Alex didn’t object when someone called over a doctor who was watching over the players. The diagnosis managed to bring everyone down. The medic decided to take the injured to the hospital for observation and X-ray.
Adam standing next to him, the culprit of all the fuss, looked no better than the injured Alex. He didn't want to knock out his friend, he just wanted to distract him. Now, he felt remorse and had a moral hangover.
Faced with the requests and pleas of his colleagues, Alex ended up sitting on the stand with an ice pack on his head. It was the only thing he could do for his colleagues. Stay on the sidelines until the end of the tournament. Observe and support them in spirit.
The last discipline of the competition turned out to be extremely dramatic. It was attended by the entire ‘Man’ team except for the injured Alex and Alice, who sat worriedly next to him.
The injured person didn’t feel well, but kept a cool head and didn’t move from his seat.
Despite the weakened composition, the ‘Man’ editorial team fought bravely. Unfortunately, they took the last place anyway.
It wouldn’t be so bad if it were not for Michael, who realized just before the end of the first half of the game that he was not playing basketball and that the ball should be thrown into the goal, not into the basket. Good thing he rarely had the ball in his hand so the spectators didn't pay attention to it.
Nicolas, watching the game closely, decided that the editorial office's honor should be saved. In the second half of the match, he played for Michael.
The one with the undisguised happiness joined Alice and Alex. He had lost his mood when he saw Alex's puffy face. He wanted to take him to the hospital, but the injured man insisted on staying until the end of the event.
All in all, they did quite well. Later, the ceremony of awarding diplomas, symbolic prizes and donating the collected money to the orphanage and a ceremonial banquet were held with great pomp.
Unfortunately, the ‘Man’ editorial team came in improperly dressed because the chief editor hadn’t informed them that they were to be dressed in gala outfit. Having no choice, they gave up on the banquet.
They were also tired, and they didn’t feel like arguing with other journalists from other mass media representatives present at the event.
At the first opportunity, they sneaked out and returned to their editorial office. However, they were surprised by the failure of the elevators upon reaching there. Grumbling all the way, they climbed the stairs to the seventh floor in silence. They fell down to the floor from exhaustion, but were happy that they would now be able to rest in peace and quiet.
“Hello, gentlemen!” In the doorway, with a cup of fragrant coffee in her hand, they were greeted by the chief editor, who had also slipped out of the banquet.
"I must admit, you all look lame!" She could hardly refrain herself from laughing. “But you fought bravely!”
"Sure…" Michael murmured, clearly dissatisfied with his sports achievements.
“Gentlemen, there is no reason to complain!”
“We did very well taking into account that we didn’t train before the competition.” Jack summed up, barely conscious out of exhaustion.
“We played in a weakened squad!” Simon saved the remnants of honor. “We played without our best contestant.”
“Because, you fool, you injured him!” Michael attacked Adam who was sitting at the table.
"But I was saving the team's honor, unlike you!" Adam grunted at him.
“Really?” Michel enraged shouted in his face. “You only looked for women and showed your butt and torso.”
“Why are you throwing on a tantrum, man?” Adam defended himself. "When did you realize that we were throwing the ball into the goal and not into the basket, you fool? When did you sit in the spectator stand? I wish it had been sooner!”
“You bastard! You...you are really ungrateful!” Michael sputtered in anger.
“Gentlemen, enough! Truce!” The situation was starting to become dangerous, so Thomas, alert as always, tried to save it. “Enough, I said!” He stood between Michael and Adam once again. “Stop it! It wasn't that bad!”
The chief editor was watching them closely. She decided that a moment more and they would jump at each other's throats. Lest, the dispute evolved into something to be resolved with the use of physical prowess, thus she decided that it was time to step into action.
“Gentlemen, please give me a moment of attention!” She said.
Michael temporarily let go of the reproaches of his colleagues and politely sat down next to Adam. He tried to be serious.
"A few minutes ago, we had new equipment brought." As she spoke, she could see the joy on the faces of her subordinates, but only for a moment. “The elevators are not working. If you don't mind, I would like to ask you for help.”
“What, again?” Michael screamed.
“Mr. Michael Johnson, behave as befits an adult, please.” This time the chief editor couldn't stand it. “Or please think about a change of job!”
It got really hot. Michael's face turned green first, then purple. One moment more, and he would have jumped for the chief's editor throat this time.
“Let's go!” Adam said, trying to prevent the storm. “With pleasure! Was a good equipment purchased for us?” He asked, not expecting an answer.
“Much of it?” Thomas asked, kicking Michael under the table with all his might in the leg, because judging by his expression, he was going to say something and it wouldn’t be anything nice.
Michael grew even worse, this time from pain. There was a real chance he would refrain from commenting for a while. He sat furious with clenched teeth. He decided that as soon as Alice left the premises, he would explain to his colleagues by hand that he was not a ‘digging boy’.
“Not much. A few computers. Mr. Davis, we bought good branded equipment, but we will evaluate the quality of it in a few months, when it proves to be good at work!” She explained.
“Let's go!” Adam said, getting up from the table. Seeing no other way out of a situation that was starting to become really dangerous, he deftly twisted Michael’s hand until he turned green with pain and forcibly pulled him out of the room.
“Gentlemen, please give me a moment of attention. Let me remind you that Mr. Thomas Evan is flying to London on Monday evening for the pre-premiere of a new car. Please do not come to the editorial board that morning.” She turned to Thomas, who was following Adam and Michael out.
At that exact moment, her phone rang. After a short conversation, she quickly shut down the computer on the table, said goodbye and left.
The boys, tired of the murderous rivalry at the event, the previous night’s all-night party and climbing the stairs, decided that before they went down to get new equipment, they would first rest for a while. They hoped a miracle would happen and the elevators would repair themselves, or it would turn out that there was no breakdown at all, and they wouldn't have to climb up to the seventh floor again. They sat in silence, happy in the depths of their souls; there was a weekend ahead of them, two long days that they absolutely wanted to devote to rest. Only Michael, burgundy with rage, complained about the bad luck that haunted him: all the evil, injustice, meanness of the world in the hard life of an honest, conscientiously working, and underappreciated outstanding journalist. He muttered under his breath about the terrible headache that didn’t allow him to think rationally, the terrible pain in his back and nagging muscle soreness that made it diffi
Michael planned to share his problems with his friend, the only person he could trust and who always had unnecessary cash. Just tonight, he was going to talk to Alex about a small loan so he could settle the bills. He knew that when Alex hears the amount he urgently needs, he will at least sit down, if he has something on. Besides, he will have to patiently listen to his friend's critical opinions about his recent excessive and unnecessary expenditures at work and in the inn. He will once again be forced to make promises to Alex that he won’t keep. However, an unexpected problem occurred. Immediately after the competition, Nicolas had taken the knocked out Alex to the hospital, where, after the tests, the doctors decided to leave him under observation. Michael hoped it was just a preventative procedure, and not anything serious. He found himself in a trap, it was not proper to talk about money even with his best friend in the hospital. The deadline fo
Meanwhile, Michael ran to open the door. That was her. He had no doubts whatsoever. Through the door, or rather its slits, he could smell her sensual perfume.“Good evening! I'm sorry for being late!” She said with a smile.She didn't look like the magazines’ witch at all. She looked different, quite ordinary in blue jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up almost to the elbows, and a sophisticated collar that covered her long neck.It was only now he noticed that she had a high, beautiful forehead, which she usually covered with bangs, beneath which lay her exquisite eyes and long eyelashes. He had never seen her like this before. Completely ordinary, but beautiful.“Please! A bottle of good French wine, vintage 1977!” She said as she handed over the elegantly wrapped bottle.Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped inside."Take a look around the house." Michael choked out. "And I'll take care
“Would you like something to drink?” Michael's voice came from the kitchen.“Whiskey with ice, double please. Great working conditions.”“I don't work there!” She heard the voice of Michael approaching.“I usually write in the bedroom, in bed. I don't like the library, it reminds me of my father and grandfather.”“Michael, do you work at home?” She was really surprised, and began to laugh out loud. “I thought you wrote your amazing columns twenty minutes before the end of each issue.”“You are absolutely right!” He also laughed.There was no denying that he was not an overzealous scribbler. As befits a seasoned columnist, he writes only when he has to, at the last minute.‘A big plus for Alice. She is perceptive.’ He thought. For appreciating his excellent columns. He wondered if she had any hints to herself in the last issue. Probably yes.
Next time maybe she should invite him to dinner. Yes, he could already envision it. She would rather invite him to the most expensive restaurant in town than cook something herself. These are the ways of a successful woman!“I'm sorry!” She said, because it was so impolite of her, although she was not at all sorry. “The cream is, I mean was, really great.”“Let's go to the living room. Everything must have cooled down by now.”Michael walked out slowly first with a tray full of bowls and platters.“Would you like some help?” She asked.“No thanks. I don't want it all to end on the floor.”“I'm not clumsy! On the floor? Why?” She didn't finish speaking.She was speechless with amazement. She had heard many amazing stories from Alex about Michael’s extravagant, futuristic greenhouse, which only lacks growing cucumbers and tomatoes and a jacuzzi, but the storie
He knew that if given another minute with her, he wouldn’t be able to shirk and he would have to talk about his famous ancestors, whom he despised as much as the miniature botanical garden.He hated all the trees, bushes and perennials that he had to regularly fertilize, water, sprinkle and trim. He kept them alive only for the sake of his brother, who sometimes came for a weekend on his way to a scientific conference or a lecture, to see the work he had created with his mother and grandmother during his childhood.He loved his brother above all else, that's why he cared for the weeds, as he affectionately called them, and hoped that one day the plants would die a ‘natural death’ - they would freeze in winter when he forgets to turn on the heating, or a draft or cigarette smoke will finish them off.So he cared for them carefully. He smoked in the living room, opened all the windows, made drafts, turned off the heating, deliberately forgot abou
Michael tried to recollect his thoughts.‘How was yesterday's dinner?’ He woke up on his own so it didn't end as he thought it would, rather he hoped it would.Although… He could smell her perfume. An incredibly sensual and captivating composition of sandalwood, patchouli, cedar and some other specifics, the names of which he did not remember.Once, delighted with her exceptionally delicate and elegant scent, he wanted to know their name and composition.He spent half a day in the perfumery, sniffing all the perfumes, looking for the ones Alice used. In the end he succeeded, and he found the brand of a sensual fragrance the price of which was terrifying.As long as he tormented the women selling there, those wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible, found him the official perfume composition.Looking around, he found no signs of a woman in his bedroom.Everything was in perfect order. His shoes, right next to t
Michael was glad that his friend would finally get to see how it felt paying his fines. The first ticket in Alex’ life!For a moment he forgot about the perfect order in the kitchen. He felt a wild satisfaction that his best friend, whom he treated like a son, would get his first ticket. ‘My blood.’ He thought.Maybe Alex was caught by one of the patrols, who stopped him regularly after a certain intersection, almost in the very center of the city, near their editorial office. Those road builders knew his crazy driving, especially the unconventional ways of parking.That patrol used to stop the journalist of their favorite magazine just at the sight of his car and asked for autographs and for him to stop leaving his car on lawns, promenades, flower beds, because they would have to give him a ticket again. They also knew Alex.One time, while giving him a ticket, the patrol asked also for autographs and who was his passenger. They asked i