Ella's head was spinning. Was she in a dream of some kind? Only a few days ago, she was an unemployed graduate, and now she was being chased by a Russian billionaire.
*****
''Ah, my dear Pavel. Sit down, I just have a bit of business to attend to, and I'll be right with you,'' Abram said as he held his hand over the phone.
His appearance had changed significantly in the years since Pavel had first met him, Pavel thought. He had always been a big guy, but now at the age of fifty-two, he was on the fat side of muscular. His hair had gone gray, and it had started to thin on top. He was now the kind of man, who went around with beads of sweat rolling from his forehead, a sure sign he was out of condition. Abram had a round face, and he was quite obviously Russian. Pavel, on the other hand, had much finer Slavic features and could be thought to come from a number of countries.
''What do you mean you don't want to sell the apartment anymore? You told me when we last met that it was a formality, and the contract was on it's way,'' Abram barked down the phone. Pavel heard a man on the other end say something which made Abram explode into one of his rages.
''You're what? Your daughters have decided they want to keep it? Well, tell you fucking daughters that they can't keep it. You told me I could buy it, so as far as I'm concerned, the deal's done. Now instruct your lawyers to make out the contract of sale or I'll come round with some of my guys, and we'll all rape your wife. Do you understand?'' Abram slammed the phone down and let out a roar of frustration. ''Americans, they can never make up their damn minds.''
''You wanted to see me, Abram?'' Pavel asked calmly.
''Yes. I've got a job for you.''
Pavel sighed. He thought Abram had understood. He plainly hadn't. ''I'm trying to get going on my own Abram. I know I owe you a lot. In fact everything, but you need to let me go now. No more jobs. Get someone else.''
Pavel looked around the office as he waited for a reply. It was a typical Manhattan office, floor to ceiling windows, air conditioning and a view to die for. One thing that set it apart from most other executive offices, was the Russian flag hanging from the wall behind Abram's desk, and a set of swords mounted in racks on the wall behind the meeting area. Pavel remembered one occasion when Abram had held one of the swords to a vendors throat because he wouldn't agree to Abrams offer.
''I know you have your own company now, but I have never found anyone as persuasive as you. Listen, an asshole promised me first refusal on a residential block, and now he's rejected my offer. I need you to go and persuade him it's not a wise choice.''
''And how exactly do you want me to do that?'' Pavel asked.
''Now that's the dumbest question you have ever asked. Do it like you always did. Hang him from a high building, threaten to kill his kids or his wife, cut off a finger or kidnap his mother. I don't care.''
''I've changed. I'm running a legal outfit. I'm done with all that violence. I don't like it.''
''Listen to yourself. You sound so smug and righteous. How is your business doing? From what I've seen, you've missed out on a lot of purchases. Why? Because you've gone soft.'' Abram came from behind his desk and sat on the front edge. ''If you don't persuade people to take your offer and only yours, how do you expect to make money? The only way is to frighten the crap out of them until they give in, and take your offer, under the current market value.''
''Like I explained, Abram, I've had enough of those tactics. I'll take my chance in a fair market,'' Pavel said.
''Just one more time Pavel, for old time’s sake. I need your help,'' Abram pulled a hangdog face in the hope it would play on Pavel's conscience.
''Okay, but absolutely the last one.''
Abram pulled his widest smile and slapped Pavel on the back. ''Now, we have to discuss the question of my daughter Ilona. What's the delay? She wants to marry you, I want you to marry her and Goddammit, even her mother wants you to marry her. So why are you dragging your heels?''
Pavel didn't have the stomach to tell him that he wasn't in love with his daughter or indeed that he thought his daughter uncouth. When it came to Abram's daughter, he knew he had to tread very carefully. Abram had once whacked a guy to within an inch his life for refusing his daughters advances. Although these days Pavel could easily beat Abram if it came to it, Abram knew some very unsavory characters that Pavel did not wish to meet. ''Let me have a think about it. It's important to get the timing right,'' he said, instantly scolding himself for being too soft again.
''Well get a move on, all this procrastination is giving me indigestion. You don't have to go home every evening and listen to two women bellyaching about a wedding.''
*****
''Wow, look at you. Are you going out with him again?'' Ella's mother asked as Ella came from her bedroom. ''I make that three times this week.''
''Yes, Mom, I'm going out with him again, and yes it's the third time this week.''
''Who is he? So far you haven't told me a thing about him.''
''All in good time. We're just getting to know each other when the time is right; I'll tell you and Dad about him.''
''Well, you go and have a good time. I'm going to watch that new series on TV and wait for your father. I do so worry about him. He's working so hard, and he's not in the flush of youth anymore.''
''Mom,'' Ella said, not knowing why she was lowering her voice, but it seemed appropriate. ''You and Dad are very proud people, and I know you don't like accepting charity, but what I am about to do isn't charity. You have earned it by your devotion to me for all those years.''
''What are you talking about? Charity?''
Ella handed her mother an envelope and watched as her mothers arthritic hands opened it. ''No, this is too much. You can't do this. I know we spoke about you paying something towards the household running costs once you had a job, but this is way too much,'' she said, looking down at two thousand dollars.
''You can complain all you want, but from now on, you're getting two thousand a month from me. I'll see you later; I don't want to keep him waiting.''
Ella took the elevator down to the street. However many times the landlord cleaned it, it always smelled of urine, she thought. Ella waited on the corner at the end of her street. It was the only green spot in the area, and the one place she felt comfortable letting Pavel pick her up from. There were a few kids playing soccer a little further up, and when the Bugatti Veyron passed them, they stopped and stared. Ella heard one kid shouting that the car costs one million, seven hundred thousand dollars.
''Hi,'' Pavel beamed as he stopped. ''I'm Pavel, and you look like a nice lady, do you want to eat ice cream with me?''
''No sir, my mother told me never to get into a car with a stranger,'' Ella laughed. ''Where are you taking me tonight?'' she asked, once she was belted into the three hundred kilometer an hour machine.
''Nowhere before I tell you how gorgeous you look,'' Pavel said as he looked at her. Ella had spent a lot of her first paycheck on clothes. That evening she was wearing her favorite article, a classic white evening dress with spaghetti straps and a soft shawl. She'd gone for white heels and was now almost as tall as Pavel. The only article of her outfit she wasn't happy with was her necklace. She'd almost run out of money by the time she'd given any consideration to jewelry, so she'd bought a cheap necklace that she thought looked expensive. Now she regretted having done so.
''Thank you, and you look as handsome as ever,'' Ella replied.
''I hope you don't mind, but I would like to spend the evening with you at home. I get a bit fed up of expensive restaurants, most of the are pretentious rip-off establishments. I thought we could have a bottle of wine and talk. It's a lovely evening; we can sit on the terrace.''
''That will be lovely. You know, that's exactly what I would like to do. Although perhaps I'm a little overdressed for hanging around in your garden.''
''Don't worry. I'm sure we can find a shirt and a pair of jeans for you.''
The drive to Pavel's house took an hour,
and as they went along the highway, Ella noticed how many people gaped at the car. When they pulled into the driveway at Windward Hall, Ella looked at the mansion and had to pinch herself. Was she really dating this man, she asked herself?
They went in through the front door. It was the first time Ella had been into the house. At the party, she'd stayed outside all the time, and on their previous dates, Pavel had taken her to restaurants. The entrance hall was large and had a black and white tiled floor. She liked the large gilded mirror and matching candle sticks which adorned the fire place. When they walked through to the sitting room, Ella gasped. Never had she seen such luxury. The room reached the whole height of the building, and she could see the sky through a dome in the roof. The staircase seemed to be made of glass and ran up to an open landing that circled the room. On the floor, Ella noticed an oriental rug in front of two huge white sofas.
''Take a seat, I'll get us a drink,'' he said as he pointed to a sofa. Ella sat down and nearly disappeared into the softness of the cushions. After just a couple of minutes, he returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
''Oh, that tastes nice. I don't think I've ever tasted wine that good,'' Ella said.
''It's from Russia. It's a surprising country sometimes. Who would think we can produce wine of this quality. Most people think it's a frozen wasteland. Come with me,'' he said getting up. Ella followed him, as he walked down a corridor. At the end there was a double door, Pavel held it open for her, and she walked inside. It was a magnificent swimming pool. The whole room was tiled, and the pool was full size, twenty-five meters long. To the side were loungers between palm trees in huge pots that gave the place a Mediterranean feel.
''There's a changing room over there,'' Pavel pointed. ''Inside you'll find some new swimwear, it should fit you.''
''I hadn't thought about swimming,'' Ella said. ''How do you know the swimwear will fit me?''
''A nice lady in a very luxurious shop told me that if I gave her a photo of you, she would be able to fit you a swim suit. Apparently, she's got so much experience she can do it by eye. So I took a chance. I hope I was correct to place so much faith in her.''
''But where did you get a photo?'' Ella asked, a puzzled look on her face. Pavel didn't answer; he just pointed to the door in the corner. Ella smiled and walked towards the door.
The small room was tiled in Victorian dark green, the same as the swimming pool. There was a wooden seat and a table in the corner and a shower area to the right. Pavel had placed the swimwear on the table. Ella looked at it. One bikini and one swimsuit. She didn't know which to choose. In the end, she slipped out of her dress and put on the bikini. When she looked in the mirror, she saw it was a perfect fit. The light blue material looked great against her black skin and the top hugged her breasts. The bottoms showed off her rear to perfection. When she was ready, her heart began to beat faster as she opened the door and stepped back into the pool area.
At first, she didn't see Pavel. But on closer inspection, he was already in the pool. He was swimming under water. Ella was a little uneasy at him seeing her in a state of semi-nakedness so she dived in. When she surfaced, he was treading water next to her.
''It fits then,'' he noted.
''Perfectly,'' she said.
He looked at her. Her wet hair made her look more attractive than he could stand, and the sight of the water lapping at her breasts forced him into action. He pulled her to him and kissed her. It was a long passionate kiss that left her gulping for air. He held her hand and swam to a place where they could stand up. He took her in his arms and kissed her again. Ella instantly felt aroused. He was more muscular than any man she had seen, and she had certainly never seen a man with such a beautiful stomach. Hard and ribbed. His upper arms bulged, and his chest was rock hard. His kiss was never ending, and she loved the taste of him as his tongue probed her mouth. When his hands reached down into the water and grasped her buttocks, she pushed herself against him and felt his rock hard penis push against her.
In an instant, she felt his hand on her back as he unfastened the bikini top. When he'd freed her breasts, he bent down and took a nipple into his mouth. Ella gasped and felt for his shaft. She ran her hand up and down the length of him, finally reaching to cup his balls. When she reached inside his trunks, he groaned and sucked her nipple harder. He made her hornier than she had ever been and all she wanted was to take out his cock and put it inside her. She lowered his trunks and watched as he bent down and took them off. She was in a hurry now, and she took off her bikini bottom and pulled him to her. She reached for his shaft and tried to put it between her legs, but he didn't let her. He wanted to taste her. They were standing in about three feet of water. Pavel took a deep breath and went down under the surface. Ella screamed when she felt his mouth on her womanhood. Her arousal had made her so sensitive; she could hardly bear it. But his mouth stayed fixed to her, and his tongue made tiny strokes over her clitoris.
When he came up for air, he took her hand and walked to the side of the pool. As he climbed the ladder, she looked up and saw his strong thighs and his tight ass. She wanted to reach up and grab the balls that hung under him, but he was too quick for her. She started to climb out of the pool, and he reached down and helped her. He led her to a lounger that was covered in a cushion with a thick white towel over it.
Pavel pushed Ella onto her back. He opened her legs and started to lick her vagina again. This time, his tongue made long hard strokes over her, and she started to feel her belly tighten. As he continued, she held his head to her and arched her back. When he pushed a finger inside her and found her G-spot, she groaned loudly. She had never felt a sensation like the one his finger massage was producing. Her moans became screams and then when her screams couldn't get any louder, she came in one wet burst all over him.
Pavel got up and without allowing her any time to catch her breath, he took hold of his cock and put it to her entrance. When she felt him sliding into her, she grabbed his upper arms and pulled herself onto him. He kissed her, and she responded by bucking her hips against him, willing him to drill into her faster. He picked up the tempo and loved it when Ella's breasts began to bounce up and down. She wrapped her legs around him and squeezed.
''You are so beautiful, I really want you in my life,'' he said. Ella could feel he meant it and the thought of this man in need of her spurred her to another orgasm. When he felt her come, he stopped and looked at her. As she shook under him, he suddenly became soft and gentle. He kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose. When she smiled up at him, he smiled back, and both of them felt their hearts lock together in a bond neither of them ever wanted to break.
Pavel began to thrust again and, this time, Ella knew it was to the end. She reached down and took hold of his balls and massaged them gently. She felt them start to swell. She loved the effect she was having on him. When he started to grunt, she leaned to his ear and whispered, ''I want your sperm inside me, now.'' This shoved him over the edge. When she felt his seed gushing into her, Ella had her third orgasm.
*****
''Twelve weeks, Pavel. What the hell are you playing at?'' Abram shouted at Pavel, who was sitting in Abrams office. ''I asked you to do that job twelve weeks ago, and what have you done? Nothing. Don't you remember what I have done for you? Without me, you would be nothing, just a poor man in a back water in Russia.'' Abram's face had turned purple with rage. Pavel couldn't remember a time when he'd spoken to him so harshly. ''Do you have so little regard for me that you lie to me. You told me you would do it, and you haven't. You're a liar. If you don't do it by the end of the week, I'll have you balls cut off. One thing you should never forget is that without my support that shitty little business of yours would dwindle like a candle on a damp night. Don't forget that. There are two things I want to know from you now. First, when will you get this job was done and second when will you propose to my daughter?''
Pavel looked at Abram, who was busy wiping saliva from his tie, and tried
to decide how he should respond. Pavel was angry, angrier than he had ever been. How dare he speak to him like that? After his silence. After all the dirty jobs he'd done for him, all those poor people he'd frightened to death.
''You seem to have forgotten why you have been so generous to me over the years. The real reason. It's not because you like me is it? I will do this job for you Abram, and it will be the last one. On the subject of your daughter, she can go screw herself, as far as I'm concerned. I've never known a more obnoxious woman in my life.'' Pavel stood up and headed for the door.
''Nobody insults my daughter like that. You will never marry now. I will kill any woman who comes near you. You ungrateful bastard.''
Pavel slammed the door and decided to take the stairs. He didn't feel safe in the elevator now. As he reached the ground floor, his cellphone rang.
''Hi honey,'' Ella said. ''How's your day going?''
''I've had better days. How are you, my sweet?''
''You'd better come home, I need to talk to you.''
When Pavel got home, he found Ella, sitting on the terrace drinking tea. She didn't see him at first. He stopped and looked at her for a moment. She was playing with her hair and reading a book. She was a vision of loveliness the like of which he had never seen. He'd known since the first time they had made love in the swimming pool that he loved her, and now it was time to tell her.
''Hi, what are you up to?'' he said as he pulled a chair up.
''Pavel, I....I......'' she burst into tears.
''What? What's the matter.''
''This morning I was sick so....'' she couldn't finish her sentence
''Did you eat something dodgy,'' he asked.
''No. I'm pregnant.''
Pavel thought for a moment as the shock rolled over him. ''That's the most fantastic news I've ever heard in my life,'' he said, as he beamed at her.
''Really?'' she said wiping away her tears
Romance: Teen Romance: Game On (A Nerd and a Bad Boy Romance) (New Adult High School Sports Romance) Page 58