13 Invitation

Out of habit, Andrzej sat in his window, following Dominik bustling around the kitchen. He had no intention of taking pictures of him, and now that the actor knew about his presence, all the less he would do nothing worth photographing for the tabloid, but for several reasons he did not want to leave his observation post. First of all, if not Andrzej, someone else will take his place and although Śliwiński was, as usual, the Little Mr. Perfect, he could have made a mistake by accident. Or - and this worried Nowicki more - Marczak could appear, and then there was a possibility that the situation would develop really unpleasantly. It is true that two days have passed without incident, it did not mean that the next ones will be equally peaceful.

Dominik was very normal when preparing breakfast for himself. His movements were quite free, which allowed Andrzej to believe that his back was no longer bothering him. His right wrist also almost completely regained its natural color. At the sight of this, Nowicki felt a real relief, because in his heart he felt a little remorse that he had not forced Dominik to see a doctor. Everything seemed to go smoothly, however.

The actor spent more time than usual preparing breakfast. A huge mountain of cheese pancakes rose on the plate in front of him, and Andrzej felt his drooling at the sight of them. He glanced down at his unappetizing packed lunch and sighed.

The ringing of a phone he did not recognize brought him out of his thoughts. Was there a stranger here and left his phone? No, the sound is coming from his bag. What the hell is going on?

It took him a moment to realize that he had two phones. He had his private one in his pocket, but in his bag - the one he had used to blackmail Śliwiński. But who could know this number? After all, he did not pass it on to anyone. Probably the customer service people, he thought, and pulled out the still ringing phone. It surprised him that he recognized the number.

"Hello," he said this time, without using a handkerchief to modify his voice.

"Good morning, Dominik here. Dominik Śliwiński. I wonder if you would come over for breakfast ..."

Andrzej turned his face towards the window. In the kitchen of the neighboring house, Dominik was standing with a cell phone to his ear, staring at it closely. Aquamarine eyes sparkled in a slightly flushed face.

"... I fried a little too many pancakes ..."

"I'll be right there," he replied immediately.

Andrzej ran downstairs so quickly that it was only at the exit door that he realized how unnatural his behavior was. After all, as much as he liked pancakes, he hadn't rushed like that to any breakfast since he was a kid. It was the pancakes that called him like that, or the willingness to spend time with Dominik?

Pancakes, he answered himself immediately, and decided not to bother anymore.

The gate to Śliwiński's estate was open. Dominik greeted Andrzej at the door before he could even ring the bell. He was smiling shyly but warmly, and his blue eyes shone like two suns. There was no trace of terror from two days ago. At the sight of this, Nowicki felt not only relieved, but also a pleasant lightness in his heart.

"Come in" Dominik invited him inside. "I thought you might be next door. I couldn't see you through the blinds, but I had a feeling you were there. If your boss told you to watch me, you might as well do it up close. You are probably as bored alone as I am."

"I was a little bored," he admitted. "How are you?

Dominik's face changed its expression for a short moment, or maybe Andrzej was just anticipating himself. Śliwiński smiled even wider when he replied:

"Very good, really. This ointment works wonders. I used it again this morning, but the bruise is almost gone. Look" he showed Nowicki his wrist, on which only a slight discoloration was visible.

"Good," Andrzej vented his relief. "Wow, it smells good. But it's not just pancakes."

"No, only pancakes ..."

"But… I smell something different, like chocolate, but not quite."

"Oh, this" the actor laughed "it's cocoa. I made it for myself for breakfast. Do you want too?"

"Er ... yes, please."

It was a bit like a return to a carefree childhood, the flavors and smells of breakfast prepared by Dominik. Pancakes with cheese, scented with cream and vanilla, and warm cocoa, it wasn't a grown man's breakfast, but Andrzej didn't mind. He sat down at a table where two sets of plates were waiting and felt quite nice.

Śliwiński put a huge plate of pancakes on the table and prepared a cup of cocoa for the guest.

"My mother always said" said Dominik "that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It puts us in a good mood and gives us the strength to get through all the difficulties that await us."

"Your mom is a wise woman."

"Yes, although she only finished vocational school."

"Mmmm, good" Andrzej said, taking a piece of pancake in his mouth.

"I am glad. I don't know if you know, but I went to a gastronomic technical school."

"No, really?" Andrzej was genuinely surprised.

"It is true that only for two years, but I learned a little there."

"Then what? High school?"

"No, I didn't finish high school. I started acting in movies."

It was surprising news for Andrzej. It is true that he still knew almost nothing about Śliwiński, but concluded that he was an intelligent and educated guy. He had impeccable manners and shone with refinement when he appeared in the company.

"You mean you don't even have a high school diploma?"

"Exactly. You look surprised. I thought they wrote about it in magazines."

"I don't read them. There are only rumors there."

"You're probably right. But then why are you working for one of them?"

The question was one of the usual questions in normal conversation, but Andrzej felt a bit uncomfortable after all. His work has always been a somewhat sensitive topic for him.

"It turned out that way," he said. "After graduation, I needed a job and I was glad to earn a living by taking photos."

Dominik's smile became very warm and his eyes shone even more.

"So you like taking pictures? I'd like to see your work sometime. What do you specialize in?"

"In portraits."

"Really? So you would make a portfolio?"

"Why not," he replied indifferently.

"Would you do mine?"

Surprised, Andrzej stopped eating, staring intensely at Śliwiński. Under his gaze, the actor blushed deeply.

At this point, he looked so charming that Andrzej also involuntarily blushed.