Andrey was never a fantastic liar. While packing his luggage in the bedroom, he tried not to meet Marina’s eyes, the lady he had lived with for nearly 10 years.

So, a conference. “A whole week,” Marina replied, leaning against the doorframe. “And definitely in Sochi, when everyone is on vacation.”

“Well, yeah,” Andrey murmured, putting his beach shorts beneath a stack of shirts. “The corporation bears all expenses. “It would be strange to refuse.”

– Is your colleague, Vika, also coming? Marina’s voice contained no query, merely a tired statement of fact.

Andrey hesitated for a moment before continuing to get ready as if nothing had occurred.