Alexei, Her Russian Billionaire

Maya growled.

“I won’t presume anything except you don’t know a good thing when you see one.”

For a moment Katya’s face sprang up in Alexei’s mind. Alexei bit back a growl of his own. Now was not the time to get worked up over his ex because someone had said he didn’t know a good thing. She was just a reminder of what a good thing was not.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

“This is getting stupid. Let’s slow down. If it helps, why don’t you take it? You like it that much. Why don’t you have it?”

Maya’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What? But I can’t afford it.”

“I thought photography paid a lot.”

“Not that much that I can buy a painting like that.”

Alexei shrugged.

“Then you can have it for free.”

It was no skin off his nose. But Maya was shaking her head vigorously, looking terrified at the thought.

“No. I can’t do that. But you can’t throw it out like trash. You can’t.”

Alexei wasn’t sure what to say to that. She was so adamant that it shouldn’t be taken away but refused to take it. Anyone would jump at the chance to take a painting like that for free.

“I’m not throwing it out. I told you. But it does need to go.”

Maya looked stumped. Alexei could see her mind working. Before she got a chance to say anything more, her cell phone rang. Alexei watched as she pulled it out of her windbreaker and turned away to answer the call.

“What is it, Jenny?” She listened and Alexei saw her shoulders sag. “Okay, I’m coming back. Give me two.”

She hung up and turned back to Alexei.

“I’ve got to go.”

Did she look relieved that she was leaving? Alexei hoped not. He managed a smile.

“Are you coming back to argue your point again? I’ll put a note in my diary if you like.”

Maya’s cheeks reddened and she looked away, hurrying past him and out into the street. Alexei stood at the doorway and watched her run across the street and into the park.

That had been interesting, to say the least. He wondered if she would be back.

“Who was that?”

Ivan had appeared beside him. Alexei wondered how long he had been there. But he kept looking at Maya’s retreating back, wishing he could go after her. But that was not him.

He smiled.

“Wanna finding out for me?”

*****

Caroline Stanton was a beautiful woman. Even Maya couldn’t stop staring at her. She was tall with porcelain skin, brilliant red hair kept in an immaculate chignon at the base of her neck, and her green eyes seemed to pop out from her face. She wore a navy blue suit with a skirt that brushed her knees, showing off her long legs.

As a model she had been incredible. As an agent, she was even better. Maya had worked with her on her last modeling job six years before and they were firm friends. Most of the models she worked with came from Caroline’s agency. Her clients were happy for Maya to source her own models if they didn’t have anyone in mind and Caroline had a good idea of who would work well with what campaign.

But now her pretty face was marred with a concerned frown as she sat opposite Maya in her office, the sun shining in from the window behind her and making her hair appear to glow.

“I’m a little surprised, Maya.” She admitted. “I know Jonny’s asked people out on set before but I didn’t know he would be like this. Nobody’s mentioned it before.”

“They probably thought it was a reaction to being rejected.” Maya suggested. “He’s twenty and he’s still maturing.” She made a face. “But what happened unnerved me and I’m not impressed or happy with it.”

“I don’t blame you.” Caroline sighed. She picked up her pen and made a note at the pad at her elbow. “I’ll speak to him about his behavior. If it keeps going like this I’ll consider stronger action. My models are supposed to have better conduct of themselves.”

Caroline was a lot like Maya when it came to how people should and shouldn’t be when working for her. No drugs, no over-indulging in booze, no flirtations. Especially when they were on a job. They represented her agency and if they didn’t respect those rules they didn’t respect Caroline and would be chucked out. Maya wished she was strong like Caroline; beside her, Maya felt like a mouse when it came to authority.

“You’re not doing anything wrong, Caz.” She assured her friend. “This boy is just getting too big for his own good. As it is, I’m not going to use him anymore. I’m more than happy to use the other models you have – they’re all fantastic – but not Jonny.”

“Understandable.” Caroline tapped at her laptop. “Looking at his schedule, the only time you’re going to be crossing paths in the next few months will be in Barbados next week. Do you want me to switch him for someone else?”

“Please.” Maya didn’t like making a model lose a contract and the Barbados campaign would be a big pay check. But she didn’t want to spend time in her favorite place with a man who was making it hard for her. “Is Rodrigo available? He’s really good and the chemistry he has with Sasha will be what we need on the shoot.”

“I think so.” Caroline did a few more clicks and Maya knew she was going through the multiple spreadsheets she kept for the models. It was the only way, she had told Maya, to keep track of what her models were doing and not getting things overlapped or double-booked. “This says he is. I’ll call him and see what he says.”

“Thanks.”

Leaving Caroline’s office a few moments later Maya felt better. Going in to tell her one of her models had been hitting on her and acting threatening had left a nasty taste in her mouth but it was only fair on everyone. Nobody wanted to feel threatened or uncomfortable on set and Maya was essentially in charge of the set. She was the photographer so she was the boss. She didn’t need this.

Jenny was waiting for her at their apartment. They were going to settle down for a night of watching horror films and scoffing on pizza and ice cream. It had been a long day and Maya was looking forward to it.

As she walked down the sidewalk, Maya found herself thinking about Alexei, the man from the gallery. When she had first laid eyes on him she had been speechless. Six-one if she had to guess, model slim with broad shoulders and slim hips, he wore the light gray suit like a model. His light brown hair was cut short, just shy of falling over his forehead, and his brown eyes seemed to have all his emotions swirling in them. He was rugged but Maya liked rugged; it gave a man’s face character.

And she had found herself resisting the urge to shiver as his accent went down her back. It was a lovely accent and from the look in his eyes, he seemed to know what effect it was having on her.