“Yes, and I should have known better. I’m sorry Ms. Virginia. I’ll take you back to the hotel,” Dmitri had packed most of the things away and was already standing. He didn’t let Virginia get a word in edgewise, and calling her Ms. Virginia felt like a strange pain in her heart. She was so used to people minding their Ps and Qs around her. She didn’t want Dmitri to be one of them. She didn’t want to be just another client to him. He was feeling what she was feeling, but he was now reminding himself of his place.
Virginia stopped protesting. There was no use; Dmitri would probably keep interrupting her and finding excuses for why this couldn’t work out. This was something Virginia had been thinking of for most of the afternoon. She got off the blanket without another word. She wasn’t used to rejection. Virginia was used to getting whatever and whoever she wanted. This was different. Dmitri wasn’t a prize for her to win, but a person whom she wanted to have full acceptance and understanding. Rejection was a new feeling for her. It was a feeling she didn’t understand too well. It made it even worse because there was something so different and so pure about Dmitri.
*****
Dmitri drove back to the hotel in silence. On occasion, he stole glances at Virginia, but she didn’t notice. She sometimes eyed him as well, but he didn’t notice either. They had been so in sync before this moment. Virginia’s thoughts raced as fast as her heart. There was adrenaline still pumping from that kiss in the park. Feeling his lips on hers brought a fire in Virginia that made everything around her move at a million miles a minute. She didn’t want to let go of the rush, but Dmitri had pulled away, and now she was too embarrassed to say anything.
Dmitri pulled up to the hotel parking area. He got out of the car and walked to the front. He opened Virginia’s door, and held his hand out for her as she got out. There was something painful and final about this encounter.
“Enjoy the rest of your stay here, Ms. Maxwell.”
“Please call me Virginia, Dmitri,” she said in a pleading voice.
“Very well. Have a wonderful rest of your trip, Virginia,” Dmitri said. He squeezed her hand for a moment before letting go.
“It was so amazing to meet you Dmitri Ivanov,” Virginia said. She swallowed what could have been a lump in her throat, and she flung her arms around him. Dmitri let her hug him, and he wrapped one arm around her. He tried his best not to let the hug linger, but Virginia didn’t want to let go.
They finally pulled away from each other.
“Do svidaniya, Dmitri,” Virginia said, biting her lip to avoid getting emotional. The lump was still in her throat, and she had put her sunglasses back on in case there would be tears.
“Proshchay beautiful,” he held up a hand, and then turned around to get back in his car. Virginia stayed put and watched him drive away. The moment he was out of sight was when Virginia could feel the first tear slowly making its way down her face.
Chapter 4
The last several weeks had gone by in a blur. When Virginia got back to her hotel after her outing with Dmitri, she was met by a slew of missed calls and messages. There were plans she had to make ahead of schedule. One person even said that they were grateful she had come so early, because there was so much that was needed to be done.
Virginia had so many plans and pre-plans to consider. She had been invited to a state dinner honoring the grand-niece of the famous Russian poet, Anna Akhmatova. Anna was a fashionista herself, and had been eyeing Virginia’s work for a long time. Anna had never met Virginia, but there were several countesses, princesses, and ladies from around the continent of Europe that had attended that night. Some were wearing some of Virginia’s signature work that weren’t at all available to just anyone in the public. Virginia wore an original piece as well, being sure to impress any and everyone around her.
The state dinner had made its way to the internet, and even newspapers in America. Virginia had already begun her success in Russia, but there was something that was missing. Or someone rather. She couldn’t get her mind off of Dmitri.
Virginia had admitted to Nancy what had happened that afternoon. Nancy, being the bright and beautiful optimist that she was, gave Virginia the number of the agency where Dmitri worked. Virginia had been too nervous to call. What would she have said once he picked up? She wasn’t sure, but she knew she wanted to see him again before she left. And now it was almost too late.
Virginia had tried the number the night before the launch of her clothing line in Russia, but a person named Vlad answered. He let her know that he would relay the message to Dmitri personally, but Dmitri never got back to her. She played it off of course. Virginia knew how to turn up her charm and be as compassionate and beguiling as she could be, regardless of any circumstance. She was going to get through this…but the truth was she wasn’t sure she wanted to get through this.
Her flight was leaving early the next morning. She barely had a moment to herself after her first week of being in Russia. But now she was finally alone. She had just been dropped off at the hotel by a publicist. It was a final gathering in the city of Moscow. This was a publicity stunt of course. She not only had to launch her clothing line, but she had to promote it as much as she could. She had people to entertain and network with, and Nancy had booked her for so many interviews. A party on her last night was just what she needed to lift her spirits.
Virginia didn’t know the word for feeling content but also somewhat empty at the same time. Every man dressed in full black reminded her of the day she had spent with Dmitri. Every time she tasted something sweet, she could only think of the taste of his lips. Virginia stepped out of the car she was in, and started to walk towards the grand doors of the hotel. She was so used to this building she almost wanted to call it home. She wasn’t going to deny that she would miss this place; she knew that she would.
“Hello beautiful.”
Virginia was startled, and she whipped her head around in the direction of the voice. Her heart fell into her stomach when she saw who it was. Dmitri had parked his SUV a few feet away from the entrance. He was of course wearing all black, and he was leaned up against the side of the car. Virginia looked glamorous in a red ball gown. The dress had pockets, and that’s where her hands were. She had wrapped her curly dark hair in a bun that sat on the top of her head. Her lips were as red as her dress, with long silver earrings, and emerald heels. She looked like she was just about to walk out on the red carpet.
“Dmitri,” Virginia breathed his name. She smiled wide, and it took all of her restraint not to run into his arms. It was like being reunited with a long lost love. He smiled back, and she casually walked over to him. She was too afraid to let her feelings show.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. There was a fire in her eyes, and excitement in her voice.
“I was told that I got a call from you. I understood that you’ve been very busy, I’ve seen you quite often on the news,” he started.
“Ah. You’ve seen more of me than I’ve seen of you,” Virginia said. Dmitri eyed her up and down with a beautiful curiosity. He was looking beyond her face or her figure; he was looking into her soul. Virginia could feel the parts of her body grow warmer and warmer as he caressed her with his eyes.
“I wanted to tell you goodbye before you left my home,” Dmitri said. He did a slight bow of his head. He was still trying to be professional, and he ignored Virginia’s remark. She was joking of course, but he didn’t want to mention how he had been thinking of her over the last few weeks.
“That’s very kind of you,” Virginia took another step towards him. His slicked hair glistened by the light of the moon. They were so close…so close, and all she wanted to do was feel the warmth of his body and the softness of his lips against her. “Thank you for that wonderful afternoon Dmitri. I wish we could have spent more time together.”
“Me too, Virginia.”
Virginia pulled Dmitri in for a warm embrace. She couldn’t take it any longer. It had been so long since she had been clo
se to him. The hold he had on her now was like recalling a beautiful memory, and she didn’t want the hug to end.
“I have a very busy morning,” Virginia said when she pulled away. She wanted to invite him inside. She wanted to spend time with him where neither of them was on some kind of schedule. But there was no time now. She needed to get some sleep before her flight, and she needed to shake her feelings for Dmitri before he could fully consume her thoughts.
Dmitri placed a finger under her chin to lift her face in order to look at him.
“You are one of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting Virginia. Take care of yourself,” he said. He leaned in and lightly brushed her cheek with his lips. Before she could respond, he turned around and stepped into his car. This was just like the first time they met. He was turning away from what this could possibly be, and all Virginia could do was watch. She stood by the door for a while after he left and she took a look up at the stars. She would be looking at a very different sky by tomorrow night. She only wished she had Dmitri to share it with.
*****
A week after being home from her trip, it was business as usual back at work. Virginia owned the whole building, but that didn’t mean things stopped when she wasn’t around. It was like she hadn’t left at all. She was swamped from when she stepped in Monday morning to when she was leaving late on Friday night. She took her work home with her, as she usually did around this time of year. She was taking business calls at 3 in the morning from clients in Shanghai, and Skyping potential investors to set up venues all around the world. She was getting prepared for next year’s spring and summer collections, and some personal work for some very wealthy clients and friends. She was always on the ball and always on top of things, even when Nancy pleaded for her to take an actual break and to let her get some help sometimes.
The following Monday, she marched through the doors, and even before getting on the elevator there was an intern letting her know about a late night talk show that wanted her on later that week, and a potential meeting with the First Lady to design a one of a kind outfit for her and her daughters for a surprise party for the Vice President. Virginia was back in business. She agreed to all meetings she needed to, and told the First Lady that she would get back with her with some ideas within the next few days-given she had all of the measurements that she needed of course. It had been quite some time since she had met the first family. To Virginia, this was more important than the feelings she was tucking away deep inside of herself. That was what she told herself, and that’s what she needed to keep telling herself in order to keep going.
“Knock knock,” Nancy said. She tapped on the door as well, and peeked her head inside Virginia’s office. Virginia beckoned for her to come in and shut the door.
“Hey Nanc,” Virginia said once the door was closed. There were a few sheets of paper in Nancy’s hand. The life of a fashion designer in demand was never easy, and the work was never done. Virginia couldn’t wait to start whatever it was. She wanted to tackle it and to keep her mind distracted and busy.
“Hey,” Nancy said, putting the papers on the desk that Virginia was seated at. Virginia was rocking from side to side in a swivel chair. She had a pen in her mouth and she was chewing the bottom of it. “Everything ok?”
They hadn’t had a lot of time to talk to each other or go through any personal things since Virginia had come home.
“Fine,” Virginia said. She pulled the pen out of her mouth and gave it a minute of air before shoving it back between her teeth to chomp on it again. Nancy didn’t believe her, but she had some news to share. She was going to have to spill it sometime.
“Julian called.”
Virginia groaned as a response. She didn’t care at all. She wasn’t interested in a single thing that Julian had to say to her.
“When did he call?” Virginia asked. She was even entertaining this conversation because it meant not having to think about work and all of the things she needed to do over the coming weeks.
“Ummm, a lot. While you were away, and twice since this morning,” Nancy said. She cringed a bit, anticipating a snarky remark, but Virginia didn’t say anything. Instead, Virginia shrugged and began looking through the papers that Nancy had put on her desk. “He says he misses you.”
Virginia didn’t budge. She was too engulfed in the task at hand.
“He really wants to talk to you,” Nancy said. She didn’t particularly like Julian, but if Virginia spoke to him then it would give him a reason to stop calling the office. Virginia had blocked his number on her house and cell numbers. The last thing she wanted was to hear a whiny ex try and “work things out” for the “sake of their relationship” when Virginia knew that it was more for the sake of their wallet and their reputation.
“I don’t really wanna talk to him,” Virginia said. She hadn’t looked up from the papers. “Look, I get that he wants this to work, but I’m so done with men like him. I have nothing to offer him, and Julian has nothing to offer me.”
“I think he’s more upset than anything.”
“Upset?”
“Wow, you really have been busy with work huh?” Nancy said. She plunked herself on a chair facing the desk that Virginia was seated at. “Since you haven’t read the news or watched any E! lately, I’ll fill you in. That paparazzi guy saw you break up with Julian that night at the restaurant. There are pics and tapes of you literally paying Julian not to speak to you again, and you laughing wildly and taking some wine with you. The press was saying you had disappeared because of a meltdown. Julian is now the most hated model in the city. He can’t get a job selling foot creams.”
Virginia covered her mouth with both of her hands. In hindsight, her storming out of the restaurant and flinging money at Julian was probably a horrible thing to do- worse if someone else was watching and didn’t know the situation. Now it looked like she paid him off while he scared her off. And since she had so much work to do, it was difficult to clear her name.
“Shit,” was all she could say.
“Right?” Nancy said. “So, what are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t talk to him. You’re gonna have to just apologize on my behalf. I’ll make it right when I’m not so busy, but Julian is the absolute last person I want to see or speak to when I have so much work to do.”
“Yeah, I’ve been telling him that you’re busy. He got all upset because he’s been saying that even when you were busy you used to make time for him. I told him you guys had only been hanging out for like 2 months and he just needed to chillax.”
Virginia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Always taking care of business,” she said. Her smile didn’t last long though. Thoughts of Julian brought up thoughts of Dmitri. Nancy could see the change in her boss’ demeanor and sat up in the armchair. Virginia had only spoken to her about Dmitri once, and that was when she was desperate to speak to him again. Nancy had found the number and given it to Virginia, but she could sense that Virginia had been feeling off since she had been back. She knew that it had something to do with Dmitri.
“Speaking of business, and even though it’s totally unrelated to what I wanna ask, but…whatever happened to that tall pale and handsome Russian guy? Dmitri, I think his name was.”
Virginia felt like she had been in a fog since the last time she saw him, but when Nancy mentioned his name, everything came into focus.
“I got to see him before I left. Well, he came to see me actually. But he basically said that we were part of two different worlds. I don’t know,” Virginia said.
“That sounds like total garbage. Why don’t you call him? Send him an email? Bring him here for a while and just…get to know him.”
“It’s not as easy as that Nanc.”
“The hell it’s not. Here,” Nancy stood and picked up the telephone that was on Virginia’s desk. She handed it to her. “Just call him. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s better than burying yours
elf with work and pretending like everything’s ok.”
Nancy knew. Nancy always knew, even if she didn’t tell Virginia or if Virginia didn’t tell her. Virginia smiled at her friend, more grateful for her than ever at this moment.
“You can invite him to a state dinner, or one of your runway shows. Tell him to transfer jobs so that you can be together! No pressure right? I can just tell you really liked him.”
After a minute, Virginia finally sighed and gave in.
“Ok…Ok, I’ll call him,” she said. Nancy had already turned around and was walking out of the office.
“You’re welcome!” she called back to her friend before leaving the office and shutting the door behind her.
Virginia never noticed how large her office was until now. There were two desks in it, a lounge area, and a table that could be transformed into a pool table. It was like a business suite at a grand hotel. The size of it made her feel so alone in the space. Nancy was no longer there, but her voice echoed in the crevices, urging Virginia to make the call. Virginia had wanted to make the call, but she wasn’t at all sure what it was that she was going to say once she heard his voice. She didn’t want to be turned down again, or worse, to find love over such a long distance.
Virginia searched through her phone for the number of the agency that Dmitri worked at. Without considering the time difference, Virginia held her breath and dialed the number.
After the second ring, a familiar voice answered.
Virginia didn’t know what to say at first. She waited for the third hello before speaking.
“Dmitri?” was all she could think to speak.
“Yes, this is he,” he didn’t recognize her voice, but his was unmistakable. The playful way he spoke and the unique way his accent shifted from Russian to almost Australian. She had to admit even to herself that she missed hearing his voice. It shocked her that just being on the phone with him left her feeling so vulnerable. She had to know what that meant.
“Hello Dmitri, it’s…”
Carry My Baby_BWWM Romance Page 17