Marina carefully folded the last shirt and stuffed it into Alexey’s suitcase. After years of living together, packing for his business trip had become a quiet ritual she treasured, packing each item carefully.

“Don’t forget your laptop charger,” she reminded him as she zipped up the suitcase. Alexey looked at his watch, clearly nervous.

“Thanks, honey. I have to go. The taxi’s here.” She kissed him quickly on the cheek, grabbed her suitcase, and hurried to the door.

“Call me when you get there!” Marina called. “I will!” he shouted as the door slammed shut.

He walked to the window and watched the car drive away. His hasty goodbye seemed unusual; his goodbyes were usually slower, more affectionate.

The rest, however, was important; he was probably just worried about the upcoming meeting.

The apartment felt empty and cold at once. To distract herself, Marina decided to visit the Meridian Mall and finally buy some of the things she had been meaning to buy.

A few hours later, she packed her bags and walked through the mall. She had planned to have lunch at her favorite cafe on the third floor, but then her phone rang: a colleague suggested they meet at the Almond restaurant on the second floor to try out their new menu.

Marina agreed; the restaurant was right there, and she liked the atmosphere there even though she rarely visited.

When she climbed to the second floor, she could see inside through the large windows of Almond. Then her feet seemed glued to the ground: Alexey was sitting at a table by the window. Across from him was a young woman Marina had never seen before. They approached, chatting animatedly.

The woman smiled, lightly touching her hand, and in Alexey’s eyes Marina saw an expression she had not seen for a long time.

Time stopped. Her heart stopped, and her vision blurred. The man who was supposed to be on the flight to Novosibirsk was having lunch with another woman.

Her first impulse was to rush in and demand answers. Something—pride, maybe fear—held her back. Taking a deep breath, Marina slowly turned and walked away.

With trembling fingers, she canceled lunch with her colleagues and called her best friend.

“Lena, can you see me? Right now,” she said in a trembling voice.

“What’s going on?” Lena asked, alarmed.

I just saw Alexey with a woman in a restaurant. He was supposed to be on the plane.

“Where are you?”

“In Meridian.”

Wait for me at the Aquarelle cafe on the first floor. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

Marina sat in a corner, absentmindedly stirring her iced tea. Questions rushed to her. Who was that woman? How long had this been going on? Had Alexey ever made these trips before? The midnight calls, the late nights, the new phone password…

“The little gate!” Lena’s voice interrupted her. She sat down opposite and squeezed her hand.

“Tell me everything.”

Marina recounted the scene, trying to control her voice.

I don’t know what to do, Lena. Part of me doesn’t even want to know the truth.

What if it’s not what I saw? Maybe there’s an explanation.

Marina smiled bitterly. “Do you have any explanation for a man who’s thinking about a business trip and having lunch with another woman?”

“I don’t know,” Lena admitted. “But before you decide, maybe you should find out more?

How? Ask him directly?”

Lena thought, “What if we follow them? See where they go.”

It was humiliating to follow her husband, but the uncertainty was even more painful. Marina nodded.

They hid in the bookstore across from the restaurant, curious. Forty minutes later, Alexey and his companion appeared. The woman was an elegant brunette, about thirty, with a perfect figure.

“They’re leaving,” Lena whispered.

Keeping her distance, she followed her. Outside, the woman got into a taxi. Alexey helped her into the car, they exchanged a brief handshake, nothing more, and the taxi drove off. Alexey stayed in the parking lot, called someone, then took a taxi himself.

“Let’s follow him,” Marina said.

Their taxi followed Alexey to the Aquamarine Mall, where his company’s office was. Inside, he had a tense conversation with the receptionist before disappearing into his boss’s office.

“Maybe the trip was canceled at the last minute,” Lena suggested.

“So who was that woman? And why didn’t she call?”

They waited. Half an hour later, Alexey came out with a folder and went downstairs. Marina and Lena hid behind a pillar and ran to find a taxi.

“Home,” Marina told the driver. He guessed right: Alexey’s taxi had dropped him off at his building. Marina let Lena go and got in herself.

Alexey was sitting in the kitchen, staring at his laptop.

“Little Port! Are you home yet?” She looked genuinely surprised.

“As you can see,” she said coldly. “Aren’t you on a plane?”

He tensed. “The trip was canceled at the last minute. I meant to call, but things are crazy.”

“So crazy that you can’t even send a text message?”

“Sorry.” He looked down. Marina sat down across from him.

“Who is she, Alexey?”

“Who?” He frowned.

“The woman you had lunch with at Almond.”

He paled. “Were you following me?”

“No. I just happened to see you.”

The silence stretched. Finally, she said, “It’s not what you think.”

What was I supposed to think? He said he was flying, and he was having lunch with a woman!

Her name was Anna Viktorovna. She represented German investors.

“And that’s why you lied about the trip?”

I didn’t lie. The trip had been canceled while I was at the airport. My boss called: an investor was passing through town. I had to meet her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She hesitated. “Because… it wasn’t a regular meeting.”

Marina fell silent. “I knew it.”

“No, it’s not like that! My boss told me: if I convince her to sign an agreement with special conditions, I’ll be promoted to commercial director.”

“And you can’t even send a text message?”

I wanted to surprise him if it worked. If not, why bother him?

“Did it work?” Marina asked.

Alexey, annoyed. “Yes. She signed a preliminary agreement. The main delegation will arrive next month.”

She still doubted him. He opened the file: inside was the agreement, signed by Anna Viktoria Müller. Then he took out a velvet box; inside was a sapphire necklace that Marina had admired.

“I bought it last week and was going to give it to you tonight, along with the news.”

His anger subsided, but one question remained: “Why do you seem so happy with her?”

“She agreed to our terms; it was a relief, nothing more.”

He squeezed her hand. “You’re the only woman in my life. My travels are real.”

He wanted to believe. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Of course.”

“What did you eat?”

She ordered a homemade salad and a steak with truffle sauce. He ordered fish.

What else did they talk about?

“Russian culture: she loves ballet.”

Their answers flowed smoothly. The tension melted. They ordered pizza, opened some wine, and soon the evening returned to normal.

While Alexey showered, Marina glanced at her phone: the password was still their wedding date. Nothing suspicious. The call from her boss earlier that morning was still there.

Hearing Alexey humming his favorite song, she realized that perhaps the real problem was habit: they had stopped surprising each other.

The next morning she woke up early, made breakfast, and kissed him awake.

Only with fine illustrations

I have a surprise. I took the day off today, and you should too.

“What for?” she murmured.

“A little business trip, just us, no phones.” They handed her two train tickets to the rural resort where they had spent their first anniversary.

He sounds radiant. “I love you, you know.”

“I love you too, and I don’t want to look at your phone anymore.”

“So you spied on me!” he laughed. She threw a pillow at him, laughing too.

Sometimes, she thought, you just have to trust, and sometimes you have to take the first step to rekindle the spark.

A week later, Marina found a postcard from Cologne in the mailbox:

Dear Marina, your husband spoke fondly of you during our meeting. The chocolate he chose for you is a specialty from our family factory. I hope you enjoy it.

Sincerely, Anna Müller.

Next to her was an elegant box of chocolates. She marinated loudly and set it aside until Alexey returned home. She had to pack a suitcase; the next day’s trip was real, and she would help him again.