Alexei, Her Russian Billionaire

He hesitated too long. Maya’s eyes widened.

“You don’t.” She whispered. “You don’t trust me.”

“I am your future husband, Maya.” Alexei didn’t know where he was going with this but it avoided answering her question. “I am entitled to know who you’re talking to.”

“Not to the point you’re obsessed with knowing my every move.” Maya snapped.

She turned away and ran her hands through her hair. She had been growing it out so it was down to her shoulders. It looked good on her. Alexei liked her with longer hair.

“I can’t go on like this.”

Alexei almost missed what she said as he focused on her hair. Then he heard the heavy gravity in her voice. He sat up.

“What are you saying?”

Maya turned back to him. Her expression was resigned, close to tearful. She looked like she was going to break down but she kept it together. Her voice was shaky.

“You’re accusing me of the most awful things. I’ve never cheated on anyone and I don’t intend to. You’re doing exactly what Ash did to me years ago. I just didn’t realize you two were so alike until just now.”

Alexei bristled. He didn’t like being compared to her ex-boyfriend.

“I’ve never hurt you.” He growled.

“Not physically.” Maya started tugging at the ring on her finger. “But I’m not going to do this anymore.”

“What are you doing?”

Alexei stood and started to come around the desk but Maya already have the ring off. She shoved the ring at him, forcing Alexei to grab it before it fell.

“Jonny was intent on splitting us up. He succeeded. We’re over, Alexei. I’m not having you treat me like this.”

Then Alexei realized the gravity of what was happening. His insecurities had got to him. And he was about the lose Maya. His heart started to sink.

He had severely screwed up.

“Maya, don’t do this.”

“No.” Maya held up a hand and back away. “I won’t stop you having contact with our son but I won’t let you near me. I’m not getting married to a man who doesn’t trust me.” She reached the door and opened it. It was then the tears started to escape. “Now leave me alone.”

“Maya, please…”

But Maya had already gone, slamming the door behind her. Alexei stared at the closed door, unable to comprehend what had happened. Then he stared at the ring in his hand.

She hadn’t been the one who had betrayed him. He had betrayed her. And he was only just realizing what an idiot he had been.

*****

Jenny sat beside Maya and put a blanket over her lap.

“Here you go, honey. This should keep you warm.”

“Thanks.” Maya sniffed and burrowed deeper into the dressing gown Jenny had given her. She sniffed and wiped her nose on her collar. “That was so awful. I can’t believe it happened.”

“Jonny certainly knew which buttons to press.” Jenny said grimly.

After leaving Alexei’s office Maya had been too upset to go home. So she had walked to Jenny’s apartment and found her and Rodrigo just coming back. It was freezing cold and Maya was shivering. Her coat wasn’t keeping her or her baby warm. Jenny had taken one look at Maya and had hustled her inside, making Rodrigo turn the heat up and putting more layers on Maya.

She told them everything. Both Rodrigo and Jenny were shocked at Jonny’s newer attempt to break her and Alexei up with Jenny directing anger towards Alexei. She kept threatening to go around to him and make him realize what he had lost but Maya stopped him. It wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Unable to go back, Maya had stayed the night, sleeping in her old room. It had a nice sense of familiarity, even though she kept waking up with nightmares thinking Jonny was in her room and attacking her. But sleep hadn’t helped and Maya felt even more miserable.

Rodrigo’s cell phone rang. He left the room to answer it and Jenny put her arms around Maya, hugging her close.

“Things will be fine, Maya. Alexei will come around. We’ll make sure he will.”

“Thanks for the offer, Jenny, but I don’t think he’s going to come around anytime soon.” Maya sighed sadly and swiped another tear away. “I lost the man I loved because of a damn stalker. Story of my life.”

Jenny had no answer to that.

Rodrigo came back into the room. He sat on the coffee table.

“That was Caz. Ivan’s just called her. They found Jonny.”

“Really?” Maya sat up. “Where.”

“Atlantic City. He was in a runway show. When Piotr found out what he was doing to Maya he notified Jonny that his services were terminated permanently. Then he notified Atlantic City Police and they arrested him for aggravated stalking.”

Maya felt the tension leave her body in a rush. She sagged against Jenny, who gave a whoop of delight and kissed Rodrigo before hugging Maya. Maya held out a hand to Rodrigo with a smile.

“Thanks, Rodrigo. I didn’t know I had so many people looking out for me.”

“You know this business, Maya.” Rodrigo squeezed her hand. “We all stick together.”

“Jonny can’t hurt you anymore.” Jenny grinned. “Things will be fine, Maya. They will be.”

Then Maya remembered the text message she had received when she checked her phone that morning. She had been so miserable that the news she was given had slumped her down as low as it could get. She slumped against Jenny, her smile fading.

“No, they won’t. Ivan left me a message when I woke up. Alexei’s gone.”

“Gone?” Jenny frowned. “What do you mean gone?”

“He went back to Russia. Ivan tried to stop him but Alexei said there was nothing here for him anymore.”

“But there wasn’t anything for him in Russia, either.” Jenny looked confused. “Why would he just leave like that so close to his son’s birth?”

“Because of me.”

Maya knew the reason why and buried her face in her hands. She was the reason Alexei had gone back to Russia. And there was no chance of Alexei coming back any time soon; Ivan had also said Alexei was refusing to answer his calls and had sent one text saying not to contact him. Evidently he was still angry.