Naty Daybs - Muse for the artist

– You have such an amazing car! – Rita pompously admired. – It’s just amazing! Is the leather natural?

– Yes, – Misha answered modestly. – I took this car for safety and comfort.

«Can you really be in danger?» The girlfriend did not calm down.

«The road is full of danger, my lady.

– I’m Margarita. But just call me Rita. Or maybe Margot.

– Okay, Margarita. Don’t you drive yourself?

– I don’t, but Yanka can do it. She even got her license last year.

– That’s great, Yana. – Mikhail winked at me in the mirror. – And what is your car.

– I don’t have a car yet.

«Her ex-boyfriend had,» Rita interjected. – An ordinary Russian clunker.

– On this clunker, Rita, we took you out of the club many times.

I have already begun to get angry with my friend for telling me about my past, which I least want to remember. I quietly pinched Rita, but she stubbornly ignored my urge to shut up and continued the conversation with Misha.

– You know, Maxim, well, this is Yana’s ex, he was about nothing. He only made himself a prince. But you really look like a real king. This I tell you for sure. This is Yanochka, we are shy. But she’s just gold.

– Here I agree with you, Margarita. Yana is just a great girl.

– Thank you, Misha.

I noticed how Mikhail stubbornly called his friend by her full name. As if trying to show the distance between them. But Ritka stubbornly wanted to shorten this distance.

– Well, please, Mikhail, let’s switch to you. Just call me Rita. We’re almost friends already! And in general, I dream that Janusya will get married sooner. Put on a chic white dress and live like a queen.

– Rita! Expensive! Maybe enough? If I get married, it won’t be soon, believe me. Plus, I never dreamed of becoming a queen. Just because I don’t like dresses and heels.

– Well, the queen is free to wear what she wants. -Michael tried to smooth out the tension that hung between me and Rita.– It seems to me that Margarita just wants to see her best friend happy.

– Of course, Mikhail! I’m sure you’re offended by me? – Rita exponentially pouted lips brightly painted with red lipstick.

– No, Rit, it’s okay. – I squeezed out of myself and turned to the window.

I will never become like Rita, I thought to myself. She is self-confident, loves bright makeup, knows how to attract the attention of men. And I… a gray mouse that runs into the unknown just to escape from itself. I was silent, and Rita kept asking Mikhail about his house, car and something else.

Misha noticed my mood change and tried to fix it.

– We’re almost there. What would you girls like to do in the evening? There is a sauna, swimming pool, billiards, bowling.

– LTD! How delightful it is! I think we should celebrate Yana’s Vacation. She’s all early going there in a couple of months. And of course our acquaintance!

– Yana, what do you say? – Mikhail looked at me worriedly.

«I just wouldn’t mind having dinner.

– Well, you are as always, friend. Modesty itself. Mikhail, do not be offended, but I want to arrange a holiday for my friend, if you don’t mind, otherwise she’s sour lately, like spoiled sour cream.

– Rita, don’t. Maybe Mikhail has more important things to do.

– Don’t worry, Yana. Things can wait a bit. I also really want to celebrate your arrival. Well, girls, we are there.

…

We entered the house. By the way, the house was surrounded by a high stone fence. You just can’t get there.

– It looks like a fortress, said Rita, entering the courtyard. – just a real palace!

– Yana, do you like it? – Mikhail’s brown eyes looked straight into the soul, trying to see the answer before I voiced it.

– Very beautiful. And the air is also very beautiful here.

– That is why the house is in the forest. The city is too dusty and noisy.

«You don’t like noise?» Rita asked obsessively. – Then you and Yana will definitely make friends. Give her peace and quiet too. You can’t even drag her to the club for an hour. Well, Mikhail, you are definitely a prince from a fairy tale, and I would also like to be a princess. As soon as you finish working on Yana’s paintings, I will be happy to be your muse.

Misha paid no more attention to my friend than to waiters in a restaurant or cafe. He only promised that he accepted her application and would try to realize her desire in the nearest free time. But not earlier than early next year.

Rita was happy anyway. Her smile now shone as brightly as the white gold on the bracelet I had given him. We drank champagne and ate various snacks. Mikhail talked about different trips and travels. The evening passed unnoticed. The room in Mikhail’s house was on the first floor by my order. I haven’t even taken things apart yet. I just took out a swimsuit, a bathrobe and a pool towel. Mikhail did not take his brown piercing eyes off me. At times it seemed to me that I was blushing terribly. I tried to wrap myself up in a robe more when I left the pool, so as not to provoke Mikhail to show more vivid feelings. But Rita had a full blast. Taking with her a revealing pink bikini, the girlfriend flaunted her hips while walking by the pool. It even started to annoy me a little, but Mikhail still looked at me all evening, practically without taking his eyes off.

Ritka stayed with me in the room for the night. The bed was huge. And besides, there was a folding chair nearby. But Rita lay down next to me while we chatted, and then we just disconnected from reality and fell asleep.

…

In the morning Mikhail knocked on our bedroom.

– Girls, I brought you coffee and breakfast.

I hurried to open it, putting on my robe. And Rita quickly pulled on my T-shirt, in which I arrived yesterday, remaining under the covers.

– Oh thanks. Very nice. Will you have breakfast with us?

– No, girls, I have things to do now for a couple of hours. Yana, can we start working in the afternoon?

– Yes of course.

– Well. Then the house is at your disposal. And I’m on business. There is security in the yard. Rita, can I give you a ride to town or will you stay with Yana until lunchtime?

– Oh, thanks, if you don’t mind I’ll stay, otherwise she will be bored here alone. Really, Janok?

– Of course, we’ll call a taxi later.

«Ah… can’t I stay here one more evening?

– Sorry, Margarita, but I want to start working with Yana today. I understand that this may not be very polite towards you, but I promise you can see Yana next weekend. My guard will be on business at one o’clock. He can lead you where you need to go.

«Okay,» Rita answered with obvious irritation. But you two owe me the same great program next weekend as last night.

– Rita, calm down, I think it’s impolite. We are with you.

– Oh, sorry, but Misha himself said: two or three days. and now he is sending me home. And you, Yanochka, could persuade him to leave me for another day.

– I beg your pardon, Margarita, – Mikhail was also obviously irritated by my friend’s obsession. You’re right, Margarita, I promised two or three days. Perhaps it is already impolite of me to ask you to leave my house earlier. Stay. I just can’t work when there are strangers in the house. But nothing, I’ll start work a day later.

– Come on, I will not strain the owner of the house. I understand everything, you are a creative person. So do it. And I’m leaving for lunch. – Rita pouted again and made a sad look. Usually on men this look worked flawlessly. But Misha turned out to be an exception and only answered indifferently:

– Okay, rest girls. If you have any questions, please contact the security. There is a coffee machine in the kitchen and all products are in the refrigerator. In the hall on the second floor there is a home theater and a game console.