Alexei's Passionate Revenge

by Helen Bianchin

  Alexei cut a resplendent figure in a dark suit, white shirt and dark silk tie.

  Ivana shared the role of matron of honour and mother of the bride. Roman gave the bride into Alexei’s keeping, and Cristos, who’d flown in from New York, took the part of Alexei’s best man.

  A simple, heartfelt ceremony conducted by a celebrant...touching in that Alexei caught hold of her hand as she reached his side and lifted it to brush his mouth to her fingers, offered a deep emotive smile, then lowered his head to take her mouth with his in a soft lingering kiss.

  It added to the informality, and brought a smile to those present.

  The exchange of rings, hers a magnificent wide diamond-encrusted band, while Alexei had chosen a plain gold ring.

  The kiss sealing their marriage was more evocative, loving, and tears shimmered in Natalya’s eyes as she whispered, ‘Love you.’

  Lunch was a delight, with love, laughter...laid-back and incredibly personal.

  Lisette had excelled herself. Roman remained quiet, reflective, while Ivana appeared relaxed, delighted her daughter had found everlasting happiness with her first and only love.

  Not journey’s end, she perceived.

  A beginning.

  * * *

  The choice of a tropical island paradise became their personal honeymoon destination.

  Owned by one of Alexei’s friends, it was off the tourist tracery of holiday island venues.

  Small, unique, with live-in staff to cater to the smallest of any guest’s whim. There was an indoor pool, private, with an electronic roof to let in the sun...if desired, or not. A lanai...with cushioned cane chairs overlooking an outdoor pool that appeared to meld into the sapphire blue ocean. A motorised yacht moored at the end of a long jetty.

  Indoors a large central lounge, a home office, three large luxe bedroom suites each with an en suite bathroom. A games room, set up for billiards, table tennis. A sauna.

  Together with a rich man’s necessity...a heliport complete with helicopter.

  Perfection, luxurious, a haven from the hi-tech world of international business. Yet everything on hand at the push of a button, if need be.

  Staff quarters situated at one end of the island housed a married couple employed as caretakers, their eldest son who acted as chef when the owners or invited guests were in residence. A younger son who piloted the motorised yacht and helicopter, and a daughter who assisted with household chores.

  It was divine, an experience to remember...infinitely special—as Natalya evinced at the end of their stay.

  ‘We can always return,’ Alexei assured as they boarded the helicopter for the return home.

  It was the caretaker’s youngest son who took the pilot’s seat, and set the engine in motion.

  ‘Something to look forward to,’ Natalya said with a whimsical smile. Maybe in a few years, with a young child to laugh at puddles, make sandcastles, enjoy the sunshine unfettered by the rush and bustle of city life. Playschool, kindergarten...

  * * *

  It was good to be home, to complete the final move of her belongings to Alexei’s mansion. To make decisions to lease her own apartment, interview prospective tenants...only to discover Ben had a friend who was looking for an apartment, possessed of impeccable references, solid employment, whom she had already met, knew, and without hesitation she offered a lease, stored her furniture, and was grateful for the done deal.

  Work proved intense during their first week, with Alexei taking up the slack from their absence, involving long hours...evenings when it was almost midnight before they each hit the shower and fell into bed.

  Only for life to settle back into a reasonably familiar routine...if you factored in a formal wedding to be held with Alexei’s family as guests, close friends, ADE’s office staff together with top personnel from ADE’s industrial plant.

  A wedding planner took care of the details, liaised and approved the caterers’ menu...ensuring everything went as smoothly as possible.

  Eight weeks after their intimate wedding, they enjoyed the best of the best...both families together, guests they’d requested to attend, a beautiful church favoured by Ivana’s mother during her lifetime, and a stunning venue for the wedding breakfast.

  The bridal gown surpassed Natalya’s dreams, with an exquisite bodice of intricate lace moulded to showcase her upper body, a sweetheart neckline, three-quarter sleeves in lace, with layers of silk falling from the waist beneath pale ivory silk to boost the skirt’s volume a little so the hemline touched the tips of ivory stilettos. A floaty veil completed the bridal gown, and only she and Alexei knew the slender gold chain at her neck held his original gift of the simple diamond ring nestling deep within the V between each breast. On her right hand she wore the magnificent solitaire diamond Alexei had gifted her, and which she’d worn as a betrothal ring at their private wedding.

  Soon he’d place the wide diamond-encrusted wedding ring on her left hand, and they would formally be named husband and wife before a church filled with family and guests.

  * * *

  ‘Tilt your head a little. I need to blend the eyeshadow just a touch more.’

  Natalya obeyed, and shot Anja a faintly wry smile. ‘Tell me again why I agreed to do this?’

  ‘Ivana,’ Anja reminded her gently. ‘Your mother is in her element. Her smile, the soft laughter, her bond with Alexei’s mother and family is a beautiful thing to witness.

  ‘Then there’s Alexei, the gorgeous man you’re already married to...’

  ‘I get it. I really do.’

  ‘So hush... It’s a lovely day, the sun is shining, the wedding planners have achieved a magnificent setting. The photographers are due to arrive any minute. Each mother of the little flower girl and pageboy have everything in hand.’ She tapped a light forefinger to the tip of Natalya’s nose. ‘Relax.’

  She was tempted to roll her eyes, and refrained...barely. ‘I am perfectly relaxed.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Anja responded, sotto voce. ‘Perfectly.’

  ‘Am I permitted to say I preferred my first wedding?’ It had been so intimate, so laid-back. Special.

  ‘Of course. But only to me.’

  Her mouth curved into a genuine smile. ‘Thanks for being here. For doing what you do best. Friend, the sister I never had. All of it.’

  ‘You’re welcome. And for the record...right back at you. What you said, and more.’

  It became time to shed her wrap, and step into her wedding gown...exquisite, delicate, perfect.

  ‘You look so beautiful,’ Ivana complimented gently, almost on the point of tears.

  Natalya caught her mother close. ‘Please don’t cry.’

  ‘I’m so happy for you...both of you.’

  A special moment, encapsulating the now, the promise of the future.

  ‘I know,’ Natalya said gently. And she did. ‘Thank you for everything. All of it, for as long as I can remember.’

  Her childhood, the happiness, laughter, and memories of three generations...the special times influenced by a different culture from a different country.

  Ivana and Natalya drew apart, smiled, touched a hand to each other’s cheek...and stepped out into the sunshine together where three limousines waited to transport the bride’s parents in one, Anja with the two small children in the second, and the bride with Paul at the wheel ready to complete the procession.

  This was the moment, Natalya reflected as the limousine travelled the suburbs en route to the beautiful old church her darling babushka had adored. Settled back from the road and accessed via a long curved driveway shadowed by trees, it captured a timeless era of tradition, faith and something more...almost indefinable. And familiarity, for all the occasions she had attended there with her grandmother and mother.

  A year, even six months ago, she
could never have envisaged she would be attending her own wedding. Or that Alexei would be waiting for her at the church.

  A broken dream, never imagined to be realised.

  Yet there were occasions when dreams shifted, reassembled and were resolved. As hers had been...by the hand of Fate.

  Paul slowed the limousine to a crawl prior to making the final turn to the street where the church’s entrance lay, and slowly travelled the gently curved tree-lined driveway, where a team of photographers captured the moment of the bride’s parents’ arrival, immediately followed by Anja and the two children...and minutes later by the bride.

  Flashbulbs popped, almost blinding as they melded with the sunshine, and the media were there to record the scoop of the day that would feature in the evening’s newspapers, and probably occupy a small segment on the TV news.

  As a notable event, the wedding would attract attention...and better an organised compliant willingness to share, than have the gutter press issue their dubious take filched from supposition and unsubstantiated fact.

  Consequently there had been a private interview with the press, vetted and approved prior to publication. Also a sanctioned photograph...both of which had been released prior to the wedding. Now it was time to seal their love sanctioned and blessed in the church of their choice.

  Today would feature a touch of grandeur, of love, light and happiness...genuine, even to the most critical eye.

  Nervous, much? A little, Natalya admitted as the limousine eased to a halt outside the main entry. She knew enough not to look directly at the flashbulbs, to smile, and appear composed.

  To pause long enough for Ivana and Anja to straighten her veil, ensure the gown’s hemline wasn’t caught up, and surprise both women with an impromptu kiss to her mother’s cheek, before bestowing a similar salutation on Anja.

  ‘My only wish is for you to be happy,’ Roman said quietly as they took the first steps down the aisle.

  There was a time to put her father’s transgressions in the past, to move forward with the future...and this appeared to be the appropriate moment.

  Natalya turned her head to offer Roman a winsome smile. ‘I am...very happy,’ she assured him gently.

  Then she took her father’s arm, leant forward and said quietly, ‘Let’s do this.’

  The aisle seemed long, and she took the first step, then another, looked up and saw Alexei ignored tradition and had turned to watch her progress.

  Natalya simply focussed on his expression as she slowly closed the distance to his side, saw the way his mouth curved into a smile, the light, the love in his eyes...for her. Only her.

  And her head lifted a little, her smile faintly teasing as they shared a silent promise mere words could not convey.

  Perfect, so incredibly right as she drew to a pause at his side...totally unprepared as he lowered his head and bestowed a gentle lingering kiss, sensed her response, only to reluctantly withdraw and clasp her hand within his own as they both turned to face the beaming minister, oblivious to the light laughter of the guests.

  Oh, my.

  Natalya was conscious of the vows spoken, the solemnity of the service, the faint tightening of Alexei’s hand as they were pronounced husband and wife.

  The kiss was a mutual benediction, and they turned to face the guests, to the hand-clapping and the smiles as they slowly stepped forward, paused for Anja to set the flower girl and pageboy in their positions, then began the slow walk down the aisle...only to hear a child’s startled cry, and turn to see Gigi had tripped and become momentarily disoriented, bent on ignoring Anja’s soothing voice and helping hands...as the little girl turned and ran towards the closest person she recognised... Alexei.

  Without hesitation he scooped her into his arms, soothed her tears, and touched his lips to her small forehead as she curled her arms round his neck.

  Xena rushed from her seat, only for Gigi to shake her head and cling to Alexei.

  ‘It’s okay,’ he offered gently as Xena looked distressed.

  And it was. Gigi simply buried her head against Alexei’s neck, and didn’t lift it until they reached the vestibule where Cristos waited to extricate his daughter.

  Natalya felt her heart melt at the sight of Alexei cradling his niece as if it was the most natural act in the world.

  Aware he would do the same with their own children, be a hands-on father who would gift his heart, everything he had, to the well-being of his children...and for her.

  There, whenever, wherever he was needed.

  Because it mattered. As she mattered.

  Evident in everything he did, the words said and those not needed to be voiced.

  Love. Theirs alone.

  Now, she waved aside Cristos’s attempt at an apology. ‘It was delightful,’ she assured him with a genuine smile.

  It became a talking point among the guests, who collectively accorded it a touching moment.

  There were photographs, professional, the media, family, video cameras recording the ceremony, before and after wedding snaps, laughter, smiles, the beautiful bonding between Calista and Ivana.

  It was, in retrospect, a very special wedding. A blend of grandeur and contemporary...of love, family and friends who each came together to celebrate the joining of two people who had loved, lost, and found each other again.

  The moment when Natalya and Alexei were alone, Alexei took hold of her hand and lifted it to his lips, then kissed the tip of each finger in turn.

  It was the wedding waltz which almost brought her undone as she circled the floor in Alexei’s arms. The lowering of his head as he brought his lips close to her ear and said, ‘You’re the love of my life. You...only you complete me.’

  Uncaring of time or place, she reached up and touched gentle fingers to his cheek, caressed the groomed stubble, and rested fingers to the edge of his mouth.

  ‘There are the words I could say,’ she said quietly. ‘And I will, because I need you to hear them. I want to touch you, to show you you’re the other half of me. My love, soul-mate...my everything.’

  He pulled her close against him, held her there...his arousal a potent force. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  It was easy to smile, to tease a little. ‘It’s our night. We get to choose.’

  They finished the bridal waltz, circled the room with unhurried steps, pausing to thank their guests individually for attending the wedding celebration, spent a little time with each of their parents and family, then slipped away from the venue to a waiting limousine with Paul at the wheel. For he, too, had been a valued guest.

  ‘Home?’

  ‘Yes. Please,’ Natalya added, as she nestled her head into the curve of Alexei’s shoulder. Perhaps the best gift she could give him was the one she’d been waiting days for the right moment. When would be better than now?

  There was more. Just a few words, and she offered them later...much later after they’d made love, tears gathering at the edge of her eyes as she relaxed in his arms.

  ‘This morning I took a pregnancy test.’

  She didn’t make him wait.

  ‘It was positive.’

  EPILOGUE

  LIFE WAS GOOD, Natalya reflected as she carefully eased the sated babe from her breast. The night was still at this pre-dawn hour.

  ‘There we go, my little darling,’ she murmured with a loving smile as she hugged Nikos close and brushed soft lips to his forehead.

  This was their time, so precious and special, and she quietly began singing a soft lullaby of a small babe falling asleep in a cradle as she gently rocked him in her arms, smiling at the sound of his customary burp.

  She wanted to hold him a little longer, to stroke light fingers over his soft cheek, and to give quiet blessings for the miracle of life. And she did, silently, with all the love in her h
eart.

  Then she carefully placed him into his crib, reached out and lowered the baby night lamp, paused to double-check he was sleeping, then she turned to leave the nursery...and saw Alexei’s tall frame leaning against the door frame.

  ‘How long have you been standing there?’ Natalya queried quietly as she drew close, and in the dim light she caught his slow smile.

  ‘A while.’ He lifted a hand and curved it beneath her chin. ‘I like to watch you both together.’ He pressed his thumb-pad to her lips. ‘Share the bond between mother and child.’

  A lump rose in her throat, and she swallowed it down. ‘You’re a great father.’

  A wonderful support during the initial few months of her pregnancy, when he took time out to accompany her to every appointment—there at her side through every injection, each examination. Marvelling at each sonogram as they watched their son develop in the womb. Counting fingers and toes, the moment when it appeared the unborn babe turned and appeared to look at them.

  Choosing a name, agreeing on his late grandfather’s name... Nikos.

  Alexei touched his mouth to hers, gently at first, then he curved an arm around her shoulders.

  He was a good babe, suckled well, only woke once through the night for a feed, then slept until the early pre-dawn hours. He tended to smile...although Natalya felt sure it was simply wind.

  Natalya cast Alexei a musing glance. ‘This is one of the best times of the night. The day is done, Nikos is sleeping, and...’

  ‘It’s our time,’ he assured her quietly and pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss before raising his head to touch his lips to her temple. ‘I love you.’

  Her eyes filled, and she blinked to hold back the tears. How could she not know?

  ‘You touch a hand to my cheek, and my heart begins to dissolve,’ she said gently.

  ‘You’re the other half of me.’ His lips traced her own, nibbled a little, then soothed. ‘I sense every move you make during the night, and draw you close.’

  She held back the threat of tears. ‘Returned in kind. Every word. All of it.’