“Alisa, darling, if every woman who shares my husband’s bed starts claiming child support, we’ll need an entire bank branch of our own.”
“Hello! I’m your husband’s mistress.”
Katerina set aside the catalogue layouts she had been studying and looked carefully at the glamorous red-haired beauty standing in the doorway of her office. The visitor smirked and continued:
“I have some rather unpleasant news for you. I’m pregnant. With your husband’s child, naturally.”
“How original,” Katerina said with the faintest smile. “Would you at least care to introduce yourself, or shall we get straight to the point?”
“Why bother with formalities?” The redhead raised her chin. “I’m Alisa, and I didn’t come here to make your acquaintance. I came to destroy your perfect little life.”
“Alisa…” Katerina drawled, as though tasting the name. “Interesting. I hope you haven’t come from Wonderland, because reality here is rather harsh.”
Katerina asked the redhead in a businesslike manner:
“Do you have any documents?”
The woman smiled triumphantly and pulled a white sheet of paper bearing a blue stamp from her luxurious suede handbag. The young woman had clearly prepared seriously for this visit.
“Here, feast your eyes on this!” Alisa waved the medical certificate like a victory flag. “Your precious husband has finally borne fruit!”
Katerina examined the certificate carefully. The document was genuine rather than homemade, which was not particularly surprising. When you appeared before your lover’s wife with claims like these, cheap forgeries were unlikely to work.
“Excellent,” Katerina said with a nod. “It appears that you really are expecting a child. Now we’ll need to conduct a paternity test to make sure that the child you’re carrying is actually my husband’s, and then the matter will be settled.”
“Do you really think I’m lying?” Alisa exclaimed indignantly. “Your husband and I have been having an affair for six months!”
“My dear,” Katerina laughed melodiously, “an affair and paternity are two different things. Didn’t they teach you biology at school?”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” the redhead snapped.
“How else should I speak to a woman who bursts into someone else’s office making claims like these?” Katerina shrugged. “Still, sit down. Let’s discuss the details like civilized people.”
At that point, the redhead began to lose some of her confidence. Confused, she asked:
“Settled? What exactly do you mean?”
Katerina politely explained:
“My husband will provide you with financial support. I’ll find you an excellent doctor and reserve a place for you at a good clinic in advance. You’ll be able to give birth in peace without worrying about your health or the baby’s.”
“Financial support?” Alisa repeated. “But I’m not planning to become a kept woman!”
“What else would you be?” Katerina asked with genuine surprise. “His wife? Darling, he already has a wife. That would be me, in case you hadn’t noticed. And he has three children. Were you expecting something more?”
The redhead became agitated.
“Don’t you understand? I’m going to have a child, and that child needs a father!”
“Of course,” Katerina agreed. “And the child will have one. On weekends, during holidays, and at school performances. Wonderful, isn’t it?”
“This is cruel!” Alisa cried. “A child needs a father nearby—a family and a home!”
Katerina explained condescendingly:
“Our three children also need a father, and fortunately, they already have one. But don’t worry. My husband will certainly spend time with your child, and he may even take the child to school when the time comes. You’ll also be able to leave the child at our house occasionally. We have excellent nannies, and I adore children myself. You’ll have some free time and be able to arrange your personal life. Believe me, that becomes extremely difficult when you have a child.”
“You’re talking as if everything has already been decided!” Alisa jumped out of the chair. “What if I refuse to accept those conditions?”
“Then things will become very unfortunate,” Katerina said, spreading her hands. “My husband doesn’t like being pressured. He can’t stand scandals either. You might end up with nothing at all.”
“But he loves me!” A hysterical note crept into the redhead’s voice.
“My dear girl,” Katerina said, shaking her head, “he loves many women. But he lives with me.”
The redhead leapt to her feet, nervously crushing the expensive handbag in her hands. Her carefully groomed face twisted with emotion.
“How can you fail to understand anything? I share your husband’s bed! I’m expecting his child! He doesn’t have feelings for you anymore—he adores me!”
“Oh, Lord.” Katerina covered her eyes with one hand. “Where do such naïve creatures come from? Alisa, darling, if every woman who shares my husband’s bed starts claiming child support, we’ll need an entire bank branch of our own.”
“You… you’re heartless!” Alisa gasped indignantly. “How can you speak so calmly about your husband’s affairs?”
“How else should I speak about them?” Katerina asked with genuine surprise. “Should I sob? Become hysterical? Tear my hair out? My dear, I don’t have time. I have a business, children, and a home. There’s no room in my schedule for theatrical performances.”
Katerina’s expression darkened. She genuinely felt sorry for this woman, who was still so young. But reality had a way of quickly blowing romantic fantasies out of youthful minds—even minds that had entertained the idea of acquiring a wealthy, ready-made husband without paying any price for him.
“Darling, you’re already the fourth young woman to come to me with a story like this. The first didn’t even think to bring a certificate. The second and third had forged documents. Oh, yes, there was another pregnant woman, but the paternity test proved that the child wasn’t his. Neither my husband nor I have ever refused to support anyone, but even a man as kind as my husband won’t tolerate outright deception.”
“The fourth?” Alisa went pale. “You mean… there have been other women?”
“Oh, yes.” Katerina nodded sympathetically. “Did you think you were the only one? How sweet! I hope he at least paid you compliments. Men do love repeating themselves in that regard.”
“He… he swore I was special!” Alisa’s voice trembled.
“Of course you’re special,” Katerina said consolingly. “Every woman has something unique about her. The first had astonishing eyes, the second had a talent for music, and the third was gifted at painting. I’m sure you have a special quality of your own. As for the fact that my husband sleeps with you, I can tell you that he also sleeps with me, as well as with many other candidates. I can hardly deny my dear husband his little weaknesses, especially since they have no effect on either me or the children. Leave your telephone number. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange where and when you can take the paternity test, and someone will contact you.”
“But why do you tolerate all of this?” Alisa asked in bewilderment. “Are money and comfort really more important than dignity?”
“And what is dignity?” Katerina asked thoughtfully. “Being left alone with three children and no means of supporting them, but holding my head high? Forgive me, but I believe it is more dignified to secure my children’s future.”
“You’re cynical,” the redhead whispered.
“I’m a realist,” Katerina corrected her. “Life made me cynical. Life—and visits like yours.”
“You know what?” Alisa suddenly straightened. “Maybe I don’t need your precious husband after all. Maybe I could find someone who would love only me.”
“Now that is a sensible thought!” Katerina exclaimed delightedly. “Honestly, it’s the best possible way out of this situation. You’re young, beautiful, and educated. You’ll find an unattached man and be happy.”
“Are… are you serious?” Alisa asked, stunned.
“Absolutely.” Katerina nodded. “You know, I sincerely wish you happiness. Just not with my husband. Nothing personal—it’s simply business.”
“But the child…”
“If the child really is his, everything I promised still stands. Child support, medical care, education—everything will be provided. But naturally, there will be no attempt to claim the position of wife.”
Alisa fell silent, and her anger gradually faded.
“What if I tell him I don’t want to see him anymore?”
“He’ll be upset for about three days,” Katerina admitted honestly. “Then he’ll find comfort in the arms of a new lover. Men have short memories when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“Then he never loved me at all?” Sadness entered Alisa’s voice.
“He did,” Katerina said gently. “In his own way. My husband becomes genuinely infatuated with every new woman. But not for long. That is simply the kind of man he is.”
The young woman’s nerves finally gave way, but this time she didn’t run out of the office. Instead, Alisa collapsed into the chair and burst into tears.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I was such a fool. I thought he would leave his family for me.”
“My dear.” Katerina rose and approached her. “We’ve all been fools in matters of love at some point. It’s normal. The important thing is to open your eyes before it’s too late.”
“What about you?” Alisa raised her tearful eyes. “Were you once just as naïve?”
“Very much so!” Katerina laughed. “I was the mistress who went to his first wife and announced that I was pregnant. She reacted differently, though. She caused a scandal, screamed, and threatened me. And do you know what happened? He left her for me.”
“Are you afraid that history will repeat itself?”
“I’m not afraid. I know that it could,” Katerina replied calmly. “But I learned from my predecessor’s mistakes. I don’t cause scandals, I don’t cry, and I don’t give him ultimatums. I simply live my own life and allow him to live his.”
“But is that really love?” Alisa asked quietly.
“That is life.” Katerina shrugged. “And love… love takes many forms. My love is expressed through preserving his family, raising his children, and not making scenes over his infatuations.”
“And his love?”
“His love is expressed in the fact that he always comes home,” Katerina said with a smile. “And he provides us with everything we need. For some people that wouldn’t be enough. For me, it is.”
Katerina returned to her desk and lit a cigarette.
“Do you know what I think?” she said, exhaling smoke. “You’re young, beautiful, and intelligent. Why become involved with a married man? Find someone unattached, build a family with him, and have children together. Believe me, that’s much better than settling for crumbs of someone else’s happiness.”
“But he’s so… special.”
“Special?” Katerina smiled gently. “My dear, they all seem special while we’re wearing rose-colored glasses. But trust the experience of a woman who took those glasses off a long time ago: the only truly special men are those capable of loving one woman.”
Alisa wiped away her tears and looked at Katerina differently.
“You’re right,” she said quietly. “I was a foolish girl who believed in a fairy tale. But fairy tales end, and life goes on.”
“Exactly.” Katerina nodded approvingly. “And you have your whole life ahead of you. Find a man who will see only you, who will choose you from among thousands of other women and remain faithful to that choice.”
“What if he really is the father of my child?”
“Then the child will receive everything necessary,” Katerina assured her. “But that doesn’t mean you should settle for the role of a mistress. You deserve more.”
Alisa slowly rose from the chair.
“You know what?” she said. “I don’t need your husband. I don’t need him at all. I want to find my own love—something real and unique.”
“Now those are the right words!” Katerina said, genuinely delighted. “Believe me, when you meet the right man, you’ll realize that you wasted your time on someone unworthy of you.”
“I was so naïve.” Alisa shook her head. “I thought love meant a man being willing to destroy his family for you. Now I understand that real love is when he builds a family with you.”
“Exactly,” Katerina agreed. “And that kind of love exists. You simply need to be patient and refuse to settle for anything less.”
Alisa walked toward the door and then turned around.
“Thank you,” she said. “For the lesson. For opening my eyes. I wish you…” She hesitated.
“Wish me wisdom,” Katerina suggested. “It’s the only thing that helps in my situation.”
“Then I wish you wisdom. And I wish myself true love.”
The door quietly closed behind the red-haired young woman. Katerina remained alone in her office. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
Another story had come to an end. Another naïve young woman had received a lesson in reality. Fortunately, this one had proved more intelligent than those who came before her. She had understood that she deserved more than crumbs from someone else’s table.
Katerina glanced at the clock. The working day wasn’t over yet. She picked up the catalogue layouts she had set aside and immersed herself in her work.
Life continued—orderly, predictable, and filled with compromises.
Somewhere deep inside her, a thought briefly appeared: what if, many years ago, she had done what Alisa had just done? What if she had walked away instead of fighting for a married man and had found someone unattached?
But the thought lasted only a second.
Katerina looked at the photograph of her three children on her desk and returned to the layouts. She had the life she had chosen, and it was too late to change it now.
