RICH MAN'S WORLD

The sentence was her exit; the words usually appeased Gregory, but this time Xenia heard a hint of frustration in his voice as he said," it's late; I have a meeting tomorrow at 8 AM."

Gregory's demanding position weighed on Xenia too. Having read all the CEO romance novels, Xenia imagined the man had leisure time, but it was the contrary Gregory worked more than everyone. He could wake up at 3 AM to do simulations on his laptop.

When she asked him to take a break, he would say, "it's not just about my money; it's about people's livelihoods. Behind all the subsidiaries and acquisitions, there are men and women whose lives depend on my decision."

And so Gregory worked for everyone's sake. Xenia thought Sia and her were too much for the man who fell asleep in the theater when the lights went out. Gregory was tired, and Xenia didn't want to be a burden.

"Okay, bonne nuit, mon amour."

"Bonne Nuit."

XY XX

"Niki, what should I do?"

Niki sighed every week she found herself giving Xenia pep talks, but this time she threw down her coach towel, "you don't deserve the man; Gregory is heaven-sent. I swear you must be the only woman turning her back on her Cinderella story. I'll be honest with you, Xenia, I think you are selfish. Think of Sia she needs stability. And how about Gregory, don't you think your indecision is adding to his stress. Gosh, Xenia, didn't we have this conversation like three days ago."

"Niki, but what ifㅡ."

"Yeah, yeah, what if you could redo the world with what if, but what if nothing, Xe, what if you just live happily ever after and die at age 101 holding each other's hands like in The Notebook.

Xenia's eyes shimmered, "that would be beautiful."

"You see, think positive. The man's almost forty; if you're not going to marry him, live with him at least. If you have some nostalgia, you can sleep in the room across from his and pretend he's your neighbor," Niki said, giving her signature blue laser beam stare.

"That's not funny. Are you taking me for a dunce?"

Niki pinched Xenia's nose, "well, you are acting like one, so yeah."

Xenia sucked her teeth.

"Eh, Xe, I can do that too, remember."

Truth hurts, but that's what Xenia needed. Still, she had not made up her mind.

"I should look for a job in London?"

"Why don't you ask Gregory?

"You see, that too bothers me; I don't want to lean on him. Like my lover is wealthy, he'll find me a job and buy me a condo."

Niki looked at the Starbucks ceiling in wonder, "God, how I wish I could say that."

"He's rich, but I don't want to rely on it as I did with Andrew. I mean, I accepted everything Andrew gave me only to deceive him in the end."

"By the way, what did you do with all the Cartier Andrew bought you?"

"I sent it back."

"Xe, no."

"Come on, Niki; you see me wearing those and Gregory asking me where did they come from? And me answering. Oh, remember Andrew, my ex-fiancé, well, I kept these as a memento to piss you off."

Niki banged her fists on the table, "oh, Xenia, how I miss your scratching but doesn't Gregory play up Prince charming?"

"Trust me, Gregory is stingy; he doesn't throw his money about without thorough analysis. You would be surprised you'd think he was at war with his fortune."

"Guess that's why the rich are rich."

"You can say that again, his mother, on the other hand, sieve, when he comes to money. I swear if Gregory didn't hold the fort, the Asthon's would be bankrupt.

"Have you met her?"

"Yeah, and she asked me to braid her hair like Bo Derek when I went to visit her in one of her villas in Phuket."

"No, Xe, are you serious?"

Xenia reflected, the voyage was a cool moment for her and a tense one for Gregory, who had a hard time with his mother's lifestyle. The man, Gregory's mom, had in her life right now was the same age as Xenia."

"Xenia?"

"Yeah, I swear. there's more to the Ashton's' than people know, but they're cool."

"You see, Xe, even his family, loves you. Tell me more about it. I mean, haven't you lived Pretty Woman moments?"

"You're digging for your book, aren't you?"

"Xenia, please, you are the only woman I know who is living the tale."

Xenia usually avoided talking about her life with Gregory. She didn't want people to think she bragged about her relationship. Also, it was their intimacy. Even her sister and mother still believed Xenia dated an auditor. Here for once, she decided to unleash some information.

"Okay, listen, the first year was hard, I mean, I would arrive in London, and I wouldn't see him because he found himself held up in meetings, and when he got home, Gregory was on his phone. Vacations were cut short; five days became three. Sometimes he would leave before me because Ashton&Ashton were losing millions."

"Wow, being in Astoria must have been a vacation for him."

"I think it was; tell your readers CEOs don't spend their time on yachts and whipping assistants in dark chambers. If they do trust me, that leisure time is overdue and well deserved."

"Xe, don't kill the myth. Give me some fluff."

"Okay then fluff pretty woman moment, my suitcase didn't transit in Dubai, and I got a whole new wardrobe."

"Wow."

"But wait, you see how you toss your receipt when you buy something. Well, Gregory gathers them neatly for accountancy, which will send everything to the assurance and Airplane company for reimbursement. Still, you never see that part in the book, and it makes the guy seem like Shirley Bassey's Big Spender.

Niki laughed, "stop it, Xe, you are killing me."

"Oh, remember the Maserati at the wedding."

"Of course."

"Well, the car is his. Gregory got it delivered for the wedding."

"No."

"Yes."

"I guess for people like Gregory; it's a formality. Xenia, why did you keep this to yourself?"

"Well, I don't think it's interesting? Who wants to listen to this? It's so shallow."

"I'm shallow; tag me, privacy invader; are you kidding me? eaThis is dynamite; you are breaking cliché history. I mean, Christian Grey seemed to have a lot of time on his hands. We everyday-chicks have no clue about how it is to meet a real Mccoy. Please, Xenia, what else?" Niki asked with eager eyes.

"Oh, I forgot the galas."

Niki put her chin on her locked knuckles as she listened, "yeah, I saw a photo of you at one of those. You were gorgeous."

Xenia drooped her lips, "well, I hate them and try to avoid going."

"Why, Xenia?"

"Because what do you think ladies gossip about while seeping their champagne and slurping oysters? Or at least they did at the beginning."

Niki leaned forward, "what?"

"The gold digger from Paris."

"Xenia, you're I hope you are joking."

Xenia waved her index and middle finger from Niki's eye to hers, "do I look like I'm joking? I swear, Niki, it's not all Jimmy Choo Stilleto coated. I still recall the first event I went to, I was in the toilets and two women washing their hands wondered in which favela Gregory picked me up from and what kind of Black magic I was using on him."

Niki gasped while her eyes widened in shock, "gosh, what did you do?"

"I stepped out the toilet, and I said, try giving your boss a blowjob. That's the magic for you."

"Xenia, don't tell me you said that?"

"I did. It added some spice to the legend, and those pudding eating witches were langoustine red."

"Did you tell Gregory?"

"I did, and he said it's a shame the legend is spicier than the real story. He would have loved to have benefited from such favors."

"Oh, my goodness, you two are crazy."

Xenia sighed; she loved Gregory, but in moments like this, when she thought about all the adversity she encountered, her confidence weakened.

"It's just jealousy, Xenia. Those women are just bitter; they couldn't win the bachelor."

"The bachelor has no time; you can't imagine the number of times our plans get canceled. The only person he never breaks a promise to is Sia. Yeah, if he promises her something, he can postpone a meeting and lose a few thousand. Do you know what? when I weigh it all, I really think we should stay like this Gregory needs time for himself."

"Xenia, I don't think so. If Gregory is insisting like this, it's because he has thoroughly thought it through. You said it yourself it was the first year, but how is he now?"

"He's perfect."

"See, good lord, my scalp is itching. I think you made a few grey hairs sprout."