“Does it matter which phone I use? I can just text you the photo and then I have your phone number,” he said smoothly. “See, I’m trying to get your number without asking you for it and you have found me out.” Laughing, Galina smirked and shook her head.
“I could just take a selfie but it might not encompass the gardens behind me.”
“Or you could just let me take it, give me your number anyways and then take a selfie with me since we are pretending today?” he suggested idly. Galina saw that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Nodding, she stood beside the massive stone railing and waited as he took the photo.
“Thank you,” she said, quickly joining him to see the photo on his phone. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she glanced and saw an older woman standing there wearing a camera around her neck.
“Hello?”
“If you want, I can take a photo of you and your man?” she offered politely. “I’m quite the shutterbug too and my husband used to ask people around us all the time to take our photo together. Now that he’s gone, I seem to be the one doing the asking and taking the pictures instead.”
“Yes, please,” Nik jumped in before Galina could say a word. Galina stood by the railing once again and was surprised to see Nik come stand behind her. His arms wrapped around her midsection and he pulled her into a hug, his face near hers.
“We’re still pretending today, right?” he breathed in her ear. Galina looked up at him wordlessly and saw the desire in his eyes as his face was mere inches from hers. She could smell his cologne and felt the heat of his body against her back from under his light jacket. She wondered if his heart was beating as fast as hers was right now.
“Beautiful! I’ve got it,” the woman announced, breaking the moment. Galina quickly stepped out of Nik’s arms to accept the cell phone back from her.
“Thank you so much.”
“You two are incredibly sweet together; it reminds me of my husband and I. Enjoy the rest of your trip.” She waved and Galina felt herself wave back instinctively. She was still waiting for her heart to slow down and her stomach to stop doing somersaults at the feeling of being in Nik’s arms for even the briefest moment.
“Can I have my phone back and I will text both photos to you?” Nik asked with a wry smile on his face. Galina looked at the phone and at him, back at the phone again, as she realized that the screen wasn’t hers and she had a phone in each hand now.
“Oh!” She quickly handed it to him and felt her face heat with embarrassment. “I’m sorry about that, I guess I didn’t even realize which phone she was using.”
“No problem. Now, what’s your number?” Nik quickly punched in her phone number and texted the photos to her. “And what is your last name so I can add it to my favorites?” She saw his smile and wink, making her flush again at the thought of his arms around her.
“Dombrosky.”
“Hmm, good strong Russian last name. Almost as good as Petrov,” he said blatantly, pointing at her phone. “Nik Petrov, if you want to save my contact information in your favorites too.”
“You aren’t shy much, are you?” she said with a smile.
“Not when I am trying my best to win over a girl I like in a very, very limited time frame. I’ve never done this before and I figured that if I wait, you’ll be gone,” Nik admitted honestly. “So, I’ve got to move fast, be forward and use all my macho charisma in order to make an impression on you while you’re here. Maybe you’ll keep in touch or miss me when you leave, my lovely little American.”
“You are certainly unforgettable,” she admitted.
“That could be good or bad,” he said with a frown. “I hope it’s the good kind of unforgettable, because if not- I’m going to be crushed. Does that mean we are on for seeing more of St. Petersburg tomorrow together?”
“We’ll have to see how the day progresses,” she said evasively with a mischievous smile.
“Stop that flirting with me Ms. Dombrosky or it might go to my head,” he bantered. “Does this mean you want to hold my hand again?”
“I might.”
“Well, I might let you.”
They spent the rest of the day together as they walked through the grand gardens of the Peterhof Palace. Hand in hand, they talked as they meandered along the tree laden manicured lawns that led out to the Bay of Finland. Elaborate golden male statues were lined up on the hill to the palace, called the Grand Cascade.
Nik pointed out several details on the statues that had her blushing fiercely as he pretended to be completely shocked that the statues were quite naked and anatomically accurate. Laughing at her reaction, Nik picked her up and swung her around, putting Galina’s back to the statue modestly. She liked this playful, affectionate side of him.
She was amazed by the incredible detail and maintenance that the place must require. There wasn’t a stray weed, a fallen leaf or a patch of dying grass anywhere. Everything was picturesque and she found herself taking several more photos throughout the day. When they re-entered the palace, she found herself awestruck once again by the inlaid floors and more gilt rooms. Everything, everywhere, seemed to be lined with ornate gold trim or fixtures.
The throne room was no different. Breathtaking inlaid wood floors showed several swirls, points and diamonds in the patterns. This room, while ornate, was more regal rather than ostentatious. The walls were a creamy ivory color, trimmed with pale shades of green. Rows of chandeliers drew your gaze to the back of the room where a deep red dais held a golden chair. The throne seemed almost tiny compared to the extravagance and massive size everything else seemed to be. Even the painting behind the throne was massive. The painting was of Catherine the Great and it was so large that if she stepped out of the painting, she could have sat in the throne easily.
Every room they saw outshone the next. There was an Eastern study done in an Oriental theme. It was covered wall to ceiling in deep crimson and black, again trimmed with gold. Ceramic birds, dragons, vases, lanterns and pagoda-esque cabinets all matched a delicate wallpapered mural of what the artist pictured the Chinese temples to look like.
As they saw the State Bedroom, Galina ended up elbowing Nik in the stomach as he began making comments about drawing the curtains around the bed. The bedroom was ornate and she realized that the palace had no room that had been left untouched or would ever qualify as plain.
Even the bathroom was an event.
There was a copper tub sunken into the floor complete with a staircase and bannister that royalty would have used to enter their bath. The Tsar had his own area that had wooden floors with fountains inside the room. A massive golden tower, complete with a globe atop of it, created a shower effect that blended with the tiny fountains that encompassed the room. It was simple -if you walked in, you got sprayed with water from almost every, and any, direction.
Nik and Galina finally finished walking the whole length of the palace and her stomach gave a noisy rumble. They hadn’t stopped for lunch, nor had she even thought about it. She had been so overwhelmed by the sheer beauty surrounding her and the fact that she seemed to be the center of attention for Nik.
“My stomach is saying we should have dinner together,” he teased, putting his hand over his midsection as if to silence his own growling tummy.
“Dinner sounds fantastic.”
“Do you care where we go? Any allergies or preference?”
“Nope, Mr. Tour Guide,” she teased. “You choose.”
“Well, since we’ve seen the palace how about we go to Tsar?”
“What’s that?”
“A small restaurant I have always wanted to try.”
“It’s called Tsar?” she asked with a smile as they walked back to his car. “I’m starving so that sounds perfect. I hope it’s close by.”
“Close enough,” he teased, holding open the door as she got in the car. Sure enough, it was only a few minutes’ drive to the restaurant and looked very unassuming from the outside. When they went inside, they were instantly
seated and handed menus. This gave her a few moments to glance around while they filled their glasses with water. The restaurant was light and airy, with an unspoken elegance to it. Linen tablecloths, rich looking chairs, and chandeliers were everywhere.
“Do you know what you want to have?”
“Anything. I am starving,” she quickly said. “Do you mind if I run to the restroom?”
“You want me to order for you or I can wait until you get back?”
“No, go ahead,” she told him, seeing the surprise on his face. “As my tour guide, you have been amazing so far… so select something you’d eat and I’m sure it will be fine.” Galina exited her chair and stepped beside him, bending to whisper in his ear. “Besides, guys pretending to win over their girls should be fine, remember?” She quickly straightened and heard his chuckling as she walked away to the bathroom.
Stepping inside, she darted into a stall and did a double take. The toilet was a throne. Cracking up laughing, she got out her phone and took a photo. When she returned to the table, she was still smirking.
“What’s so funny?”
“The toilets are thrones. They take things pretty seriously here, don’t they?”
“Oh yes. In fact, most things are events – even going to the restroom.”
“So, what did you order for our dinner event, as you put it?”
“You’ll see,” he said with a warm smile. Moments later, the bartender arrived with two bowls of borscht soup and a bottle of vodka. He set down two shot glasses, one directly in front of each of them and Galina arched her eyebrow knowingly at Nik.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“We Russians don’t get drunk,” he bragged arrogantly, opening the bottle. “We get the party started.” He held up his shot glass and smiled at her. Galina lifted up hers carefully as he clinked his against her own. “Zazdarovje,” he said softly.
“Cheers,” she retorted in English and threw back her shot like a professional. She wasn’t a drinker at all back home and that was one thing she didn’t share with her family. They kept vodka around the house but she never touched the stuff. The cool alcohol didn’t burn when it went down but she released an uncontrolled shiver at the slight aftertaste. The fumes from the strong alcohol made her eyes water causing Nik to smile at her reaction.
“This isn’t tea,” he teased. “I thought you were Russian deep down inside, my lovely little American?”
“I am, but just because I’m not some lush who’s immune to drinking something that tastes bitter like paint thinner. This doesn’t mean that I’m not Russian,” she smarted back. Nik refilled his shot glass and hesitated refilling hers. Galina frowned, pointing at the shot glass as he grudgingly filled it.
“It gets better the more you have,” he chuckled. “But be sure to eat as well. I don’t want my featherweight friend getting sick or completely inebriated.”
“It might make it easier for you to pretend to be my boyfriend,” she smarted off and threw back another shot. She made a face as the aftertaste hit her again. “Ugh!”
“Little American,” Nik said affectionately. “It should be smooth and delicious. If you drink it, let it hit the back of your tongue not the front. The front is for sweet things, like cake or pastries. Now, have some of your soup.”
Galina was glad he’d mentioned eating because the vodka was making her head spin fiercely. Blinking several times, she took a sip of the borscht and sighed with happiness. The sweet and saltiness of the soup reminded her of her mother’s that she made at home. As she ate silently, she felt Nik’s eyes on her. The waiter returned to the table to take their soups and brought out two large plates. One plate was stroganoff and the other Chicken Kiev, both classic Russian meals her mother made back at home on Sundays.
“Are you trying to spoil me with stuff that reminds me of home? How do I choose?”
“Russia is home,” he countered, raising his shot glass in a mock salute. “Take whichever you prefer.”
“For you its home,” she bantered, selecting the stroganoff and happy with her choice as the waiter put the plate down in front of her. She could smell the creaminess of the sour cream and rich gravy.
“What made your family leave?” he suddenly asked.
“Work,” she admitted. “My family was struggling to get by and were searching for something new. They’d always wanted to travel the world and heard a lot about the opportunities in America, so they went. My father found a job right away, they got a home and started having children. We’ve been there ever since. They are now tied to America and their family is there now. My brother and I had never been here, so for us it was always something we heard stories about. Now that I am here, it seems surreal.”
“I’ve always wanted to travel the world,” he mused softly to himself and took another shot of vodka. Galina wondered if he was starting to open up a bit and maybe would reveal something that she needed.
“Why don’t you?”
“I thought about it at one point,” he admitted, “I am here now and don’t know how I would ever be able to leave.”
“You aren’t trapped. You’re a free man, Nik, you can go at any time.”
He held up the shot glass he’d just filled and took another shot. His expressive face looked almost forlorn and full of regret. Galina instantly wondered if maybe he was innocent of anything the CIA suspected. Maybe he hacked into their system because he was forced to.
“How’s your meal,” he asked quietly, changing the subject.
“It’s divine. It reminds me a lot of my mother’s, but a bit more flavorful,” she whispered under her breath. “Don’t ever breathe a word that I admitted that.”
“I assure you, your secrets will always be safe with me.”
Galina thought that was an odd choice of words and grew quiet as the vodka did a number on her system. She was drinking water in-between matching Nik’s consumption of the clear alcohol. It seemed not to faze him whatsoever but she definitely felt the effects on her system. The waiter brought around a tray with all sorts of delicacies on it and she groaned in near pain. She loved sweets but her stomach would not allow anything else to go past her lips.
“Tell me this place is close to my hotel,” she asked with a whimper. “I have got to have desert here before I go back to Maryland.”
“You never shared what hotel you were staying at, remember?”
“Oh, that’s easy, it’s the big one across the street from the cathedral. The brown one with the iron balconies. What’s it called? Marriott or was it another hotel line?” she asked, waving her hands.
“I understand. You’ve had enough to drink with dinner,” Nik said firmly, smiling. “Three secrets over dinner… mercy we must be becoming close friends.”
“Maybe just a bit,” she confirmed, pinching her fingers together in front of her face. This only served to make her eyes cross. “Yes, no more special sauce for me. I’m sauced enough as it is.”
“I promise, tomorrow we’ll see another site and then have dessert here. No drinking tomorrow. Coffee and something sweet… for my sweet.”
“Oh, you are a sly one,” she said laughing. “I like it.”
“I’m glad,” he said, getting to his feet. “Now, let’s get you back to your room so you can rest.”
“You aren’t driving, are you? I’m betting you are more schnockered than I am. That bottle is almost empty.”
“Galina, my condo is a block from your hotel. I’m not driving.”
“Good. You should never, ever, drink and drive.”
“And I won’t,” he agreed, linking her arm in his. Galina was glad because it seemed to help steady her as they walked down the steps from the restaurant. The night air was so clean and crisp, making her feel infinitely better. As they walked a few blocks, she saw the Church of the Resurrection was illuminated in the darkness making it even more beautiful than it was glistening in the daylight.
“You know, you really should travel. Back home, the monume
nts we have are illuminated like that at night but nothing is as beautiful as the architecture here. It’s really breathtaking, Nik.”
“I think that it’s not the only thing that is breathtaking out here,” he admitted. There was a tone to his voice that caused her to look up at him as they came to a stop at the corner.
“You are terribly sweet,” she whispered. His blue eyes watching hers suddenly crinkling at the edges, as his lips upturned in a wry smile.
“Remember what I told you about tasting sweet things?” Nik asked softly, his head leaning down ever so slowly as if to kiss her. Oh, land sakes! Galina did remember! Vodka he said went at the back of your tongue and sweets – sweets were at the…
Her breath hitched as his lips touched hers. She suddenly found herself clutching at his arms to keep her knees from giving out from under her. The feeling of his lips on hers was incredible and heady. Their kiss, infinitely tender -almost timid- and then he broke it off.
“No more pretending, my sweet little American?” he whispered gently. Galina hesitated for a moment, her mind scattered. Was he talking about them pretending to be a couple, or did he know that she’d been sent here to spy on him.
“No, of course not,” she said carefully, backing away suddenly and looking around nervously. “Is this my hotel? M’kay, yes- I will see you tomorrow. I think kissing is a bad idea, but man oh man, you sure can kiss a girl. I think I will shut up now and go inside before I say something I regret. Wow. I’m still talking? Okay, goodnight Nik.”
“Goodnight, my beautiful Galina.”
6
Galina was sitting in her hotel room drinking coffee the next morning when her cell phone beeped. Glancing at it, she was surprised to see a text from Dima asking if she’d gotten any information out of Nik yet. He went on to scold her about how disappointed he was in her performance and that while he was glad Petrov found her attractive, she had a job to do. She re-read the text message several times to be sure and realized that she wasn’t the only person Dima had sent to St. Petersburg. Was she being followed by another spy?
Spying on the Billionaire Page 5
