Chapter 190 - 4

Marek Marczak felt a strange unease in his heart. What could have happened that Andrzej Nowicki, who irritated him with his endless correctness, gets drunk alone in a bar?

Did he quarrel with Dominik?

His heart leapt as it clung to this awakening hope. If this harmonious duo has decided to part ways, they will both be free. The events of the last few months meant that Marek already understood how to treat Dominik in order to maintain his affection. As for Andrzej, it will be a bit more difficult with him, of course, but a handsome photographer has already experienced the pleasure of being with a man and is not so hostile to Marek. All it takes is a little patience, a little pressure here and there, and Nowicki himself will be asking to be in his embrace...

Yes, it was a great opportunity. But it had to be played well.

"One more" Andrzej asked the bartender, drinking a glass of vodka.

"I'm afraid you're fed up," the bartender objected.

"I will decide..."

Marczak put a hand on his shoulder. The gesture was seemingly gentle and friendly, but the manager put enough pressure on it to cool down the enthusiasm of drunk Nowicki.

"You want to drink, you will drink, but not here," he said, and took out his credit card to pay the bill. "I have something much better than this."

The bartender did not take offense at this comment. He took care of his credit card and gave Marek a pin-pad and asked for a pin.

Nowicki was so fuzzy that he did not even notice what was going on around him. He just stared at Marczak with drunken stubbornness, as if his eyes could not move at all. Marek saw many drunk men and women, but never Andrzej. The photographer's cheeks were red and his eyes glowed as if glazed with tears. He was serious, focused, which gave his face a bit of comedy in this situation. After drinking, however, he looked so beautiful that Marek had to fight with all his might not to take his chin and not dig his delightful lips with his lips.

"Marczak" Nowicki moaned suddenly. "How did you survive the seven years?"

Marek easily followed his thinking. Yes, it was definitely trouble in paradise. After all, he was with Dominik for seven years, Andrzej - only a few months, out of which a couple for no longer than two. Śliwiński was unique in every aspect, but his physical, absurd beauty and unusual sensitivity made him a difficult partner. Dominik did not demand or expect anything, on the contrary, he was willing to give everything of himself, but because of this, the lover's shoulders had greater responsibility and greater fear that he would be able to keep this exceptional man in a relationship.

Marczak managed this art for seven years. Andrzej apparently had problems with that already.

"Come on, let me tell you."

"Yes?" Nowicki asked, a bit childish.

"I'll tell you anything you want. And then I'll drive you home," he added. He did not want to do it, to take Nowicki into Dominik's hands, but Andrzej was living there now. He was surprised when the photographer suddenly broke free from his grip.

"No!" he heard his firm objection. What was it about, going out with him or going home?

"Don't make scenes," Marek pointed out. Nowicki immediately mastered himself.

"I don't want to see him anymore," he muttered under his breath.

So that's it, triumphed Marczak. The two argued so badly that it might take weeks before they even decided to talk to each other. There was no point in pretending to him that Marek was not happy about it, but he couldn't be too hasty in dealing with Andrzej. One false step and the photographer will not only escape him, but will never decide to trust him in anything.

"Then I won't drive you home," he agreed. "In return, you tell me what happened."

Nowicki did not answer, he just hung his head resignedly. Marek managed to get him out of the bar without any problems and put him in a taxi.

Andrzej was quiet and depressed. As long as they were in the taxi, Marek didn't want to ask him anything. He could not count on the driver's discreet ear, so he did not want to risk the fact that he would learn sensational information from Dominik's private life and would like to sell it. The actor had too many problems on his pretty head now anyway. However, when they entered the apartment, Marczak immediately put pressure on Nowicki.

"Speak."

"Piss off."

Not only depressed, but also aggressive. Well, well, something really interesting had to happen.

"Don't be a tough guy," Marek growled. "Did you fight?"

Andrzej grimaced but did not answer.

"Listen..."

Marek was interrupted by the sound of the telephone ring coming from Nowicki's cell phone. The photographer didn't even react, although the signal was loud, clear and vibrating.

"You're not picking up?"

"No."

The phone rang for several dozen seconds and they stood mute opposite each other waiting for the end of the signal. When he broke off, Marek spoke up.

"Is that Dominik?"

"I do not know. Probably so. He calls me, he writes..."

If the two had argued, Dominik would have shot a huff and wouldn't have called. Something else must have happened.

"I'll make you some coffee and you can tell me what happened," Marek suggested, a little anxious. He knew both of them, although it was impossible to say how well and it looked like Dominik had done something to hurt Andrzej, this tough, brave man.

"I'm stupid," Nowicki confessed, sitting down on the couch. He was already holding a cup of coffee in his hand, but he was not drinking it. With his head down, depressed and helpless, he reminded Marek of that scene in his office when he came to accuse him of kidnapping Śliwiński. At the sight of this, a certain tenderness appeared in Marczak's heart.

"Well ... What did Dominik do?"

"I was fine, really" it looked like Andrzej was talking. "Not a lone wolf, but with no one permanently. I wanted to fuck someone, I picked up some girl. Simple. Because a relationship... A relationship between two people is trust, devotion, faithfulness... Really, don't get involved in a relationship if you don't want to be faithful!"

Marek didn't quite understand.

"Are you saying you met someone else?"

"Not me! Dominik! He and she... Scarlett..."

"What is he and Scarlett?"

"They kissed, don't you understand? In the middle of the street. I've seen them. I saw them with my own eyes..."

Marczak tried to process the information he received. How is it, Dominik, his Dominik, kissing a woman? In the middle of the street?

"You must have been wrong," he said, believing what he was saying. "Dominik would never do something like this."

"I know what I saw."

Of course he knew, only his interpretation could be distant from what was really happening. However, Nowicki was drunk, and thus his mind was not fit enough to comprehend and process all information. Marek hated discussions with people in such a state. It was easy to pull them by the tongue, but to convince them with rational arguments - there was no chance.

This time the phone rang in his pocket. Maybe it's Dominik? He thought, and he reached for the mobile. The name of Iwo Mężyński came to him. The kid probably wanted to meet, but Marek had more interesting company. He rejected the call and looked at Nowicki.

The photographer sat quietly, his head bowed, the cup in his hand tilting dangerously. He was falling asleep, poor thing. Marek smiled with satisfaction. Here he has at his home, within reach of his hands, one of the two men for whom he not only feels lust at this moment. He could do anything, absolutely anything with him.

***

Marczak hung up the telephone and crossed the matter to be done from his notebook. Agnieszka, one of his older actresses, was given the role he was striving for.

Agnieszka was never the star of the foreground, but she sold the background perfectly well. She was an irreplaceable support character - a caring friend, a malicious colleague from the office, a jealous ex-fiancée. She was gifted, but not beautiful enough for a star. With age, however, her beauty acquired quality. Just like a noble wine. Immediately after this role, he will have to deal with thi foreground. There was a novel series for middle-aged housewives, and Marek knew there were plans to bring it to the big screen. Agnieszka would be perfect for the role of the main character.

He will have to make an appointment with a few people about this.

Marek glanced at the desk where the edition of today's journal lay. On the cover, he clearly saw a couple kissing in the rain. Even without the flashy headline, he would have guessed it was Dominik Śliwiński and Scarlett Yang. Well, they chose the circumstances and the place for such presentations pretty good, no what!