Alexei, Her Russian Billionaire

“Jonny kept trying to ask her out through most of high school. It started with him asking her to go bowling on the first day of freshman year and it just went from there. At the beginning Marcie was flattered that someone as popular and good-looking as Jonny would ask her but she was already dating a sophomore from a neighboring high school. When Jonny found out he went mad. He actually went to the school and got into a fight with the boyfriend for stealing his girl.”

“Seriously?”

This was sounding like something from a bizarre movie. Jenny nodded.

“Seriously. It took me a moment to process it but it did happen. Marcie said her boyfriend dumped her and Jonny tried almost immediately to get her as his girlfriend. He asked her out to prom, homecoming, the lot. But Marcie refused. She was scared of him.” Jenny shook her head. “Unfortunately nobody took her seriously. They thought it was sweet someone as nice as Jonny Widecombe was paying attention to her and she should take advantage of it.”

“But he wasn’t sweet, was he?”

“No. He would fluctuate between sweet and apologetic to angry and threatening. He would send her flowers with ugly messages, leave threatening emails if she snubbed him or text messages so erotic it made Marcie’s eyes burn.” Jenny grimaced. “She told me a couple and they made my ears burn. I can’t imagine how I’d react if I got those.”

“You’ve sent racy messages before.”

“Not this racy and no man has ever sent messages like that to me.” Jenny sat forward and picked up her cup, taking a sip. “Then when she did finally get a boyfriend in her senior year and the guy, captain of the wrestling team, ignored Jonny, he spoofed her cell phone number and called the boyfriend, playing a recording of someone cli*axing during s*x. He’d got it off a p*rn video and tried to get the boyfriend thinking Marcie was cheating on him.”

“He did what?” This sounded far too bizarre now. Maya wondered if she had stepped into another world. “What happened?”

“Thankfully the boyfriend wasn’t to be taken in easily and knocked him out cold when they were at a house party.” Jenny smiled. “They’re still together and Marcie’s saving up for the wedding.”

“Good on her.” At least something good had come out of it. But still Maya shivered. “But this is a side to him that scares me. How come we didn’t know about it before?”

“He was never charged. Anything that has a criminal offense attached to it has to be on record, you know that.”

“Maybe he got the record expunged or he never told anyone.”

“No. Completely clean. I’ve already checked. Marcie was the only person who complained but she was virtually laughed out of the station. They thought it was a teenage crush.” Jenny frowned at her friend. “Jonny’s been known to flirt on set but if it has happened before people didn’t take it seriously. Plus Marcie’s just like you.”

“How do you mean?”

“She’s petite, black and pretty. That must be his type.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

Knowing that he was the type he went for didn’t help at all. That just made Maya feel even worse.

“Does Caz know about this?” Jenny asked.

“She does now.” Maya had called Caroline as soon as Ivan had left and told her about Jonny’s intrusion. “She’s going to fire him. Hopefully that will be the wake-up call he needs.”

“That’s good, at least.” Then Jenny glanced towards the door and sat up. “Look who’s here.”

Maya looked around. Alexei and Ivan were at the counter. They were talking to the barista but Alexei was watching her. Maya felt a shiver go through her body. Even a look from him could have her melting. She was still upset at his reaction but he had that effect on her.

Alexei said something to Ivan and approached them. Maya squeezed her thighs together as her core began to throb and kept herself seated as he reached their table.

“Hey.”

Alexei leaned over and kissed her cheek, purposefully avoiding her lips. From the look on his face as he drew back he knew he would be pushing his luck if he tried to kiss her properly. He knew he was in the doghouse. Alexei looked at Jenny.

“Jenny, can I speak to Maya a moment?”

“Sure.” Jenny stood and winked at Maya. “I’ll see if I can wangle a free coffee out of Ivan.”

She went to the counter and Maya watched her shake hands with Ivan. They chatted as the barista got their coffees. Maya turned back to Alexei as he sat in the chair Jenny had just vacated. She still felt the slight simmering of angry at his lack of trust in her.

“What’s wrong?”

Alexei looked troubled. He sat forward, elbows on his knees, and put his face in his hands with a heavy sigh. Then he lowered his hands and gave her an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry about earlier. When I sent Ivan to you. I should’ve gone myself.”

“Yes, you should’ve.” Maya sat back and crossed her legs. She wished her body wasn’t betraying her when she was still angry at him. “It wouldn’t have stung so much if you had come.”

“I know. But I wasn’t sure what to say. Ivan’s a smoother talker than I am.”

Maya snorted.

“I’m not sure about smoother but he does get to the point.” She arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you asking me to say sorry because my stalker came to rattle your cage?”

“In a sense.” Alexei gave her a pleading look. “I’m sorry, Maya.”

Maya knew what was going on in his head. She didn’t like it but it was there. She sat forward and took his hand, squeezing his fingers.

“I’m not Katya.” She reminded him. “Stop treating me as such.”

“I won’t.”

Alexei gripped her hand in return. His body sagged as if he was relieved she had forgiven. Had she forgiven him?

Maya knew she had.

Alexei smiled. Damn, that smile made her go weak at the knees. Maya was glad she was sitting down.

“Do you want to spend the night again? We can pick up a few things for you.”

Maya liked the idea of that. But she didn’t want to keep going over to his place. She could have a quick word with Jenny before they left; her roommate and friend wouldn’t mind if Maya wanted time alone with her new boyfriend.

She gave Alexei a coquettish smile.