“I wonder what would happen if all the girls in the world stopped underestimating themselves. If they started nurturing a sense of self-worth instead of countless imagined complexes,” Matt says, wiping the window with his jacket sleeve.

“What are you implying?” Emma objects, pulling the guy’s hand away from her bedroom window. “Do you think I’ve made up all my problems? Why would I do that?” she returns to the bed, flipping through the glossy pages of a fashion magazine.

“Just imagine for a second,” her guest persists. “Guys wouldn’t be able to use girls anymore. There would be fewer broken hearts, depressions, murders, and suicides. Universal bliss.”

“Then it would be the opposite. Everything you listed would disappear on the girls’ side and would appear on the men’s side. And it would rise to a level higher than that of modern women. Men would die out, oppressed by self-doubt and complexes. Strong and self-assured women would start using them,” Emma proudly declares, demonstratively setting the magazine aside.

“What if all people stopped digging into themselves and creating problems that don’t exist?” the guy envisions, looking at Emma seriously.

“That’s just impossible,” the girl says, trying to picture an ideal society of self-assured people. Her thoughts lead to utopia. “A world of narcissistic and self-sufficient egoists. Relationships between people would become so strained that there would be no relationships left at all. Children would stop being born, the people alive would grow old. And all of humanity would die out. Do you still want everyone to become self-assured?” she asks, looking at Matt mockingly.

“So, is the current society ideal for the prosperity of humanity? Some must feel worse than others, unworthy of good treatment and a good life, so that others feel their superiority, see themselves as stronger, smarter, more deserving?” the guy concludes with horror.

“Equality kills balance. The world isn’t perfect. And we must be imperfect to survive. Without the weak, there are no strong. Women like it when a man shows the rights of a master, the cruelty of a predator, the persistence of a hunter, and the strength of a pack leader. Not getting this from their man, women go hunting, becoming cruel predators, strong pack leaders with the rights of true masters of the world. And men who don’t want to prove who the real master in the house is, die, crushed by the dominant heel of the amazons of our time. When you understand, accept, and start using humanity’s main secret correctly, that’s when you’ll start to thrive in a society that’s ideal in its imperfection,” Emma says, sounding harsh and arrogant. The guy never would have thought how much cynicism was hidden beneath her pleasant feminine appearance.

“Do you want to crush men with your heels? Do you want to be an amazon?” Matt asks with contempt. The fire in his eyes now burns not with hot passion but with the cold blue flame of anger and hatred. Disappointment comes gradually and imperceptibly. The final disillusionment sets in in a single moment. Then there is no turning back. No chance is left for that warm desire and hot passion to shine in his eyes again. “Crush whoever you want. I’m going to look for a real woman, not a pathetic imitation of a man. You pick up a spear without knowing what to do with it.” Matt leaves the girl’s room, unable to look into her eyes. Disappointment weighs down his gaze.

“When you find your ‘real woman’, be sure to tell me! I want to see this spineless simpleton,” Emma shouts arrogantly to the departing guy, realizing their relationship ends here.

“Warm simplicity warms better than red-hot cynicism,” Matt replies calmly as he leaves his ex-girlfriend’s house.

“Go on, boy. Look for a weakling just like you,” Emma whispers venomously, flipping through the glossy magazine.

“Isn’t Matt staying for dinner?” Emma’s mother asks, entering her daughter’s room.

“He’ll eat at home,” she answers calmly. “And let’s not talk about him in our house anymore.” She gets off the bed, grabs her jacket, and leaves the room.

“And dinner?” Shannon calls out the question, catching up to her. “The boy will at least eat at his place, but where will you eat?”

“I’m going hunting!” Emma smirks, closing the door.

“Did you fight with your mother again?” her friend asks, meeting the girl near the house.

“Lizzy, why are you here? Do you want to argue too, while I’m inspired?” Emma walks ahead, not waiting for her friend.

“I ran into Matt, cycling nearby,” Lizzy catches up with Emma, lightly pressing the pedals so she doesn’t ride past. “He said you broke up. I wanted to hear it from you.”

“You should’ve stayed with him. You two always smile so sweetly at each other,” Emma snipes, casting a sideways glance at Lizzy.

“Why would you say that?” the sharp words hurt the sensitive girl. “We’re best friends. Starting anything with Matt wasn’t even in my thoughts.”

“Tell me honestly, if I hadn’t been dating him, and he’d asked you out, would you have accepted?” Emma stops and puts the brakes on Lizzy’s bicycle.

“Me and Matt?” she asks again, thinking.

“Yes, you and Matt,” Emma repeats with a smirk. “You don’t have to answer. I can tell you would’ve accepted.”

“What girl wouldn’t accept? Everyone knows how nice Matt is,” Lizzy tries to somehow soften her friend’s anger. It only makes things worse.

“Then you can all date him!” Emma pushes the front wheel of the bike. Lizzy tries to keep her balance, swerving into the road. A driver manages to swerve, passing while honking their horn down the entire street.

“You could’ve killed me!” Lizzy protests.

“Sorry, friend, natural selection,” Emma puts on her mask of arrogance again, enjoying her new essence unfolding. “You should go to your Matt. He definitely won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“And I will!” Lizzy turns the bicycle around, shifting gears as she goes, trying to get away from her friend as quickly as possible.

“You’re all the same. The second something happens, you run away, ride away, or fly away. Anything to avoid admitting your weakness,” she takes off her sneaker and kicks her neighbors’ mailbox.

“Don’t touch anything there!” the neighbor shouts from a window.

“As if I need your mailbox!” she puts her sneaker back on, calmly walking further down the street. “And actually, I don’t need any of you! I’ll go far away. We’ll see who remembers me. I definitely won’t remember you. I’ll forget and won’t recognize you if we meet!” she stops at an intersection, choosing a road.

“Will you forget your own mother too?” someone asks behind her back.

“Everyone!” she repeats angrily, turning around. “And I don’t even know you, so forgetting you will be easier.”

“I doubt that,” a man in a suit smiles slyly.

“How could you be memorable? You’re just like everyone else,” she inspects the stranger dismissively.

“It seems to me that someone was just saying they wanted to get away from everyone and forget them,” he reminds her of her words.

“What’s it to you?” she takes a step, wanting to move away from the strange man.

“You’re lucky,” he informs her with a smile. “This is your chance.”

“What chance? What are you talking about? Leave me alone!” Emma walks away.

“Wait,” the man stops her. “Take my business card. When you genuinely want to get away from everyone, call this number,” he shows her the digits on the card.

“Jeremy Hart?” Emma reads the man’s name.

“That’s right,” he holds out his hand with a smile. “A contractor for the ‘Compitales’ firm. The name isn’t the most important thing in our line of work.”

“What line of work?” Emma asks, looking at Jeremy’s dark eyes with distrust.

“We grant wishes,” the ‘Compitales’ employee reports cheerfully.

“I wish you would leave me alone,” the girl says with scorn.

“That wish, I’ll grant for free, as a demonstration gift. Who is that? Matt?” he points down the street.

“Matt?” Emma turns to look for her ex-boyfriend. “What Matt? You lied! There’s not a soul here,” Emma turns back, and the man is gone. “Jeremy?” she looks around. “He’s strange,” she walks right, toward where the rain clouds are gathering.

“I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” Matt greets Lizzy with a smile.

“I didn’t think we’d see each other so soon either,” she stops her bicycle near the guy.

“Did you run into Emma?” he asks, hiding his anger and hurt.

“I wish I hadn’t,” Lizzy whispers angrily.

“What’s wrong? Did you two argue?” Matt is surprised. “That’s not like you.”

“I don’t even recognize Emma!” Lizzy bursts out, forcefully leaning her bike against a post near the diner.

“Here, let me help, or you’ll hurt yourself,” Matt fastens the chain, securing the bicycle to the post. “Don’t worry about it,” he reassures her as he stands up. “She’ll stress out and then calm down. You’ll make up. Tonight you’ll be laughing. Perhaps at me.”

“And what about you?” Lizzy latches onto Matt’s words. “Will you two also make up once Emma calms down?”

“I don’t think so,” he answers thoughtfully. “No. We won’t make up,” he confirms his decision. “People like her don’t need people like me.”

“And do people like you need people like her?” Lizzy asks with a smile, figuring out what he means.

“No. That’s why we broke up. It’s a shame we didn’t bring this up earlier. Come on, I’ll treat you to something,” Matt invites the girl into the diner.

“I’ll have fries and juice, please,” Lizzy orders.

“Is that all?” Matt is surprised.

“I don’t feel like anything else today,” the girl is modest.

“I’ll have the same thing,” Matt repeats the order.

“What kind of juice?” the cashier clarifies.

“Orange,” the guy says, consulting Lizzy with his eyes.

“Here you go,” the order is instantly in the customers’ hands.

“Thank you,” Matt says gratefully. “Should we eat here?” he looks at the small tables, closely packed together. “Or should we go outside?”

“Outside,” Lizzy suggests. “The weather’s nice today.”

“I knew you’d notice I wanted to go outside,” Matt smiles, walking out with the girl. “There’s a table over there,” the guy remembers. “Don’t worry about the bike. Even the local hooligans won’t touch a chain like that.”

“I sincerely hope so,” Lizzy smiles tensely. “This is my second bicycle. The first one went to another owner. They cut the thin cable while I was in the store.”

“Now I understand what made you buy a piece of metal the thickness of a thumb,” Matt laughs, sympathizing with her first loss.

“It’s better to be safe,” the girl says seriously, sitting down on the bench by the only table in the courtyard.

“That’s right,” Matt approves. “What were you talking about with Emma?”

“Can you imagine, she accused us of looking at each other this whole time,” she looks at Matt uncertainly.

“She actually said that?” the guy clarifies, bewildered.

“Exactly. She also said I should ask you out, since you don’t need people like her,” Lizzy tries to recall all her friend’s words, but fails.

“Did Emma say what kind of girl I need?” Matt asks cryptically.

“No, she didn’t say that,” Lizzy is disappointed. “You can tell me,” she suddenly shows courage.

“I’ll only tell you,” Matt smiles. “I need a girl to whom I can say anything, knowing it will stay between us. I want to trust completely. I want to give all my warmth and attention, not compete for the right to be the leader in the relationship. I need a caring girl who will take care of me just as I take care of her. I want her to feel comfortable and calm when she’s with me. I don’t want her to try to outdo the whole world, trying to show she’s better than everyone else, forcing others to feel worthless. I need someone who values herself properly, and will value me. And I will value her. I don’t know how to say everything I want. It’s complicated.”

“It definitely became clear to me that you just described the exact opposite of Emma,” Lizzy laughs.

“Yeah, I think I based it on Emma’s views, flipping them the way I need,” Matt joins in the laughter.

“What if I try to be the girl you’re looking for?” Lizzy asks cautiously, so she can claim it was a joke if necessary.

“You don’t even need to try,” Matt says softly. “Just add a little self-confidence, and you’ll be perfect,” he says, thinking. “Wait,” the message sinks in. “So you want to be my girlfriend?” he almost chokes on his juice.

“No. I’m just guessing,” Lizzy retreats from the path of confidence.

“Too bad, I would’ve been happy,” Matt turns away, drinking his juice.

“Really?” the girl asks, surprised and pleased.

“Really,” Matt confirms with a smile, putting his glass on the table. “Emma wasn’t wrong when she said we often look at each other. I noticed I looked at you more often than at her. I even thought it would have been better if I’d dated you back then instead of her.”

“Why didn’t you?” Lizzy is upset that a relationship didn’t happen back then.

“Emma showed more confidence. If she hadn’t forced the issue, I never would have dated her. But you looked at what was happening so calmly. I thought you didn’t care. And I didn’t resist,” he regrets what happened.

“So, we had a chance,” she smiles sadly.

“Now we can confidently take advantage of a new chance,” Matt says happily.

“Emma and I are friends,” Lizzy remembers and reminds him.

“She’s no longer a friend of mine,” Matt decides seriously. “And you decide what to do. Date me or go back to your spiteful friend, with whom you just argued.”

“I need to think,” such an easy decision—to start dating a guy you like and who likes you—turns into a real torture of doubts. Only because she’s friends with his ex, whom she’s not even thrilled about as a friend or a person. “If we hadn’t been friends for so many years, I would’ve decided right away.”

“I understand,” Matt accepts Lizzy’s uncertain words.

“What’s there to think about?” Emma approaches the couple. “I always knew you two talked so sweetly behind my back!” she throws a fry at Matt.

“I don’t want to accuse you of anything, but this is the result of your behavior, not ours. While we were together, it never even crossed our minds to start dating. Especially not behind your back. So, I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve. I don’t care. If you value Lizzy as a friend, stop this circus,” Matt says calmly, but inside he’s worried the friends might start fighting.

“A friend, she calls herself!” Emma sneers contemptuously, looking at Lizzy.

“Go settle your argument somewhere else!” the cashier from the diner comes out into the courtyard.

“No argument!” Emma answers sharply. “Everything is clear here anyway. For the mess,” she leaves a bill on the table.

“That’s your tip,” Matt slides the money left behind to the edge of the table.

“You can stay,” the cashier calms down. “Just be quieter.”

“Fine,” Matt shows with his whole demeanor that he’s not looking for trouble. The cashier leaves, taking the tip and the scattered fries. “Is everything clear to you now, or do you still want to talk to her?” he asks the worried Lizzy.

“What if she does something now?” the girl worries.

“If you’re so worried, run after her. My offer is still on the table. You can accept at any time,” Matt reminds her.

“Okay, I’m running,” Lizzy gets up from the bench and takes her backpack. “Thanks for dinner,” she kisses Matt on the cheek and runs off.

“I’ll call you tonight,” the guy says to the girl as she rides away.

“Okay!” she shouts, catching up to her friend.

“I should have gone the way I was going,” Emma is angry at herself, returning to the road toward the clouds that are drawing closer and closer to the houses.

“Wait!” Lizzy catches up.

“What else do you want?” Emma says without turning around. “Do you want to get hit by a car again?” she pretends to want to push the bicycle.

“No, thanks,” Lizzy rides further away, just in case.

“Then what do you need?” she asks disgruntledly.

“Are you angry at me because I’m talking to Matt?” Lizzy asks softly.

“Do whatever you want,” Emma tries to hide her anger behind indifference.

“Understand, I like Matt. But I don’t want to lose my friend over this,” Lizzy says, justifying herself and seemingly begging for permission.

“You’ve already lost me. You don’t have to worry about that,” Emma turns into an overgrown alley, which is impossible to cycle through.

“Fine,” Lizzy stops. “Thanks for the years of friendship.” She continues walking, pushing her bike alongside her.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” a man holds out a business card, catching up to the girl. “Jeremy Hart.”

“’Compitales’,” Lizzy reads the name. “What do you want?” she returns the business card.

“The question isn’t what I want, but what you want,” he shifts his attention to the girl. “What do you desire the most?”

“I’m sick of all these complications with people!” Lizzy bursts out, venting her frustration. “Why couldn’t he have just started dating me right away, instead of my friend! And she doesn’t understand that I genuinely like Matt. One is calm, as if nothing is happening, and the other is angry at the whole world, as if everyone is set against her. She only thinks about herself!” she lifts the front wheel and slams it against the paved path with the full weight of the bicycle.

“I hope I understood correctly. You want to date the guy, and at the same time continue to be best friends with your friend?” Jeremy formulates Lizzy’s precise wish.

“Why are you so interested in this?” the girl regains her composure after the fit of anger.

“This is my job. I can grant your wish,” Jeremy smiles, persuading her.

“That’s impossible! Not with those two!” Lizzy despairs.

“Three,” Jeremy corrects. “You always forget about yourself. Others don’t think about you. At least think about yourself. I can make everyone think about you, pay attention to you, honor and respect you.”

“You talk strangely,” the girl looks at him suspiciously.

“Why strangely? Wishes exist to come true. Isn’t that right?” he discusses it as if it were trivial.

“Wishes like that don’t come true so easily,” the girl continues to doubt.

“Leave the complications to me. Your job is only to wish and wait just one moment for everything to come true. Easy and simple, something you don’t believe in,” Jeremy continues to convince her.

“Something is wrong. What’s the catch?” Lizzy’s distrust persists.

“Everything is right. Your life will improve. You and Matt will be together. You’ll continue to be friends with Emma. Everyone will love, respect, and honor you,” the man assures her.

“I didn’t tell you my friend’s name,” Lizzy notices.

“I’ll tell you a little secret,” he looks around the intersection. “I know her. Emma is seriously considering agreeing to my offer to make the impossible happen.”

“What does she want?” the girl asks forcefully.

“Forgive me. Every contract is accompanied by an eternal secret that I have no right to disclose without the client’s written consent,” Jeremy answers seriously.

“Fine, do what you say,” Lizzy agrees. “We’ll see what you can do.”

“Excellent. In that case, we just need to settle some formalities,” he pulls a thick sheet of paper with red veins from under his jacket.

“What is that?” Lizzy looks at the paper distrustfully.

“Please review the contract,” he hands it to the girl.

“It’s hot,” Lizzy shifts it from hand to hand. “How are my words on here?” she is surprised by the verbatim conversation on the sheet. “The payment is eternal work for ‘Compitales’?” she is surprised and indignant, giving the contract back.

“Everything has a price,” Jeremy smiles. “You yourself said it was impossible to do what you want. And the impossible is not cheap.”

“In that case, let it remain impossible!” Lizzy rides away.

“Until we meet again! When you find my business card, call anytime! I’ll be waiting!” Jeremy says goodbye, not leaving the intersection.

“Business card?” Lizzy repeats in a whisper, remembering that she returned it, and now it’s in her pocket.

“Missing someone, young man?” Jeremy asks, sitting down next to him.

“Not you,” Matt answers harshly.

“Then who?” he persists, looking into the guy’s eyes.

“That’s none of your business,” Matt stands up from the table, intending to leave.

“That’s exactly how Lizzy described you,” he says calmly, finishing the fries.

“Lizzy?” Matt asks again, returning to the bench.

“She said you’re emotional and determined. And that you have a strong character, unlike other boys,” Jeremy showers the guy’s ego with compliments.

“She really said that?” he asks, interested.

“Isn’t it true?” he looks at Matt slyly.

“It is true,” he proudly agrees. “When did you manage to talk to her about me?”

“Today. And she’s spoken about you before, too,” he continues to play with his words.

“When you say ‘us’, do you mean me? Or me and her?” Matt clarifies.

“Both,” Jeremy replies cunningly.

“What else did Lizzy say?” he presses the man for information.

“She said she wants to date you, but she’s afraid of hurting Emma,” he looks increasingly serious.

“That’s Lizzy all over. She’s afraid of hurting others’ feelings, but she doesn’t value her own. She needs to learn to value herself instead of letting people like Emma assert themselves at her expense,” Matt fumes, running over his conversations with the girls in his mind.

“I told her the same thing today!” Jeremy enthusiastically agrees. “She doesn’t value herself.”

“Yes!” Matt agrees.

“And others take advantage!” Jeremy continues to pile on.

“Exactly!” the guy’s emotions are heating up more and more.

“What would you want, then?” Jeremy asks sharply.

“I want to date Lizzy. And turn her into who she’s supposed to be! I want her to respect herself and for others to respect her. I want to show her what it means to be respected and loved,” Matt says dreamily.

“You want to completely reshape her worldview?” Jeremy summarizes, taking out the contract.

“You could say that,” Matt agrees uncertainly. “What’s that?”

“See for yourself,” Jeremy hands the hot sheet to the guy.

“What? Did you escape from a psych ward? Are you playing the devil?” Matt indignantly throws the offered contract back in Jeremy’s face.

“Why am I playing?” he asks seriously. “Though, we work for different firms.”

“You’re crazy!” Matt throws the glass with the remaining juice from the table onto Jeremy’s suit.

“Who’s crazy now?” the man whispers, wiping the juice with a napkin. “You stained an expensive Italian suit by a legendary tailor.”

“What is it with today?” the cashier comes out of the building. “Why is everyone so jumpy and agitated?”

“My apologies,” Jeremy approaches him, holding out a hundred dollars. “I hope this modest payment eases your worries.”

“I feel a little better already,” the cashier takes the money, calming down.

“You have a good location here,” Jeremy praises, looking around. “It’s brilliant to put a diner right on an intersection.”

“All sensible people do that,” the cashier boasts proudly.

“I can offer you a side job,” Jeremy looks slyly.

“What are you talking about?” the cashier asks, interested.

“I’m interested in this spot. Don’t think I want to squeeze you out of here,” he immediately clarifies seriously, noticing the man’s offense. “I’ll stop by here sometimes, talk with your customers. And you’ll turn a blind eye to some unpleasant emotional moments,” he holds out another hundred.

“I’d earn more from those moments than from individual orders,” the cashier laughs happily. “Come by any time, day or night.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” Jeremy smiles contentedly.

“We don’t work at night, though,” the cashier clarifies.

“Even better,” Jeremy smiles.

“Then, I repeat, any time,” the cashier leaves, delighted with the profitable offer.

“Excellent people in this town,” Jeremy inhales the warm, fresh air with pleasure. There are few cars, despite the intersection.

“I used to like it here too,” a nice girl says, walking up to Jeremy. “Don’t you regret agreeing to switch?”

“I’m quietly rejoicing at your offer, my dear Annabelle,” he kisses the girl’s hand.

“Not yours,” she pulls her hand back.

“That’s temporary,” Jeremy smiles cunningly.

“Not even a contract will help grant that wish,” Annabelle smirks.

“The impossible costs more,” Jeremy says his favorite phrase with a smile.

“You won’t have anything left to pay for a contract like that,” she picks up the contract from the table and reads the terms. “People’s wishes are so stupid,” she returns the sheet to Jeremy.

“Thank you,” he hides it back under his jacket. “Why did you decide to switch after all, if you like this little town so much?”

“I got tired of the simple wishes of the locals,” she looks at the cashier dismissively. “Did you manage to get acquainted?”

“With the cashier?” Jeremy looks at him as a successful acquisition. “Wonderful guy. Easy to negotiate with.”

“That’s exactly why your deal won’t last long,” Annabelle smirks.

“Why is that?” Jeremy looks at the girl suspiciously.

“His contract for creating the diner expires today,” she enjoys Jeremy’s displeased gaze. “Tomorrow he’ll have to leave this place for somewhere further than he imagines.”

“Nothing terrible will happen,” he tries to maintain his composure. “Someone else will take his place.”

“Who?” the girl laughs, suspecting that no one will want it.

“I have a suitable candidate,” Jeremy smiles, pleased with the new idea.

“No,” Annabelle says seriously, looking at him.

“Yes,” Jeremy’s smile becomes increasingly self-satisfied.

“You won’t do it,” the girl can’t believe her own suspicions.

“Oh, but I will,” Jeremy has planned everything out and is ready to execute his design. “And I know how.”

“You won’t succeed. It’s a stupid idea!” Annabelle openly doubts his success.

“If I recall correctly, it’s the stupid ventures that take the prize among the most successful ideas in all of human history. We create the impossible,” he shows the edge of the contract from under his jacket. “We don’t have to look far. See what a success our Patron’s seemingly stupid venture turned out to be. Now he has his own huge firm, practically ruling all of humanity.”

“Not counting the light and dark competition,” Annabelle reminds him.

“Without competition, there is no development,” Jeremy counters with a smile.

“You won’t stoop that low,” she looks at him suspiciously, wondering if he’s deceiving her about his intentions.

“To rise, one must first fall. See you tomorrow,” he vanishes with a smirk.

“You won’t do it!” Annabelle leaves right after him, boiling with anger.

“Hey,” the guy manages to find the strength to call Lizzy. “Did you catch up with Emma? Did you talk?”

“I caught up with her,” the girl says uncertainly. “But I couldn’t talk. You can’t ride a bike everywhere.”

“Did you go straight home? Or did you keep following Emma?” he hints at Lizzy’s simple-hearted nature, willing to chase after someone she cares about, ignoring her pride.

“Not right away. Some man stopped me,” she remembers the conversation at the intersection.

“What man?” Matt asks seriously, getting out of bed. “Did he harass you? What did he do? Do you remember him? Do you know where he might be?”

“Someone like that is hard to forget,” she recalls the contractor’s striking appearance. “Don’t get the wrong idea! Nothing happened. We were just talking,” she tries to calm the guy down.

“What were you talking about?” Matt is now hard to calm. His anger won’t dissipate.

“It doesn’t matter,” Lizzy avoids the answer so she doesn’t have to reveal the details of their conversation about him. But the guy figures out who she’s talking about on his own.

“Doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter,” he agrees to close the topic, which was pleasant for him, although he would have happily listened to the details.

“Did you go straight home? Or did you stay a little longer near the diner?” she changes the subject, unaware that the story continued there.

“Almost,” Matt admits honestly. “I had a conversation too,” he remembers the talk that revealed Lizzy’s open affection.

“With whom?” the girl suspects that Jeremy might have mentioned the subject of their conversation.

“Oh, I ran into a friend,” now Matt dodges, so he doesn’t reveal his awareness of Lizzy’s secret conversations.

“What did you talk about?” she tries to find out the details, hoping to learn if Matt spoke with a mutual acquaintance.

“The usual,” Matt smiles into the phone. “About girls, food, business.”

“What did you agree on?” she mentally concludes that it sounds like a conversation with Jeremy.

“Nothing. He had some idea. He told me about it, invited me to participate. He wanted to sign a contract, to make it all official,” he tries not to speak directly so Lizzy won’t guess, but the girl understands everything much easier than he thinks.

“And you signed?” she tries to control her emotions, remembering the hot paper permeated with red veins.

“No. I wasn’t happy with a few points in the contract,” he answers evasively.

“What exactly didn’t you like?” Lizzy subtly wants to know what Jeremy offered.

“It was a good offer. I would’ve agreed. It just wasn’t profitable. The price of entry into the business was too high. And the terms of cooperation weren’t primarily beneficial for me. So, I didn’t go for a predetermined losing deal,” he mentally checks all his words so he doesn’t give away the actual events.

“You did the right thing,” Lizzy says with relief. “How many people make mistakes by signing contracts that are clearly unprofitable for them. You’re lucky you realized the seriousness of the offer in time.”

“You’re talking strangely,” Matt notices that Lizzy’s words clearly confirm the correctness of his decision about the contract. “Have you had a similar experience?”

“I’ve heard about things like that many times. I haven’t experienced it myself,” she tries to avoid direct admission so she doesn’t ruin the guy’s opinion of her.

“And what have you heard about it?” Matt is inexperienced in such matters and hadn’t heard anything. But now he knows for sure they are talking about the same thing.

“When they enter the business, people are happy. Everything they wanted and could ever want comes to them. All their ventures are successful, even better than expected. But it doesn’t last long. Eventually, the business fails. The joy and success end. And people have to pay with everything they have. Even more than they received from the business. More than they had before it.”

“How can you lose more than you have, if a person has nothing at all?” Matt is surprised, not realizing the full seriousness of the contract.

“Everyone has something priceless that is more valuable than money,” Lizzy knows for sure that the price of the contract is the soul. “But people forget about it. They don’t think that there’s still something more ahead, after death. They want profit now. And some don’t believe in the existence of their wealth. That’s what contractors like that take advantage of. I mean, businessmen,” she clarifies, trying to somehow hide the truth about her conversation with Jeremy.

“Contractors?” Matt, unfortunately for the girl, heard that very word.

“People who want to officially confirm a business partnership,” Lizzy tries to wriggle out.

“You haven’t been taken advantage of by people like that, have you? You sound so confident, as if you know all this from your own experience?” Matt suspects that the conversation with Jeremy might have ended differently. The man spoke of Lizzy as a friend he managed to strike a deal with.

“I don’t have that kind of experience,” the girl answers sharply. “I’m not interested in business. And I advise you not to be either.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” Matt says more gently. “And don’t get involved in that kind of business. It’s really not worth it. I can assure you.”

“Assure me?” Lizzy asks again. “You said you hadn’t heard examples of business partnerships with official business arrangements,” she tries to lead Matt to the truth.

“I just have a feeling,” Matt gets out of it.

“Ah, a feeling,” she repeats, letting him know she understands why Matt said that.

“In matters like this, you need to listen to your instincts,” the guy continues to dodge. “Money, goods, and terms are secondary. The main thing is that your soul remains intact,” his eyes open as he realizes he let slip a key word.

“Soul?” Lizzy emphasizes the key word. “Intact?”

“Well, yeah. So you don’t worry or regret getting involved in the business. Otherwise, you won’t earn what you want, and you won’t get any pleasure. Sometimes business leads people to the grave.”

“That happens,” Lizzy confirms. “I’ve heard a few cases. When your soul isn’t intact, your nerves are tense, constant worrying, nervous breakdowns. Anything can happen in that state,” she hints with a sly voice.

“Exactly. It’s better not to risk it,” Matt agrees. “Should we meet tomorrow?”

“We can meet,” she says calmly, hiding her excitement. “I haven’t made a decision about us yet,” she tries not to give false hope.

“I understand completely. I just want to see you,” Matt smiles, hoping for her consent.

“Okay, we’ll see each other,” Lizzy agrees.

“Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” he thinks approximately what time.

“Just not too early, I want to sleep in,” the girl asks.

“In the evening. At seven. Is it okay that it’ll be dark?” he hopes for a closer interaction. Daytime isn’t at all what he wants.

“Good. Just come get me. I won’t go out alone in the dark, you never know who else might want to talk to me on the street,” Lizzy tries to hide her fear of the dark.

“Of course, I’ll come get you! That’s what I’m for,” he smiles into the phone again, feeling like a real man, ready to protect the girl from unwanted conversationalists.

“Then until tomorrow,” Lizzy hangs up.

“Until tomorrow,” Matt puts the phone down contentedly. He lies back down in bed. He puts his hands behind his head and closes his eyes. He dreams of how tomorrow’s meeting will go. If the girl agreed to meet in the evening, then it’s a date. Lizzy definitely made a decision. A positive one, for sure.