by Kay Loren
"I'm a businessman," he answered with a white lie.
"That's how you got us in this fancy restaurant," Audrina smiled.
Nikolai smiled back at her. She seemed even more innocent to him now that he was sat with her face to face. She was nothing like the teasing enigma that she portrayed onstage. She was quiet and mysterious just like when he first saw her walk home.
He thought back to the file Sergei had pulled on her. She was in the foster care system until the age of 17 and then worked for a short time as a dancer in a gentlemen’s club he was not fond of. A couple of years were missing from the file but it concluded with her working as a waitress and then in a well known cabaret under a big name and now.
“Why’d you ask me out?” she asked out of the blue.
Nikolai placed his glass down and smiled lightly, “Because I like you.”
“You don’t even know me,” She chuckled.
He smirked and replied slowly, “You don’t believe you can like someone before knowing them?”
She thought about it for a moment and then shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“Fate has funny way, bringing two together,” He furrowed his brows, trying hard to pronounce each word.
Audrina’s face lit up. Fate… She was a big believer in fate and if there was a reason she came together with this man even if it was just for dinner, she was ecstatic.
As the night progressed, one glass of wine led to another and before Audrina knew it, she was feeling a little tipsy. When they finally decided to leave the restaurant, Audrina agreed to go back to Nikolai's penthouse for one more drink.
When they arrived at his place, Audrina couldn't help but be amazed at how beautiful it was. The floors were shiny black marble and almost all the furniture was all black and the leather with the occasional white thrown in. It was very modern yet extravagant. She was amazed with how grand it was.
"Nice place," Audrina said as he led her to a black leather couch that was next to a huge window, overlooking the city. The city seemed alive and brighter from her view.
"Can I get you anything?" Nikolai offered as he poured himself a drink of scotch from the mini bar that was a few feet away from the couch, "Wine?"
"Yes please," Audrina agreed. She knew she shouldn't have had more, but it felt good just to let loose and not worry about how much she was drinking. After all, she didn't have to perform for the next two nights and around Nikolai she knew she needed liquid courage. He was intimidating yet alluring.
Nikolai walked over to her with a glass of red wine in his hand. He handed it to her as he sat down and unbuttoned his suit in a sexy way that made Audrina bite her lip. She had not noticed till he sat by her that he had a faint, thin scar from his temple down to his cheekbone. To Audrina, it made him all the more attractive and added to his handsome face.
"You must have paid a fortune for this place," Audrina said as she gave another look around. Apartments on this side of town rented out for thousands and since he was in the deluxe penthouse, she knew he paid twice as much.
Nikolai nodded his head with a ghost of a smile, “I own it.”
Audrina almost choked on her wine, "You own this whole building?"
Nikolai nodded his head again, "I own lots of buildings. Hotels, dealerships, restaurants..."
Sure Audrina hung around lots of rich people, but this man was filthy rich. He could probably lose a million dollars in a bet and feel like he only lost a hundred. She never met anyone like him. He intrigued her and piqued her curiosity much more.
"Wow. You must come from a pretty rich family," She commented hoping he’d reveal more information about himself.
"I do, but I didn't always live like this," he said as he crossed his leg. "My father worked really hard to make sure me and my sister were well off."
"And your mother?"
"My mother died when I was sixteen,” he stated. “My father had another wife, but he just married her for company I think. Then he died a few years after that."
Audrina didn't know what it was like to lose any parents because she grew up in the foster care system since she was a baby. She was far too young to remember either parent so it was no loss to her. She was always on her own and when she was seventeen, she and her best friend Nikki, another foster kid, left the place and began to work as strippers- for a short while- and then waitressing long hours just to get by. She had a pretty tough life until she became a professional dancer five years back.
"Sorry for your loss," Audrina said lowly, putting a hand on his leg.
Nikolai put a hand over hers then turned his head to her. He put a hand on her chin, and brought her pouty pink lips close to his and went in for a kiss. Instead of pushing him away, Audrina scooted closer to him and deepened the kiss. His lips felt so good against hers.
After a short while of their making out, she pushed him down on the couch, straddling him, and then sucked on his bottom lip. Nikolai was taken back by this but he let her take charge. He was always the one in control but he liked the fact that she made bolder moves instead of him. She went after what she wanted and he found himself loving it.
In one swift motion, she ripped off his shirt, sending buttons flying everywhere and surprising him. She ran her manicured fingernails all over his taunt torso before she placed little kisses and gentle nips where she pleased. Just as she began to undo his belt, he flipped her over so that she was now under him. He claimed her lips once more and she began to grind her hips into his erection.
When he groaned against her lips, it awoke something inside of her. She pushed him off and stood. Slowly, she pushed the thin straps of her dress over her shoulders and then peeled the dress off until it pooled at her feet. Nikolai had seen her half dressed earlier in the night but something about the sheer, lacy, red material against her milky white skin now was driving him mad. She looked divine in her slinky lingerie.
She straddled him again and he ran his hands all over her soft skin savoring every inch of her. She grazed her teeth along side his jaw and trailed kisses down his neck and chest. He gasped when her hand went into his pants and gently squeezed him.
“Here or your bedroom?” she asked in a husky voice.
He sat up, wrapping her legs around his thick waist and stood up. She giggled as he held her close to his body their faces in close proximity to one another.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Lead the way.”
Chapter Three
Audrina opened her eyes as soon as she felt the bright sun hit them. A nagging headache was brought on from her drinking the night before, but she wondered where her body pain was coming from. It was more sore and tired than in pain.
She examined her new surroundings as she sat up in bed. Everything in the room was black with a touch of gold. From the furniture, to the black walls, to the few doors that were in the room were those colors. Even the sheets she laid in were made of black silk and the soft pillows she slept on were silky black with gold trim. The floor was made of shiny white and flickered gold marble and the curtains that covered the large sliding glass door were gold.
But why was she here?
She looked down onto the floor and saw her lingerie discarded along with her heels and a few pieces of men's clothing. The events of the night before flooded throughout her mind and she gasped. Oh my god, she thought. What did I get myself into last night?
Suddenly she heard the shower go on. That must be him, she thought with a hand to her head. She was embarrassed and mortified that she went as far as she did with Nikolai. All she remembered was him picking her up and taking her to his room. She wouldn’t let her mind wander beyond that. She felt foolish.
She got up in a hurry and looked for her dress from the night before. The dress was neatly folded on a chair in the corner of the room and she threw it back on. Before she hurried out of the room, she grabbed her little red purse from the golden nightstand and fled quickly before he could exit the bathroom. She ran out of the penthouse, not
looking back once. She didn't want to even look at this guy let alone see him again. It was nothing against him or anything, it was just her own mind that made her feel ashamed of herself since she never had never done anything like this before. This was out of character for her.
* * *
Nikolai stepped out of the shower, wrapping a white towel around his waist, and then walking on over to the large mirror above his white sink. He examined the few, little, red marks on his thick neck while smirking. He wasn't a fan of hickey's, but something about this Audrina girl made him give in to her completely, which isn't such a great thing for someone like him. She was not only beautiful and great in bed, but she was funny, smart, and nice. All the other girls that he dated were very pretty like supermodels but lacked in all the other areas. Audrina was just the total package.
Nikolai finished getting dressed in his usual attire – black slacks with a nice long- sleeved silk dress shirt and a suit jacket- and then walked back into the room. As he was putting on his golden Rolex, he looked over to his empty bed. Where the hell is she?- he thought. She was just here when I woke up.
He called out her name a few times before he walked out of the room and looked for her around the house. There was no sign of her. The place was enormous and he thought she may have wandered off. He paced around the house but still nothing. Before he could search anywhere else, he heard a knock. He hoped that it was her. He opened the front door to reveal Sergei standing there on time as usual.
"Ready to go Boss?" Sergei asked. "We have to meet Mr. Mancini in twenty minutes."
Nikolai forgot all about his meeting with the head of the infamous Mancini crime family. They were to discuss a truce and forge an alliance. He knew about this meeting for months and the fact that he forgot about it was new to him.
Nikolai nodded his head as he rubbed his eyes with two fingers, "Yeah." He brushed past Sergei without a glance.
He was just going to have to find her later. Business first, pleasure later, he thought.
Chapter Four
One Year Later
"Oh Audrina!" Nikki exclaimed, her cat like green eyes tearing up and her pale white skin becoming flushed. "The ring is beautiful!"
Audrina held out her small hand as she showed her best friend the ring her boyfriend- well now fiancé- gave her. It was a huge, eye-catching platinum, 15 carat, princess cut, diamond ring. It was absolutely beautiful and she felt proud to show it off.
"Michael must have spent a fortune on this baby," Nikki smiled as she ran a hand through her long, cherry red hair. "He loves you a lot."
Audrina smiled as she thought about Michael proposed to her the night before. He was going on and on about how much he loved her and how they met at a party in Vegas. After about five minutes of non-stop talking -from him- he got down on one knee and proposed. They had only been dating about nine months and he already wanted to marry her. It was too good and too soon to be true.
"Oh my god!" Audrina blushed, putting a hand to her face. "I'm going to get married! I’m gonna be a bride! It feels so weird."
"You'll get used to it," Nikki chuckled, waving a lazy hand. “Anyways, how long will it be until you start popping out babies!”
Audrina giggled, “I want to wait a few months after we get married… just so I can enjoy Michael a little bit before we start our little family.”
“What does Michael say about that?” Nikki arched a brow.
“He agrees,” Audrina shrugged.
The two girls continued to shop around in the little, fancy, clothing boutique. Audrina was supposed to be finding a dress, but she didn't know why. Michael gave her a wad of hundred dollar bills and told her to buy the most beautiful dress money could buy, but he didn't even say why. He just told her to get a dress so she could wear it tomorrow night. He was sure a man of mystery as Audrina had come to know.
"Did you find anything yet?" Nikki asked her as she watched Audrina going through a rack of dresses.
"How about this one?" Audrina asked Nikki as she held up a plain old lavender dress.
Nikki's nose crinkled as she shook her head, "No, not that one. Try to find a sexy dress that's not slutty looking, but classy."
Audrina smiled at her little comment then gasped when she laid her eyes on this beautiful, long sleeved, white dress that had a thin, gold, belt chain. "What about this one?"
Nikki walked over to where Audrina was. "You have to get it! Look it's a size six. Your size!"
Audrina squealed then turned to an employee that worked in the boutique. She looked like one of those ladies in the Pretty Woman movie and only smiled at them when she noticed Audrina shoving the wad of cash back into her purse.
"Excuse me, miss? I'd like to try this on."
Audrina walked out from the changing room in the dress. It hugged her body in all the right places and it went just a little above her knees. The gold chain hung loosely around her hips. She knew she was going to buy the dress.
"You look so beautiful Audrina!" Nikki whistled as she watched her friend twirl in the mirror. "Just get some gold heels and your set."
* * *
Audrina did one last curl in her hair and a few touch ups on her smoky eye makeup before stepping out of the bathroom. She was already dressed in the dress she had bought the day before. She took one last look in the mirror. This will have to do she thought. She felt beautiful and comfortable.
"Almost done mi amore?" She heard Michael knock on the other side of the door.
Audrina smiled when she heard his deep, smooth, seductive voice. She opened the door and saw him leaning against the door frame looking sexy in his black suit and matching tie. His dark eyes gave her a long once over as he licked his thin pink lips, running a hand through his slicked back dark head of hair.
"You look stunning," he smiled as he took her into his arms.
Audrina blushed lightly, "You too."
Michael leaned his head down a bit to give her a kiss. "I can't wait till we get home tonight."
The way he said that sent chills down her spine. He was a very sexual man and she knew he was serious. She could feel his slight erection against her thigh.
Audrina chuckled as she put her hand to his tanned cheek. "Well too bad. Looks like you're gonna have to wait."
Michael groaned when she playfully pushed him away from her. She walked right past him and grabbed her little gold clutch. She could feel his eyes burn into her as she sauntered around the room. She teased him a bit, pretending to drop her purse and bending down, giving him a quick peek of her panties.
"Ready to go?" He smirked, catching on to her game quickly.
Audrina bit her lip with a nod. She grabbed his hand and walked out of the house and out to the waiting car.
Michael had Audrina close her eyes a little before they reached their destination. She promised not to peek after he insisted he blindfold her. She had a smile on her face the whole time anxious as he led her on.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
"Somewhere…" Michael chuckled. "Almost there baby. Don't open your eyes until I say."
He led her a little further more, anticipation building up in her with each step. There were a few possibilities on where he was taking her. Maybe he has a gift for me she thought. She had been hounding him to take her to the opera that came into town. After a minute he told her to open her eyes.
“Surprise!”
Audrina gasped when she saw all their friends and family together in the same room. Well, mostly Michael’s family and friends and a small group of her friends that had become as close as family.
"What's this all for?" she asked, squeezing Michael's hand as she looked around the huge room of the five star hotel.
Round tables were decorated with cream linen and tall vases of fresh lily’s laid at the center of ever table. A five tier cake sat on one table and food was served buffet style for all to enjoy. It looked more like a wedding reception than an engagement party but Michael had extravagant taste
s.
"A little engagement party for my soon to be bride," Michael replied placing a sweet kiss on her lips as he handed her a glass of champagne.
Audrina’s heart melted. This was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her. Even Jeana was here with her husband Jack -the head Sherriff of Deep Falls- in tow. She hadn’t seen her old assistant in over four months yet Jeana was all smiles to see her friend again. She raised her glass to Audrina from across the room.
Nikki walked up to them in a little black cocktail dress. "Are you surprised?"
Audrina nodded her head. It finally dawned on her. "You knew about this didn't you?"
"Guilty!" Nikki chuckled as she hugged Audrina. "Come on. Let's go say 'hi' to everyone."
After greeting and having short conversations with everybody in the room, Audrina was spent. She had never been more tired of conversation than now after going through over a hundred people. Michael knew much more people and had much more family but Nikki informed her that the people who attended now were the ones who could attend on such short notice. She looked around the room for Michael, who was out of sight. Finally, she spotted him sitting at a table with his friend Tony and made her way over to him.
"Hey baby," He smiled.
She sat, crossing her legs and he put a hand on her thigh.
“Having fun?”
Audrina smiled lightly, "Of course."
"You remember Tony don't you?" He asked as he gestured over to the short yet attractive dark featured man who sat across the table from them. He used to intimidate Audrina to her core but when she finally met his wife and saw a softer side to him, she felt different.
"Yes," She smiled. "How are you Tony?"
"Very good," He replied in a raspy Italian accent. "Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you."
Michael chatted with Tony some more as Audrina sat there silently nodding her head as if she was paying attention to their conversation. She wanted to go home already but knew that Michael would want them to stay here until the last hour. So she continued to sip on the delicious, bubbly pink champagne that she had already had too much of.
