Agata slowly turned toward Sviridov, gave him a teasing look, then shifted her gaze to his companion—measuring her with a glance too—and finally said:
“Bear cub, I’m not your squirrel! Don’t pretend to be the master of the universe in front of me. We both know that it’s far from true.”
“Are you sure?”
Without breaking eye contact with Agata, Vladimir extended a card to the jeweler and said:
“ I’m buying this ring! Double the price!”
“Sviridov, you’ve lost your mind?”
“Do you need the box, or are you going to wear it straight away?”
“What?” Agata was stunned.
“Anyway, for the ring a box isn’t needed.
Happy birthday, Agata Pavlovna!”