Lisa hurried upstairs with the flowers, and Irina sat in her office waiting for her.
She was in a somewhat poor state, looking as if she hadn't slept well, and at that moment was propping her forehead with one hand and holding a half-empty cigarette in the other, her eyes closed tightly, looking uncomfortable.
Lisa was a little trembling, afraid of angering this superior.
That last scolding still shadowed her.
"Irina, what did you want to see me about?"
The other looked up at that, glancing slightly twice at Lisa, who looked a million miles away at the moment, which seemed to sting her eyes, and twisted her cigarette out in the ashtray with some annoyance.
She stared into Lisa's face for a long moment before she spoke, her voice hoarse from the constant smoking.
"When you left Ameri
