I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

"Eva..." Werner’s voice was a bit hoarse.

"I know I’m just an ordinary saleswoman," Eva’s voice began to tremble, but she struggled to remain calm. "I know you have more important things to do, bigger ambitions. But..."

She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage for what she was about to say.

"But if... if you really think I should go, then... would you be willing to come with me?"

The moment the words left her lips, Eva’s cheeks flushed red.

She lowered her head, her eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her cheeks.

The atmosphere in the shop suddenly grew tense with unspoken emotion.

Werner felt a tightness in his chest.

He looked at the brave, fragile woman before him, a complex wave of emotions surging within him.

’If it were another time, under different circumstances...’

But he couldn’t.

He had too many secrets, too many plans.

More importantly, he knew what was about to happen, and he had to stay here.

"Eva," Werner said softly. He reached out as if to caress her cheek, but his hand stopped mid-air. "You know I can’t."

Eva slowly raised her head. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she fought to keep them from falling.

"I know." Her voice was small, laced with a desperate calm. "I just... I just wanted to try."

She turned away, pretending to arrange the goods on the shelves, but Werner could see her shoulders trembling slightly.

"If you’re really planning on leaving," Werner finally said, his voice softer than he’d intended, "you’d better do it soon. I have a feeling things are about to get complicated."

Eva didn’t turn around, but merely nodded.

When she spoke again, her voice had regained its composure, but it sounded somewhat hollow.

"I understand."

Werner watched her back, a pang of guilt rising in him. But he had to stick to his plan.

"Eva, since you’re considering leaving, I’d like to ask you for a favor." He pulled a letter from his pocket. "This is some information about Greta, the sister of one of my men. If you do leave, could you write a letter of recommendation for her to take your place?"

Eva stopped what she was doing.

She slowly turned around, a bitter understanding in her eyes.

"So you had this planned all along." It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

"Just in case," Werner said honestly. "I need to ensure the business can continue."

His words were like a dull knife, dragging slowly across Eva’s heart.

’To Werner, I’ve only ever been a business partner, a replaceable pawn.’

But Eva simply took the letter in silence, not opening it right away. Her fingers traced the edge of the envelope, her movements slow and delicate.

"Greta... That’s a pretty name," she said softly. "Does she have any work experience?"

"She was a statistician at a textile factory. She speaks German and a little Russian." Werner watched her expression. "Most importantly, she’s reliable."

In East Germany, finding a job wasn’t just about ability; it was more about connections. The same is even true in modern Germany.

Germans call this "Vitamin B," with the ’B’ standing for *Beziehungen*, the German word for "relationships."

A good letter of recommendation was often more useful than a stack of certificates.

Eva finally opened the letter and glanced at the writing, but her attention clearly wasn’t on it.

"You’re quite the planner, aren’t you?" Her voice was calm, but Werner could detect the bitterness within it. "You’ve even thought about what happens after I’m gone."

"Eva..."

"It’s fine." She waved a hand, forcing a smile. "I understand. The business must go on, right?"

She put the letter in a drawer, her movements seeming somewhat mechanical.

"I’ll write the recommendation. The supervisor is a former classmate of my cousin’s; it shouldn’t be too difficult."

Werner felt a pang in his heart. Eva was trying so hard to remain calm and professional, but the disappointment in her eyes was unmistakable.

He said softly, "Eva, you don’t have to force yourself..."

"I’m not forcing myself," Eva cut him off, her tone turning resolute. "Since I’ve decided to leave, I should do one last thing for you. Just consider it... consider it a farewell gift."

She turned and walked to the window, her back to Werner.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, falling on her shoulders and making her silhouette appear somewhat hazy.

"Werner, will you remember me?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely a whisper.

Werner walked up behind her but didn’t reach out to touch her.

"Of course I will."

"Even after Greta takes my place? Even if the business carries on?"

"Even then."

Eva nodded, but didn’t turn around.

"Then I’ll hold you to that." Her voice trembled slightly. "Werner, if I really go, will you miss me?"

The question was like a thorn jabbing into Werner’s heart.

He knew the answer she wanted, but he couldn’t give her false hope.

"I will," he said honestly. "But that doesn’t change anything."

Eva finally turned around. There were no more tears in her eyes, only a clear, deep sadness.

"I know," she said softly. "I never expected to change anything. I just... I just wanted you to know."

The two of them just stood there, a few steps apart, yet it felt like a world between them.

Eva finally broke the silence. She walked back to the counter and resumed sorting through the seemingly endless pile of documents. "You can go, Werner. I need to be alone for a while."

Werner nodded and turned to leave.

When he reached the door, he glanced back.

Eva was engrossed in organizing the shelves, the sunlight dancing in her golden hair.

"Eva," he said suddenly.

"Hm?"

"Take care."

She didn’t turn around, just said softly, "You too."

Werner pushed the door open and stepped out, the warm June breeze of East Berlin washing over him.

People on the street hurried along as always, none of them aware that the colossal wheels of history were about to turn.

********************************

July 18, 1961

Days until the construction of the Berlin Wall: 26

At eight in the evening, the Friendship Tavern was thick with smoke.

This small tavern, located in the Friedrichshain District, was a regular haunt for off-duty border policemen. Faded socialist propaganda posters adorned the walls, and from a radio in the corner, "Auferstanden aus Ruinen"—the national anthem of East Germany—was playing.

Werner pushed open the heavy wooden door, and the mixed smell of alcohol and cigarettes hit him.

He had arranged to meet Matthias here for a drink after work.

For the past few months, Werner had been deliberately cultivating his relationship with Matthias. He would occasionally invite him out for drinks to make small talk about work and daily life, wanting Matthias to see him as a friend, not just part of a simple arrangement between a bribed border policeman and a Black Market dealer.

Tonight, he had an important move to make.

He immediately spotted Mathias Bauer sitting in a corner of the bar.

"Matthias!" Werner raised a hand in greeting.

Matthias turned his head, his face immediately breaking into a smile. "Werner! I was starting to think you weren’t coming."

He patted the empty stool beside him. "Sit. I already ordered you a beer."

Werner sat down next to Matthias, and the bartender handed him a lager with a rich, foamy head.

The tavern was dotted with small groups of patrons, mostly off-duty workers and a few uniformed border policemen, all speaking in hushed tones.

"How was work today?" Werner asked.

Matthias took a big gulp of beer and wiped the foam from his mouth. "Don’t ask. It’s getting harder and harder. The higher-ups keep adding more rules, and the inspections get stricter by the day." He lowered his voice. "You know, now we even have to watch each other internally, in case someone lets things slide."

"That serious?" Werner feigned surprise.

"You have no idea," Matthias said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Before, we’d check papers, look for smugglers, and turn a blind eye now and then. But now? Every single inspection record has to be filed. The slightest anomaly requires a written report."

Werner rejoiced inwardly. This was exactly the topic he wanted to discuss.

He patted Matthias’s shoulder with feigned concern. "Sounds like your work environment isn’t great."

"Not great is an understatement. It’s just getting boring," Matthias said, taking another sip of beer. "Sometimes I think about requesting a transfer."

A glint flashed in Werner’s eyes, but he kept his tone casual. "A transfer? To where?"

"I don’t know. Anywhere away from border inspection," Matthias shrugged. "Maybe the traffic police, or the municipal security department."

"Wait," Werner said, pretending to have just remembered something. "I heard a few days ago that the border administration department is recruiting. I think it was called... the Border Inspection Reserve Unit?"

Matthias scoffed. "That dead-end department? Whoever goes there is asking for trouble. I hear it’s just grunt work, filing records and stuff. No future in it."

Werner’s heart raced, but he kept his expression calm. ’This is my chance,’ he thought. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Matthias, have you noticed that the atmosphere has been a little... off lately?" Werner put down his glass, his tone turning serious.