"How could he just vanish? How is that even possible?" Daniel sank into his chair, the pounding of his accelerated heartbeat making it difficult to concentrate.

"He's just fucking gone!" Pavel growled, gritting his teeth and snapping his pencil in half. "He hasn't responded to calls or emails for two days, and it turns out he sold his apartment a month ago," Pavel rubbed his bald head vigorously with a quick, jerky motion. "He was planning to disappear, the bastard!"

"So, what's next?"

"What's next?" Pavel slammed his fist on the table. "The client will file a lawsuit against us. But... we're in the clear; we've used the data they provided - there's no basis for legal action," Pavel's eyes darted around the conference room where he'd assembled the team. They avoided making eye contact with him; his deathly pale, almost bluish complexion made him look particularly unsettling."

"No discussions with anybody outside this team, no direct contact with the client. I have an emergency meeting with all the partners scheduled in..." Pavel checked his watch. "In five minutes. We'll decide on our next steps there. Everyone is dismissed."

Daniel, struggling to digest the shocking turn of events, rose unsteadily from his chair and made his way towards the door. This outcome had never crossed his mind, even in his worst-case scenarios. Zakhar Zinoviev had masterfully executed a cunning scam. After securing the eagerly awaited payment, he'd vanished without a trace, likely enjoying champagne under a new name somewhere in Asia. Daniel pounded his fist against the wall, feeling no pain, just a burning desire to destroy something.

"Keep it down," Nikita whispered gravely. "We can't let anyone find out, understand? Let the higher-ups handle it. We're just cogs in the machine; we shouldn't expect much. I suggest you head home - after all, you presented your findings to Bystritsky. Who knows how this will unfold?"

"Alright," Daniel said, a shiver running down his spine at the thought of Alexander's and, more importantly, his father's anger. "I'll ask Pavel to remove me from the project and book a flight."

"Agreed," Nikita said, lowering his voice once the office door had shut behind them. "So much work was done. Zakhar Zinoviev really played us. I hope the Bystritskys can track him down with their connections. He thought through everything so well - the numbers looked flawless."

"It's like pouring from an empty cup now," Mikhail sighed despondently. "I hope our personal reputations won't be affected by the company's fuckup."

"We need to remember that team information is confidential," Igor added cautiously, adjusting his glasses. "I'm concerned about something else: the older Bystritsky is known for his old-school, gangster-like tactics from the '90s. And the younger Bystritsky knows all of us by name."

"Calm down," Nikita exclaimed. "What's our part in this? Honestly, we were just working with the information given to us. Who could've guessed we were dealing with a con artist? His company and background seemed spotless."

"What do you mean, calm down?" Igor shot back, raising his voice. "I want to assess all the risks! If they're too high, I'm out. I'll take unpaid leave and disappear to Siberia until things settle. I don't want to end up on the wrong side of some shady dealings."

"That's enough," Mikhail interjected sternly. "We're spiraling over nothing. Management will handle it; they've dealt with worse. We're in the clear; we haven't done anything wrong."

Watching the heated exchange, Daniel wiped his sweaty hands discreetly on his pants beneath the table. He dreaded any fallout from this mess. The idea of being targeted by thugs was chilling - it couldn't happen to him, it just wasn't possible. He was simply doing his job, giving his best, like everyone else.

"He underwent a security check, right?" Daniel asked cautiously, casting a glance at Mikhail, who seemed more composed than the rest.

"Absolutely, they did. Bystritsky ran legal due diligence on them, and the FSB even had their security officers involved," Maxim said, taking a leisurely sip of his water. "If Bystritsky's FSB connections found nothing, how could anyone have anticipated this? It's impossible. I suggest we all calm down and try to focus on something else; there's nothing we can do about it now anyway."

Daniel licked his parched lips and reached for a glass of water from the table, his fingers trembling visibly. To conceal the shaking, he rested his hands on his knee. Only then did he look back at Dmitri Vasilyevich, who was waiting in silence.

Dmitri Vasilyevich's calm, almost detached expression remained unchanged throughout the entire session - typical for him. He managed to be both detached and deeply involved at the same time. Daniel couldn't comprehend how he did it, but he realized that he wouldn't be able to manipulate him: Dmitri Vasilyevich was a more formidable, skillful, and experienced player than his daughter. Ksenia, sitting a little further away, continued writing in her notebook, deliberately emphasizing her role as just an assistant for now.

"Describe your emotions in more detail, please, Daniel," Dmitri Vasilyevich asked gently, realizing that there would be no continuation of the story. "What exactly did you feel when you learned about the fraud?"

"It seems to me that I have described them in sufficient detail," Daniel cut off with restrained anger. "Shock at the unexpected turn of events. Fear that there would be dangerous consequences. My emotions then are irrelevant; my emotions now are more important. The feeling of powerlessness and helplessness, the longing, the rage, the hatred..." Daniel stopped talking, choking on the intensity of his feelings.

"Good," Dmitri Vasilyevich answered peacefully, bowing his head slightly - the sunbeam, bright before sunset, illuminated his neatly combed gray hair without a single dark hair. "Then please describe to whom or what you feel these emotions."

Daniel, grimly silent, scrutinized the silver hair glinting in the sun, the faded blue eyes, the inexpressive facial features. For some reason, he felt compelled to memorize the image of the man who held indirect power over him. Dmitri Vasilyevich left a peculiar impression: despite his almost biblical, graceful appearance - quite memorable and unusual - his facial features became elusive after the meeting. Every time Daniel tried to reconstruct his face in his memory, he could only recall those milky-blue eyes, brimming with power, conveying a different meaning than the one spoken aloud.

The silence lingered, growing more oppressive with each passing second. Dmitri Vasilyevich waited, watching him with the same serene expression. Daniel remained stubbornly silent, scrutinizing him. Ksenia nervously rustled the pages of her notebook, a sound that, for some unknown reason, offered a bit of comfort to Daniel - it showed he had at least reached her, even if she couldn't help him now.

"Well, our time has come to an end," Dmitri sighed, snapping the lid off the vintage pocket watch. The shiny lid let a dazzling ray of sunlight into his eyes, causing Daniel to squint in relief. "See you next time, Daniel."

"Goodbye," Daniel responded, standing up and curiously looking at the watch, an artifact from the last century that fascinated him. The shiny silver circle on the long, massive chain added a surreal touch to Dmitri Vasilyevich's otherwise modern appearance, as if he were an actor who had forgotten to remove a prop from a different character.

***

"You can't be serious, can you?" Daniel sighed, exasperated, while Alexander chuckled warmly.

"Absolutely, I'm serious. You're a beginner, so let's start with a gentle slope," Alexander said.

"But this slope is for kids!" Daniel protested, jabbing his poles into the snow. "Are you joking?"

"It's not just for kids; it's designed for beginners and, well, specific age groups," Alexander grinned at Daniel's annoyed expression. "You're adorable when you're mad. I'm tempted to kiss you right now."

"Don't even think about it," Daniel stepped back, his cheeks reddening. "There are people around. And kids!"

"Aren't kids people too?" Alexander laughed, waving off Georgy, who was calling him over. "Hold on, Goshka! Daniel, go ahead and ride with the instructor. If he thinks you're ready for a more challenging slope, you can go with us. Sound good?"

"Okay," Daniel said, glancing at the waiting instructor. "Just be safe out there, Sasha."

"I will, love," Alexander hesitated for a moment, feeling he stepped too far, then repeated with emotion, "Love," pulling Daniel close for a quick, almost a peck-like kiss.

"Fuck," Daniel muttered, turning abruptly on his skis and checking the slope to see if anyone had caught that impulsive moment. Alexander's sudden sentimentality felt out of place amidst this group. While Mark, Boris, and their wives Varya and Katya remained oblivious to any underlying tension and greeted Daniel warmly, Georgy didn't hide his disapproval of Daniel's presence. Nastya greeted him warmly, but Georgy's confident wife, the stunning Natella, barely acknowledged him with a cold glance. Georgy, with a discernible sneer, remained silent, yet the tension was palpable, suggesting he might confront Daiel later. Unfazed, Alexander continued as if nothing happened, announcing to everyone that he and Daniel were now living together and greeting Daniel with a friendly kiss on the cheek.

He gave Georgy a stern, cautionary glance, effectively closing the chapter on their exchange that must have taken place earlier.

"Only three days, just three days to get through," Daniel reminded himself as they traveled by plane, car, and then took the chairlift up. He let out a disheartened sigh at the first stop where children disembarked with their nannies and instructors. Skiing never really excited him; speeding down slopes on two planks seemed like a questionable pastime. Now, he found himself amidst the kids and their nannies, with only his guard Tengiz for company among the crowd. Meanwhile, Alexander joyfully joined his friends, heading towards the cable car platform. Daniel watched him with longing, then gloomily crunched towards his instructor.

After an hour or so, things didn't improve. He started feeling cold, and his right knee, which had already suffered three falls, began to ache. Overall, he wasn't feeling the group's enthusiasm. Eventually, even the upbeat instructor gave up trying to cheer him up and left him to his own devices.

Everyone was joyfully embracing the snowy scene: people of all sizes, clad in vibrant skiing suits with faces shielded from the cold, zoomed down slopes of varying steepness. They tumbled, laughed, and eagerly hopped back onto the chairlifts to ascend again. Everyone seemed good at skiing. Even beginners were inching towards more challenging slopes. Amidst this lively scene, Daniel felt out of place, having barely managed the beginner's slope. He sighed, gazing at the majestic mountains, wishing he could put on his winter running gear, plug in his headphones, and escape into the rhythmic tranquility of running. He imagined leaving behind the clamor, letting the monotonous motion dissolve his worries, replaced by the euphoria induced by the radiant sun.

"Why not join in on the skiing?"

Daniel was awakened from his reverie by a rosy-cheeked boy, around five years old, who looked at him with curious eyes. He couldn't recall if the child belonged to Mark or Boris. Each of them had a little one about the same age bundled up against the cold, with only his eyes peeking out from beneath a balaclava and a ski mask. Daniel wasn't accustomed to interacting with kids; he lacked both experience and inclination, so he kept his response brief.

"Feeling tired."

"Because you keep falling"" the boy chided, adjusting his balaclava. The blue of his suit gave away the child's gender beneath it. "Try not to fall," he advised before pressing on. "And who are you?"

"I'm Daniel," he began, finding the boy's question too complex to answer simply. But the boy's curious look continued behind his oversized, sunlit dragonfly-like ski mask. Trying to offer some context, Daniel added, "I'm a friend."

"I can see you're a friend," the boy laughed. "Are you a bodyguard?"

"You could say that," Daniel replied, glancing at Tengiz, who was pacing around to stay warm.

"So why did Uncle Sasha kiss you? Bodyguards aren't usually kissed," the boy pondered, adding, "On the lips."

Damn Alexander. Daniel felt his face flush. Sweat formed on his brow as he scrambled for a response, managing to stammer, "You're imagining things. Why don't you go enjoy your ride?"

"I do not want to. Why did he kiss you?" The boy cocked his head, studying Daniel's puzzled expression.

"Kostya, we need to head down, your mom's called you." Two figures approached them: one dressed in pink, the other in white. The pink-clad woman gently ushered the boy towards the chairlift loading area. The one in white pulled down a frost-covered balaclava to reveal a smiling face.

"I'm Sonya. What's your name?"

"Daniel," he replied, relief evident in his voice. "Is it time to head back?"

"Yes, it's dinner time. Did you not enjoy skiing?"

"Skiing's not really my thing. Is it that obvious?" Daniel chuckled, glancing towards the chairlift station and the lifts descending to the hotel. Judging by her voice and the softness of her cheeks, his companion seemed young, perhaps his age or even younger. A slight flutter in his heart reminded him that he hadn't spoken with women his own age in a long while. He was usually surrounded by men, and the elderly staff of his apartment held no interest. Daria might be the only young woman he'd spoken to, but she didn't really count.

"Of course," Sonya chuckled. "I've never seen someone fall so amusingly on flat ground. The fluffy snow supports you; you just need to maintain your balance. Would you like me to teach you tomorrow?"

"I'd love that," Daniel replied instantly, captivated by her carefree smile. He found himself wishing Sonya would remove her mask to reveal her full face. As if sensing his desire, she pushed the mask up onto her helmet. She was indeed strikingly attractive. The snug mask had left red marks on her clear, rosy skin, lending her a charming panda-like appearance that only enhanced her beauty. Her light brown eyes, shining in the sunlight, resembled honey – thick and inviting. Suddenly, skiing seemed much more appealing, and he had no desire to return to the hotel.

"Great, tomorrow we'll switch things up. Vasya can take Kostya, and I'll work with you. And maybe we can switch to a more informal tone?"

"Sounds good. How long have you been working here?"

"It's just for two weeks. I'm taking my exams early so I can work here. I'll leave before the others to make it back to school. How long are you staying?" Sonya bypassed the rope tow lift in favor of the chairlift, glancing at Tengiz trailing behind them. "Is he with you?"

"He's with me," Daniel replied, a hint of gloom in his voice. He expected her to ask for introductions, which would likely mark the end of their enjoyable conversation. But she didn't, intuitively picking up on his hesitance. She gestured for him to take the seat next to hers on the chairlift. As he lowered the safety bar, even if only for a brief moment, he felt like an ordinary guy chatting with a lovely girl. Turning towards Sonya, he sensed a mutual spark and flashed her a broad smile.

Sonya did most of the talking while Daniel mostly nodded and admired her. The setting sun, casting a golden hue, made her seem radiant, with her blonde eyelashes and eyebrows glowing and her eyes shimmering like honey. Daniel cherished every moment of their short ten-minute descent, reveling in her laughter, her eyelash flutters, and the pure, unblemished innocence of the chat. Even as they parted ways, heading in opposite directions, he found himself still smiling warmly, with Sonya's fresh, rosy face lingering in his mind. This warm feeling persisted, undiminished by Tengiz's sullen presence or Alexander's sudden appearance to greet them on their return.

"Took you long enough. We have been waiting for you already though we started later," Alexander said, nodding at Tengiz, who had already left, and pulled Daniel close, setting aside their skis and poles. "You look radiant. Told you'd enjoy it."

"It was great, yeah," Daniel evaded the kiss, pointing out, "There are kids around."

"We'll take a break after dinner, then we can go up together if you want. We'll ski together," Alexander suggested.

"I'm still getting the hang of it; I'd rather work on my turns," Daniel quickly responded.

"Too bad," Alexander sighed, waiting as Daniel placed the skis and poles in a corner of the expansive hallway designed for ski gear. Keeping an eye on Alexander, Daniel swiftly removed his jacket, slipped under Alexander's arm, and darted through the living room into the bedroom and then the bathroom. He'd successfully dodged him. Sonya's presence still buzzed in his veins, vivid and audible. Looking at his own reflection in the mirror, Daniel began undressing slowly, paying no mind to Alexander's grumbles from the other side of the door. He took his time showering, gradually warming up, reluctant to face what awaited him outside. After drying off and putting on one of the blue terry robes, he took a deep breath and entered the bedroom. Alexander had already left - a small relief.