“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.
“Got any tweezers?” he asked and she pointed to the hooks next to the door.
“My purse,” she whispered.
“Don’t move.” He commanded as he walked towards the door. When he came back with her purse, he handed it to her and she rummaged through it before she pulled out a pair of tweezers. He sat back down and pulled on a pair of latex gloves, the only ones in the first aid kit. He took a generous cut of cotton wool and wet it before he wiped off the blood to get a better view of the shard of glass wedged in her foot. She looked at him and took a long deep breath. “You need to stay perfectly still now, okay.” She nodded and took another deep breath. She then closed her eyes and winced as she felt the shard being pulled out of her.
“There. All done.” She opened her eyes as he used an antiseptic soaked cotton wool to clean her wound. He then put a band aid on her and then looked up at her. “How are you feeling?” he asked and she shrugged.
“It stings a little but you didn’t have to do all that,” she said as she pulled her leg from his hand.
“Of course I had to do it,” he said. “I don’t mind taking care of you.”
She looked up and smiled.
“I never got you a refill,” she said and he shook his head.
“No, you sit down. I’ll do it,” Evgeni said before he stood up and gathered the messy cotton swabs and first aid box. She watched him as he walked to the kitchen. “As soon as I mop up the kitchen floor. That place is a health hazard”
“All the cleaning agents are under the sink,” Athena called out. “And it is not hazardous to anyone’s health just…the slipping aspect.”
“What is it Americans say? Apples and oranges?” Evgeni said and she smiled.
As she sat there waiting for him to come back, all she was thinking at the moment was how she was not going to be able to wear heels for a while. That wouldn’t work out with new client meetings particularly if the client was a man who was a little too into femininity. She wasn’t sure how long she had been waiting before he finally walked back to where she was.
“I don’t know what you prefer but I made a call to my favorite Thai joint and ordered us dinner,” he said. “Hope you don’t mind.”
She shook her head and smiled.
“I’m famished, actually and I am pretty sure that everything Carla made is all…finito.”
“Good, because the food should be here in a few minutes, I like Savanh’s for its efficiency,” he said as he sat down.
“Savanh. I’ve heard about it but I have never really dined there,” she said and then frowned. “Wait, they do deliveries? I thought they are kind of like the Uber of restaurants.”
“They are and they just recently started making deliveries. Literally three or so weeks ago.”
“Is that so?” she asked as she leaned back against the seat. He reached for one of the cushions and secured it behind her.
“Comfy?” he asked.
“Yeah, thank you. And you are spoiling me a little too much,” she said in a soft voice. “I don’t want to get used to living like this. You know I have been comfortable doing all this by myself, right?”
“I know and you have been doing a great job so far but,” he took her hand in his. “You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”
She took a deep long breath and sighed.
“I…I have never dated a man like you,” she said in a soft voice and he shook his head.
“A European American?” he aske
d and she smiled.
“No. A man whose foundation donates five million dollars in a single night, a man who makes more in an hour than I make in a year…” she never had a chance to finish what she was saying. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her softly. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Trying to figure out why you think I want anything more than the pleasure of calling you mine,” he said and she frowned.
“You want me to be yours?” she asked both surprised and confused and he nodded.
“Why do you think I am here right now? I have wanted you since that night at the benefit.”
“Why?”
“Because for the first time I was myself with someone who saw me as just another man at the benefit. The way I have always wanted to be seen,” Evgeni said as he drew small circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
“And how is that?” she asked.
“As Evgeni Markovic the red blooded man and not billionaire businessman Evgeni Markovic.”
She smiled.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me who you were right away,” she said.
“In my defense, I saw a beautiful intriguing woman who had absolutely no idea who I was.”
“Is that a good thing?” She was not really sure.
“Yes, a very good thing. Someone was interested in me for the man I was, the man I am.”
“Interested?” she asked as she looked at him.
“Well, I would like to assume that was the case,” he said and she smiled. “So when did you know?”
“My friend Carla…She was on my neck about getting out of my shell and I told her that I did, well technically. And she had me Google you,” she said in a soft voice. “Well, that’s how I knew.”
“And?” he pressed.
“What do you mean ‘and’?” she asked.
“Does that change your mind about me or anything?” he asked. She took a long minute before she shook her head.
“No, it didn’t. I just don’t know how I can…” her voice trailed off. “I’m just not sure I can be fully committed to a new situation and everything.”
“I am willing to wait,” Evgeni said.
“Really? But for how long?”
“I told you, you are the first woman I’ve met in a long time who doesn’t picture my bank account on my face as we have sex,” he suddenly snapped and she raised an eyebrow.
“We haven’t had sex,” she said with a smile.
“In a manner of speaking Athena. I just…I just want someone who I can connect with on every level possible including the intellectual,” he said.
“Is that a way of asking me to dinner in so many words?”
“That was not what I was doing but if it is working, I would have to say yes,” he said quickly. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “Tell me it worked.”
“Maybe it did,” she said just as they heard a knock on the door.
“Dinner’s here,” he said before he stood up and walked to the door.
When he walked back to where she was, he sat down and began unpacking the food containers from the paper bag.
“So does this count as our first dinner date?” she asked and he shook his head.
“No, this was not a date. I have to ask you and you have to say yes and then get dressed up and I pick you up,” he said as he held two containers in his hand. “Cashew chicken or spicy chicken fried rice?” he asked.
“Is it okay if I have a little of both?” Athena asked as she frowned. She had never been okay with just sticking to one order. A smile played on Evgeni’s lips as he nodded.
“I don’t see why not.”
She took one of the food containers and inhaled deeply.
“This smells amazing,” she said under her breath and he nodded.
“Yeah, it is pretty amazing.”
He leaned back and took a pair of chopsticks from the bag.
“But Athena,” he started as he looked into her eyes. “I need you to make me a promise.”
“What?” she asked as she looked at him.
“You are going to tell me what you are keeping locked up in that pretty little head.”
She shrugged.
“What makes you think I am locking anything up?”
“I know that you are because one secret keeper knows another.” He opened his own food container. “And I did find you crying your eyes out in the Aquarium parking lot.”
She took a pair of chopsticks from him and smiled.
“I’ll show you mine.” She took the cashew chicken container and opened it. “But only if you show me yours.”
He opened his own container and smiled at her.
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Athena Davis,” he said before he took a bite of his chicken.
Chapter 5
“This is not a good look,” Athena thought as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the reflective wall as she made her way to Carla’s restaurant. She was in a knee length, elbow sleeved dress and a pair of sandals. “I miss my heels.” A woman gave her a strange look as she walked into the restaurant and Athena sighed. “I really, really miss my heels.”
“Hey,” Carla said when she saw her. “I was beginning to think you were not going to show up.”
Athena leaned forward and gave her friend a quick hug.
“Sorry, my last minute went on a little longer than I expected it to,” she said as Carla led her to the back. “Oh wow, private table…chef’s table, right?”
“Right,” Carla said smiling. “You must feel very special right now.”
“Well, of course. I am kind of a big deal, you know,” Athena said matter of factly and Carla rolled her eyes.
“Yes you are. I even noticed the sandals you are rocking with that dress.”
Athena bit her lip and nodded knowingly.
“Please, don’t hold back the sarcasm on my account.”
“I had to, honey. You are in a killer dress which should be probably worn with Louboutin heels or something but no, you thought that a pair of sandals would do,” Carla said. “Heading to the beach later or something of the sort?”
“I have a cut on my sole, okay?” Athena said rolling her eyes.
“A cut? What the hell happened?” Carla’s voice was full of concern.
“It’s no big deal. I just stepped on broken glass, that’s all.”
“Whoa, did you walk blindly into a crime scene or something?” Carla asked and Athena shook her head.
“No, I dropped a cup in my kitchen. Seriously, it is not a big deal.”
“If you say so,” Carla said matter of factly.
“I do, missy,” Athena insisted as Carla signaled one of her waiters.
“So, I know that I might not get all the dirty details since I didn’t see you yesterday but I want to hear everything,” Carla said. The waiter brought two plates of BLT sandwiches and Athena smiled.
“You are really trying to butter me up, aren’t you?” she said as she looked at her sandwich. She had always loved Carla’s BLT sandwiches. She was not sure whether it was how she toasted the bread with cheese or the fact that she used extra crispy bacon. Either way, she knew that she loved the simple taste of Carla’s BLT sandwiches.
“Well, I do need to know what happened and the happier you are, the better the situation will be for me,” Carla said as she took a bite of her sandwich. “Plus, I still have a couple of hours before the evening rush.”
“Well, I don’t. I have to get back to work.”
“And that is why I settled on sandwiches rather than a five course lunch.”
Athena smiled again.
“Ever wonder if maybe you are a bit too involved in my life?” she asked and Carla shrugged.
“I know I should be offended but honestly, I don’t really care and the answer to your question is, no. I do not think that I am too involved.” She took another bite of her sandwich as the waiter brought them two bottles of water. “I am just the right amount of involved.”
/>
“I had a feeling you would say that,” Athena said before she took her first bite. “Dear Lord, that is so damn good,” she said under her breath.
“Good, now you tell me what happened with Russian Moneybags,” Carla said and Athena shook her head.
“He has a name, you know?”
“Well, even his name sounds rich. Like, mob boss kind of rich though.”
Athena frowned.
“No, it doesn’t!”
“Really, Athena? The guy’s name is Evgeni Markovic and I am almost sure that if he pulled the accent off, the really heavy one and flashed a toy gun at some poor baker, he would get like twenty grand or so for ‘protection’.” Carla opened her bottle and took a long sip of her water.
“I can’t believe you even said that,” Athena said, stifling a laugh.
“So, come on. I am dying in suspense here,” Carla said in a whisper. “What happened?”
Athena dabbed the sides of her mouth with her thumb and index fingers and smiled.
“Well, I got home and found him waiting for me,” she started.
“He has a key to your place already? You are moving pretty fast,” Carla said matter of factly.
“He was waiting in his car in front of my apartment building you idiot. No one said anything about him being in the house.”
“Your story telling skills suck,” Carla said and Athena shrugged.
“So, anyway, he was waiting outside my building and I invited him in. Offered him a drink but I was a little too nervous though.” Athena took another bite of her sandwich. “That was when I broke the cup.”
“When you offered him a drink?” Carla asked.
“Well, I had already…we had already had a drink, mulled apple. I was getting him a refill and he was there talking to me and I don’t know what I was feeling…but I was suddenly feeling hot and cold at the same time and confused and….” Athena’s voice trailed off.
“You blushed, didn’t you?” Carla asked.
“I don’t think so…” Athena stammered and her friend smiled.
“Yes you did and you are blushing now,” Carla said laughing. “I honestly never thought I would ever see the day.”
Athena shrugged and took another bite.
Have My Twins : BWWM Romance (Brothers From Money Book 16) Page 17
