Olga
She already regretted wearing synthetic trousers. No doubt that she was the prettiest in them, but still. She did not like synthetic fibres, even though they were almost unavoidable, especially with her figure. Sure, she could buy a light linen dress for a fortune, in which she would look like an elegant cow. No. If someone wants to look prettier than they really are, there’s no way around it: they have to squeeze themselves into tight, stretchy trousers that hold up well. But the latter function requires robust materials.
In the summer heat, thick, synthetic pants can make you sweat like a pig. Putting her hair up, even though she had planned to let it down, made things a little better. She always saw herself as more beautiful with her hair down. However, since she bound it up with a buckle, at least her beautiful earrings were visible. The dark blue crystal earrings highlighted the colour of her eyes. She looked in the rear-view mirror. Taking a deep breath, she quickly straightened her bra. She got out of her car. She did not look towards the window of the house. She felt he was there, watching her. She pressed the button of the entry phone.
The assistant did not come into the waiting room, just stuck her head out of the door.
– A few minutes dear, the lawyer is still busy. Unfortunately, he only has fifteen minutes, then he has to go to the court urgently. I will give you a new appointment, but of course you only have to pay for one consultation. I’m sorry!
Olga nodded. No problem, then she can come at least twice. She did not even mind having to wait. She could usually turn her brain completely off in a few moments and just sit. She could stare in front of herself for as long as she wanted. She did not even notice the passage of time. But now her mind and heart were racing. She tried to use the waiting time to calm down.
She could have chosen any other lawyer. But she was here, in this office. She was alternately filled with shame and a pleasant thrill.
Olga did not feel comfortable in her own skin. She had put on about twenty kilos. Okay, she had lost some weight recently, and she was more shapely, but still. She was not used to being overweight. Only the last seven years had come on her. Two births, knee surgery. She would never be able to do sport in the same way again.
She promised herself she would not buy new clothes until she lost a decent amount of weight. And now she was waiting for her turn with her stomach held in wearing the tight trousers she had bought the day before.
– Come in dear, he is waiting for you.
She did not even notice that someone had come out of the office. What might that person have said that she was sitting there and staring like a statue.
Her feet were slipping coldly in her sandals. She was sweating all over.
The man was standing in the middle of the spacious room opening from the assistant’s office. Olga did not remember him being so handsome. She knew he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, but she thought her memories were exaggerated. And it turned out that he was even more charming than she could remember. Their eyes were now, as then, immediately locked. So, it things like this could really happen.
This was exactly what had happened back then. The moment they had seen each other, as a lawyer and client, the world had stopped for a moment. They had not even shaken hands, perhaps they were just thinking about moving their arms when the picture fixed. The film stopped, and they fell into each other’s gaze. It certainly had not taken long then either, as the people present, Olga’s husband, the assistant, and the customer, had not questioned them. Later, when all the papers had been signed and the buyer had left, the lawyer asked her: „We’ve met somewhere before, haven’t we?”
Olga immediately said yes, she thought so too, even though she knew they had not. She certainly would not have forgotten this man.
A year had passed since then.
Who knows how long they stood silent now, lost in each other’s gaze.
– Take a seat – the lawyer waved towards the sofa. – How can I help you?
Olga, her face flushed with excitement, spoke about a large debt owed by one of her clients for which she had sought enforcement. She tried to pretend not knowing that she need not have turned to a lawyer.
She tried to convince herself that it was important to talk to him first, even if she had already made an appointment with the bailiff.
After all, it was essential. She did not know how long it had been since anyone had looked at her the way the lawyer did. Even one long look would be worth the high consultation fee. Fifteen minutes plus a whole hour alone with the man was priceless.
– A woman like you… – she did not hear the rest.
It did not even matter. She was no longer nervous. Slowly, the man’s words penetrated every inch of her. His smile. The way the lawyer’s sea-blue eyes lingered on her shoulder. Just enough not to be intrusive, but to show that he liked what he saw.
– Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things, I won’t let them mess with you.
The words flowed through her mind like a drug. Her eyelids grew heavy. How she had longed for someone who wanted to protect her!
After leaving the street, she stopped. She leaned back in her seat. In the car, her confidence always came back. She closed her eyes and recalled every moment of the visit to the lawyer. For fifteen minutes she felt she was a woman. For the first time in a long time. And next week she would have a whole hour to bathe in the sea of the most beautiful man’s eyes. And then she must make sure that she would have a reason to ask for a consultation at least once every six months. Otherwise, she would not survive.
The lawyer
The phone rang in the assistant’s office. He startled and felt that he was not going to be happy about the phone call. He did not want to go to the court. Not now. Why not tomorrow? Or when these people were scheduled? He looked irritated at the couple sitting opposite him, who were filling the few remaining minutes they had with idle chatter. He knew this type well. If they had to pay for a minimum of one hour, they wanted to fill their time even if they had finished and got what they wanted.
He stood up. He looked out of the window and saw the SUV park in front of the house. He could not see into the car from the tree canopy, but he hoped she would fix her make-up before getting out. He wanted the woman to like him.
– M-Mr.– stammered the argumentative young man, who thought he knew everything.
He did not want to turn back. He had to see what she did before meeting him.
He looked at the couple impatiently. He did not need their case. He was not able to say no, but he made everyone feel that he was not just anyone. He was the best lawyer in the neighbourhood, and a minor accident at work did not excite him.
In fact. Ever since he learnt that the Olga was coming to see him, she was the only thing that got him excited. He had never met a woman as rock-solid as her. He even memorized her name, although he even forgot the names of those he slept with. He had been adored by women all his life because of his beautiful face. Since he had been successful, rich, and influential even married women were happy to spread their legs for him. However, this woman is apparently not even thinking about it. When he met Olga for the first time, he could not take a good look at whether she was a pretty woman. He only saw her eyes and the way she looked at him. Or not. She looked into them. All the way down. It even made him numb. He would observe her more closely now.
He heard her voice. It went right into the back of his head. He rolled his eyes when the assistant told Olga that she had to wait and that she only had fifteen minutes. The woman did not reply. The silence hurt. It would have been better for him if Olga had been upset, or at least a little indignant. Then she had not really prepared so much. Did she take a quick bath before having left?
He sat back in front of the couple and summarised what had been said in the last fifty minutes. He expected the argumentative guy to argue some more. He pretended to listen tensely.
Finally, she stepped through the door.
He was unable to speak. Her eyes struck him again and took him somewhere where only the two of them existed. Two disembodied, glowing souls. How long did they stand silent? Confused, he motioned for her to take a seat. His gaze drifted down the delicate skin, stopping for a moment on the shoulders he could almost feel between his lips.
– A woman like you… – words floated softly out of his mouth. They may also have been incoherent. Never mind, the next time she came, he would get the assistant to prepare everything. He was not needed for the work part. He had nothing to do with enforcement. He was scanning the woman. Does she know it? She knows it doesn’t she? Because he does not even care if she wants to entrust him with the sale of a set of zigzag scissors. He is willing to give his name and seal to anything she asks him for. The assistant will solve it, and he can watch Olga’s blue eyes, her sensual mouth move.
– Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things, I won’t let them mess with you – he only hoped he had not drawn an imaginary sword for some trivial cause.
Certainly not, because the look in her eyes has changed. She has gone soft. What could be going through her mind?
He watched the car until it was out of sight, then dialed the phone.
– Thank you, my friend – he hung up the phone, flushed.
He wanted to cheer. He had learned that Olga had an appointment with the bailiff the next morning, the lawyer’s tennis partner. So, the woman had only come to his office because she wanted to see him. Because she couldn’t stand existing him any longer.