"Behind the green door" - an excerpt from the book

Wealth, career, big city and comfortable life - or maybe a quiet province where life goes slower?

Ania, the head of the advertising department in a large company, learns about the inheritance left by her boss and friend, Kazimierz. The heroine has a choice: taking over an important position and shares in the company or inheriting a mysterious farm. Anna has to make a difficult decision for herself. Until now, she was betting on a career, and the very thought of living in the country made her nauseous.

But maybe it's worth checking what is behind the green door of the house that she would inherit?

Will Anna dare to put everything on one card and start a new life, away from the personal games of the corporation in which she felt so good? Will she follow the advice of the man with whom she is having an affair - maybe she will rather take the challenge of her fate and dare to take over the restored barn, small house, stable and large tract of land? Or maybe there is something else behind the green door? Maybe ... true love?

Behind the Green Door by Kamila Majewska is a new novel that has been published by the Szelest Publishing House. We already encourage you to read the premiere excerpt from the book:

"This ... I mean what?" I don't understand. Is this some kind of mystery? We were going to talk about this mysterious inheritance, and you still keep me guessing. You don't want to talk, don't talk. There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

I, too, was getting more and more nervous. I thought he was brighter.

"THIS is the inheritance," I said slowly and drained my glass. I offered it to Darek. Fortunately, he read my intentions well this time and refilled it with a new batch of wine.

- I don't understand. Did you get any apartment? House? It's cool! He exclaimed excitedly as he digested the information.

- Not completely.

Darek frowned. I was already opening my mouth to explain to him what these keys had to do when there was a knock on the door.

- You're expecting someone.

Come on, food! Threw it was our dinner and ran to pick up my order. A quick courtesy exchange with the supplier at the door and after a while I was back in the living room. I gave Darek a contrite look.

- I did not have time to prepare anything. You don't blame me for that, do you? I asked as I spread the packages of appetizing-looking rice rings and toppings wrapped in nori on the table. I offered Darek a small package of devilishly spicy wasabi.

- Come on, I love sushi. Besides, you didn't surprise me too much. I'd be surprised if I found you at the pots.

This answer pained me a bit, although it was right.

I decided not to mention this remark. I opened the ginger wrapper and set it between us. For a moment we enjoyed the taste of uramaki with shrimp tempura, cheese and mango sauce. After my first hunger was satisfied, I resumed the conversation.

- These keys are neither from the apartment nor from the house. I mean, from some cottage, maybe so, but the lawyer called it a farm. - I shrugged. - I associate the farm with a pigsty, field, barns. With all that messy village life I wanted to get away from.

- Kazimierz had a field? What, he grew potatoes there? Darek asked incredulously. - The old man was a city dweller, after all. Maybe it's a mistake.

- I didn't want to believe it either, it seems absurd to me. The lawyer has not fully explained what he means by the word "farm". He only gave me the keys and the address. I don't even know what to expect. Kazimierz never mentioned that he had any land. Probably ruined buildings that he inherited himself.

- Maybe it will not be so bad. Is it far? Can you always refuse to accept the inheritance? There is no debt on this? You can sell it just in case.

Too many questions at once. I took a deep breath. I was about to get to the point and explain the most confusing thing in this story.

- The problem is that Kazimierz made certain conditions in his will.

- Conditions? Darek frowned. - Explain.

"I have some… how to say… ultimatum." Two options to choose from. And that's the strangest part of it all.

- Come on, what's the second option! Darek urged me.

- I will get the majority of shares in Wysocki Art from Kazimierz! And I will become the main board member. Of course, if I agree, I blurted out in one breath.

Darek's face tightened. I didn't know if it was delight or surprise. His mouth dropped open, then closed it again, then opened it again, as if searching for the right words. He leaned towards me, grabbed my neck and pulled me against him, placing a luscious kiss on my lips. Interesting reaction, I won't say. And very enjoyable.

- If you agree? It's probably obvious! Great message! He exclaimed, peeling away from me.

I sighed. I liked that kiss very much.

- You will have the decisive voice in the company. It is unimaginable. And this money! You deserved it, no doubt. You have no idea how happy I am. What are you worried about all this? You will have the position you dreamed of. You always wanted it.

- Yes Yes. This option seems very tempting. I worked hard to become someone. But isn't it too simple? And weird? These things only happen in movies. I wait until I wake up and it's all just a dream.

- Should I pinch you? Darek laughed and without waiting for an answer, he pinched my thigh.

- Ouch! That hurts! I knocked him on the shoulder and rubbed my leg. He wasn't too delicate.

- So when do you take over? He asked, his face flushed. I guess he was even more excited than I was.

It actually sounded like a dream come true. After all, I worked hard enough to be someone. With a majority stake in the company, I would be able to decide all important matters. Can I handle all this bureaucracy and managing such a large team of people? And will my coworkers share Darek's joy?

Well, I probably wouldn't have avoided crooked looks and comments behind my back, after all, people with longer experience at Wysocki Art worked with me. More than one person would think that such a big distinction should be given to her. However, I had long ceased to worry about the opinion of others, or so I told myself.

I erased from my memories the whispers of indignation that rang out when I was promoted to more experienced colleagues. Now that Kazimierz is no longer with us, someone might try to throw logs at my feet. The brutal world of advertising and building a career have taught me to be tough, and I've always felt that what I got was rightfully due to me. After all, I was the best, right?

At least that's what Kazik thought. I could not afford either sentiment or remorse. But taking this position would probably also mean letting go of work on commercials, and in the end, I was the best at it.

"I still have to think about all of this," I finally replied.

- And what is there to wonder about? Not only do you get a chance to live, a position many would die for, but you also get a farm that you can sell.

- And here's the catch. - I silently cursed Kazimierz for the situation he put me in.

Darek gave me an expectant look again.

I took a quick sip of my wine and rushed to explain.

- Well, this is the latter option. This is not a complete package. I do not get both the company and the property. I have to choose.

- But the balls! Kazimierz must have been pretty good for the old age. Lunatic.

- Stop! I snapped. It pissed me off that he insulted our former boss, although the fact that Kazimierz took such bizarre steps before his death was crazy.

- You know he was mentally proficient until the end. He was a bit weird, but his head was fine. It is not nice to speak ill of the dead.

- Do not panic. Since when are you such a protector of the dead? Darek snorted, which increased my pressure even more. Inhale, exhale, count to ten… I shoved another piece of sushi into my mouth to keep from saying something unpleasant. After a while I continued:

"If you don't mind, I will finish what I was about to say."

Darek nodded and drank some of his glass. I don't even know when, but we almost emptied

the whole bottle.

- I have to decide whether I want to become the main shareholder, or maybe I choose the farm and completely resign from work in the company ...

- This is absurd! Darek interrupted me angrily. - Then I don't even think you have anything to think about. Call a lawyer and say you choose the company. Come on? He asked, probably expecting to jump up and pick up the phone. - You don't allow the option of leaving the company at all.

"No, of course not," I replied, but without much conviction. - However, Kazimierz in his will insisted that I should not make my decision hastily. I have to accept his will.

- Debiliarism. He's dead anyway, he won't know what decision you've made. What does it matter.

- I don't know, Kazik just meant a lot to me. I want to be fair to him, even if, as you put it, he doesn't know what I made up for, I huffed.

I was not a believer, but there was always a shadow of doubt.

Maybe the dead are looking down on us? What if Kazimierz gets angry that I have not fulfilled his will and will haunt me? I preferred not to tempt fate. - Anyway, I have three months to make a decision. This is when the board meeting is to be held. I will probably have to announce in front of everyone whether I am taking over the reins of the company.

- So at the end of August? Are you going to wait this long before making a decision? Darek asked, putting the phone on the table.

- I have no other choice anyway. This is what the will says. Even if I decide sooner, legally everything will come into force after that time. At least that's what Sadowski explained to me - I explained. I got up from the couch and grabbed the empty bottle. - You want more.

Darek nodded his head eagerly. I wondered if it would be rude to put an open bottle of wine on the table. It is true that I only drank half a glass of it, but I did not want to commit any faux pas.

- And who will handle the business of the company by then? Are you getting ready to take over the position? Someone will show you what and how? - Dariusz asked, breaking my dilemmas about good manners. I shrugged and grabbed the already open bottle.

- You know what, I haven't thought about that. Sadowski mentioned some executors of the will or something, but I don't quite know what that means. Maybe there is a provision in the articles of association that provides for such situations, and there will be someone appointed for this time.

- What are you going to do now?

- I do not know. I think I will go to this farm this weekend, see what kind of place it is. Let's finish this conversation for now. We were supposed to celebrate an almost signed contract. I raised my glass.

- Why do you think about it and go there?

- Darek did not give up. - You only mess your head unnecessarily. Oil is a mess and get ready to take over the company.

- Do you want me to be your boss so much? - I laughed. I was sick of this conversation.

I reached over and brushed his smooth cheek. He quickly picked up, grabbed my hand and started kissing the inside of it. I shuddered.

"Actually, I would have a guaranteed footing at work," he murmured, sliding his tongue up my hand. "We could stay together after hours and do all kinds of things on your desk."

Darek started stroking my neck with one hand, while the other was already diving between my thighs. How hot! Was it because of this wine or was I starting to get excited? My imagination started to take off. I saw an image of my office, my new office, with mahogany furniture and a beautiful, modern painting on the wall. I saw Dariusz knock everything off the table with one move of his hand, ignoring my mock indignation, and throw me on a piece of furniture, pulling my dress up.

I felt myself begin to burn between my legs.

I came back to reality. Darek was just pushing me slightly to make me settle down more comfortably on the couch, unbuttoning my pants with my other hand. I don't know why, but suddenly I blurted out:

- Go there with me!

- What? Darek croaked, stepping away from me. And I think the spell was broken, his desire vanished in an instant.

"Sorry, it occurred to you that you could come with me this weekend." I could use your good judgment right there. - I tried to pull him back to me.

- No way. I will not go to any breathtaking village. Cows, pigs and all that stink? No, it's not for me, he replied firmly.

- Well, if you want - I sighed resigned, quickly giving up.

The atmosphere suddenly cooled. All the heat that was between us a moment ago is gone. I have a feeling for it, no matter what. I stood up, tugging the fabric of my dress.

- You let me jump to the bathroom. Have another drink, I said.

I did not expect that with such a simple question I would provoke such outrage. What was that about? It was just a weekend, a weekend for two. He should be glad we could spend so much time together. An hour ago, his eyes flashed at the thought of giving him the keys to my apartment. The fact that I didn't know what to expect there, but we could look for a hotel nearby.

As I was returning to the living room, I heard that Darek was talking to someone on the phone. I paused for a moment, not wanting to disturb me, but only a hasty goodbye reached my ears. So it can not end the conversation just by pressing the red receiver, without saying goodbye? I entered the room.

- Who called? I blurted out before I could bite my tongue. After all, I'm not his wife, she doesn't have to explain herself to me.

Darek was already standing halfway to the hall and stuffing the phone in his pocket.

"Mother called," he explained, not very surely. - Something happened, some pipe broke in her apartment or something.

Oho, I think someone's shooting here. It's been a long time since I heard such a weak excuse.

- You're running away.

- Yes, I am so sorry. I have to help her. Unfortunately, since my father passed away, I am her handyman. Come here. He pulled me close to him as he tried to move towards the exit door. He pushed his tongue into my mouth as if trying to apologize to me for leaving so suddenly.

- All right, let's call you. I pushed him slightly away from me. - Nothing happened. You only have one mother, and you'd better not catch up with her or she will stop inviting you to Sunday dinners, I joked, realizing it was a bad joke. - Come on, come on. I'll see you at the company on Monday.

Darek waved me again and disappeared through the door. I leaned against the wall. Well, my delightful lingerie will have to wait for its moment.

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