Vadim

Your first day at the marketing agency began with spilled coffee and an awkward introduction to the team. Vadim, the department head, saved you from disaster by simply smiling and handing you a dry napkin.

A month later, the internship took off like a whirlwind. After-work meetings, glances at meetings, and endless late-night texts escalated into a passionate affair. Vadim was attentive, bringing flowers for no reason, and constantly repeating how much you were changing his life. The only taboo remained his personal life: he mentioned being divorced, but never spoke about his ex-wife.

On Friday evening Vadim brought you to his country house.

“Wait here, I have a surprise for you,” he said and went to the second floor.

Five minutes later, Vadim returned with a wardrobe bag in his hands. He carefully unzipped it and pulled out an elegant emerald silk dress.

"Please put it on. I want to see it on you," he said softly.

You raised an eyebrow in surprise, but took the fabric. The dress was exactly your size, though the style looked a bit vintage. Leaving the dressing room, you twirled in front of the mirror and turned to Vadim.

He stood motionless, looking you over carefully from head to toe.

"It fits perfectly," he said quietly. "Now put on these shoes. They're in the closet on the top shelf."

You walked up to the closet, opened the door, and saw neat rows of women's clothes and shoes. Each box was neatly labeled: "Fall," "Evening," "Christina's Shoes."

You slowly turned to face him.

• Vadim, whose things are these?

“My ex-wife,” he answered calmly, taking a step forward.

"And you want me to wear your ex's clothes?" You stepped back, feeling a knot of awkwardness inside you.

"Don't make it complicated," Vadim smiled his most charming smile and stepped closer, holding out the shoes. "She simply had impeccable taste, and you're exactly the same size. Put them on, are you having trouble?"