The phone rang just at the moment Ella was taking off her noise-cancelling headphones — sharp, piercing, as if someone suddenly threw open a window in a quiet room.
“Hi, Ellochka,” Vera’s voice sounded too cheerful, with that very intonation behind which unpleasant words usually hide. “Listen, my mom and I were thinking… You know, Dad’s anniversary — that official, social evening. Suits, host, decorations… We decided it might be uncomfortable for you there. No blame! It’s just that you’ve always preferred a quieter atmosphere.”
Ella slowly ran her fingers over the bridge of her nose. Under her nails, there was dust from the warehouse — sticky, warm, smelling of metal and old lamps.
“I understand,” she replied shortly.
“Don’t be offended, okay? It doesn’t mean we didn’t expect you… It’s just better this way. For everyone.”
“Of course,” Ella said calmly. “All right. See you.”
“See you?” Vera faltered. But the line was already cut.
Ella sat for a long time with the phone in her hands, staring ahead. As if her half-sister’s voice still echoed inside her.
Then she opened her laptop, logged into the contractor’s account through which she paid the rent, and canceled the payment with a couple of clicks. She felt a strange, almost surgical satisfaction: like after an injection — painful, but clean.
The business center on the city outskirts looked plain from the outside — a gray concrete building with no signs. In reality, it was one of the most technically advanced spaces in the city: perfect acoustics, a unique lighting system. It belonged to her.
