Hey guys, here's another chapter of "Las Vegas baby!"
I hope you are enjoying the story and the turn it has taken ;-)
Adrian's POV
After what seemed like hours, a lot of cries, screams, hugs, kisses, apologizes and promises, Sydney finally accepted to come with me and left Rose behind. I knew this wasn't easy for her, she was hurt and I couldn't help but feel bad for that. She chose me over her best friend and that's why I admired her bravery. If the situation was reverse I don't know if I would have done the same. She has been such a strong person and I think that so far, she has dealt with the situation kind of well. Afterall, she just slapped me once, ran away and reluctantly accepted the compromise. I laughed internally.
I sent a text message to my father, just saying that it was an emergency and he needed to meet me at Palm Springs with one of his wolf lawyers. I hadn't the strength to call him and confront his wrath over the phone. I will have the chance to experience all of it in person. I gritted my teeth at the thought.
We left the hotel in a hurry without too much trouble and were now sitting on my private jet heading for Palm Springs. We had taken off an hour ago and Sydney was sleeping on my shoulder. She didn't realized that she had fallen on me but I wasn't going to move either. Oddly, it felt good to have her next to me. Her chest was rising with each little breath she made. In this position, the few undone buttons of her fair kaki blouse let catch a sight of her plain white silk bra. [Okay now I looked like a perv] I needed to look elsewhere quickly. So instead I focused my gaze on her soft face. She looked so much peaceful and delicate asleep. Her wonderful eyes were closed, resting after all the previous drama and the teardrops they had shed. I gently brushed her left cheek with my fingers and kissed her forehead.
"You care about her, don't you?" Dimitri who was sitting in front of us said, startling me at the same time. His remark was more a statement that a question.
"Yes." I admitted. "That's crazy right?" I chuckled. "I mean I've known her for less than a day, and met her when she was tipsy. For all I know she could be a mad psychopath who would try to kill me in my sleep." I joked.
"I don't think so." Dimitri chortled. "But I wouldn't bet on her friend!"
"Right! That girl is insane. You know what she told me before we left the hotel? She asked if I had children and I obviously told her no. Then she said that if I wanted some one day, I should take good care of Sydney." I exclaimed and Dimitri immediately burst out of laughter.
"She threatened my man's parts and you're laughing? Dickhead!" I tried to scowl at him, but ended up laughing too.
"But she is also a hell of a knockout..." I teased. Indeed Rose was easy on the eyes and had what it takes to make a man happy. She was the kind of woman I would have taken to my bed with pleasure, but strangely, she didn't attract me. Nevertheless I couldn't say the same about my dear friend Dimitri.
"Hum...yeah." he slurred sheepish. [Touché!]
"Oh come on Dimka! Only a blind couldn't have seen that you were dribbling in front of her." He glared at me.
"That's okay man, it's perfectly understandable. And I think the attraction was mutual by the way. So have you at least got her number?" I inquired rolling my eyes.
"I...damn it Adrian! You're impossible when you start. Yes she gave me her number before we left." he confessed avoiding my gaze.
"That's my boy!" I smirked.
"But what are the odds of seeing her again. I mean, she lives in NY and we are moving to Palm Springs for I don't know how long." Dimitri stated. He tried to be unfazed but I could detect a bit of disappointment in his voice. Shit! That Rose really got under his skin.
"Never say never my friend." I replied with a small smile.
A few minutes passed before one of us spoke again.
"Adrian..." Dimitri interjected breaking the silence. "What are you going to do if she wants the annulment?" I was appalled by the sudden change of subject, and his direct question but Dimitri knew me too well.
"I...I don't know. Actually I haven't thought about it yet. I guess I will follow her lead and do what she wants, what is best for her, even if it means that I would let pass my chance of having a future with her." These words sounded wrong in my mouth. I knew this sounded crazy, and every person in her right mind would have jump on the annulment to end this situation once and far all but the truth was that I didn't want to sign those papers. Besides, she accepted to come with me so...did this mean that deep down she trusted me? They say that trust is one of the pillar of a relationship, to be honest I wanted to give a shot at what we have, but would she? It's more likely that she agreed to go with me to obtain the annulment and then go away as if all of this, including me was just an unfortunate memory. Just thinking about it made me sick.
Sydney made a mild moan and started to move. She was waking up.
"Good morning sunshine." I grinned, trying to erase the dark thoughts I had just a few seconds before.
She rubbed her eyes. "I...Adrian?" She jerked instantly realizing that she was half laid on me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay." I cut her. "I've always known that I was a good pillow." I winked at her.
"How are you feeling?" I then asked worried.
"Recharged I guess." She stretched herself and I had to keep all my self control to not look at her opened blouse.
"Are you hungry?" I demanded clearing my throat.
"Hum...not really" she replied still in a sleepy voice. Some strands of hair had escaped her ponytail. I wanted to put them back but I was afraid she would cringe. [Take things slow Adrian…] I couldn't do something stupid now that she was finally coming towards me so I abstain myself.
"Sydney you have to eat, your stomach is all turned upside down, a little food would make you feel better. And..." I vaguely pointed to her head "Your hair is a little messy after your nap...maybe you would like to go freshen up before eating." I suggested hesitantly. She looked at me confused. [Shit! What a douchebag!] Now she was probably thinking that she looked ugly. I wanted to tell her that her hair wasn't the problem. It was me! It just that I didn't trust myself to not touch her.
"Oh? Okay." she eventually acknowledged before going to the bathroom. I tried to not stare at her ass when she stood up but in vain. Those damn pants were a real torture. [When I consider that we are going to stay in the same house...I am so screwed!]
"Maybe you want to go freshen up?" Dimitri parroted while cackling "I think you are the one who need to cold down dude!" he scoffed.
"Shut up!" I snapped. He didn't know how right he was.
I called the stewardess to bring us some food. She was asking what we wanted to drink when Sydney came back from the bathroom. Her ponytail was neatly tied, letting her soft curls whip the back of her neck when she moved her head. She also buttoned up her blouse, thank God!
"What would you like to drink Miss?" the stewardess politely asked Sydney.
"Water will be fine thanks." she replied just as well-mannered.
"And for you Mr. Ivashkov? May I bring you a cocktail, a wine bottle?" the stewardess asked again. Usually that would be what I would order. I often get wasted during the travel, to make the trip passes faster but it was different this time, I needed my clear mind. [I swear that girl was changing me…]
"An OJ please." Dimitri smirked at me and then asked for a beer.
Our meals arrived and we all ate silently. Sydney only ate half of the drumstick and a few green peas. She hasn't even touched the mashed potatoes.
"Didn't you like the food? Do you want something else?" I gently demanded.
"No I'm fine, I told you I wasn't very hungry." she answered.
"But you ate practically nothing." I stated. "Wait are you one of these girls who eats almost nothing to not gain weight?"
"Well... I am just careful with the calories contained in food." she mumbled.
"Sydney! You can't deprive yourself of something that you want because of stupid stereotypes about models. Honestly you are fine, even a little thinner in my opinion. I think you'd look even better if you put on a little weight. It would hide the ribs and get you a bigger bra size." I proposed, trying not to think about her perfect breasts, and how good they felt on my hands...
"Adrian!" she chided but didn't contradict me.
"Okay lovebirds I'm going to sleep. Just don't do something that could shock me forever." Dimitri announced, winking at us.
Sydney blushed and shyly replied "Goodnight Dimitri."
"He was joking, trust me nothing can shock this guy." I reassured Sydney.
"How did you meet Dimitri?" she asked promptly. I was surprised by her question, not a lot of people were interested in my relationship with Dimitri.
"I was one year old when I've met Dimitri for the first time. His mother came from Russia to the United States when he was three. She became my family servant. We lived and grew up together, even attended the same schools. He is my best friend and like a brother to me. Dimitri was always protective towards me and took care of me since I was a child until nowadays, when he has become my bodyguard." I omitted my father's kidnapping and the fact that we might actually be related.
"That's a cute story." she retorted smiling.
"Only a girl can say that." I giggled. "What about you and Rose? How did you become friends?" I was curious about that, at first sight they looked so much unlike.
"We met in junior high school. We were assigned a group paper and instantly became friends. I know what you're thinking, how could it have been possible? Well I guess what they say is true, opposites attract. It's like you and Dimitri, I mean you seem so different."
"True." Opposites attract, she couldn't be more right…
"What about the rest of your family? Do you have siblings?" Hum...Sydney was in a talkative mood.
"I've got one little sister. Her name is Jill. You?" Actually, it felt good to chat with her, and learn more about her. I realized that I didn't know much about her. For instance, I didn't know simple things as the number of siblings she had, her favorite color, flavor...all kind of asinine things that persons usually know from each other before getting married. I reckon that we skipped all the steps, no dates, no family meetings...
"I have two sisters, respectively Zoey and Carly. I'm the middle-one."
"Well if they are as hot as you, I pity your father." Then I remembered the few times she mentioned him, and how dreadful he seemed to be.
"What about your parents...your father?" I still tried.
"Did you call him?" To avoid any craze, we directly left the hotel in the direction of Palm Springs. I knew that Sydney wanted to see her parents before going with me, to explain the situation and her sudden impulse but it was a luxury that we couldn't offered. The risk was too important.
"Before entering into the plane, I called him twice but it went directly to voice mail. Later I received a text message from my older sister Carly, saying that he didn't want to talk to me, and hoped that all of this situation was just a misunderstanding. He told my sister that if I didn't attend classes on Monday he would cut my funds and not pay my tuition anymore. He will disown me. He said that he didn't raise me like that and I was a shame to our family so I didn't deserve to be part of it anymore. He had faith in me, you know, he really thought I was the perfect daughter, after Carly disappointed him by refusing to pursue in medical school. And my younger sister Zoey isn't as clever as us so it is likely that she wouldn't be accepted in a medical field either." she told sadly with tears in her eyes. Wow. I wasn't expecting that, and especially not her utter honesty. Her father was worst than what I've thought. I wanted to kill that son of a bitch. How could someone possibly hate Sydney? She was a perfect, young, beautiful, smart and gentle woman whose big heart had been broken by her bastard father, and all of this, because of me...
"Sydney...I know I've told you that a dozen times and it wouldn't change a damn thing because what is done is done, but I'm truly sorry for all the pain I've caused you." I put my hand on hers and softly brush her knuckles. Surprisingly she didn't pull away, instead she hold and squeezed it with her free hand.
"It's okay Adrian...that day was destined to happen. I knew sooner or later I'd do something that goes against my father beliefs. I've just thought this day would come later and for another reason." She looked up and stared at me. Her deep blue ocean eyes trying to break through my soul.
"Anyways." she cleared her throat and let go of my gaze "What about yours? What about your parents?" She opened her heart to me, so I had to be honest with her too, even tough this was a taboo subject for me. Only my family and Dimitri knew about my father. I took a deep breath and started.
"Well my father is a powerful businessman running one of the most prestigious software companies, that he inherited from his father. He's also a royal liar and cheater. He's never at home, always on business trips, screwing whoever the hell he wants. I guess I take my fondness for women after him. The worst part is the fact that my mother is aware of it but still stay with him instead of dumping his stupid ass. I confronted her many times about this subject but each time she tells me that she stays for me and my sister. That's a lame pretext now because we are both grown up. She says that he hasn't always been like that, it's the job that changed him, that made him crueler, and that this isn't his fault blab-la...What the hell? She always tries to find excuses for his behavior and to defend him. I just think that deep down she is still in love with this asshole which makes me hate him even more. He wants to be angry at me okay, he hates me whatever, I loathe him too but my mother doesn't deserve this. I guess she is too good for him and he doesn't even noticed it." I unleashed furiously.
"Why...why would your father hate you Adrian? Is it because you stand up against him to defend your mother's honor?" Sydney sweetly asked after a few minutes, letting my nerves calm down. I noticed anger in her gorgeous eyes.
"I think it's one of the reasons, but he mostly hates me because I refused to take back the family business. I studied arts instead of commerce and economy. He didn't want to pay for my tuition saying that this field of study was useless, but my mother begged him. And look at me now, I succeed quite well. But that's not enough to hear a little "I'm proud of you son." When I obtained my degree my father didn't come at the ceremony, he said he was busy with work but I know it was bullshit, he was probably entertaining himself with some whore. I guess we are both failures for our fathers." I forced a smile. Sydney and I had more in common than what we thought.
She looked intensively at me during my whole speech. She didn't move or say anything. She didn't judge me but didn't pity me either. And then she did something that took me aback. Her soft lips kissed my cheek resting a bit longer to let me enjoy the delicateness of her gesture.
"Goodnight Adrian." she whispered near my ear, her hot breath doing crazy things to my body. She placed her head on my shoulder just as earlier and let go of my hand to grab my arm, closing her eyes a few seconds later.
"Goodnight Sydney." I gently replied kissing her temple. With my other arm I took a blanket from under my seat and covered us both with it. I carefully position myself to not disturb her and closed my eyes.
Except my mother and sister, she was the only woman to whom I've opened my heart.
And then it hit me with full force: I was falling for her, and I was falling hard.
I found this chapter kind of cute, what about you guys? What did you think?
-K
