“Olga, I want a divorce. I have a high position now, and you no longer suit me!” her husband declared firmly.

Olga was deeply engrossed in flipping through a culinary magazine, jotting notes in the margins. A new recipe for French julienne especially caught her eye.
“I should try using porcini mushrooms instead of champignons,” she thought, already imagining how she could surprise her husband with such a unique flavor.
Cooking had always been her passion.
She could spend hours experimenting in the kitchen, creating new combinations of flavors. Lately, the idea of putting together her own cookbook, filled with all her original recipes, kept crossing her mind more and more.
Lost in her latest inspiration, Olga didn’t notice when the front door opened. It was only when she heard heavy footsteps in the hallway that she realized her husband was home.
“Oleg, you’re back already? I found such an interesting recipe!” she exclaimed, cheerfully stepping into the hallway. “Just imagine—it’s a perfect fusion of French and Russian cooking! It’s going to be extraordinary!”
Her husband walked past her in silence, without even glancing in her direction. He smelled of expensive cologne—and of women’s scents.
A cold shiver ran down Olga’s spine.
“Dinner is ready. I made your favorite…”
“Enough!” Oleg interrupted her sharply. “I’ve had it with your cooking experiments! It’s all you ever talk about! I’m not interested. I’m tired of it!”
He went into the living room, pulled some papers out of his suitcase, and threw them forcefully onto the coffee table. Several sheets scattered across the floor.
“What is this?” Olga asked with a trembling voice as she picked up the documents.
“These are divorce papers. Sign them. No drama.”
Olga felt the world start spinning. She grabbed the back of a chair, trying to steady herself.
“What are you saying? Divorce? Everything is fine between us! We just celebrated your promotion! You told all your relatives what a wonderful wife I am.”
“You were a wonderful wife!” Oleg shouted, unzipping his expensive jacket. “For an average manager… maybe. But now I’m the deputy CEO! I have a different circle of people, different prospects. I’m living at a new level. Standards you don’t meet. I’m ashamed to admit you’re my wife now. It’s embarrassing! Just think about it—who are you? A housewife obsessed with recipes! A little gray mouse! You’re not on my level!”
“But I thought…” Tears rolled down Olga’s cheeks. “I wanted to write a book. To start my own cooking channel.”
“God, how petty and pathetic that sounds!” Oleg sneered. “Do you even hear yourself? I need a woman of a different caliber. Educated, well-groomed, who speaks three languages. Not a cook with dreams of a cookbook.”
“So there’s someone else?” Olga went pale, clutching the divorce papers.
“Yes. And she’s a hundred times better than you. With her, I feel proud and worthy. With you, it’s the opposite. Unfortunately, our marriage just isn’t relevant anymore!”
“Two years! I’ve been here for two years! Back when you started as an average manager! When you couldn’t afford a decent suit! I cooked, cleaned, ironed for you!”
“Exactly!” Oleg cut her off. “You were just the laundry maid and the cook. But I grew up! Alright, enough talking! Sign the papers and let’s end this circus. The apartment is yours, so I’m moving out. I’m not claiming anything. Tomorrow I’ll send people to get my stuff.”
Oleg headed for the door, dialing a number as he walked.
“Yes, darling, I’m on my way. Wait for me at our restaurant.”
The door slammed shut. In the silence that followed, you could hear the ticking of the clock and the drip of water from the kitchen faucet.
Olga slowly sank into a chair, clutching the divorce papers. The pie she had forgotten about in the oven began to burn, but she didn’t move.
Her entire world, which she had worked so hard to build over the past two years, collapsed in just ten minutes.
“How could this happen?” her mind kept repeating. “When did everything go wrong? And why didn’t I see it coming?”
But the only answer was silence and the bitter scent of someone else’s perfume that would stay with her forever.
The morning started with a knock on the door. Olga, who hadn’t slept all night, slowly shuffled to answer her unexpected guests. On the doorstep stood two strong men in mover uniforms.
“Good morning! Oleg Vladimirovich sent us. We’re here for his things,” one of them said politely.
Olga nodded silently and led them to the bedroom. In the large wardrobe hung her husband’s suits — expensive, designer brands. She ran her hand over the jacket she had picked out for their anniversary. A bitter lump rose in her throat.
“Here are his things,” she said quietly. “But please be careful with the blue suit. That’s his favorite.”
“It was his favorite,” she corrected herself mentally.
While the movers packed the things, Olga dialed her friend’s number.
“Alla? Hi! Are you at work?”
“Yes, is something wrong?” the woman asked with concern. “You sound strange.”
“Oleg… he brought divorce papers yesterday,” Olga’s voice trembled.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
“Oh my God… Olya, I’m so sorry! Honestly, I’ve been afraid this would happen. Ever since his promotion, he’s been a completely different person.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sit down. This will be a long conversation,” sighed Alla. “Since he was promoted to deputy CEO, he’s lost control. He started being rude to the staff, putting everyone down. Especially women. And then this… Marina Vitalievna showed up.”
“Who?”
“The new HR manager. Young, ambitious, from a very wealthy family. She wrapped Oleg around her finger so quickly! They started having lunch together, staying late at the office.”
Olga felt her hands start to shake.
“Did everyone know?”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart! I wanted to tell you but didn’t know how. I was hoping it was just a phase. But they lost all sense of propriety! They openly flirt at meetings, leave for lunch together. And just last week she was showing off a diamond ring—a gift from ‘a special someone.'”
Right at that moment, one of the movers dropped a box of things. The noise made Olga jump.
“I’ll call you back,” she said quickly and hung up.
The next hour passed in a haze.
The movers took out all her husband’s belongings, leaving an empty space in the closet. Olga mechanically gathered up the scattered ties and closed the empty drawers.
In the pocket of an old jacket, she found a photo of them together: back when they were happy, smiling. Unable to take it, she tore the picture into tiny pieces.
The phone rang. It was Alla.
“Olenka, how are you? I can’t calm down, I’m thinking about you!”
“You know what I just realized? I’m actually grateful to this Marina. She showed me my husband’s true face. Or rather, my soon-to-be ex-husband’s.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’m not going to just sit here and cry. Enough!” Olga’s voice grew firm. “For two years, I lived his life. Maybe it’s time I start living mine?”
“That’s right, girl!” Alla brightened. “But you know what? Don’t rush to sign those papers. Let him worry for a while.”
“No! I’ll sign them. I don’t want to humiliate myself holding on to someone who betrayed me. But that doesn’t mean I’ll forget and forgive everything. He’ll pay for every tear I shed!”
Saying goodbye to her friend, Olga walked over to the window.
Her husband’s things drove slowly down the street in the moving van. Olga watched as it disappeared into the distance, feeling her old life leaving with it. Ahead was the unknown—but for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t afraid.
She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
“Hello! I’m calling about organizing a corporate event. Yes, I’d like to book a large hall for next Friday. For two hundred people. And… I also need to discuss some special arrangements for the evening.”
…The Grand Hotel was sparkling with lights. A line of luxury cars lined up at the entrance: the company’s top managers had gathered for the annual corporate event.
Oleg helped Marina out of the car, admiring her long legs and her tight red dress. His life had completely changed in the last month.
The divorce went smoothly: Olga unexpectedly signed all the papers without hesitation. Now he was free and happy with a woman from his own circle.
“Darling, look how everyone admires us,” purred Marina, adjusting his tie. “We’re the perfect couple! I envy myself!”
The luxurious banquet hall was filled with a festive atmosphere. Waiters served champagne as live music played.
Oleg and his date took the central table, his position as deputy general director clearly standing out.
“Can you imagine,” she whispered to him, “they say the owner of the company is going to be here for the first time tonight! Such a mysterious woman! No one’s ever seen her, but they say she’s incredibly influential.”
Oleg just smirked.
“Probably just some old lady who inherited the business. I’ve seen plenty like that!”
At that moment, the general director walked up to the stage.
“Dear colleagues! Tonight is a special night. For the first time in our company’s history, the owner is here at our gathering. Please welcome—Olga Sergeyevna!”
Oleg choked on his champagne. His ex-wife was calmly walking up the stage.
But she had changed so much! The elegant black dress highlighted her perfect figure, confident posture, and stylish hair. The former housewife was gone.
“Good evening, dear colleagues!” Olga’s voice was calm and commanding. “I’m happy to finally meet you all in person. For years, I preferred to observe the company’s growth from afar. But now, it’s time for change!” She paused, surveying the silent hall. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll be personally involved in running the company. I have big plans for our future. I’m sure together, we’ll take this business to a whole new level. Big changes and rapid growth await us. But for tonight, I wish you all a wonderful evening!”
Olga’s speech was met with loud applause. The employees gathered eagerly around her, offering champagne. She carried herself with regal poise, taking the time to speak with everyone.
Her ex-husband rushed toward the stage, pushing through the crowd.
“Olya! Wait! We need to talk! I want to understand what’s going on!”
But she seemed to melt away into the crowd. Marina stayed seated at the table, nervously twisting her napkin.
“How could you not know?” she hissed. “Why did you never tell me your wife owned the company?”
“I didn’t know either!” he blurted out. “What, do you think if I had known I’d have left her? That’s stupid! She would never…”
“Don’t come near me again,” Marina snapped, grabbing her purse. “You’re a total loser! Why would I need you now?”
The woman turned and quickly made her way toward the exit.
Oleg was left alone at the empty table. His ex-wife was long gone, leaving behind a wave of admiration and a whirlwind of emotions. The only thought running through his mind: “What have I done?”