Alexei, Her Russian Billionaire

“I love you, Maya.”

Maya sighed and returned the kiss.

“I love you, too.”

*****

The next six weeks were hard work. Maya wasn’t going to deny it. She and Alexei had their ups and downs, mainly to do with Jonny. He started up again with the texts and emailing her, declaring his undying love and that he simply wanted to make her his wife and they can have many children together. In between he would threaten her and say what he was going to do with her once he got hold of her.

Maya was disgusted by it all. Alexei was frustrated. He seemed to withdraw a little from her as if he wasn’t sure what to do. Even when they made love he didn’t seem to be completely with her. It was as if he was going through the motions.

Maya didn’t like him being detached. She kept reaching out to him but he pushed her away. He had even started asking her about all her movements, where she was and who she was with. He had to know what she was doing almost every moment she wasn’t with him. His trust in her seemed to be slipping and Maya didn’t like it.

Jonny seemed to be succeeding in putting a wedge between them. She didn’t need the stress, not when she was due to give birth in five weeks. She was two weeks of the baby being full term but her due date wasn’t until Christmas Eve. Maya hoped she got that far; the stress wouldn’t do the baby any good.

Her only solace was work. With the spring and summer collections needing to be shot, she was in great demand. People were booking up rapidly and Maya’s plate was full. She made sure there was a window around the due date but other than that she kept herself busy. It was either that or stay in her apartment where Alexei would be questioning everything she did.

After finishing a set early, Maya decided to head over to her favorite coffee house and wait for Jenny. Her friend had just come back off holiday with Rodrigo from the Bahamas and she was looking forward to a catch-up. It was hard coping with what she was going through without her best friend. Ivan tried and he seemed to know what was happening with her and Alexei but he wasn’t the same.

She had just crossed the street and was about to enter the coffee shop when she heard someone shouting her name.

“Maya!”

Maya turned, expecting it to be someone else. Her smile faded and she felt a rush of fear as she saw Jonny hurrying towards her. For a second he looked unrecognizable but then she saw him clearly. He had died his hair to a little brown, virtually the same color as Alexei’s. He had also been working out and he had filled out a little more with muscle, almost like Alexei.

It was as if he was trying to become Alexei.

“Get away from me, Jonny.”

Jonny stopped a few feet away. He spread his hands and gave her a smile.

“Hey. How do you like my new look? Pretty good, huh?” He gave her a twirl. “I did it just for you.”

“I said get away from me, Jonny.” Maya glanced towards the barista inside but she was busy with a customer. Jenny wasn’t due to arrive for another five minutes and she wasn’t known for being on time. “You’re wanted for questioning by the police for stalking and threatening me.”

“I’m not stalking you.” Jonny protested. “I just want to talk to you but you won’t let me near you.”

“Because you’ve been threatening me and there’s nothing to talk about except go to hell.”

The police had told Maya not to aggravate her stalker but Maya couldn’t care less right now. He was ruining her relationship with Alexei and he was scaring her, now he was beginning to look like Alexei. She wanted to get away from him but he clearly didn’t want to go willingly.

“Maya, I’m so sorry.” At least Jonny pretended to look remorseful. “I never meant to cause you so much distress. Especially with…”

He glanced meaningfully at her belly. On instinct Maya put her hands on her bump as if to protect her unborn son.

“Well, you have.” She said stiffly. “And Alexei is out for your blood. You’d better leave before I call the police and I’m only giving you one chance.”

“But I love you! I thought we were going to be together.”

Maya scoffed. Now she had heard everything.

“I don’t know where you got that idea from and you can’t possibly love me. We’ve barely been in each other’s company long enough for you to even think that you love me.”

“Just a few minutes is enough.” Jonny protested. He reached for her but Maya took a step back. “I knew you were the one for me. Those smiles you sent my way said everything. Are you telling me those were all lies?”

“I never sent you any special smiles. That’s just how I am. You should’ve known that by now. I smile like that at Rodrigo and he’s not panting after me.”

“No,” Jonny sneered, “He’s fu*king your friend so he can be close to you.”

Maya could see she wasn’t getting through to him. So she switched tack. Maybe getting through to him in another way might make reality set in.

“So I’m special, am I?” She demanded. “What about Marcie? Is she not special enough anymore?”

Jonny’s eyes widened in surprise. Then they narrowed and he scowled at her.

“How do you know about Marcie?”

“She works for me now. How do you think I knew those phone calls you sent me pretending to be Alexei weren’t real? You freaked her out and nearly ruined her life, Jonny. I’m not about to let you do that to me as well.”

If she had expected Jonny to come back to the present she had thought wrong. Jonny shrugged and dismissed what she had said.

“Marcie was just a passing phase. Young love that was never to be. You’re the real thing, Maya.”

Maya couldn’t understand it. She had never met anyone more delusional than Jonny Widecombe. Sure, models could be delusional in believing they were amazing but they weren’t at this level. Jonny seemed to be crazy.

“What the hell happened to you that you think just a simple smile is the start of a beautiful love affair?”

Jonny was silent for a moment. Maya tensed. She didn’t know what to do now. He clearly wasn’t listening to her and even with the late Thanksgiving crowds nobody was paying them any attention. It was as if they were on their own.

“You think I’m a stupid little boy who doesn’t know what real love is.” Jonny said accusingly.