A concept like "love"...

— Hey, wake up, sleeping beauty! We're here — Tolya pulled me out of my doze. We were returning from a work trip.

— Are we already here? I dozed off.

— I can see that. Tired?

— A little. Listen, could you drop the papers off at the office, you're going to drive the car anyway.

— Yes, of course. And you rest and gather your strength. I have plans for you on Friday evening.

— Okay.

Tolya pressed against me and kissed me. I smiled at him and got out of the car. Sleep instantly overwhelmed me until morning, I was so exhausted from the trip to the meeting.

Friday arrived, and Tolya came to me, to my modest two-room

apartment inherited from my uncle.

— Ready, baby, to spend this evening with me?

— Ready. But how did you manage to get away from home for a whole evening?

— My wife went to her mother's dacha. And we men, we only love our mothers-in-law from a distance. Especially since it's such a great reason to come to you.

— I see. You're a lucky one.

— Yes, and I'm at your disposal until morning.

— Are you serious? What am I supposed to do with you until morning?

— Whatever you want. And enough talking, let's act.

Such affairs had been going on in my life for five months now. I was fine with it, and so was he. Neither of us needed anything more... It's simple. Fleeting sex among friends, plus we're colleagues. We both worked for the company in the audit team. Frequent trips to numerous stores in our region, numerous hours together pushed us into intimacy. I'm not interested in why he cheats on his wife, that's his problem.

A man like him, who doesn't demand accountability and fidelity, is what I need, because I long ago gave up on such a concept as "Love." I've had my fill of it... Thanks, I've had enough. I can boldly consider myself a confirmed bachelorette and an egoist. I live for myself and don't let anyone close. Well, maybe only physically. What unites me with men is only sex, nothing more.

And so for a long time now, and for me this is really a long time for consistency in sex, I've only been sleeping with one partner, with Tolya. He is very tender towards me and values me as a mistress, and I simply allow him to take me, because I myself don't have feelings for him. But shouldn't there be at least some feelings for a partner, even a sexual one? But no, nothing. I've shielded myself from emotions so much that I don't feel anything... I try not to feel anything. My past relationships are to blame, which made me close all the windows and doors in my heart. What am I... I don't even want to remember it.

At a work meeting, our director informed us about the arrival of a new supervisor in our subdivision. Tolik picked me up in the morning and we arrived at the office for the assignment meeting. I was told that I, as part of my team, had to go for an audit at one of our stores.

— Did they give you the assignment?

— No. They said I need to get it signed by our new supervisor.

— Where were you, by the way, when they introduced him to us today?

— I don't know, I was probably filling out documentation in accounting. Is he already here?

— Yes. Go get the signature.

— Why me? I missed the introduction with him.

— So what? Explain that you were away on business.

— What's his name anyway?

— Titov Andrey Andreyevich.

— I'm going.

With the necessary papers, I approached the door of his office, which didn't yet have a nameplate, and knocked. Permission to enter came from the office. I opened the door and started to enter. The bow knot on my blouse got caught on the door handle, the ribbon stretched and completely came undone under my forward momentum from stepping in. I didn't notice how my blouse suddenly flew open and tore. I dropped all the papers on the floor and clutched my body with the torn fabric. The man sat stunned by the sight in his chair, then stood up and came over to me.

— Good Lord, are you okay?

— Yes, I think so. Sorry — my gaze was riveted to a completely unimaginably handsome male appearance. The man, without looking away, was staring at me, he looked about 30 or 32 years old.

— So you're okay? Not hurt?

— Oh, sorry, I'm clumsy. Everything's fine.

— Check yourself carefully, you might have scratched yourself.

— Everything's fine. Sorry, I need to go.

— So what did you want? What's the purpose of your visit?

— I need you to sign the audit assignment.

— You work in our audit group? For some reason, I didn't see you this morning during the introduction — my direct supervisor narrowed his eyes sternly, and I guiltily lowered my gaze to the floor.

— Why are you silent, dear? I'm not going to call your parents about poor performance.

— Yes, I wasn't present, I was away with documents in accounting.

— Well, no big deal. Now we'll get acquainted. My name is Andrey.

— Sorry. Andrey...

— Just Andrey. Informally, of course.

— Why do we need informality?

— Let's ask the question differently... Why formality?

— Hm... Sorry, but I need to go to work — I answered anxiously, adjusting my torn blouse on myself.

— Do you have something to change into? Your blouse is not fit to wear.

— Don't worry, I'll figure something out.

— Are you sure everything's okay? I'll include the cost of the blouse in your bonus.

— Oh, no, what are you saying!

— After all, the handle on my door attacked you, but it's not in a position to answer for itself.

— More like I ran into it myself. Everything's fine, thanks for your concern — I wanted to sink through the floor just to avoid this awkward situation. The documents were handed to me, and I hurried back to the car to Tolya.

— What happened to you?

— To me? Ah, nothing.

— What's with your blouse?

— Oh, I accidentally tore it on the door handle.

— How did that happen?

— It just happened. Enough questions, let's go. We'll just quickly swing by my place on the way, I'll change.

And in the next bonus, I felt a certain increase. Could it be he wasn't joking about the compensation for the blouse? I, of course, have nothing against money, it's never extra, but it's just funny... Big deal, losing a piece of cloth. After work, I left the office building and for a second thought, inhaling the fresh May air.

— Hello, Olga.

I saw him next to me, Andrey, that's what he asked me to call him, supposedly, informally.

— Good evening, Andrey Andreyevich.

— We agreed to switch to informality.

— I don't recall. You're my boss.

— I'm not such a boss, just a supervisor.

— Still.

— Don't make me beg you to switch to "you."

— Specifically you, Andrey Andreyevich, have already managed that quite well.

— Which way are you headed? — he ignored my sarcasm.

— Not where you are.

— How do you know where I'm going?

— I assume. Sorry, I have to go.

— Shall we walk together? I'll walk you.

— You're on foot?

— Actually no, but a walk wouldn't hurt me. But I can give you a ride.

— Colleagues will misunderstand.

— I don't care. I have nothing to be ashamed of. Let them be jealous.

— Jealous?

— Yes. Let them be jealous that such a mind-blowing girl is walking with someone like me.

— Someone like you? Oh, sorry.

— There, you see, you managed to use "you" with me perfectly — he said this and such a beautiful smile appeared on his face that I almost threw myself headlong into the abyss that very second. "Snap out of it, girl, remember who you are and what you need," I scolded myself.

— I have to go. Goodbye.

— Just look at you... Are you always so unapproachable?

— Not always.

— Then let's go, I'll walk you.

— Here we are.

— Won't you offer me some tea?

— Umm... Okay.

In my kitchen, we continued the conversation, but it was more of a monologue than a dialogue, because I just silently listened to him and nodded.

— I've overstayed, time to go. See you tomorrow.

— See you.

Tolya lost sight of me yesterday and was concerned about it, asking for details. I got out of it by saying I had a headache and went home in a hurry. There was no fieldwork that day, and we were swallowed by paperwork.

— Could you come to my office with the documents from yesterday's audit? — Andrey addressed me as he passed by. I put all the papers in a folder and headed to his office, knocked. After permission to enter, I opened the door, started to take a step, caught my heel on the door threshold and tumbled into his office, falling on the floor on my knees and palms.

— Are you okay? What's going on? How are you? — Andrey came over to me and offered a helping hand. I took his hand and got up from the floor, meeting his gaze and freezing for a few seconds.

— Are you okay?

— Yes.

— Why do you keep getting hurt in my office?

— I don't know. It just happens.

— You really are clumsy.

— I told you.

— I'm not serious. Does it hurt?

— My knees are just burning, that's all — I said this with a somewhat suffering look. My heart sank and blood rushed to my head after Andrey's body moved down, he knelt down and began examining my knees. My knees were scraped from falling on the rough carpeted floor in his office. Andrey sat me on the edge of his desk and went to the cabinet, took out hydrogen peroxide and cotton. He squatted down and began carefully treating my knees, which made them sting a little, and I hissed.

— Hush, bear it a little. We need to treat it, who knows what infection could get in.

— You know, it's so unusual.

— What exactly?

— I'm sitting on my boss's desk.

— I tell you again, our boss is above us all. I'm just a supervisor.

— Yes, but I carry out your instructions directly.

— Only because they're given to me from above, and I relay them to all of you.

— Okay, whatever. But it's still unusual.

— Glad you like it. All done. Your knees are saved from infection, but they need time to fully heal.

— Thank you very much.

— You're welcome.

— Here, by the way, the reports — I started gathering the papers from the floor. He thanked me, and I left. Tolik drove me home today and kissed me for a long time in the car before I left.

— What, by the way, happened to your knees?

— I fell on the carpet today — I said this and beamed with a smile.

— How did you manage that?

— It just happened. I don't know myself.

— My poor girl — he buried his lips in my neck and slid his hand under my sweater, squeezing my breast over my bra — How I miss you, and there's been no time lately. But we can do this right now. Let's go to your place? — and this wasn't a question, but an insistent offer. We went into my apartment, and Tolya quickly undressed and climbed on top of me, squeezing my body with his hands. At that moment, my thoughts were not with him, I let the situation take its course, but didn't allow it to go further. I asked Tolik to stop the process and threw on a robe.

— What's wrong?

— Sorry, I'm not in the mood today. Let's do it another time.

— Another time... — he repeated the phrase and pouted like a child who wasn't given candy.

— I'm tired and really want to rest.

— I understand. Then rest, and I'll go. See you tomorrow.

All the auditors were sent by assignment to stores to check the condition and expiration dates of goods. With Tolik, we rode silently in one car with a couple of other colleagues. The work process dragged on for a long time, and we returned to the office tired. After dropping me off at home, Tolya kissed me.

— I won't invite myself over today, I understand you're tired.

— Thank you! Bye, Tol. See you.

Seven in the evening. I took a shower and flopped onto the sofa in front of the TV. Someone started persistently calling my mobile.

— Hello, hi! It's Andrey. Are you busy?

— No, I'm watching TV.

— Would you mind spending this evening with me? It's so boring watching TV alone.

— I'm not bored at all.

— Well, I'm dying of boredom in the same process. Keep me company? You don't want me to die, do you?

— Very funny.

— I'm not joking. Shall I come pick you up? I'll make you some delicious tea.

— I doubt that's a good idea.

— Why? Last time you treated me, now it's time to return the favor. I'm on my way