“Be careful with your words,” Angela said, addressing her husband without taking her eyes off the glass of champagne she slowly turned in her hands.
Denis smiled — finally, his wife was paying attention to him. All evening she seemed not to notice his presence, even though he was the reason for the celebration.
“I’m telling you, I got promoted,” he repeated louder so everyone at the table could hear.
“No, that’s not what you said,” Angela lifted her eyes and looked closely at her husband. “Go back a little and repeat aloud what you just told me.”
Denis felt a slight tension and glanced at his friend Egor. Egor seemed to understand what was going on — he pressed his lips slightly and nodded his head in support. In his eyes read: “Come on, make up your mind.” Then the man looked at Nina, who sat next to him. He had come to the corporate party with her — the party he himself organized in his honor — because from tomorrow he would become head of the precast concrete production department.
Denis had worked five years toward this position, overcoming colleagues’ intrigues and proving his professional worth. And now the order was finally signed. The new position meant not only a status upgrade but also a significant salary increase — almost one and a half times. Now he could afford many things he had only dreamed of before.
He confidently looked at his wife, cleared his throat slightly, and, gathering courage, said:
“We are getting divorced, Angela.”
The words hung in the air. At the neighboring tables, life continued as usual — glasses clinked, laughter rang out… But at their table, silence fell.
“Plan A,” thought Angela, and immediately answered in a calm, even sympathetic tone:
“Maybe you shouldn’t? Perhaps we should talk alone, or did you decide to discuss this in front of everyone?” She glanced around at those present. “Egor, Maxim, ladies… Are they really interested in the details of our family life?”
Denis glanced at Nina, who barely nodded encouragingly. Angela knew perfectly well who this woman was. Her husband had become so brazen he lost all fear and brought his mistress to the banquet where his wife was supposed to be. He introduced her as a “colleague from the neighboring department.” Now he had backed himself into a corner — having said “A,” he had to say “B.”
“No, Angela,” Denis shook his head, trying to look resolute. “We are definitely getting divorced. This is the final decision.”
Egor shifted awkwardly in his chair, the other friends exchanged glances. Maxim pretended to study the dessert menu attentively.
“Well, Plan A didn’t work. Time to move to Plan B,” Angela thought, feeling a strange calm fill her.
She smiled at her husband with the very smile that once won him over — warm, understanding. Perhaps his friends expected a scandal worthy of a tabloid novel — that she would splash champagne in his face, call him an idiot and a scoundrel, attack his mistress with screams and accusations, put on a show that would be talked about in the office for weeks. But Angela only smiled and quietly, almost tenderly said:
“Well then, dear, fine. You made your choice. Congratulations on the promotion.”
She said nothing more. She stood up, took her purse, gracefully adjusted her dress, politely said goodbye to his friends, and headed for the exit. Her heels clicked rhythmically on the marble floor.
Egor watched Angela leave and, when she disappeared behind the door, quietly asked Denis:
“Strange, isn’t it? Don’t you think? Usually, women react differently in such situations…”
Denis himself felt some confusion. He had prepared for a storm, for tears, reproaches, long explanations. But it turned out somehow… too simple. He just shrugged, but when he met Nina’s gaze, he immediately answered with feigned confidence:
“Divorce. What’s unclear about that? Adults part ways civilized.”
Maxim and the other guys went to the bar and whispered among themselves, clearly discussing what had happened. Meanwhile, Nina moved closer to Denis and quietly, so the others wouldn’t hear, said:
“You described her as a shrew — ugly and evil. Said she’d make your life hell if she found out about us. But she turned out to be smart and… dignified.”
“Of course, smart,” Denis nodded, sipping champagne. “Why make a public scandal? It’s all decided. She knows perfectly well I won’t change my mind. It’s decided — now we’re together. Happy?”
Nina, no longer shy about her status and not looking around at Denis’s friends, stroked his hand:
“You’re brave. A very unexpected move. I’m proud of you.”
Denis raised his glass and clinked it with his mistress’s, trying to drown out the strange feeling of anxiety that suddenly settled somewhere in his chest after his wife left.
Outside, Angela stopped, catching her breath. Her chest creaked with inevitability — it felt like she was an old schooner, waves crashing against her sides, and she would either break apart under the storm or survive.
“No way you’ll hear any begging from me,” she thought. “You wanted me to plead, to throw myself at your feet? Maybe I would have, if we were alone. But in front of everyone? No way.”
A cold smile appeared on her face — the kind only her sister Galina knew. But now she didn’t want to talk to her. Yulka — that was who she needed. Yes, she would listen, maybe slap her cheek to wake her up, so she wouldn’t whine or think about running back to beg for mercy.
Angela dialed her friend. She didn’t answer immediately.
“Listen, I was dozing off, work — I’m tired,” came Yulia’s sleepy voice.
“Sorry, I didn’t know. I just need to talk to someone.”
“Don’t worry, I still have to get up and make dinner. Talk about what? The planetary parade or did you pick a new blouse?”
“He announced the divorce.”
A second of confusion on the other end. Then Yulia exclaimed:
“Damn! Is it serious?”
Angela was silent for a while — feeling that nasty lump in her throat that wouldn’t let her speak. Yulia even thought Angela had gone somewhere and quietly asked:
“You there?”
“I’m here. He just announced in front of everyone at the corporate party that we’re divorcing. Just like that — as if he decided to throw out a flowerpot. With me! We’ve been together five years, and just like that, at that damn banquet, where there are lots of people, he loudly declared he’s divorcing.”
“He’s lost it!”
“No, he did it on purpose. He knew he’d get beaten at home, but in front of everyone, I couldn’t hit him. Damn it, couldn’t hit him, but I wanted to!”
“Sorry,” came a cold chuckle in reply.
“He did it on purpose because he got promoted. Today he arranged a small corporate party for his employees. And you know why? He wanted to show them who’s boss — that if he can ‘fire’ his wife in front of everyone, he’ll do the same to them without hesitation.”
“What an idiot!”
“No, he calculated everything, did everything right. Well done! You know, I’m even proud of him. I wouldn’t dare do that if I planned to divorce. But here it’s simple — two words and a period: ‘We’re getting divorced.’ And what’s left for me? Panic, yell, or start packing? Although, wait — no packing!”
“Of course, no packing. The apartment is yours.”
“You’re right. He thought he got rid of me. Yes, he did — got rid of me. But…”
Angela was silent for a few seconds, then asked:
“Remember Plan B?”
“You want to put it into action?”
“Of course. Will you help?”
“I’ll try, but no guarantees.”
“Don’t worry, I still have Plan V and Plan G.”
“Yes, I remember. Well then, I’m off. Rodion hasn’t left yet, we need to act fast before your guy recovers. Time is tight. Bye, call if anything.”
“Thanks.”
After hanging up, Angela immediately called Tatyana.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” came the same greeting.
“You work at a door sales shop, right?”
“No, I transferred, now I’m at the office.”
“Congrats. But it’s not about you. Tell me, do you have a good locksmith who can quickly change a lock?”
“Yes, I do. What kind of lock?”
“Here’s the deal: I’ll come home now, take a photo of the lock, and send it to you. If possible, have your guy come to me right away — I’ll pay cash. It’s urgent, not tomorrow — right now.”
“I’ll try, but they’re on shift.”
“Find some excuse. Double rate for work.”
“You should’ve said so right away! Okay, I’ll be in touch. Bye.”
“Bye.”
While walking home, Angela managed to call Yana. After hearing a brief version of Angela’s tragedy, Yana immediately went to wake up her husband Valery.
“Get up, it’s urgent!” she shook him.
Valery grumbled:
“You have no idea — I worked twelve hours! Let me rest a bit.”
“No time. Angela’s in trouble, we need to help.”
Valery immediately woke, sat up sharply, jumped out of bed:
“What happened? An accident?”
“Make something up — worse!”
“In the hospital?”
Yana spat:
“No! Denis is divorcing her.”
Valery sighed with relief:
“Phew, you scared me.”
Yana slapped her husband on the back of the head:
“Quickly get dressed, we need your car.”
“And what — to pick someone up or drop off?”
“Not her, him. Hurry up!”
Valery put on socks:
“I’m already changed, let’s go.”
“Don’t rush, I can’t be in my underwear!” he shouted, hopping on one foot while pulling up pants.
Yana laughed:
“You’re cute even in those! Okay, let’s go!”
Valery ran to the corridor, started looking for a T-shirt, returned to the room, went out again.
“You’re such a scaredy-cat!” Yana couldn’t stand it.
“Alright, alright, I’m dressed! So, what’s the plan?”
“I’ll tell you on the way. Here, take these empty boxes.” She handed him a stack. “Let’s go.”
Meanwhile, Angela was already home, photographed the lock, and sent the picture to her friend. She looked around the empty apartment and said aloud:
“Well, dear, you made the first move. Now it’s my turn. Don’t be offended.”
She sat at the table, opened her husband’s laptop and turned it on. While the computer was loading, she took her phone and called her mother-in-law. The ringing lasted long; finally, Larisa Gennadievna answered.
“Angela? Glad to hear you.”
They had never had a good relationship, but she always said this phrase out of politeness.
“Dear Larisa Gennadievna, I want to inform you that today your son announced his divorce at the corporate party. Therefore, we are separating. This decision is not mine but your son’s — please accept it as such. Yes, we didn’t get along well — we didn’t fight, but there was no love either. However, you are my husband’s mother, or rather, my ex-husband’s, although we are not officially divorced yet, but it’s inevitable.”
Larisa Gennadievna didn’t understand at first what was going on and only after Angela paused for a few seconds to catch her breath, interjected:
“Wait… Denis… divorce?”
“Yes, exactly divorce. It’s his decision, I support him as a man. I understand well — if a man makes a decision, it means he thought it through. That’s why I’m calling you just in case to apologize if I was rude somewhere. Honestly, I didn’t mean to — I was just defending my rights. But now it’s in the past. From today, Denis doesn’t stay overnight with me. I think he’ll come to you.”
Larisa Gennadievna was more surprised not that her son was divorcing, but that he was coming back to her. She immediately objected:
“How? No way! My daughter lives here!”
“Then Denis will rent an apartment. I just called you to inform you. Thank you for listening. Goodbye.”
Angela immediately hung up and put down the phone. Time was short. She opened her husband’s archives, found the folder “Resumes,” the latest version. Opened it and started reading. Everything was excellent — beautifully written. Well done, simply brilliant.
Meanwhile, Rodion, Yulia’s husband, had already arrived at his father’s place. Danil Valentinovich was surprised:
“Wow, what a surprise! Come in.”
“Dad, I’m here on urgent business.”
“You never come just like that. That’s good you have business. I’m glad I can be of some help. Come in. Maybe some beer? Or are you driving?”
“Yes, I’m driving. No beer.”
“Well, have a seat. I’ll at least make coffee. Don’t mind?”
“Gladly.”
“So, what brought you here so unexpectedly today?”
“Denis Pavlovich works at your factory?”
Danil Valentinovich was silent for a few seconds, then asked:
“Yes, there is such a person. What about it?”
“There’s a problem that concerns you.”
The father looked at his son in surprise:
“Hmm…”
At that moment, the kettle boiled. He put two cups on the table, poured boiling water, took a jar of instant coffee from the cupboard.
“Speak.”
“Today Denis Pavlovich organized a small corporate party at your company in honor of his promotion. It’s commendable — it brings employees together. Everyone usually does that, well done. But…”
Rodion wasn’t used to being a mediator between his wife and her friends, but he respected Angela very much. The pause dragged on.
“Speak already.”
“He was too dumb to leave his mistress at home — he brought her to the corporate party where his wife Angela was.”
“Fool.”
“At this party, Denis announced to his wife that they were divorcing.”
“Idiot.”
“I understand perfectly well that this doesn’t concern you — family matters are family matters. But look at the situation from the outside. One of the employees who holds a fairly high position publicly announces a divorce in front of all his subordinates and demonstratively shows he came with his mistress. It looks like a threat — a threat to all employees. Like, look how I deal with my useless wife, I’m not afraid of her, that’s why I came with my mistress. If any of you say something, you’ll be out on the street.”
For a while, Rodion and his father were silent. Rodion addressed his father:
“This is a blow to you, to corporate ethics. He intimidates your employees this way. It threatens to ruin his department. I don’t know about you, but I’d be cautious — I wouldn’t work with a person who treated his wife like that. No matter their relationship, a wife is a wife. You have to know how to forgive and part with dignity. In this case, he acted very…”
“Mean.”
“Yes, I agree with you. That’s all I wanted to tell you. You decide what to do with this information, but you already know my opinion.”
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll think about it.”
They sat for a while longer. Rodion chatted about trivial things out of politeness, then got up and left.
After his son left, Danil Valentinovich took the phone and dialed a number.
“Vera, Denis Pavlovich had a corporate party today, are you aware?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t invited,” the secretary replied.
“Find out who was there and give me their phone numbers.”
“Right now or in the morning?”
“Right now, don’t delay.”
“I’ll do it, I’ll send you the list.”
“Thanks, I’m waiting.”
After hanging up, Danil Valentinovich said aloud:
“What a scoundrel.”
He went to the cupboard where photos were kept. Among them was his wife, who died six years ago from cancer. Only after her death did he realize he loved her not like in youth, but in his own way — as an adult — loved deeply. Even after so many years, looking at his wife’s photo, he felt a tremor in his voice. Now his fingers touched the picture. For some reason, he mentally asked her forgiveness as if he were to blame for her death.
The phone beeped. Looking at the screen, he read the list of employees who attended Denis’s corporate party. About ten minutes later, after calling some of them, the information that Denis Pavlovich announced a divorce at the party was confirmed.
“Idiot,” Danil Valentinovich muttered.
Dialing the phone again, he waited for an answer:
“Vera, is there still someone in the legal department?”
“No, the working day is over.”
“Good. Let the lawyer come to me tomorrow morning. Confidentially.”
“Okay, I’ll message him right away.”
Danil Valentinovich thanked and hung up. He understood that such behavior could seriously harm the company’s reputation. A person who treats his wife so rudely in front of colleagues is capable of a lot. And that’s a direct threat to corporate ethics and work atmosphere.
He looked again at the photo of his wife. She always said a person’s character shows best in how they treat their loved ones. Denis Pavlovich showed his character today in full.
Meanwhile, Angela closed the laptop — the job was done. She put the computer away, neatly sliding it into the drawer. Yana had already packed more than a dozen boxes with Denis’s things, doing it methodically, unhurriedly. Angela just threw things on the floor while Valery stood aside. He even felt sorry for Denis — just this morning he was still a husband here, by night he would be nothing.
“Will you manage?” Angela asked Valery. “The office works till nine.”
Valery looked at the clock:
“If you finish in half an hour, I’ll make it.”
Angela threw books on the floor, quickly walked through the bedroom — ties and underwear flew. Yana muttered something indistinctly.
“Can you handle it?” Angela asked her friend.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pack everything. Do your thing — move to the next step of the plan.”
“Thanks, I’m on it.”
Angela took her phone, went to the kitchen, and closed the door behind her.
“Well, why are you standing like a statue? Help!” Yana called to her husband. “Bring all those clothes here, shove them into boxes. Time’s short, we have to hurry.”
Now she was clearly not folding clothes but just stuffing, packing tightly, closing and taping boxes.
“Maybe you should have talked to him?” Valery asked his wife.
“One more word — you’ll get a slap,” Yana snapped. “You have no idea how humiliating it is to announce a divorce in front of everyone. No, don’t you dare defend him.”
“I’m not defending, just trying to find a logical explanation.”
“What’s there to explain? He brought his mistress — that’s your explanation. He’s a jerk. Bring the box here, put this one in the hallway. And don’t just stand there like a statue. Grab the packed ones, load them into the car. We have very little time left.”
“Then you pack yourself, and I’ll go carry stuff out.”
Valery got up and headed for the exit, not forgetting to take two boxes with him.
Meanwhile, Angela was in the kitchen talking to Eduard.
“Hi.”
“Unexpected call. Glad to hear you. How are you?”
“Sorry, I don’t have much time. What I’m going to tell you is unpleasant. In short, today Denis announced the divorce. I’m divorcing.”
“Damn! What happened?”
“Doesn’t matter. Mistress or not — it’s not important. But I want to warn you. You seem to have lent money to my husband? How much?”
“Two hundred forty.”
“Exactly. So I ask you — demand the money back. I’m afraid now he’ll use the divorce as an excuse not to pay you. Or at least drag it out. You understand? I don’t want you to suffer because of our relationship. That’s all I wanted to say. You’re still my friend. And also — sorry, we won’t be able to get together this Friday.”
“Now I understand. Too bad. I already got ready, bought a box of beer. Well, don’t be too upset. Eduard is a good guy, but…”
“Sorry, I don’t have time for sympathy now. I called just to warn you.”
“Thanks, got it.”
Angela ended the call and immediately phoned her next friend — Yura.
“Hi…”
Thus Angela called Stepan and Pavel. Each had helped Denis one way or another, and Denis still owed them.
Yana peeked into the kitchen:
“All done, last box packed. Valerka took it. Let’s go then. When you get the keys, I’ll bring them to you.”
Angela hugged her friend:
“Thanks, Yanochka. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Don’t be down. There are plenty of men, if needed — I’ll help.”
Angela laughed:
“Okay, go.”
Yana kissed her friend on the cheek and ran off.
Angela stood in the middle of the room. Everything seemed in place, yet she felt emptiness. Five years. Five years of life together — and all down the drain. Just like that, two words: “We’re getting divorced.” Angela wanted to cry, pity herself, but there was no time.
She took out a notebook, grabbed a pencil, wrote down a name, took the phone, and started dialing.
Closer to ten in the evening, Angela heard Denis trying to open the door. She even smiled — sitting in the dark, just resting. She had done everything for today, the rest tomorrow, and now just wanted to relax. And here was her ex-husband trying unsuccessfully to open the door. The lock was changed at her request.
Angela leaned back, took the phone, and waited. She also turned off the doorbell — she didn’t want to hear it ring. Now she wanted silence.
Denis pounded on the door, doing it hesitantly. Maybe he guessed no one was home. So he had no choice but to call.
Angela had already calmed down. The storm raging in her chest when she left her husband’s office had quieted. Yes, anger remained, but it was easier to handle.
The phone vibrated. The name displayed: “Darling.” She thought — better change it, write “Traitor.” She answered and said:
“Yes, dear.”
Angela spoke softly, calmly, but without love.
“Did you change the lock?” Denis blurted out.
“Good evening to you too,” Angela replied.
“Where are you? Open the door!”
“You have keys, right? And the mailbox key. Go get it — there’s a little key there. It’s for the rented storage unit. I put it in your name, paid for three days. There’s a note with the address. All your things are in that storage, literally all of them.”
Denis seemed to try to comprehend what he was told. He grunted for a while, then bleated like a goat. His footsteps were heard — he ran to the mailbox. Finally, he opened it and sharply asked:
“What the hell?!”
“Darling, don’t swear. Today is a wonderful day. You got together with your mistress, got promoted, announced the divorce to everyone. Everything’s wonderful.”
“Let me in! I’m tired, I want to sleep!” Denis yelled.
“What does that have to do with it? We’re divorcing. I’m filing in court tomorrow. And no more words. Let me remind you — the apartment is mine, my property, bought before marriage. You’re not registered here. No one is. Want to call the police? Go ahead! I’ll show them the documents. But I still won’t let you in. So go to your mom’s or one of your friends, like Egor or Ilya. Ah no — they’ll definitely take you in.”
“That’s unfair! Unjust!” Denis wailed.
Angela giggled:
“Darling, no hysteria. You have the key in your pocket. The storages are open 24/7 — you can go there right now and take your things. Or do it in the morning, I don’t care. But remember — I paid only for three days, after which your things will simply be thrown out. That’s all. Bye. If something urgent — call. Meanwhile, I want to shower and sleep.”
Angela hung up, put the phone on silent. She didn’t want to hear any screams — neither her mother-in-law’s nor her ex-husband’s.
Angela sighed heavily. She still had to talk to her mother, who was unaware of what was happening to her daughter.
Denis had no choice but to go to his mother’s house. Crossing the threshold, he saw Larisa Gennadievna looking at him angrily. When he took off his shoes, she said:
“Have you completely lost your mind?”
“Mom, I’m tired, just want to sleep,” Denis grumbled.
“You’ll sleep in the kitchen. The couch is narrow — just right for you. I’ll bring bedding now.”
Denis looked toward the bedroom door.
“You seem to have forgotten that Tatyana and my grandson Igor live there. Your place is in the kitchen. Want to eat — heat it up. I’ll bring bedding now. You’re an adult but still stupid.”
At that moment Denis’s phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw “Nina.” A hidden smile appeared — at least someone would cheer him up after this terrible day.
“Yes, darling,” he said, holding the phone to his ear.
“Denis!” Nina’s voice was excited. “How noble of you! So it’s all decided?”
Denis stopped confused in the middle of the kitchen.
