Chapter2
“Yuri, what are you still doing here?”
“Working.”
“I can see that. What I want to know is, why? If you're still here then I have to be here; and I have a hot date, I want to go home and get ready.”
Susan Franklin had been Yuri Kozlov's Personal Assistant for ten years. She was less of an employee and more of a sister to him but they were really like close friends. He trusted her implicitly and couldn't function without her.
“You don't have to be here Suze. You go home,” he said. “Who's your hot date with anyway? Not that accountant nerd is it?”
“You leave my accountant nerd alone. He's the most romantic man I know and he's extremely good in the sack.”
“That's too much information.”
“You know, that's your problem, Yuri. Whenever someone talks about relationships – that is, me – you switch off and change the subject.”
“What's there to talk about? I do all right.” He looked up and leaned back in his chair.
“All right doesn’t mean being in love. All right isn't finding Miss Right,” Susan said. “That string of blond bimbos you have chasing after you only want you for your fame and fortune and you know it.”
“Does it matter? I get what I want out of it.”
“But Yuri, how long can you go on like that? I don't believe you're happy just screwing a girl and moving on, are you?”
Yuri said nothing; instead, he just looked at his computer screen where he saw numbers spread across it, the columns and rows. He was trying to analyze the spreadsheet before Susan started with her 'talk.' Of course she was right; Yuri wasn't happy on his own. In fact, he hadn't had a girl in his apartment for over six months, an absolute record for him. Instead, he had increased his morning run through Central Park to an evening one too, to use up his energy.
He also allowed his work to seep into this personal time: anything he needed to take home from the office was put onto a memory stick which got zipped into the back pocket of his running shorts. Then he'd run home to his luxury apartment overlooking Central Park.
“I can see I've given you food for thought,” Susan smiled. “I know you want to settle down.” She gave him a knowing smile and closed his office door with a backward kick of her pumps before she walked towards his desk. “But you don't need to sit and worry about it for a moment longer. I've taken the situation into my own hands.” She sat opposite him and leaned her elbows on his desk.
“I'm not going to like this am I?” he asked with a wide smile.
Susan liked to see him smile. Everything about him lit up, what was normally hidden behind his quiet, serious face. But when he smiled, his eyes were silver blue and sparkled. He wore his white blond hair neat and very short, highlighting his prominent regal jawline and further defining his cheekbones.
“Now, remember to keep an open mind about this, Yuri. Okay?” She put up both hands. “I've been in contact with Laura Madison of the—“
“Billionaire's Matchmaking Club?! Susan, are you serious? That place is for losers rich guys trying to get more lays than their money can get them.”
“I knew you'd be like this. But you're wrong; everyone in New York goes to Laura. She's the real deal. She knows who's legit and who isn't. Besides, she's looking forward to meeting you.”
“How can she be looking forward to meeting me? Susan, what have you done?”
“I think I may have already booked you an appointment with her tomorrow morning at 11.30.” Susan was trying to sound apologetic while trying to suppress a cheeky smile.
“I'll kill you,” Yuri said.
“Humor me. I already paid the initial chat fee plus, there’s a penalty fee for any cancellations.”
“I don't mind losing the money; I'm not going,” Yuri said, stubbornly.
“You don't have to go anywhere. She's coming here and it's too late to cancel.” Susan stood up quickly and ran for the door. “Got to go now – hot date awaits.” She closed the door after her and didn’t answer when Yuri called after her.
Yuri shook his head and began to switch off his computer. He got up and stretched, it was time for him to get home. In the en suite bathroom, Yuri changed into his running clothes. He tied up his shoelaces and turned on the music on his iPod. Placing the earphones snugly into his ears, he trotted to the stairwell, took the stairs two at a time and ran out into the street.
It was loud and busy. People were heading out somewhere nice, he thought. For most, it was payday and a lot of the bars would be full of people wanting to let off steam. Running was Yuri’s way of doing that. He turned the music a notch louder, lost himself in the pounding beat and began to run towards Central Park, completely ignoring everyone he ran by.
What Yuri couldn't ignore, the next morning, was Laura Madison's visit. She arrived promptly at 11.30 and brought a wave of Chanel No. 5 in with her as she swept into Yuri's office.
“Laura Madison,” she said, holding out her hand.
Her fingernails were pearl colored and long. Her hair extensions were long, to her waist, and she wore a pure white skirt suit that contrasted well with her brown skin.
“Laura, it's nice to meet you.” Yuri's smile was genuine. “Take a seat. But I'm afraid it's going to be a bit of a wasted journey for you.”
“Why, you met someone and have fallen in love already?”
“No.”
“You had a chance meeting and think you may have found the one?”
“No,” he said shaking his head.
“Did another matchmaker fix you up with the perfect girl before I got the chance?”
“No, Laura, nothing like that; I'm still single.”
“Well then, I haven't had a wasted journey.” Laura took a notebook out of her bag and clicked a silver ballpoint pen, looking up at Yuri. “So Yuri, why don't you start by telling me a little about your likes and dislikes.”
Yuri was dumbstruck, looking over at his open office door where he was sure he could sense Susan hovering behind it.
“Susan,” he called. She put her head around the door straight away. “Could you get us some coffee please and close the door tightly behind you, thanks.”
Yuri cleared his throat, feeling as if he was about to have the most uncomfortable conversation of his life.