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going on without my knowing about it, it didn’t threaten me with serious trouble. I couldn’t get into trouble when Ray was beside me. I didn’t want to know anything; I wanted to forget. I wanted to stay in his embrace and do nothing. I hadn’t called my job and it seemed that I’d missed an incoming call. Let it be. I didn’t care.
    “I want to dial one of these numbers,” Ray said, putting the empty glass on a side table.
    “They will know for sure I’ve found the phone if you do.”
    “Not necessarily. We can figure out something. Then we’ll go to the police.”
    “Police? You think I should?”
    “Of course. I don’t think it’s a joke; too much work has been done for that. It may be something really serious. Just imagine what luck it is that you picked up this phone instead of someone else.”
    “If I hadn’t seen you, I wouldn’t have stopped and none of this would have happened. I would have stayed unaware.”
    “So, you’re glad you found me?” Ray narrowed his eyes.
    “No! I still regret that. I regretted it yesterday, I regret it today and I can regret it even more now.”
    He chuckled, leaned toward me, and kissed me quickly on the lips.
    “You’re adorable. These scamcases …scumbags, won’t stop what they’ve started. How could I have lived without you all these years? My wife looked like you, but she wasn’t you. I came to my senses in time and didn’t destroy my life or hers.”
    He was looking at me, and warmth from the wine or desire slowly spread over my body. All three years we had worked together, I felt it every time he approached at a dangerous distance. I was such an idiot. Or maybe it was the way this was supposed to go. Maybe all of this really wasn’t a coincidence.
    “We need to figure it out.” His voice became hoarse and he cleared his throat before picking up the phone.
    “I’ll refresh the drinks.” I picked up the glasses and went to the kitchen to fill them up. I took the bottle of wine out of the fridge and put it to my burning cheek. Maybe my friend was right. You can’t love a man like this. It was too far to fall if you got disappointed. But I was not going to be disappointed. Not in him. Not ever. No matter what. Even if he had used me, I would be fine with it. I had gotten what I wanted and I had no regrets.
    “Hello.” I heard, and my heart went cold. He was calling one of those people who had been following me. I peeked out of the kitchen and watched his beautiful face. It was changing expressions, his lips were moving.
    “I found this phone yesterday and just now thought about it … No, I don’t need a reward, I can just give it to you … I can do it …” He looked at me. I shrugged and nodded. “I think an hour and a half … Maybe some mall or something?”
    I returned to the kitchen and poured wine into the glasses. So, the person who answered the call didn’t know that I had his phone. That was good. At least, I thought it was good, but only time would tell. Ray, as it had always been during our time working together, took all the responsibility. I liked it. With Jason, I had to make all the decisions: from the restaurant to sex position. Sometimes he initiated things, but he did it apprehensively, as if he felt guilty about it. He wasn’t weak, no. Rather, a strong and confident man who would let a woman lead him, and arrange it as if he was happy with the situation and we did things equally. I would say he was happy. Only, in spite of my obstinacy and a desire to do everything myself, sometimes I wanted to just be a woman and shift the responsibility onto a strong man’s shoulders. No, Jason couldn’t organize lurking or stalking.
    Ray entered the kitchen as I was about to come out.
    “Did you hear?”
    “We’re meeting in an hour and a half. Was it a man?”
    “Yes. I’d guess about thirty. That’s all I can tell about him. I want you to stay here while I’m meeting him.”
    I wanted someone to take care of me, to save