83 Opening

A few more days passed. Less than a month remained until the end of the bet. We were still deeply involved in the kids’ lives. School, work, home, entertainment, squeezing Ann whenever I could. Though now the school had opened different sports clubs, so Luka had officially become a beginner football player!

Masha, meanwhile, had zero interest in any of those activities whatsoever, same as school. Though interestingly enough, the brat did homework without enthusiasm, could sit around doing absolutely nothing during lessons, yet somehow still managed to get excellent grades. Slippery little snake. The kid had talent.

But Anya refused to give up and decided to put the girl on the pole. Surprisingly, once Masha saw the kind of insane tricks the brunette could pull off on it, she immediately got excited too. They trained for over an hour, practicing the basics, and the girl was genuinely happy.

But when we saw the horrific bruises covering the kid’s body afterward, we decided not to continue the lessons. Ann said bruises were normal in that sport, but the girl’s skin turned out to be way too sensitive, so it was better not to risk it. Masha got upset about it, but the decision was final.

Today Luka’s football team and anyone interested had been invited to the grand opening of a new children’s sports complex. It was a gigantic facility with countless sports programs for every possible talent and preference.

Besides a chess club, table tennis, and a climbing wall, the complex had sports fields where kids could play football, rugby, field hockey, and plenty of other activities.

But sports weren’t the only thing making the place special. Half the building was packed with entertainment zones. Trampolines, arcades, toddler rooms. Basically, they promised everything.

So naturally, we went there excited and full of anticipation.

Apparently half the city had the same idea, because the crowd was massive. Tons of adults and children waited for the official opening while buying snacks and little souvenirs from kiosks set up outside the building. There was also a small stage where local children’s dance, singing, and music groups were performing.

The kids watched the performances of other children with interest, and suddenly an idea came to me.

“Masha, Luka’s already got football. Maybe you’d want to try singing classes? It’s less traumatic. I could pull some strings,” I offer the blonde one option, but she just snorts dramatically.

“Obviously you’ve never heard me sing in the shower,” the brat mutters. “They’d probably pay me not to come.”

While we were talking, the performers finished, and some woman stepped onto the stage. She started talking about the opening of the complex, singing endless praises to the sponsors who invested in such an important and noble project.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Anya tense up beside me. Her entire focus locked onto the stage, and she noticeably paled.

“And now I’d like to give the floor to the main sponsor of this event and the curator of the entire project, Mr. Denis Vernadsky!” the woman clapped way too enthusiastically, and a tall, respectable-looking man around my age stepped onto the stage, though with the beginning of a noticeable gut.

He wore an expensive designer suit and shoes, radiating confidence. Thick gold watches gleamed on his wrist, along with a heavy gold chain around his neck.

Ann stared at the man without blinking. Hell, I think she barely breathed.

“Anya,” I start quietly, while the guy begins his speech.

“I’m glad to welcome everyone here today! We’ve waited for this day for a very long time and did everything possible to bring it closer,” Vernadsky proudly surveys the crowd like he owns the entire damn world. “Many outstanding architects and engineers worked on this center. The best construction companies and specialists were involved…”

The bastard kept praising himself and his partners, talking about how they worked day and night personally planning and developing this children’s sports complex. The speech was drowning in flattery and shameless self-glorification. Clearly, the asshole loved being on stage, because the speech dragged on forever.

“I’m very happy that today we can finally open the doors of this complex to all children and parents, who can safely leave their kids in the hands of experienced trainers and teachers. Safety is personally very important to me, because I myself am the father of two children, for whom this center was built. I understand that every parent worries about their children and wants only the best for them. That’s why the very best has gathered in this center…”

Whatever else the guy was saying, I no longer heard.

All my attention shifted to Anya.

She looked like she was suffocating. Her eyes darted around in panic, and tears welled up in them.