DimitriI came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and went to the bed of the hotel room I occupied in Vienna. It was past seven in the evening and I felt exhausted from all the excitement of that day. First thing in the morning I flew back to St. Petersburg and after a few hours of rest, I boarded the plane for Vienna. I turned on my cell phone, leaving it on the bed before going to the window, looking at the bright street full of old buildings where countless people were walking, despite the bad weather. My mind wandered to memories of the previous day, when Blair's company had been so present. I walked back to the bed, picking up the cell phone that vibrated with the new messages that came in.I ignored Joe's messages threatening to move to St Petersburg for good and opened the message Blair had sent me in the morning."Commander, I don't think you understood that the flowers were for your mother."I had left the bouquet at the hotel reception in the morning t
DimitriI ended the call until I reached the gallery. Blair loved every detail I showed her and I was glad that I could distract her at that moment, the only way that situation would improve was if I was closer to her. " Look, I'm just saying that the last painting.... WAIT.”I stopped my steps immediately, not knowing what had happened." What?”" Can you turn the camera a little? " she asked " to the left.”" NO " I turned in the opposite direction as I understood what she had seen.How can she find places like this?" Please, Dimitri," she pleaded as I backed away and headed for the flea market she had somehow spotted." I'm only going to buy one thing," I warned." Then I'll have to choose well," she hummed.I couldn't help smiling as I walked between the stalls, showing her everything on display." Dimitri, look at those old photos," Blair indicated." They are people you don't know, Blair. Don't even think about it," I warned." You have no creativity," she complained." I'm no
Blair " And then? What did you think? " I whirled around in front of the cell phone camera, showing my mother my outfit. " You look great with your new haircut," she complimented from the other side of the screen, "it should be easier to pin up now.” " Mom, focus please," I groaned. " Sorry, but I don't understand what you want me to see," she returned. " Mom, I showed you three different outfits," I threw myself on the bed in the hotel room I occupied in Madrid, "I have fifteen minutes to finish getting ready.” " You look nice in all the clothes," she returned. " You're not helping," I muttered. " I don't even understand what you want help with! Shouldn't you be back today?” " I am, but I have two hours before I have to go to the airport, so I can have lunch with a friend at the hotel restaurant," I hurriedly explained, "and I need to meet him in ten minutes, so if you can help.” I went through the options I had sorted out, trying to make a decision. Why couldn't I just cho
Blair " Let me get this straight, the guy you say is just your friend spent the day introducing you to a city in another country on his cell phone and bought you an old music box? " Abby asked sitting next to me on the couch the next day. " I know what you are thinking and you are wrong. Dimitri and I just have a lot in common. Maybe she wasn't so wrong, but I would never admit it. " Like what?” " We work traveling the world, we know many countries, we speak many languages," I listed. " This is all obvious, you met at an airport," she rolled her eyes, "but what about personal tastes?” " Well…” At this point I had to admit that we didn't have much in common. In fact, it seemed to be the complete opposite. I loved beaches and he loved historic cities. I liked to find flea markets and unknown places while he opted for museums, famous sights and classic restaurants. But still I had loved to let him plan a full day for us. " Well? " Abby insisted. " He's helping me discover
DimitriI stared stunned at the image of Blair in her wedding dress. What's going on?" Oh this… you won't believe it," she seemed amused by the situation.Two girls sat down on either side of her, watching me expectantly. One was the same one who had accompanied Blair the day we met. " Hey Commander, this is Claire and Alison. The friends I told you about," Blair smiled, "We came with Abby to pick out her wedding dress.”" I'm no expert, but wasn't she supposed to wear the dress? " I decided to tease her.Surely this was some kind of joke between them, but I would never miss the opportunity to tease her." Ahh, Abby is getting dressed now. Blair chose this dress for you," Claire confided." Wha... No," Blair widened, pushing her friend away, "that's not what happened!”I knew I should leave her alone and not tease her about it." Blair, haven't we already talked about this? " I sighed, causing her to roll her eyes on the other side of the screen." Quiet.”" What did you talk abou
Dimitri"I'm done getting ready, are you ready?" I sent the message to Blair, it was a few minutes before the agreed time to the date and I felt the anxiety consuming me. It had been ten days since we had last seen each other and we would have this night together in Zurich. I would be boarding again in the morning so we decided to make the most of the time we had." Almost, did you get the restaurant reservation?" she replied."Confirmed for eight o'clock, it's one of the best restaurants in town. We were lucky"I put on my overcoat, getting ready to go to the hotel she was staying at, which luckily was on the same block as mine. "You're such a snob.”I frowned at that message."I love it.” She then added, making me smile before leaving the room."I'm on my way.”A few minutes later, when I was already on the street, she replied."I'm in the hotel lobby.”I didn't take long to spot her. Blair was tucked inside her overcoat, exposed to the 40 °F temperature that plagued the city in
DimitriThe lights dimmed, indicating the beginning of the play." Quiet, it's starting," I whispered, kissing her temple." One summer night, in a forest, four young lovers meet and miss each other: Lisandro loves Hermia who loves Lisandro and is loved by Demetrius, who is loved by Helena " The gentleman who welcomed us started walking among the tables and seats scattered around the hall declaring loudly and clearly.Soon afterwards a couple came on the scene, a young woman and a gentleman." Father, please don't make me. I love Lisandro!” " Hemia, I know what's best for you," the man declared, "at least try to enjoy your engagement party, Demetrius is a good man.”" This is a nightmare," Blair groaned beside me." Pay attention," I scolded.For a few minutes it worked, Blair remained silent while Lisandro and Hermia planned their daring escape. " Helena, you must help me," Hermia approached Blair, holding her hands, "You must distract Demetrius during this party.”" Ohh I... " Bla
Blair" What did you bring me this time? " my mother asked, looking at the bag I was carrying as I walked beside her through the streets of the great bazaar of Istanbul.In three days I would meet Dimitri in London and I had been counting the hours since we last met in Zurich." Do you want to see it now? " I rummaged through the bag as we entered a spice store. " Sure.”I pulled out the souvenir, handing it to her.Lauren frowned, shaking it only to watch the artificial snow fall around the Zurich landscape inside the globe." A snow globe? " she raised both eyebrows." What's the problem?”" I thought you didn't like snow globes. You always considered them... What was the word? " she thought for a second " tacky, right?”" I thought you would like them. Dimitri chose.”" ohhhhh, Dimitri," she imitated a slight Russian accent." Why are you talking like that?” " Like what?”" Like you've just been hired by a Russian phone sex agency" I returned. " I'm not talking like that," she c