Silent Love Ch. 04

They had this conversation before, and since both Tama and Elena lost theirs a while back it was no surprise Zoya's v-card was the main focus.

"I am not waiting for Prince Charming, but I am also not giving it any random John."

"You're too picky. You're not bad looking and have guys who like you. You just need to try."

"I am not going to throw myself at random guys, Lena!"

"I'm not saying you have to throw yourself, maybe just let them slid in." She slapped the table as she laughed at her own joke.

"Anyway, are you excited for winter break Tama? How are the plans going?" Zoya asked in an attempt to get out of the conversation.

"Great! Tim's got everything in order and as soon as finals are over we are out of here." Tim and Tama had been together since junior year of high school and four years later they were still going strong.

"You're a bitch. Who goes to Europe during Christmas and leaves their friends?"

"Hmmm...I know. So, I know you are dying to tell us about Erik."

Elena stared at Zoya as if expecting her to say something. "He does not talk about his 'personal relationship with others in detail' as he likes to say. So, I know little about what happen between y'all two." She answered Elena's stare.

"The sex is good," she began. "But he just is not the one and we both know it."

"Y'all have known each other since school started, like three months now. Is that enough to know if he is the one?" Zoya asked.

"You don't need time to know if he is the one."

"Well I don't believe in 'The One' anyway, but I think y'all should give it a chance."

"Hmm... Maybe. But dang the sex is so good. He is definitely one of the best I ever been with. We might be going to Russia in winter break too."

"WHAT??!" Zoya and Tama screamed out.

"Its not final but we been talking. He is going back for winter break, and I have not been for a while so why not?"

"So, who the bitch for going to Europe during Christmas without her friends?"

"We can meet for a cup of tea in Paris," Elena answered Tama without a blink. It was just like her to do something without much consideration. "Erik's dad is probably going to pay for it. Erik says he won't even notice and it will fit in his allowance."

"Rich kids," Tama sighed with a shake of her head.

"His dad might be in Russia too. Erik tells me he is religious and shit. He is so hot. If I was 27 I would fuck him."

"If you thought you had a chance with him you would have let him fuck you," Tama replied.

"True that."

"Don't you feel weird saying that or even thinking about it when you are having sex with his son?"

"Nope, one has nothing to do with the other."

"I don't think that's how it works," Zoya chipped in the conversation.

"I am just saying I know a man when I see one and Dmitry Bazin is a man. He looks like the type who would hit the shit out of me, but I would be screaming with pleasure just from the contact."

"Eew stop it. Nasty hoe," Tama pushed further down the bench they were sitting on.

"How's sex with Thomas? Boring as usual?"

"Our sex life is great. Period."

"Zoya Khan, is there any guy you'd like enough to fuck?" Lena changed the subject back.

"Eeeh..."

"No, yes, maybe...you don't know. I know this guy from my school you should meet. Y'all both into philosophy and politics and shit."

"No."

"Okay, all I am saying is you better lose it before we come back from Europe. You will be 24 soon and then you will be 30."

"Ah yes. I should do it before my vagina disappears," Zoya said to Elena in a sarcastic voice.

"Let's get out of here. It's getting crowded and I am starving," Tama said as she made her friends get up and leave the cafe. Walking out into the streets of Buckhead, the girls headed to a South African Restaurant called 10 Degrees for an early dinner.

***********

Dmitry paused in the process of removing his tie as he walked into the occupied kitchen and looked down at her. He continued to watch her without a sound for a while. She was softly singing along to the music coming from her phone. She was typing on her laptop and every so often she would consult her textbook. He was not surprised. He stood there for a few more seconds looking down at her and then walked around her to go get water from the fridge. He took out two bottles. Still typing away and mumbling to herself; Zoya did not look up until he put one of the water bottles in front of her; right beside her laptop. With a gasp of surprise she quickly leaned back against her chair and looked up into his calm eyes.

He drank his water, stared at her shocked face, and said nothing.

"I finished working early and needed a place to do my essay," she said as a way of explaining why she was still there. She watched him drink his water as he looked down at her silently. Who knew drinking what can be so sexual?

He walked out without a word. Two faced asshole. She watched his retreating back for a minute and then got back to writing her essay. She loathed losing her concentration while writing; it always seems to take her hours to bring back her focus.

Almost a half an hour had passed since Dmitry disappeared in his room when Zoya heard someone knocking at the door. Irritated on being distracted Zoya saved her work and closed her laptop. Expecting Dmitry to get the door, she slowly began to gather her things to leave. Hearing the knocking once more she left the kitchen with her backpack on her shoulder, and looked at Dmitry's closed bedroom door. With a frown on her face, she quickly opened the door after a third loud knock at the door. Noticing her untied tennis shoes, Zoya did not look at the person at the front door, but instead bent down to fix her laces.

"Sorry, I thought my Dmitry was going to get it. I was in the kitchen...."She stopped mid-sentence as she realized her slip of the tongue. My Dmitry?? She quickly looked up at the two men staring down at her with blank looks.

Maybe I am growing smaller, she thought as she looked at the pair dumbfounded. Who the giant men were and what they wanted she knew not; but she did not want to get in their way for any reason. Getting up, she took a step back after a few seconds of staring and blinked a few times just to make sure they were really there.

"Well this is a surprise," the brunet of the two said with an accent she could not place. He smiled at his ginger partner briefly and walked in. The ginger closed the door as he followed in; he looked beyond Zoya, and then reverted his piercing green eyes back to her.

"What's a surprise?"

"You of course sweetie. What's your name love?"

"Who are you looking for?" She asked softly as she moved away from him.

"I asked you a question first."

"Zoya," she rumbled out not liking the tone he was using with her. "And you are?"

"Alexander Watson, you my love have my permission to call me Alex," he smiled as if he was giving her a great privilege and tried to take her hand. Zoya quickly stepped away and moved further into the living room. "I have a meeting with your Dmitry Mademoiselle Zoya," he said with laughing eyes. His partner still quite, continued to scan the condo.

"He is not mine. He will be out soon. I was just leaving."

"Oh. I was hoping you would be around. Boring Bazin is not really the best company in the world."

"Sorry, but I got to go."

"Since your Dmitry is taking so long why don't you keep me company love?" He asked in a commanding tone as he and his partner passed Zoya, and took a seat facing her.

"No. Sorry."

"That was not a request love. Sit down," he said waving at the sit in front of him.

"My workers are not yours to command Alexander," Dmitry said making Zoya jump in surprise as he appeared behind her. His worker?

"Eh Bazin?! Took you long enough."

"Should have made you wait longer, you little bastard."

"Ah come to papa, love," he said getting up with open arms. His red headed partner still did not say a word.

"Go fuck yourself," Dmitry grumbled as he moved past Zoya toward the other two men. A bubble of laughter left Zoya as she heard him curse for the first time. Dmitry ignored Alexander's open arms and took a sit opposite the two.

"I see nothing has changed with you," Watson said with a straight face now.

"I see you been bothering my workers with your constant calls."

"It was important."

"What?"

"Tea first, Zoya love," he said looking Zoya straight in the eyes. "I like my tea with milk and honey."

"But, I have to go."

"Well Dmitry, don't be slow. Tell the girl what you want to drink so she can be on her way."

"You are not welcomed in my house. Leave, you can show yourself out" Bazin replied in a dry tone as he got up to return to his room. Alexander said something in a language Zoya did not recognize. Sounded Russian, but not Russian. He spoke for a while, before finally Dmitry took his seat again.

"Ms. Khan, get tea."

"I don't have time for this; I am done for the day." Plus she had her essay due later that night. He did not reply to this or turn his head. He said something softly with a dry tone to Alexander. Alexander laughed at whatever he said, and they continued their conversation in the unknown language completely ignoring her. Walking softly to the door Zoya opened it to leave. She stopped in the door way as several thoughts ran through her head. Fail the essay or lose her job? Good grades or food on the table?

"Fuck!" She whispered softly as she slammed the door shut. She placed her bag next the front door and walked toward the kitchen. Bazin said something that made Watson cackle, and then they continued on with their conversation. Ignoring them she continued into the kitchen. Weird men, she thought as she boiled water for the tea. She wondered about their relationship. They seem to know each other very well. Completely different in personality, can't imagine them being friends.

Fifteen minutes later she came out with a tray of tea and mini Russian deserts she found in the food storage closet. Ignoring them once more she placed the tray down and rose up to leave.

"Pour. Milk and two spoons of honey. Rataq does not want any." Assuming that Rataq was Alexander's partner, she sighed loudly and turned to the tray. Who raised these men? Please every once in a while would be nice. She poured one cup and prepared it as he requested, handing Watson his cup. I should be a tea brewer. I wonder how much they get paid. She turned to Dmitry with an expressionless face in demand of how he wanted his tea.

She got a glance of his eyes for the first time since he came out of his room. She took a deep breath to settle her queasy stomach in reaction to the power of his gray eyes. They were not soft today, but a scrutinizing, sharp stormy gray. Maybe one day she will look into those eyes and not feel anything. But not today. Unable to read him she held up the teapot. He looked at her and then the teapot for a second, and then looked away and said something to Alexander in the same language they were speaking before. Zoya blinked a few times with a frown on her face. Rude jerk. I am a fucking idiot a million times over.

"No soup for you!" She said to herself as she placed the teapot down and began to rise up off the carpet. Alexander laughed at that and looked down at her in good humor.

"What?" Dmitry asked also looking up at her from where he was sitting in annoyance.

Alexander chuckled and shaking his head at Dmitry in pretend disappointment. Dmitry did not say anything at that, but continued to look at Zoya. "The line from Seinfeld. Your Dmitry has no sense of humor, don't you agree?" he said to Zoya shaking his head at Bazin again.

"Umm...I am not in the position to judge." You're Dmitry. Ooouf I am never going to live that one down.

"I choose to differ. Come. Sit with us. I can't take all of him in at one time."

"That's what she said," Zoya said as she looked up the ceiling trying to figure a way out of her current situation. She only analyzed what she said after Alexander almost chocked on his tea due to laughter.

"I like you." Dmitry scowled at this, but continued to say nothing.

"God save me," Zoya mumbled to herself. Just as she was about to turn to leave, Alexander said something fast to Dmitry and Dmitry replied something fast. Although she could not understand she knew they were talking about something serious, and Dmitry did not seem happy about whatever Alexander was saying. Deciding to quietly leave she grabbed the tea tray and went into the kitchen to put away the supplies she taken out. Assuming the men did not want any more tea since they did not call her back; Zoya put everything away except the cup Alexander was drinking out of.

When she returned ten minutes later Dmitry was alone. Watson and his man were nowhere to be seen. He was still sitting where she left him in a relaxed position in the couch with his arms crossed looking at the far off wall. Not wanting to deal with any of his changing moods, Zoya headed to the door to get her backpack and leave.

"Stay. Please, sit." He said it so softly that for a while Zoya thought she was hearing things. He did not face her, but kept on looking at the wall. She looked around the apartment for a minute as if to make sure no one else was around and that he was in fact speaking to her. He looked so alone sitting there by himself, something tagged at her hart. Leaving the door she sat next to him. She removed her tennis shoes, leaned back against the couch, looked out to the balcony, and kept quiet. What a weird relationship we have, she pondered it again. After minutes of him not saying anything Zoya got up and told him she was going to get her laptop. He did not respond. She did not expect him to. She came to the conclusion people that were too smart or successful were just weird, and maybe she just need to learn how to deal with this weird man.

Returning to her seat, she opened her essay and began to make minor changes. Thinking that there was nothing else she could do to improve the essay, she saved her work and submitted it. She expected to at least get a 'B'. Closing the laptop and putting it back in her bag, she waited for him to say something. Maybe he just needed the company of a fellow human being. No friends, Erik said.

While she was busy with her schoolwork he had gone to the kitchen and gotten a bottle of red wine. He brought one glass, and was slowly drinking while he looked at the fireplace in the middle of the living room deep in thought. After five minutes of the silent treatment, she grabbed the wine glass from his hand and drank some while he lit a cigarette.

"Hmm...what language were you and your friend 'Mr. Watson' speaking?" She asked in an attempt to break the silence as she poured more wine.

"Alex? He is not my friend. Polish." He took the wine glass from her and drank. She thought about the last time they drank together or more like the last time she drank and he watched. Nope, can't go there you stupid brain.

"He does not look Polish and what kind of Polish name is Watson?" She asked making a face as old unwanted memories flooded back to her of the night at his club.

"How do Polish people look like?"

"Not like him. What did he want?" No answer to that question. Maybe she should not have asked, but she was too curious to let it go. "How many languages do you speak?" she asked after a long awkward silence between them.

"Six," he said still smoking.

"Woooow! I am struggling with three and a half. What languages?"

He hesitated as if giving that small information held life and death. "Russian, Polish, English, French, German, and Romanian."

"Really Impressive. Where did you learn all of them?" she asked him in French.

"Around," he continued in French. "I see your French and English are not bad, what is the other two?"

"My mother tongue Wolof and half Arabic."

"When did people start speaking half languages?" Dmitry mumbled to himself as he took the wine glass back. "You plan to go back to Senegal one day?"

"How..?...What else do you know?"

"Only the facts. No secrets, yet."

"Yeah I plan to go back one day. I still have family members there. As for secrets, I have none. I am actually like one of the most boring person on the face of the earth."

"We all have our secrets, boring or not." Zoya did not say anything to this.

Although he was participating in the conversation Zoya knew his mind was somewhere else. She took the glass of wine he offered back to her and tucked her feet under her as she sat closer to him on the sofa. Taking a sip, she looked up at him. They were inches apart now. She never felt so comfortable and on edge with any human being as she did with him. Being alone with him made her feel a bizarre mixture of calmness and anxiety. She had never felt anything like it before. It frightened her.

"Romanian!... say something," she struggled out to keep the conversation moving. "I don't think I ever heard it spoken. Say anything." Was it her or was there not enough air in the room? He whispered something to her.

"Are you married? Hiding a pregnant wife somewhere?" She asked in a whisper, switching back to English from French. He shook his head in negative and looked down at her with questioning eyes. "Well, if you want one just speak Romanian all the time."

"What I said made you want to marry me and have my babies?" He asked as a smile crept down from his eyes to his red lips for the first time that night.

"No!... I mean it just sounds so good when you speak it. Never mind.... what does it mean?" lowering her eyes as a blush heated her face. It felt good to bring that smile to his face, even if she had made a fool out of herself.

"Something that will make you want to marry me and have my babies," he said softly his accent getting thicker. Zoya accepted this with a laugh and a nod of her head. Looking around the room she focused on the wall he was looking at earlier. Finding nothing there she looked back to him.

Something was wrong with him. Although he was not much of a speaker, usually when he was in a room or in your presence he controlled the situation, but today after Alexander and his man left he looked too distracted. The whole time they were speaking he was drumming his fingers on the sofa and pulling at locks of hair in deep thought. He had smoked two cigarettes and was lighting his third. She knew his mind was going over 100 miles per hour, what was going on in there? As usual she did not know. What news did Watson bring him?

"Want to do something for me?" she asked bringing his attention back to her.

"$3,000."

"What?"

"That how much I am worth an hour...if I spend an hour with you that is how much I would be giving up."

"Okaaay...So, is that a yes Mr. Time Keeper?"

"What is it?" he asked in a monotone voice.

"Where are your glasses?"

"In the room," he looked at her with blank expression.

"Be back in a second," she said as she jumped off the sofa and ran to his room. Two minutes later she came back with his glasses on and a notebook and pen in hand. Taking the opposite side of the sofa, placing her feet up next to his legs, she looked at him through his glasses and smiled.

"My name is Dr. Zoya Khan and I will be your therapist for today. Dr. Cooper could not make it. I am sure whatever is bothering you we can work it out," she said in the most professional voice she can master. Dmitry twisted his whole body to take a look at her. Putting his cigarette out, he did not say anything at this. Seeing no response from him she continued. "Everything you say I promise will be just between us two. Now, let's start with something easy: what is your name?"

"Gabriel Dmitry Korjev," he said without a pause. Zoya took this in with a straight face and wrote it down.

"Spelled K-O-R-J-E-V and what do you prefer to be called?" She asked as she wrote it down.