Chapter 4
When Athena’s white Prius pulled up in front of her building on Monday evening, she frowned when she saw a familiar black sedan. Matter of fact, it was the same black sedan that had brought her back home from the benefit on Saturday night. She grabbed her purse and climbed out of the car as the driver’s door opened. A smile played on her lips when she saw Evgeni stepping out. He looked exceptionally handsome in a gray slim suit and black shirt.
“Should I be worried that I have a stalker?” she asked as she slowly walked towards him.
“Well, you never called and I didn’t have your number,” he said with a smile, a lock of his ebony dark hair fell out of place when he talked. He had both hands in his pocket as he looked at her.
“I’ve been a little busier than usual,” she lied even though she was sure that he saw right through it.
“Is that so?” he asked matter of factly and she nodded.
“Yes, a lot of people out there have parties and I have to plan them. Successfully, if I must add.”
“So does that mean that I have to contract you to plan a party for me to be assured of a call from you?”
“You need to contract GoCreative actually.”
“What if I just want you?”
“Contract GoCreative and ask for Athena Davis.”
Evgeni smiled.
“So, is this a good time or do you have a regimen to adhere to?” he asked.
“Regimen?” Athena asked shaking her head.
“Warm relaxing bath, hot chocolate and maybe a nice episode of the latest Downton Abbey season,” Evgeni said and she frowned.
“Downton Abbey?”
“What? Don’t you watch it?” Evgeni was now moving closer to her.
“No, I do but…I guess I just didn’t expect you to know anything about it, that’s all,” she said smiling and Evgeni laughed flashing those perfectly pearly whites. “Would you like to come upstairs?”
“I would love to,” he said before he followed her into the building.
The two were quiet as they made their way to her apartment and all the while, Athena could feel his eyes on her well rounded ass. She felt herself blush as she unlocked her door.
“Make yourself comfortable,” she said when they walked in. “I’ll get us something to drink or some food? I’m not sure what to do right now.”
Evgeni looked at her as she took off her heels and then hung up her purse on one of the hooks on the wall.
“What would you normally do?” he asked when she turned around. She looked into his eyes and shook her head.
“I don’t know…maybe just bum around. Watch some TV or something,” she said in a low voice.
“You know that you don’t have to change what you normally do just because of me, right?” he asked and she bit her lower lip. What she didn’t know was that biting her lip was turning him on more than she could ever know.
“I’m just not used to having company over…except my friend Carla,” she said. He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled.
“Well, let’s pretend that I am your friend Carla for just a few minutes, okay?” he said and she nodded.
“That’s going to be a little hard though,” she said and he smiled.
“Oh, I am already feeling the pressure alright,” he said laughing.
“So, are you going to have some…” she started before she shrugged. “What would you like?” she asked when she found she had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to offer him.
“Well, I’ll have whatever you will be having,” he said as he dropped his hands to his sides.
She nodded uncomfortably and walked to the kitchen as he made himself comfortable on the couch. She then opened her refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine but she quickly put it back when she remembered that he still had to drive. She then pulled out a box of apple juice and then put it on the counter. She could feel her heart beating hard in her chest as she prepared a non-alcoholic drink. The ten minutes she spent preparing it seemed to be the longest she had ever suffered. There was an uncomfortably awkward silence by the time she walked back to the living room.
“Smells really good,” Evgeni said as she handed him a cup.
“A little thing I learned from Carla,” she said as she sat down. She reached for the TV remote and switched it on. She needed some background noise if she was going to survive sitting next to Evgeni. It was not that she didn’t want him there. She did but it had been so bloody long since she was in that position that she had no idea how she was supposed to carry herself.
“What is it exactly?” he asked after he took his first sip.
“Cloves, orange peel and cinnamon sticks simmered in apple juice,” she answered. “I thought it would be a good idea since you are supposed to be driving later.”
“This is…divine,” he said a she took another sip.
“Yeah, Carla is…an amazing chef though this was not exactly an original recipe but it is a great alternative for an alcoholic.” Evgeni looked at her and almost immediately she felt her cheeks flush. “Sorry…I’m just a little…uneasy.”
Evgeni took another sip and looked at her.
“Why are you uneasy?” he asked. She wanted to blurt out that it was because she had not been in the company of another man since Evan, because she had not been in the dating arena for years. Even when she and Evan got together, it had been him pulling the strings all the way. She didn’t remember the first thing about dating. The casual talks, the ‘hanging out’…if ever there was a refresher class in dating, Athena definitely needed one.
“Athena,” Evgeni said again snapping her out of her trance. “Are you alright?”
“I am…I’m fine…I just haven’t done this in a long time.”
Evgeni smiled.
“Good alternative for an alcoholic, huh?” he asked and she nodded. “Are you hinting at something?”
She shook her head and took a seat next to him.
“No, I just used to know someone…” her voice trailed off. It was too soon to open up to him about her personal life. “It’s all history now.”
He looked at her and she saw a smile forming on his lips. She was trying as hard as she could not to stare at him but it was near impossible. It was not until that moment, sitting right next to him that she noticed how buff he was. A shiny Audemars Piquet watch adorned his wrist.
“You know that you don’t have to feel awkward with me, right?” he asked and she forced out a smile.
“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 asked 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.