by BWWM Club
Inez smiled at him and then walked out.
He took a sip of his juice and looked at his phone. He wished he had taken Athena’s number rather than give her his card. That way he could have been in better control of when he got to hear her voice again. He could have probably called her by now but he would have most likely seemed desperate.
He took another sip and sighed as he looked at his phone. And at that moment, everything he had been avoiding thinking about came flooding back into his mind. In a few hours, Viktor would be touching down in Virginia and he had the worst news ever.
The Markovic family name in Russia had long been associated with almost everything illegal and getting out from under that name had been a nightmare. When he got to America, setting up a legitimate business had been harder than he imagined it would be. The government was reluctant to give him a business license and his family back at home was insisting on him going the old way, the way they usually got everything done. But Evgeni wanted to do everything differently. Unfortunately for him, the only way he was going to get anything done was to work with one of his father’s associate, Isaac Cromwell, a man he knew well. And Evgeni did not like the idea of associating himself with the Cromwells especially not with anything to do with his business.
By the end of his first year, Markovic Trucking had smuggled in more contraband than he had ever imagined possible, and all this was because Isaac Cromwell was actually in charge of shell companies across the country that were designed to cover up his criminal activities.
Even after his father’s death, Evgeni didn’t think he could forgive his family for getting him tied up with the kind of criminal lifestyle he had been trying to escape from. For the last couple of years he had been trying to get every trace of the Cromwell fund out of his businesses and the one thing he had been left with was cleaning out Markovic Trucking. And much to his disappointment, Cromwell was hell bent on keeping his hooks into Markovic Trucking since that was the only sure way he had to bring in every illegal thing he needed in America.
He was still lost in his thoughts when Inez walked back into the kitchen.
“So, the TV was covering that party you went to last night,” she announced as she came back into the room. Her voice snapped him back to reality.
“It was not really a party,” he said as he took a sip of his juice. “It was a benefit.”
“There was free food and booze, right?” Inez said as she began chopping an onion. “Then that was a party. Not forgetting the fact that you were auctioned for a hundred thousand,” she added.
Evgeni raised an eyebrow at her.
“They showed that?” he asked.
“Well, yeah. You and that basketballer were the two people who got the highest bids,” Inez said. She looked up from the onions and shrugged. “Any woman willing to spend that much money on a man deserves to be taken seriously.”
“Actually, I never wanted to be in the auction in the first place,” he said as he took another sip of his juice. Inez looked at him and a smile played on her lips.
“Since when have you turned down the chance to meet a beautiful woman?” she asked before she reached for a pan from the overhead rack.
“How do you know the woman who bought me is beautiful?”
“Well, it’s simple,” she said as she started sautéing the onion. He watched as she poured in chopped bell peppers and tomatoes and a whole lot of mixed spices. He had watched her making her spiced eggs a million times and he still couldn’t make them as well as she did. “Any woman who can willingly spend a hundred grand to spend an evening with a man can afford to look however she wants to look. Plastic surgery and everything.”
Evgeni smiled.
“I guess someone can do that, right?” he said and she smiled as she cracked two eggs into the mixture.
“You don’t look very excited though,” Inez said. “I would have thought that you would be ecstatic.”
“I did my part in the charity benefit and honestly being in the auction was something that was done without my knowledge,” he said shaking his head. “Maybe I can just pay the money back and…” he started before Inez shot him a dirty look.
“The fundraiser was for a benefit and you would do that? I am no specialist but I can promise you that move is going to be a PR nightmare.”
Evgeni sighed.
“Just go on the date. I mean how bad could it possibly get? Just eating at some restaurant and maybe take her to the opera or something of the sort,” Inez said as she tossed the contents of the pan. “How hard could it get?”
A smile played on Evgeni’s lips. He had no idea how he was supposed to tell his housekeeper that the only reason he did not want to go to the auction dinner was simply because he had his eyes set on another woman. A woman he had met that same night. A woman he had very strong feelings for.
“Wait, a minute,” Inez said smiling. She served the spicy omelet and looked at her boss. “There is someone else isn’t there?”
Evgeni frowned.
“What makes you think that?” he asked eyeing the aromatic food she was holding.
“I have been working with you for ages and I have learned a thing or two about your tells and right now I can tell that you are hiding the fact that some woman out there has you smitten.” Inez slowly passed the plate under his nose. “Smell that? Think about your very nutritious breakfast as you answer my next question.”
“Inez, please,” Evgeni said.
“Simple. Is there someone else?” she asked and he exhaled loudly.
“Not exactly…”
Inez put the plate down and smiled.
“Aha!” she said excitedly as she handed him a fork.
“Inez…” he started.
“It is about time. Seven years without anyone and now you have two choices.” Inez sounded a little more excited than her face led on. He shook his head and took a bite of his eggs. He had been with other women since Natalya but mostly they were just physical relationships. What she didn’t know was that he always made sure he brought them back home on days when she didn’t visit. Inez was a little too Catholic and he knew that he would have an earful if she ever busted him.
“Maybe when you decide on which woman you want, you can ask her to come over. I can make the two of you some dinner,” Inez said as he lifted the fork to his mouth again.
“Didn’t you say you have to get to mass in a few hours? Shouldn’t you do that laundry already?” Evgeni asked.
“Well, I could but you are just like Miguel and Santos, hijo. Remember that,” she said as she walked away leaving a smiling Evgeni seated at the kitchen table.
His smile faded as he began planning out his day. He was normally not a person who would work on a Sunday but given the situation at hand, he didn’t really have a choice. He had to find a way to get Markovic Trucking out from under Cromwell’s thumb.
“This might be harder than I thought,” he thought as he took another bite of his eggs. “Where is the wisdom when I need it?” he wondered as he took another bite.
He was going to need a good plan, and not any good plan. A raging plan that was going to ensure he kept his profits intact while restoring his company to the glory he thought it out to be.
Chapter 4
When Athena’s white Prius pulled up in front of her building on Monday evening, she frowned when she saw a familiar black sedan. Matter of fact, it was the same black sedan that had brought her back home from the benefit on Saturday night. She grabbed her purse and climbed out of the car as the driver’s door opened. A smile played on her lips when she saw Evgeni stepping out. He looked exceptionally handsome in a gray slim suit and black shirt.
“Should I be worried that I have a stalker?” she asked as she slowly walked towards him.
“Well, you never called and I didn’t have your number,” he said with a smile, a lock of his ebony dark hair fell out of place when he talked. He had both hands in his pocket as he looked at her.
“I’ve been a l
ittle busier than usual,” she lied even though she was sure that he saw right through it.
“Is that so?” he asked matter of factly and she nodded.
“Yes, a lot of people out there have parties and I have to plan them. Successfully, if I must add.”
“So does that mean that I have to contract you to plan a party for me to be assured of a call from you?”
“You need to contract GoCreative actually.”
“What if I just want you?”
“Contract GoCreative and ask for Athena Davis.”
Evgeni smiled.
“So, is this a good time or do you have a regimen to adhere to?” he asked.
“Regimen?” Athena asked shaking her head.
“Warm relaxing bath, hot chocolate and maybe a nice episode of the latest Downton Abbey season,” Evgeni said and she frowned.
“Downton Abbey?”
“What? Don’t you watch it?” Evgeni was now moving closer to her.
“No, I do but…I guess I just didn’t expect you to know anything about it, that’s all,” she said smiling and Evgeni laughed flashing those perfectly pearly whites. “Would you like to come upstairs?”
“I would love to,” he said before he followed her into the building.
The two were quiet as they made their way to her apartment and all the while, Athena could feel his eyes on her well rounded ass. She felt herself blush as she unlocked her door.
“Make yourself comfortable,” she said when they walked in. “I’ll get us something to drink or some food? I’m not sure what to do right now.”
Evgeni looked at her as she took off her heels and then hung up her purse on one of the hooks on the wall.
“What would you normally do?” he asked when she turned around. She looked into his eyes and shook her head.
“I don’t know…maybe just bum around. Watch some TV or something,” she said in a low voice.
“You know that you don’t have to change what you normally do just because of me, right?” he asked and she bit her lower lip. What she didn’t know was that biting her lip was turning him on more than she could ever know.
“I’m just not used to having company over…except my friend Carla,” she said. He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled.
“Well, let’s pretend that I am your friend Carla for just a few minutes, okay?” he said and she nodded.
“That’s going to be a little hard though,” she said and he smiled.
“Oh, I am already feeling the pressure alright,” he said laughing.
“So, are you going to have some…” she started before she shrugged. “What would you like?” she asked when she found she had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to offer him.
“Well, I’ll have whatever you will be having,” he said as he dropped his hands to his sides.
She nodded uncomfortably and walked to the kitchen as he made himself comfortable on the couch. She then opened her refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine but she quickly put it back when she remembered that he still had to drive. She then pulled out a box of apple juice and then put it on the counter. She could feel her heart beating hard in her chest as she prepared a non-alcoholic drink. The ten minutes she spent preparing it seemed to be the longest she had ever suffered. There was an uncomfortably awkward silence by the time she walked back to the living room.
“Smells really good,” Evgeni said as she handed him a cup.
“A little thing I learned from Carla,” she said as she sat down. She reached for the TV remote and switched it on. She needed some background noise if she was going to survive sitting next to Evgeni. It was not that she didn’t want him there. She did but it had been so bloody long since she was in that position that she had no idea how she was supposed to carry herself.
“What is it exactly?” he asked after he took his first sip.
“Cloves, orange peel and cinnamon sticks simmered in apple juice,” she answered. “I thought it would be a good idea since you are supposed to be driving later.”
“This is…divine,” he said a she took another sip.
“Yeah, Carla is…an amazing chef though this was not exactly an original recipe but it is a great alternative for an alcoholic.” Evgeni looked at her and almost immediately she felt her cheeks flush. “Sorry…I’m just a little…uneasy.”
Evgeni took another sip and looked at her.
“Why are you uneasy?” he asked. She wanted to blurt out that it was because she had not been in the company of another man since Evan, because she had not been in the dating arena for years. Even when she and Evan got together, it had been him pulling the strings all the way. She didn’t remember the first thing about dating. The casual talks, the ‘hanging out’…if ever there was a refresher class in dating, Athena definitely needed one.
“Athena,” Evgeni said again snapping her out of her trance. “Are you alright?”
“I am…I’m fine…I just haven’t done this in a long time.”
Evgeni smiled.
“Good alternative for an alcoholic, huh?” he asked and she nodded. “Are you hinting at something?”
She shook her head and took a seat next to him.
“No, I just used to know someone…” her voice trailed off. It was too soon to open up to him about her personal life. “It’s all history now.”
He looked at her and she saw a smile forming on his lips. She was trying as hard as she could not to stare at him but it was near impossible. It was not until that moment, sitting right next to him that she noticed how buff he was. A shiny Audemars Piquet watch adorned his wrist.
“You know that you don’t have to feel awkward with me, right?” he asked and she forced out a smile.
“I’m really trying here,” she said before taking a sip of her drink.
“Don’t try…” he took a long deep breath. “Let’s try this. Let’s get out of the conventional talk and you tell me, what is it you like doing?”
“Really?” she was frowning. ”It might not be the best idea.”
Evgeni smiled.
“Do you think that I might be turned off by what you say to me?” he asked as he looked at her. She was surprised at how direct he was.
“Actually, yes,” she said, resigning herself to her fate. “I don’t have the best story.” He took another sip of his drink.
“Honestly, who does? I’m pretty sure that you would run for the hills if you heard my story.”
She looked into his eyes and for the first time, she felt that she was looking right into his soul. His blue green eyes seemed to be sparkling under the dim living room light. She felt her cheeks slowly getting flushed. She was blushing and she knew that he could see it.
“Most normal people,” she said.
“What about most normal people?” he asked.
“Well, most normal people have normal stories.”
Evgeni looked into her eyes for a long minute and then smiled before he ran his fingers through his thick dark hair.
“Well, did you know that different is the new kind of normal?” he asked in a soft voice.
“I don’t understand,” she said in a whisper.
“Just speak, Athena. I’ll listen.”
She took a long deep breath and then shrugged.
“Well, I used to be the assistant VP of some PR company,” she started and he raised an eyebrow over the other.
“Well, color me interested,” Evgeni said smiling. “Which PR firm was this, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Jameson and Klein.”
She looked at him as his eyes grew wide.
“At the risk of sounding very American, no shit,” he said and she nodded.
“Shit.”
“Are we talking about the public relations giants in New York? That Jameson and Klein?” Evgeni was shifting excitedly on the chair as he spoke.
“The very one.”
He took a long sip of his drink and she did the same.
“Okay, I have to ask,�
�� he started and she nodded. She knew almost immediately what he was going to ask.
“What made me leave a Fortune 500 to organize parties?” she said and he nodded.
“Took the words right out of my mouth.”
“Something happened,” she said frowning.
“It must have been something big if it made you leave Jameson and Klein.” He took another sip as she took another sip of her own drink.
“It was. Life changing, if I should say it.” She didn’t want to go on talking about it. She took another sip and then put her cup on the table. “Do you want some more?” She asked as she pointed at his nearly empty cup.
“I would love some, thank you,” he said in a soft voice.
Athena grabbed his cup and then stood up without any notice before she headed back to the kitchen. She didn’t know why but her hands were shaking as she poured more mulled apple juice into his cup. She was too engrossed in her own world to realize that Evgeni had walked up to where she was. When she turned around, she let out a loud shriek as the cup in her hands slipped and fell to the floor landing in a loud crash. She stepped back and looked at the broken glass scattered all over the floor and gasped when she felt a piece of glass digging into her sole.
“Don’t move,” Evgeni commanded. “I’ll clean this place up.”
“There’s a broom and dustpan under the sink,” she said even though she was not sure that he could even handle a broom. She watched as he got on his hands and knees and then pulled out a broom and dustpan. He then got up and took her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he carried her to the living room.
“Taking you out of here. There is broken glass everywhere and I think you have a cut on your foot.” He gently laid her down on the couch and looked at her foot. “It doesn’t look serious. It’s just a superficial cut.”
She looked at him as he gently pressed on the area around the cut.
“First aid box?” he asked.
“Bathroom. Down the hall to the right.”
He got up and quickly rushed to the bathroom before he came back with the first aid kit in his hand and a bowl of water. He sat on the edge of the table and took her leg in his hand. He looked at it and frowned.