I woke up with someone's breath on my neck. Now, I was not used to waking up like this so I immediately fully woke up and sprang up.
I looked around the room. This was definitely not my room. No, this was my living room. And I had been sleeping on the couches. I rubbed my eyes and zoomed in to the human that was sleeping on the couch with me.
It was just Alexander.
Wait a second... Alexander? He never slept on the couch! Except for when he was sick that one time. And he would never sleep on the couch with me!
I frowned. Well, we had gotten in from the airport at a very late, or should I say a very early hour, and we were both exhausted. I guess we didn't have the strength to walk up the stairs to our rooms. Alexander's luggage was still at the door and he still had his suit on.
I looked down at my outfit. I still had my sleeveless white dress on, and my shoes were thrown off at the door. Hmm, I guess this wasn't too strange after all.
I quickly hurried upstairs. I assumed that we would still be going to work, and I didn't want to be the reason we were late.
However, before I could begin to take care of myself, I heard a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Alexander walked in. "We will not be going to work today. We have been invited to a very important event and we must attend. It's a very important event and larger, too. Much bigger than the ones we've been to the past days. A few actors and celebrities have been invited, as well as the world's top multi-billionaires. Dress formally but please..." he trailed off and looked at me with a little grin, "don't dress like a suggestive and improper woman."
I smiled back. "Of course."
"Great! We're leaving in an hour, we have to stop by at work for a few moments."
"Okay."
He left and I began to get ready.
I found a short, but quite modest red dress. It was all one color uniform material dress. I thought that would be decent. I clasped some ruby and diamond earrings and put on a few gold bracelets. I decided that if this was a very wealthy party that I should wear very glamorous shoes. A pair of gold studded platform heels seemed to be just the thing.
I took a pair of red sunglasses and a red purse with a golden chain. Then I patiently waited for the door for Alexander. It gave me some time to think.
I should have already told him about the baby. It's been about a week since I found out, and I desperately wanted to tell him.
There was never a perfect moment, except for when we took our walk along the beach. But it was such a perfect moment I didn't want to ruin it. I had no idea how he would react or how I could even begin to tell him.
I don't know if there would ever be a perfect moment. I should just do it as soon as possible.
It turns out, soon as possible wasn't exactly easy to do. During our entire car ride, I kept opening my mouth to say it, but I didn't. Stupid, scaredy-cat me.
We reached the top floor where our offices were located.
"Wait for me here, I'll only take a few minutes," Alexander said and left me standing in the lobby while he hurried into his office.
But I wasn't bored for long. Soon, Laureli came up to me.
"Oh, Mrs. Vasilievna, you look just stunning! I've got some news. There's a bouquet for you."
I groaned. "Thank you, Laureli. I'll take care of it."
I hurried to my office and found the biggest bouquet of bright red roses on my desk.
It was stunning, that was for sure, but I knew who it was from, and that took away all the beauty from it. I walked over and snatched the note that was near the vase.
Mrs. Vasilievna.
Looking forward to seeing you at the party.
That's all the note said. I crumpled it up and threw it away.
When I walked out, I was pleased to see that Alexander was still in his office. I called to Laureli who was at my side in seconds.
"Yes, Mrs. Vasilievna?"
"Get rid of the roses. You can take them for yourself, or you can simply burn them, I don't care. As long as they are out of my office."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you, Laureli. Have a wonderful day."
I only had to stand alone for a few more moments before Alexander finally left his office and made his way towards me.
"Let's go, Maria."
He grabbed my hand and we headed to our Lexus.
While we were driving, Alexander quickly mumbled, "Thank you for not dressing like many of those petty women."
I laughed quietly. "Of course."
Other than those words, the car ride was silent. We sat further from each other than I would like, but I didn't mind too much.
We drove past all those billboards and signs with back to school shopping ads. It made me think of our little baby and what would happen once it got big enough to go to school.
"Alexander?"
He turned to me with a raised eyebrow.
"If we ever have children, are they going to go to school?"
He thought about it for a few seconds. "Of course not. They will have private tutors with all the lessons at home."
"Ah, okay. Makes sense."
As long as they had a good education, I didn't mind how they got it. Another question popped into my head.
"Do you even want children?"
With a sigh, Alexander looked at me. He had very kind and gentle eyes, but with power radiating from his stare. So much that he might even power cars with his stare alone. I wanted our baby to have his eyes.
"Of course I do, Maria. Possibly in a few years, but I do want children."
I nodded. At least he wanted kids. Little did he know that instead of a few years, it was only going to be a few months.
"And you?"
I was quite perplexed and shocked when he asked me. I never thought Alexander would care to ask such questions.
"Yes, yes, I do."
"How soon would you like children?"
My breath caught in my throat and I coughed. "Uh..., well, I mean..." I stammered, "Whenever I get them, I guess."
He nodded with a slight smile forming at the corners of his lips.
When we arrived at the party, I could feel the mood drop for both me and Alexander. I smiled. At least we had one thing in common.
He led me inside of the huge building. I couldn't tell if it was a mansion or a hotel or some reservoir, but all I knew is that it was a massive, beautiful building.
There was loud music that could be heard for a good distance, and many people surrounded us. I had never gone to clubs, but I imagined it was something like this, except for there was very expensive champagne instead of cheap beer, there were celebrities instead of common people, and the decorations were way more elegant and quite wealthy.
No one came up to talk with Alexander. A few people simply greeted him with a handshake but that was all. He seemed to like that, and let me be honest, I loved it.
I loved having him all to myself without women eyeing him, or men stealing his attention by talking about boring business.
Men of all ages were eyeing me, and I could feel some of them undressing me with their stares. Alexander felt it too because he placed his hands on my hips and kissed me hard. I couldn't help myself and kissed him back just as hard.
He pulled away and placed a few lingering kisses on my neck and collarbone. I smiled.
I was glad to know that he was the jealous type.
"Let's go grab champagne?" He asked in a low voice, his eyes looking me up and down.
I laughed. "No, I'm on that diet, remember?"
"Ah, yes." His eyes shot up to mine and then he mumbled. "Then I'll get some just for myself. Come."
He placed his hand on my back and gently steered me in the direction of the drinks. He grabbed his drink and gulped it down. His fingers kept drawing designs on my back and each of his slightest movements on my body sent shivers down my spine.
A young man, dressed in a suit approached Alexander and I. He had a lady at his arm. She was wearing a dark purple mid-thigh dress. It seemed fine in the front until you saw her back. It was completely bare, and there was a long slit, all the way to her hip, on the bottom of her dress.
Alexander and I both shared a look.
"Mr. Vasiliev. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Tyler Burton." He was speaking with my husband but his eyes trailed off to me. He slowly scrutinized me from the bottom up.
My husband gave a short nod and an even shorter handshake. Mr. Tyler Burton turned to me.
"You must be Maria."
He took my hand and slowly leaned down kiss it.
'Oh, wrong move, man... wrong move. You are about to be killed, oh goodness.'
Before he was about to place his lips to my hand, Alexander snatched my hand away from him. To say that Tyler, his mistress and I were shocked was an understatement.
"Mrs. Vasilievna to you." He growled, his eyes burning holes in Tyler's head.
He was quite shocked and he actually seemed frightened. "Uh- I- I, uh I'm sorry. S-sorry."
He took the lady and they practically teleported out of there.
I laughed as soon as they were out of the way. My husband found nothing amusing in the situation, however.
"Let's get out of here," he whispered slowly into my ear, his breath tickling every nerve in my body, sending another wave of shivers.
He took my hand and led me upstairs. I didn't know where to go, but Alexander seemed to know exactly where to go, as if it was his own house. He found a door and opened it.
It revealed a balcony and we both walked out. It was dark and the city of New York was restless. Lights were everywhere, and noise surrounded us from the cars and music and people. Somehow, it was still so peaceful and quiet when Alexander and I were here all alone.
I felt his hands slide around from behind me and he pressed his body to my back. His head rested on my shoulders. I felt his heart beating and his lungs breathing.
I reached out and placed my hand on his cheek, and we just stood like that for a few moments. Alexander moved away from me and simply took my hand. We stood side by side, leaning against the railing of the balcony and staring out at the city in front of us.
I turned to face Alexander after a few minutes. He looked at me with such passion and love. His arms laced up behind me, locking me in his embrace.
"I... I need to tell you something, Alexander."
He brought his arms to my cheeks and held my face, his fingers playing with my hair. "Can it wait?"
I blinked. Could it? It could, technically, but when would I ever get the courage to tell him about this again?
Without ever waiting for my response, he kissed me and me, being the hopeless, romantic in love with my husband, lost all of my thoughts and everything I was going to say.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and my hands cupped his cheek, my fingers playing with his hair too. He held me tightly, but soon he picked me up and placed me on the edge of the railing.
I should have been afraid of falling into the street, but I knew that I was safe with Alexander.
We continued to kiss until we were so rudely interrupted by somebody opening the door. Alexander and I opened our eyes and quickly looked to see who interrupted us.
"Jordan," Alexander said with a nod.
Jordan had a grin on his face. "Alexander, the meeting is about to begin. We don't want to begin without you."
"Thank you, Jordan. I will be right there."
He nodded and closed the door, leaving Alexander and me alone in the cold New York City air again.
I opened my mouth to speak but before any sounds came out, Alexander once more took my face and kissed me hard.
When he let go he was out of breath but he still managed to very smoothly say, "I'll be going to the meeting, and I don't want you here alone so you're going to go home."
I nodded and let Alexander lead me through the corridors and stairs until we were at the entrance. Our car drove up and he opened the door for me. Before I got in, however, he locked his arms around my waist and I automatically tightened my arms around his neck.
With one last kiss, he whispered, "Goodbye, Maria. I'll see you soon."
With that, he vanished and I climbed in. The car started and soon I was on my way.