Chapter 5

“And you’re a natural blonde, Gelya. This Kira will eat you alive, limp or no limp. Remember Regina and those severe buns of yours.”

“I need a wig. A red one! Contacts, glasses, and leg warmers are absolutely essential. Colorful ones! Does anyone still wear those?”

“Well, actually, I do sometimes.” My sister lowered her legs from the bed. “I even have traffic-light-colored ones for a mix-and-match party, and ones with skulls. I bought those for Halloween.”

“Zhenka!” I hopped over to my sister and kissed her on the forehead. “Go get them!”

“Gelya, but then they definitely won’t hire you!”

But I was already standing in the middle of the bedroom like a heron, hands on my hips, smiling broadly for the first time that day.

“Me? Ha! Of course they won’t hire me! They absolutely won’t hire me! I know Orlov. He’ll torpedo me, one hundred percent! Imperial-CUBE is an enviable agency that rubs shoulders with celebrities and influential people. I’m sure that tail-swishing centaur dreams day and night of getting himself a secretary whose resume includes, if not a Miss World appearance, then at least the Miss City title and crown! But he’ll have to hire me. I swear, I won’t leave them a choice! I’ll sue for discrimination in front of witnesses! Zhenka, that job is going to be mine!”

“Actually, sis, you have a killer body,” my younger sister said, offended. “I’m saying that in case you forgot, and your idiot Arnold was too jealous to tell you.”

“To hell with Arnold! He still hasn’t even called me, so onto the scrap heap of history with him! And I’ll hide my figure! Sorry, but I’m going to have to dig through your closet.”

“I don’t mind, but… Gelyechka, what happens after?” Zhenka asked cautiously while I, inspired by my own decision, stood there in bikini panties with one leg drawn up and bandaged, floating somewhere in the clouds of my future career.

I shrugged.

“After?” The answer came easily. It practically volunteered itself. “I’ll ruin Orlov’s love life, wreck his reputation, and make him choke on his own words. That’s what happens after! I will never forgive him for calling me an incompetent airhead!”