“Hey, my friend.” Dajana tapped on the glass tabletop of the German family’s garden table. “Are you home?”
But it wasn’t Viktoria who appeared in the open terrace door—it was Günter.
“Can I help you?” the man asked curtly.
“I came to see Viktoria,” Dajana smiled.
“What about?”
“Girl stuff.”
A shadow passed over Günter’s forehead, streaked with black strands of hair. He didn’t like the Slovak woman’s answer one bit.
“She didn’t say you were coming.”
“Because I didn’t tell her. I thought I’d surprise her.”
“Really? And how exactly were you planning to surprise her?”
“With myself!” Dajana raised both arms into the air dramatically.
Günter couldn’t even force a smile. The Slovak woman’s sudden appearance had clearly annoyed him.
“Unfortunately, you just missed her. She left right before you knocked. I’m sorry, but that’s how it is. Maybe some other time.”
Before Dajana could react, the German man had already shut the terrace door. She stared blankly at the glass for a while, then turned and walked home with mechanical steps.
“Who was that?”
Viktoria stood on the bottom step of the staircase, her hair wrapped in a towel. But instead of answering, her husband put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
“What is it, Günter? Just tell me,” she whispered impatiently.
“Dajana,” he mouthed.
“What? Dajana? Where is she?”
“I sent her away,” the man replied in a barely audible voice.
“Why? What’s gotten into you?”
Günter jerked his head toward the upstairs. Viktoria rolled her eyes and headed toward the bedroom.
Her husband didn’t speak again until he was sure the Slovak woman had made it home.
“She just showed up,” he burst out in a mocking tone, exaggerating his mimicry.
“Günter!” Viktoria snapped. “Enough of this! Just tell me what the hell happened during those twelve long minutes I was in the shower!”
The man took a long, deep breath. Partly because he was nearly out of breath from the tension, and partly to calm himself.
“What happened, my dear, is that your brand-new best friend decided to drop in. Unannounced. Because she wanted to surprise you,” he said, still unable to control his frustration.
“That’s what has you so upset?”
“Of course! That’s exactly how it always starts. Don’t you remember? It’s like some damned script playing out the same way every time.”
“I thought we’d already talked this through.” Viktoria put her hands on her hips.
Her snow-white face flushed crimson, her eyes flashing.
From her body language, Günter realized he wouldn’t be able to make her understand. She was angry—at him—when all he wanted was to protect their family.
“I know, and I’m sorry for making a sudden decision without asking you. But I have a bad feeling about that woman.”
“You’re overreacting, believe me. Dajana’s an accountant who, for now, has to do manual labor. Mostly to learn the language well. I actually respect her for that. She’s doing it for their future. And anyway,” she added, “I’ve seen with my own eyes that they’re doing fine. They don’t need anyone’s money. She wants to open her own office as soon as possible.”
“As if it were that easy. She doesn’t even know the local tax system! Her Slovak experience is useless here.”
“Look, Günter, I don’t know much about that. But someone who’s earned a serious qualification shouldn’t find it impossible to learn another country’s rules. This is still Europe. There must be some overlap.”
“I don’t know, Viktoria…”
“Well, I do. And I also know that I’m being careful. I won’t let myself be fooled again either. Don’t worry—there won’t be any trouble!”
“You little bitch,” Dajana hissed when she spotted Viktoria’s car in the underground garage. “I knew you were lying.”