“— Hello, Lena!”
Angelina spotted someone familiar and waved.

“— Hello!”
Lena smiled warmly. “You haven’t dropped by in a while.”

“Work’s been non-stop, no time for vacations. My daughter’s in ninth grade now.”

“Ah, right… If I recall, you usually vacation around the end of June. There’s a celebration, a birthday…”
Lena, the travel agent, tried to remember. Angelina Sergeeva had been her client for years.

“No, my birthday’s in winter,” Angelina laughed. “But my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in late June. We usually plan our vacation around it. We’d like to do the same this year… if time allows.”

“I can help you find a tour. That’s what I’m here for.”
They exchanged a few more words and agreed to continue the conversation via messenger, then went their separate ways.

That evening, Angelina mentioned the encounter to her husband.

“— Huh, that happens,” he muttered without looking up.

“Looks like we’re not going anywhere this year,” Angelina sighed. “Our daughter has exams, and I’m swamped.”

“You know what... I’ll take care of the vacation this time.”

“Really?” She laughed. “Fifteen years of marriage and this is your first initiative.”

“Aw, come on,” he waved a hand. “Don’t act like I don’t contribute.”

“Oh, I’d never downplay your main contribution.” She gestured toward their daughter, hunched over an English workbook.

“Exactly. And beyond her, I’ve done plenty. Just trust me on this.”

Angelina paused, trying to figure out what sparked this new enthusiasm. Ivan was never a planner — she even made his shopping lists.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Surprise me. I’ve got too much on my plate anyway.”

Ivan smirked. “Oh, I’ll surprise you all right…”

Angelina, meanwhile, had deadlines, exam stress, housework, bills, meals. As always, everything rested on her. Ivan had been the silent background of their home life — never causing trouble, but never helping much either.

But this time, he got online and began researching hotels. For once, she felt cared for. Tired and drained, she allowed herself a moment of optimism. Maybe it took fifteen years, but he was finally stepping up.

Even her mother was shocked.

“— He volunteered? Says he’s planning a surprise?”
“Yup. Just hope it’s not a trip to Antarctica,” Angelina joked.

“Or the Bermuda Triangle,” her mother snorted. “You never know with men. Keep an eye on him.”

“Oh, come on, Mom. We micromanage them for years, then act surprised when they can’t do anything on their own.”

Angelina, of course, couldn’t help nudging things along — she quietly handed Ivan the business card for her long-time travel agent, Lena.

Ivan, inattentive as ever, assumed the card was from a colleague — maybe Anna Petrova, the woman from his office who’d been showing him dreamy resort pictures.

On the big day, Ivan called Lena.

“I’m planning a romantic trip for two,” he said confidently.

“I was just gathering options for other clients for that timeframe,” Lena replied. “I’ll send you some ideas right now.”

Five minutes later, Ivan was reviewing a list of hotels.

“This one’s too basic... no beach... this one, though—yes.”

“— I’ll take the third option,” he told Lena.

“You saw it’s a city hotel? Not right on the beach.”

“That’s fine. We’re going for romance, not the sea,” he laughed. “The important thing is a comfy bed.”

Lena chuckled. She’d been in this business over 20 years. She loved clients like Ivan — not the nervous moms reading reviews all month, or penny-pinchers obsessed with exchange rates. No, the best clients were men in love.

“Shall I book it?”

“Yes. I’ll stop by tomorrow with the money.”

“You could just transfer it.”

“I’d prefer to pay in person. Not big on online payments.”

“As you wish.”
Lena shrugged. She’d seen enough over the years to know a red flag when she heard one.

That evening:

“— Found a great place,” Ivan told his wife. “Good food, clean rooms.”

“— And beachfront?”

“Well... it’s a ten-minute walk.”

“— I thought you said beachfront.”

“You know how much that costs? If you want to pay double, be my guest. Speaking of which... I need money to book the trip.”

“You need me to pay?”
Angelina blinked.

“Come on, I did all the planning! You know my salary.”

She eyed him, half amused, half annoyed. “Didn’t you say this vacation was your big surprise?”

“I’ve organized it! Now I just need the funds. Cash or card?”

“I don’t have it right now. My salary’s not in yet.”

“If we wait, there might be no spots left!”

“Can’t you reserve with a partial payment?”
She started pulling up reviews on her phone, but her daughter came in, hungry from tutoring, and the conversation was cut short.

By morning, Angelina had forgotten the money altogether. Ivan, on the other hand, showed up at the agency and handed Lena the passports.

“— The money’s coming via transfer,” he said confidently. “My wife prefers it that way.”

“What’s your agency’s name again?” he texted Angelina while at Lena’s desk.

“— Spherical Earth,” she replied. “I’ll send the transfer now.”

Lena glanced at the passports. One of them — Ivan Sergeev — was already in her system. “Have you been with us before?”

Ivan stiffened. “Why?”

“You traveled with Angelina Sergeeva last year, no?”

“We’re... divorced,” he blurted, blushing. “Not traveling with her. This is Anna Petrova’s passport.”

“I see,” Lena said coolly. “Your girlfriend?”

“Yes. My girlfriend.”

She kept a neutral face, though her blood boiled. Just a week ago, Angelina had stopped by, saying they were planning their anniversary. And now—divorced?

Lena had seen this before. Her own husband had left her for an Anna — younger, flashier, all duck lips and Instagram filters. Now here was Ivan, booking a secret getaway for his affair partner, on his wife's dime.

She knew the funds had come from Angelina’s card. After all, she had the past payment records.

Ivan left in high spirits. “All set, darling! We’re flying to the sea,” he texted — not to his wife, but to Anna.

Angelina got a call a few minutes later. It was Lena.

“— Hello?”

“Hi, Angelina. It’s Lena from Spherical Earth.”

“Is something wrong with the booking?”

“Well... yes and no. Your husband was here today. He booked a trip for two. But not for you.”

“I’m sorry... what?”

“He asked for a tour with a woman named Anna Petrova. He claimed you were divorced. I just... I couldn’t stay silent. The payment came from your account. I thought you should know.”

Angelina froze. Then whispered, “He said it was a surprise... That he was finally stepping up...”

“I’m so sorry. I’ve been through this too. It’s better you find out now.”

“Yes,” Angelina said, her voice steadying. “Can we cancel?”

“I haven’t finalized anything. Your money is safe. He won’t be going anywhere.”

“Perfect.”

“Just don’t ask me to make fake tickets and let him go with a dummy voucher.”

“Oh no,” Angelina replied coldly. “That part’s my job.”

She crafted a very realistic fake itinerary and sent it to Ivan from an anonymous email.

Three days before the flight, with her daughter’s exams finally over, Ivan couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“— Darling,” he said grandly. “As a gift for our anniversary… I’m leaving you.”

“Alright,” Angelina said, not looking up from her spreadsheets.

“— I’m serious. I’m not going to the store. I’m leaving.”

“Good luck.”

“I’m going on vacation with someone who truly appreciates me. I’m finally going to be a man!”

“Fly, eagle,” she said. “Just don’t fly too high, or it’ll hurt more when you fall.”

He ranted. She put on headphones.

Three days later, Ivan and Anna stood in line at the airport with their bags, only to learn that their tickets were fake and they weren’t on any flight manifest.

Security got involved. Ivan, of course, blamed his “crazy ex.” Angelina simply texted back:

“Lena is my witness. You tried to steal from me. If you don’t back off, I’ll press charges.”

They divorced. Ivan walked away with nothing — no apartment, no car. Everything had been under Angelina’s name.

Anna, furious to find out he was broke and land-bound, kicked him out.

Angelina and her daughter spent a blissful week at the sea. And Lena? She became more than a travel agent — she became a friend.