Payment

Lily Rizk

Payment

Part I

Chapter 1

“Good morning.”

“And to you…”

“Something wrong?” Victoria asked, stretching and yawning like a flexible little red-haired cat.

Lana lowered her eyes.

“Not really…”

They lived in a dormitory connected to a small factory. The girls were doing their internship after graduating from the Rostov Institute for Entrepreneurial Protection. They shared a tiny room for two. It had only the bare essentials—a table with chairs, a wardrobe, and two beds—but it was enough for them.

Lana was sitting cross-legged on her bed, lost in gloomy thoughts. After a while, she looked at her friend and asked:

“How was your date last night?”

Victoria stood up and, tossing her head slightly, replied:

“I think I drank a bit too much. But otherwise, it was great—as always!”

She opened the wardrobe door against the wall, rummaged through the shelf, pulled out a towel, and slowly left the room. As she walked away, she threw over her shoulder:

“Lanushka, put the kettle on—we’ll have some coffee!”

Left sitting in place, Lana watched her go with a gloomy expression.

Half an hour later, they were already having breakfast—sandwiches and coffee. Victoria was doing her makeup at the same time, looking into the small mirror in her powder compact.

“Soon, I’ll have my own beauty salon,” she said dreamily, brushing her already long lashes from below upwards.

“Uh-huh…”

“Well, come on, tell me—what happened with you?”

“Nothing,” Lana muttered, stirring her lukewarm coffee with a spoon, her head lowered.

Victoria set her makeup aside and looked at her friend attentively.

“Didn’t work out again?”

Without lifting her eyes, Lana shook her head.

Smirking slightly and thinking for a moment, Victoria suggested:

“How about we give you a little makeover? New hairstyle, some makeup, hmm?” A spark lit up in her eyes.

Lana looked at her with a sullen expression.

“You think that’ll help?”

“I’m sure of it!”

That evening, the girls went to a disco at a private club called Mona Lisa, where they were let in thanks to one of Victoria’s good connections. As planned, Lana’s hair had been styled into long wavy curls, she had bold makeup on, and she wore a beautiful turquoise dress that showed off her figure.

When they entered, Lana’s eyes widened at the variety of fashionable and attractive people. A mix of perfumes hit her nose. Judging by her slightly bewildered look, it was clear she had never been to a place like this before.

“Oh, relax already!” Victoria said, tugging at her sleeve.

Someone then pulled Victoria aside, and she shouted to Lana, pointing toward the far end of the room, telling her to go to a reserved table. Then she disappeared into the crowd.

Lana slowly made her way through the dancing bodies, watching her step and trying not to bump into anyone. Suddenly, a guy grabbed her arm, stopping her. He started dancing and motioned for her to join his circle. Rhythmic lights shattered into beams, rapidly switching from darkness to bright flashes, creating a slow-motion effect. Everything around her felt surreal, as if she were dreaming. The thundering bass mixed with the hum of voices and noises pounded not just in her head but seemed to vibrate through her whole body. As she turned, her elbow accidentally knocked into a man holding a drink.

“Damn it! Are you drunk?!” she heard the guy shout behind her.

Turning around quickly, she saw a dark-haired man wiping a spilled drink from his light shirt with a napkin. He gave her a furious look and grumbled something under his breath.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” she said loudly. The man leaned in to hear her better. At that moment, Lana caught the scent of his cologne and something else… She closed her eyes, inhaling with delight. Something strange happened inside her, as if something clicked. She suddenly wanted to stay in that position—with her lips near his neck—forever. But he straightened up. Throwing her a brief glance, he gave a faint smile.

His features softened, and she realized he wasn’t angry anymore.

That look from his brown eyes and his smile left her dazed. She parted her lips and stared at him.

Just then, the persistent dancer yanked her arm again, more forcefully this time, and pulled her into a dance. Spinning unexpectedly, she lost her balance and fell against his chest like in a fiery tango. But instead of being thrilled, she was furious at the interruption of her magical moment with her dream man. She shoved the dancer away and snapped:

“Are you crazy? What the hell are you doing?!”

Unfazed, the guy kept dancing. Biting his lower lip, he started tracing the outline of her body with his hands. He squatted down and slowly rose again, mimicking the movements of a snake—completely ignoring her obvious outrage. Lana was both bewildered and slightly amused by his antics. After a few seconds, she lifted her arms and started moving in sync with the beat. Wasn’t this what she came here for, after all? She quickly glanced at the young man she had just apologized to, hoping he would notice and appreciate her. But unfortunately, the brown-eyed stranger was gone. Lana sighed in frustration and turned back to her dance partner. After a couple more tracks, a slow song began, and the dance floor thinned out. Lana decided to take a break and finally reached the reserved table. She placed the sign aside, and two minutes later, a waiter approached, asking her name and offering a menu. She ordered water, not daring to get anything else. Still, some drinks and appetizers were served. Around that time, Victoria reappeared.

“I thought you weren’t coming back,” Lana said, slightly offended.

“Sorry, darling, had to pay for the evening somehow,” her friend shrugged, pulling a drink closer to herself.

“Vika, were you just with the owner of this place?” Lana asked wide-eyed.

“Almost. With his close friend. We were sitting at that table,” she pointed somewhere deep into the hall. Then, sipping her cocktail, she narrowed her eyes and added, “You dance beautifully, by the way. Kostya said he’d love to see you here more often.”

“Kostya who?”

“The guy you were dancing with,” she said before taking another big sip and choking on the strength of the drink. Her throat tightened, and her eyes squeezed shut.

Lana sat there, mouth agape, staring at her. So it was Victoria who had sent that dancer her way… A minute later, a man approached and invited Victoria to dance. She turned away and made a face, but then instantly flashed him a dazzling smile, placed her hand in his, and rose gracefully. He led her to the middle of the hall, drenched in romantic light.

Victoria was a stunning girl. Her green eyes, framed by thick lashes and long arched brows, were irresistible. No man could withstand her charms. One look into those eyes, and he would be lost forever. Her beautiful face was complemented by a slender body, a narrow waist, and curvy, seductive hips. Whenever she walked among other girls, she was sure all the men’s eyes were on her. But Lana was also quite attractive—a tall, slim girl with long light brown hair usually braided over her shoulder. Still, she felt she lacked allure and sex appeal. Over time, she had become more and more conscious of her perceived flaws. These thoughts fed her insecurity, especially after repeated failures in her love life, pushing her deeper into self-doubt. Victoria had been her friend since childhood—first classmates, then college mates. They enrolled together and, after graduation, even did their internships side by side. Everyone who knew them saw them as sisters, a pair of “Twix,” Siamese twins. This, despite their completely different lifestyles and personalities. It amazed even them how they’d managed to stay close for over a decade.

Lana’s parents were wealthy and respected people in Rostov. Her father, Viktor Alexandrovich, owned a small metalwork factory making gates, fences, and similar items. The business did well, and the family lacked nothing. He had money—and mistresses—though he tried not to hurt his wife. Olga Nikolaevna, Lana’s mother, perhaps weary of his lifestyle, also had her own affairs. Left to herself, their daughter found peace in her friendship with the prettiest girl in class—then college. She even chose the same university as her beloved Vika, so they wouldn’t be separated.

Victoria, on the other hand, had no such privileges or family prestige. She preferred not to talk about her parents. They barely made ends meet, and whatever they earned went straight to booze. They lived in an old house inherited from her father’s parents, likely untouched since it was built. She ran away after high school and never returned. Her parents had another child—Igor—who was constantly in and out of prison for robbery and assault. Victoria had to survive on her own. As she grew up and realized that her looks drew attention from men, she figured out how to use it to her advantage. And she did. She learned how to seduce and manipulate men.

Lana watched the dancing couple thoughtfully. “That must be the friend of the club’s owner,” she thought. The man, pleasant-looking and slightly above average height, was gazing at Victoria with affection, confidently leading her across the dance floor.

“And me? The only one interested in me was some dancer she planted—just for fun…” Lana muttered bitterly to herself.

At twenty-four, Lana was still a virgin—unlike her inseparable friend, who, by the same age, had become quite experienced and discerning when it came to men.

Immersed in her heavy thoughts, Lana suddenly felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. It was her mother, crying into the receiver.

“Mom, you’re crying… What happened?” The loud music and noise made it hard to hear, so she rushed outside. Out in the street, she pressed the phone to her ear.

“Vitya… he was in an accident, Lana,” her mother sobbed.

“Oh God!” Lana gasped, covering her face with her hand.

“He’s in intensive care. Come quickly.”

Like someone in a trance, Lana ran into the street, flagged down the first taxi she saw, and rushed to the hospital. She texted Victoria: “I left. Urgent family stuff.”

She didn’t tell her what had happened, thinking that Victoria might not come to the hospital alone—and she didn’t want to explain to her mother who these men were. Meanwhile, Victoria, having shaken off her persistent admirer, returned to their table. Not finding her friend, she immediately took out her phone to call her. But after reading the text, she relaxed.

“She probably ran home from being overwhelmed,” Victoria thought with a smirk.

After sitting alone for a while, she decided it was time to go “home” herself—meaning the dorm. She slung her dainty purse over her shoulder and got up. Just then, she spotted a familiar silhouette not far away. A young man was talking to some woman. Victoria fixed her hair and pulled down the hem of her short dress, then headed straight for him. She poked him in the side from behind. He raised an eyebrow, turned sharply, and when he saw her, lit up.

“Vika??”

“Yup! Rob, how are you?” she smiled, showing off her dazzling white teeth.

“Long time no see… And you’ve only gotten more beautiful,” he said with a lustful look and smiled back.

Less than an hour later, they stumbled into her dorm room, lips locked in a passionate kiss, and collapsed onto the bed.

Chapter 2

Early in the morning, straight from the hospital, Lana returned to the dorm to pack her things. Her mother had asked her to stay at home for a while until her father recovered. The bathrooms and showers were shared on each floor, just like the kitchen. Usually, a line formed there in the mornings—but that was on weekdays. Today was Sunday, and everyone was still asleep. Everyone except Vika and her guest, who walked into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist to get dressed. Vika remained in the shower.

When the man entered their room, he came face-to-face with Lana, standing there with her travel bag at her feet. Her mouth slightly open, she stared at the nearly naked stranger who had appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed—he even winked at her. Approaching the bed, he grabbed his clothes and began dressing, dropping the wet towel to the floor.

Lana remained frozen, staring at the movement of muscles across the completely naked man’s back. Even though he was facing away, this was the first time in her life she had seen anything like it. Finally, after pulling on his trousers, he turned around and began buttoning a shirt—still damp with a stain on the chest. He gave her a smile. Meeting his piercing gaze, Lana snapped out of it, quickly lowered her head, and turned away.

“Sorry about that. We thought you’d be back later. I didn’t get a chance to clean up,” he said with a mocking tone.

Without looking at him, she mumbled something unintelligible in response.

Soon after, the door closed with a dull thud and a polite, “Have a nice day.”

Lana sat down on the bed and let her arms drop. It’s him… she thought bitterly. The good-smelling brunette. The one she had wanted to see again. The one who had already taken root in her secret fantasies and girlish dreams. Damn it. Once again, she missed her chance. As always, her perfect friend had scooped up all the cream—like a greedy cat.

“Lanushka?” came Victoria’s gentle voice as she entered in a bathrobe, a towel wrapped around her head. She walked closer, looked at Lana’s face, and asked, “Are you okay?”

“No,” Lana whispered.

“What happened?” Victoria sat down beside her, concerned, glancing at the large, half-open travel bag near the wardrobe.

“My father was in a car accident…”

“Oh no…”

“He’s still in intensive care. I came to get my things. I’ll be staying home for a while.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” Victoria said and hugged her.

“Thank you. The doctors said he’s in stable condition, but still… Mom’s a wreck—she hasn’t stopped crying.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Lana smiled faintly and shook her head.

“I hope you’ll come back soon,” Victoria said as she walked her to the entrance.

Lana got into a taxi and waved goodbye.

Two days later, Viktor Alexandrovich passed away without ever regaining consciousness.

Victoria stayed by Lana’s side the entire time. After the traditional forty-day memorial, she returned to the dorm.

“Vikulya, stay with us,” Lana’s mother offered, having grown even more attached to her daughter’s friend, touched by her care and kindness.

“Thank you so much, Aunt Olya, but I’m more comfortable at the dorm. I’ll visit often,” Victoria replied warmly.

Lana knew the real reason her friend declined—it had to do with her frequent late-night outings. Unless someone from the factory got assigned to room with her, that brown-eyed heartthrob would likely be a regular guest. In Olga Nikolaevna’s house, Victoria couldn’t afford to live so freely.

“We have to move on,” Lana’s mother said, shaking her head.

They were sitting in the dim room of the house, which felt instantly empty after the death of its master.

“Someone else will run your father’s business now. If we don’t find a manager, we’ll have to sell it.”

“And then what?”

“I don’t know yet, sweetheart. I just don’t know…”

Lana quit the factory, and due to family circumstances, she soon received her diploma.

Victoria continued working in her old position as assistant sales manager. Still, the two friends didn’t drift apart. They visited each other often and spent their free time together whenever possible.

“You need someone from the metal business,” Victoria said thoughtfully.

“Finding a metalworker isn’t the problem—finding someone trustworthy is,” Lana sighed.

“True that.”

Chapter 3

Victoria, much like during her studies, was going through her internship half-heartedly—just to check the boxes. Her current benefactor supported her financially and in every other way. One more year of work, and she’d be a free bird with a degree in marketing in hand. Of course, having a diploma—even if it wasn’t in your true calling—was essential for a sense of security. Being a smart and educated beauty was better than being just a pretty face. A college degree gave a name some weight. And Victoria was earning hers with iron patience. And after that… dreams—they have wings, and no horizon can hold them.

“How’s your love life?” Lana asked, interested in one person in particular.

“I’m seeing one, and seeing another behind his back,” Victoria admitted, bitterness in her voice.

“Why someone else, if you’ve already got the one?”

“So I don’t have to need anything, Lanushka,” Victoria said, pressing her lips together and giving her friend a weary look. “My sweet guy is broke as a church mouse. Gave everything to his ex and walked out the door.”

“And who is it you’re seeing?” Lana asked, getting a little tense.

“Rob. By the way, I keep forgetting to ask—remember that morning you came to get your stuff?”

Lana nodded and turned a little pale. Of course she remembered that morning. She would never forget it for the rest of her life. Unaware of anything, Victoria continued:

“Did you happen to see him?”

“Who?”

“My Robert?”

Your Robert, Lana repeated to herself. Out loud, she said, “I actually saw him naked.”

“Excuse me?!”

“He walked in, dropped his towel, and got dressed right in front of me,” Lana explained in a calm tone. “Then said goodbye and left.”

Victoria burst out laughing.

“He probably didn’t notice you.”

“Oh, he noticed. First, he winked at me. Then he said you were expecting me later. He even showed off his muscular butt,” Lana added, keeping her eyes fixed on her friend as she recalled the fateful morning.

“What a shameless man! Strange—he didn’t even mention it to me…”

Lana shrugged, still staring at her lucky friend with a hint of anger. Victoria, oblivious to the storm in her friend’s heart, waved it off and said,

“Probably forgot.”

As if her friend had been too insignificant to remember or even mention. That pushed Lana over the edge.

“Then I noticed the stain on his shirt and remembered how I’d accidentally bumped into him, spilling his drink.”

“That was you?!” Victoria laughed again.

“He told me some drunk girl couldn’t keep her balance and ruined his expensive shirt.”

“I wasn’t drunk.”

“Well, he didn’t know that,” Victoria replied.

Lana’s serious tone finally hit its mark, and Victoria stopped laughing. Studying Lana’s face, she asked gently,

“Are you upset, Lan?”

“No,” Lana answered immediately. She sighed and seemed to regain a little composure.

In truth, Lana was barely containing her anger—not over that one incident, but over the situation as a whole. Suddenly, she realized she was jealous of her brighter, more dazzling friend. It was as if she’d just woken up from a long sleep and realized she was a living, feeling person. A person who had every right to want the things she had only ever observed from the sidelines.

And for the first time, she wanted a man—desperately. She was drawn to him like never before. But he was taken.

Victoria had a kind of magic about her. She attracted not only with her looks but also with genuine warmth and charm. That made her even more irresistible. It was impossible to stay mad at her for long. Her sympathetic gaze and heartfelt concern melted anger and any other negative emotion, which only infuriated Lana more. She loved her friend, admired her—and envied her. And the worst part was, there was nothing she could do to change it.

Later, when Victoria met up with her boyfriend again, she briefly told him about Lana’s situation. They were lying in bed in a hotel room when Robert asked thoughtfully,

“Do they want to hire a manager with a fixed salary or on a percentage basis?”

“I don’t know,” she said, giving him a questioning look. “Why, do you have someone in mind?”

Nodding slightly, he said,

“I could be that someone.”

“You know that stuff, baby?” Victoria asked, surprised.

“I’m head of a department at a small metallurgical plant. And if the pay’s better than what I get now, then why not?”

Her face lit up at the news. Sitting up and folding her legs beneath her, she said excitedly,

“Absolutely! I’ll call and set up a meeting right now.”

“Okay.”

By midday the next day, Robert and Victoria arrived at Lana’s house for a meeting.

“Robert, I’ve hired an auditor who’s going through all the company records. You could start today—just to get familiar with the firm,” said Olga Nikolaevna toward the end of the discussion. “We might continue working with Pyotr Nikolaevich in the future. He may handle our accounting. He’s still considering it. In the meantime, he could introduce you to the production side and explain the details.”

“Yes, that’s a great idea—thank you!” Robert responded right away. “But I’ll need to give two weeks’ notice at my current job,” he explained. He was pleased they’d come to a full agreement.

“Fine, manage your time as you see fit. We’re satisfied with your candidacy,” she assured him.

“Thank you. Still, I’ll start visiting the company when I can—to get familiar with the production and administration departments,” the newly appointed manager promised.

“Agreed.”

They shook hands and said goodbye. Victoria glanced at Lana with excitement, expecting some reaction—but Lana, lips pressed tightly together, gave away nothing.

Soon, life picked up pace. Lana began her new responsibilities at her late father’s company alongside Robert. He immediately threw himself into the production department with confident expertise, while Lana took over payment control and client contracts. Little by little, things started moving. Maybe not from a standstill, but definitely out of stagnation. New orders came in, promising proposals appeared, and productivity improved. Weeks passed, then months. Time flew in the whirlwind of work. The new management team settled in and adapted well. Meanwhile, Lana and Robert’s professional relationship gradually turned into something warm and friendly. Yes, she was his girlfriend’s friend—but she couldn’t help secretly sighing for him. Every effort to suppress her attraction failed. In fact, the more she tried, the more drawn to him she became. She knew it was wrong—but couldn’t stop herself. Her own life was on the rise. Nothing was stopping her from building her happiness. Everything was going well—except for one thing: the man of her dreams couldn’t be hers. And no one else even registered on her radar. Her eyes were always searching for Robert. Her heart always pulled toward him. She often admired him from afar—from her office window, around a corner, from the side, or from the gates. Even just hearing his name gave her a thrill. The look in his brown eyes, his voice, his gestures—everything stirred her imagination and ignited a deep desire to win his heart and mind. Sometimes her fantasies carried her so far that she could barely stop herself from making a move. The passion inside her beat like a wild bird trapped in a cage—restless and persistent.

One day, they were having lunch together, and Robert kept trying to call Victoria. She didn’t answer. He set the phone on the table, lost in thought. Lana had a pretty good idea of where his girlfriend was—or rather, with whom. She was tempted to open his eyes and free him from that toxic relationship. But betraying her closest friend wasn’t something she could do lightly. Excusing herself, she left the table and went to the ladies’ room. At the sink, she looked at herself in the mirror, breathing heavily, thinking. There was no doubt—she had fallen in love with Robert. With all her soul and body. And if you really thought about it—they were a great match in every way. They worked together. They could build a beautiful future. There was a house, and a running business! But what about him and Victoria? Happiness? Marriage? Kids? Unlikely. Most likely, in a couple of months, they’d tire of each other and break up. Someone would end up with a broken heart. And if it was Victoria—then Lana’s chances of earning his trust, as a woman, would shrink. If it was the other way around—it would be even harder to start anything with him, knowing the tears her friend had shed. Right now—before they crossed that line where people start to grow into each other, bone to bone—there was still a chance. A tiny one, but It existed.