Chapter 1 The Quiet Storm
Katya stepped into the compound of the Strongbuilder construction company, and her heart immediately beat faster. In the distance, she spotted Igor's familiar figure, and everything froze inside. She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and looked around the former factory building. The old brick walls contrasted with the new glass inserts, creating a bizarre symbiosis of past and present. Katya took a deep breath and headed for the entrance.
Inside, the atmosphere was that of a business hive. Young professionals scurried back and forth with tablets and cups of coffee, creating a sense of constant movement and progress. Katya caught her reflection in the mirrored surface of the elevator and noted how she had changed over the past month. The dress that had recently been tight around her figure now hung loosely, slightly shading her silhouette. She fixed her hair and stepped into the elevator, trying not to think about whether anyone else had noticed the change.
On her floor, Katya walked quickly to her workstation, trying not to meet her colleagues' eyes. She turned on her computer and plunged into her work, hoping that the routine would help distract her from thoughts of Igor. But then the voice of the head of the department sounded:
"Colleagues, there's a general meeting in the conference room in five minutes. Don't be late!"
Katya felt her hands go cold. She knew that Igor would be there, and the thought of being in the same room with him was both thrilling and terrifying.
In the conference room, Katya sat far away from the entrance, hoping to remain unnoticed. But when Igor entered the room, it seemed to her that the air around her was electrified. Their gazes met for a moment, and Katya felt the color rush to her cheeks. She lowered her eyes, pretending to study her notes.
The meeting began, and Katya tried her best to concentrate on the words of her boss. But his voice seemed a distant background compared to the loud pounding of her heart. When it was her turn to report on the project, Katya stood up on unsteady legs.
"Our team… – she began, and suddenly realized her voice was failing her. – Our team is working on optimizing…"
The words she had so carefully chosen the day before suddenly slipped out of her head. Katya felt the eyes of her colleagues on her and especially Igor's gaze. She swallowed and tried to continue:
"We have developed a new algorithm that will allow…"
And then what Katya feared the most happened. Igor raised his hand and asked:
"Katya, how will this algorithm interact with the existing system?"
His voice, deep and calm, seemed to paralyze her thoughts. Katya opened her mouth, but could not utter a sound. The seconds of silence stretched into an eternity. She felt a cold sweat running down her back.
"Я… it's… – Katya stammered, trying to gather her thoughts. – We're still working on that aspect of it."
The answer sounded unconvincing even to herself. She couldn't get any more words out. Katya sat back down, feeling her cheeks burning with shame. The rest of the meeting passed like a blur.
Back at her desk, Katya stared at the monitor, unable to concentrate on her work. Igor's face and his questioning look stood before her eyes. She remembered how recently she had spoken confidently at such meetings, how easily she had found answers to any questions. What was happening to her?
Katya's thoughts involuntarily returned to the house, to the monotonous days filled with worries about the children and endless attempts to please her husband. Sasha lately was increasingly delayed at work, and at home was silent and irritable. Katya sighed, remembering their last conversation, which had been more like Sasha's monologue about the dirty fronts in the kitchen.
