6 The Price of Freedom

Śliwiński jumped up and took out his own phone. He started dialing a number but stopped himself. His hands began to tremble again and suddenly Andrzej felt somehow strange. It was a normal commercial transaction, no need to panic, but the actor looked like he was having trouble breathing.

"Hell, I don't think he's an asthmatic or he has heart disease," muttered Andrzej anxiously. It would be wrong. It would be very bad.

Nowicki decided to stop tormenting Śliwiński and called.

The actor jumped at the ringing of the phone. Uncertainly, he reached for his cell phone.

"Hello?"

Andrzej heard his voice for the first time outside the movie - his own, not the character he played. Śliwiński tried to keep his tone calm, but the photographer watching him knew how difficult it was for him. After all, he could see him perfectly through the window.

Nowicki put a handkerchief to the receiver and announced.

"I have some similar photos. Since you are their hero, I offer you a right of pre-emption. Twenty thousand is not much. I know people who will give more ..."

"No! He interrupted desperately. "I'll buy them. And you won't sell them to anyone else?"

"You'll get them exclusively."

"I agree." Andrzej saw the actor nervously perching on the edge of the couch. "When and where should I deliver the money?"

"How quickly will you get that amount?"

"Today ... " a quick glance at the clock "before three."

"You put the money in a regular travel bag. At three you will leave the house with her and leave her behind the first thuja from the gate. You will not close the gate to the code. You will go to the station and wait for the high-speed train to travel towards Sulejówek. There will be a friend of mine on the train who will confirm your presence. You will remain on the platform until this train travels downtown and you will return home."

"And the photos?"

"They will disappear. Nobody will see them again."

"Can I trust you with this?"

"I have no reason to lie. I can always get new ones."

A soft moan of terror escaped Śliwiński's mouth.

"Looks like I have no other choice."

"It looks like it," finished Andrzej and hung up.

Phew, he breathed out feeling the adrenaline rush through him. He had no idea the "deal" would get him so emotional. He hadn't felt that excited since graduating from college. But it was really a new experience.

Śliwiński was also full of emotions, although he gave the impression that he was unable to let them go outside or that he could not afford it. He sat curled up on the couch as if he couldn't move, and stared at the phone he still held in his hands.

Andrzej even felt sorry for Dominik Śliwiński, but it was the actor's fault that he got caught in such a scandalous situation. If you want to have sex with a guy, at least think about keeping the blinds closed, idiot.

Śliwiński moved and rubbed his eyes with his hand.

"He's not…?"

He was crying now? Is it possible? He was so afraid that someone could see these photos? He was so afraid that his little secret would come out and ruin his career? It wasn't sad anymore, it was pathetic.

Contrary to the photographer's expectations, Śliwiński did not cry like a wounded lady. He took control of his emotions in a flash, and with almost complete calmness he took his travel bag from the hall closet.

"Hmm, so not so dim after all?" Nowicki muttered to himself.

Andrzej's letter and phone call were clearly a surprise for the actor, if not a shock, but he quickly recovered, even in no time. He did not seek support from anyone and took the burden of the situation himself. Andrzej was a bit surprised that Dominik did not notify his lover, but even he was impressed.

Śliwiński was very calm considering the circumstances in which he found himself. The panic was only brief for him. He had three hours to get the money, but he was in no hurry to go to the bank. Instead, he started cleaning. Apparently different people had different ways of dealing with their stress. This Śliwiński made Nowicki worried about the fate of his money. It was going to be three long hours.

And they were. The photographer watched with growing anger as the actor cleans the gas stove and wipes the dust instead of going to the bank.

He doesn't want to deceive him, is he?

At two thirty PM Śliwiński finished his housework, took his bag to his bedroom and went to shower.

At two fifty-seven, he stood with her outside the front door and looked at his watch.

He left the house at two fifty-nine.

Andrzej changed the vantage point to one from which he could see the actor walking towards the station. The young man was walking at a steady, normal pace that showed no signs of uncertainty. He had no bag in his hand.

Which meant he had left it with the thuja.

Nowicki was tempted to run away immediately and take the bag, but he preferred to wait a moment. The signal for him was to be a red train going towards Miłosna. Another - Andrzej looked at his watch - another three minutes.

The photographer was sure that the actor would be waiting on the platform for the train to pass. After all, he couldn't have known that an accomplice's confirmation of his presence was just a bluff. He will not want to risk the exchange failure.

There it is. The red train appeared exactly at the appointed time, giving Andrzej a signal to act. As if nothing had happened, the photographer left the building and approached the neighboring one. The gate was actually open and there was a travel bag next to the indicated thuja. He was tempted to look inside and see if the actor was trying to trick him, but he preferred to do so in a safe place. If Śliwiński wanted to outsmart him, he would pay for it with his career.

As if nothing had happened, he returned with the bag to the house he was occupying and immediately opened it.

There was a lot of money in the bag.

"Ooooooh ...!"

'It worked!' he thought with growing satisfaction. 'It really worked!'

He felt a rapid heartbeat and a flame all over his body. The action was perfect, without even the slightest disturbance. He had twenty thousand at his disposal, thanks to which he would be able to pay off his debts and start his own business.

Thanks to these twenty thousand, he will be free!

The train went the other way and after a few minutes Śliwiński appeared. He saw that there was no bag and entered the house. As soon as the door closed, he leaned against it. Andrew, now free from private concerns, felt a surge of compassion. He pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

Śliwiński started and took his cell phone out of his pockets.

"Hello?"

"You kept your end of the deal, and I will keep mine. Nobody will ever see these photos. As a bonus, I will add some advice: be more careful in the future. You are in the spotlight of gossip newspapers."

"Thank you ... thank you," he replied.

Through the windows, Andrzej could see his leaning forward silhouette, his slim hands clasped on a cheap model cell phone, and his light brown hair falling over his face.

He… thank him?

"Some newspapers will pay a lot for something scandalous with your participation" Andrzej added. His voice sounded strangely raw. "So be careful for the future."

"Yes I will. But why?"

"What?"

"No, nothing. Excuse me."

His hands dropped without putting down the receiver. Andrzej did not finish the connection, watching and listening closely. Śliwiński raised his head and looked above the ceiling. His aquamarine eyes shone strangely in his pale face, and on his lips there was a gentle and warm smile full of relief.

Andrzej stood enchanted. It was a beautiful face, delicate and inspired. You don't see such people every day. You hardly ever see such people. Nowicki felt bad at the thought that he had taken advantage of this man and obtained money from him.

"Absurd," he muttered to himself, ending the connection. He took photos in which he could make a fortune and sold them fairly for the minimum price he needed. Plus he warned the idiot to be more careful. He has done nothing dishonest or immoral.

So why did he suddenly feel like the last asshole?