Everything looked beautiful but strange. The small attic we used to rent was gone. Now a tall, shining office building stood there.
Wearing an apron, I stood awkwardly among a crowd of well-dressed office workers.
The receptionist looked at me, confused. “Excuse me, ma’am, do you have an appointment? This area is for employees only.”
I didn’t know what to say. I fiddled my fingers helplessly with a talking robot at the desk but couldn’t make sense of it.
When I tried to borrow a phone, I realized I didn’t even know how to use the ones people had now.
People were staring at me strangely. Panic started to rose.
Then, suddenly, I saw a very familiar face on a large digital screen.
Excited, I pointed at the photo and shouted, “Alexei! That’s my husband! Please, can you help me contact him?”
The receptionist gave me an awkward smile. “Ma’am, I know many women admire Mr. Durand, but our CEO is already married.”
My heart dropped. I turned around in confusion and there he was. Alexei was walking down the stairs.
Like a drowning person seeing a lifeline, I rushed toward him. But before I could reach him, two tall security guards stepped in and blocked my way.