana glanced around. «What should I ask?»
«Strange,» she said surprisingly. «Why didn’t you paint your husband?»
«I draw only things that impress me,» Vera answered calmly.
«I thought if you loved someone it means he impresses you.»
«Girl,» Vera shrugged her shoulders. «It’s very difficult to love a man who doesn’t care about the family budget.»
«Money doesn’t make happiness,» Lana said with irritation in her voice. «When dad passes away I’ll give all his money to some charity organization.»
«I’m sorry, Miss…?» Vera looked questionably at Lana.
«Limpson.»
«I’m sorry, Miss Limpson, but you’re too young for such discourses. Your father spent all his life to make this money, and you want to waste it? It would be a stupid and dishonest act.»