Alina immediately straightened up, instinctively smoothing her blouse and skirt down. Her long, thick, glossy black hair hung loose down her back, and her blazer was tossed carelessly over her backpack. How long had he been standing there? And...who was he? She realized that though her mother had worked here for quite some time, she hadn't paid attention to the people coming and going.
"Good evening, sir." There was no trace left of her parents' accents in her voice, though she could hear the Russian in his. "Yes...my mom is part of the cleaning staff."
Just by his suit alone, she could tell he was wealthy. It fit him perfectly, and was clearly made of quality material. Refusing to feel ashamed of her station, she lifted her chin just a bit. It was clear that she was spirited.
The way he smirked at her drew her gaze to his lips, and made her feel warm. And his eyes...she had never seen eyes like that before. So dark, she could easily get lost in them. Faint color tinged her cheeks.
Alina's instincts told her to decline, to study some more...but she was hungry. "I don't have any money on me...could I pay you back?" she asked. Her tone of voice was cautious: testing the waters, seeing how he would react. "And...I don't even know your name."
Really, she should be thinking about her mother, and how the woman would react if she were to find Alina gone. But just that morning she had been slapped and accused of 'being a whore' for spending time with her close friend, Mal. Her mother's feelings were not at the top of her list of priorities.
He laughs, low and deep. “No need to call me sir,” He gives a smile, genuine and true. “You look hungry, I was going to meet my friend, and if you wanted some free pizza and maybe a couple drinks...” She straightens his tie, and runs a hand over his styled hair.
He doesn’t mention that he was worried about her—her mother had reminded him of Baghra. A cruel and venegeful mother made no one happy. He notices the slow coloring of her cheeks. He steps forward and he can see Alina’s mother spying on them, though she thinks she is unnoticed, the old maid probably doesn’t even know who he is.
She says nothing, just goes back to her cleaning supplies and dirty toilets. He is disgusted, amazed, and very sad for this girl. “My name is Sasha, and you won’t need to pay me back, I just want some company.”
It was lonely, his job and his life. Cursed or blessed with genius, he thought he might never know. He smiles, and helps her pack her things. He helps her clean up balled up papers and when they’re about to leave, he whispers, as if he doesn’t dare speak loud enough for the Saints to hear him—“Your shoes is untied, milaya.” He gets on his knees and looks up at her, ties her shoe, and looks into her deep, dark eyes. They match, and he’s glad of it. He would be a fool to let her go now.
Free pizza, and a couple drinks? Did he mean drink drinks? Alcohol? Alina didn't even notice her own mother spying on them: it was as if the man demanded all of her attention, and she couldn't look away.
Sasha. She liked the sound of his name -- even if he hadn't given her his full name -- and offered him a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Sasha. My name is Alina."
Before she could formally accept his offer, Sasha was walking over and helping her to pack up all the books, folders, and papers that were spread out. She scrambled to put everything away, and pull her school blazer with their colors back on. Alina was aware that this was a dangerous, foolish thing to be doing, and yet she didn't protest. The man obviously worked here, her mom wouldn't be done for a while yet, she was hungry...and after years of being responsible, the idea of taking a brief risk was tantalizing to her.
If she was already being accused of things she did not do, she might as well have a litte fun.
With her backpack on, she followed him to the door. She had an ancient phone -- the kind you got for free when you were poor enough -- in case anything happened. He stopped her...and whispered that her shoe was untied. Before she could stoop down to fix it, he got on his knees and carefully tied the laces, all while looking up at her.
There was a deep, warm flutter in her stomach. Were his eyes actually black, or the darkest brown she had ever seen? Alina couldn't tell. It was that moment though, when she felt as if this meeting had been inevitable, and a shiver run down her spine.
He tsk, tsk’s, “Alina is a beautiful name but don’t call me sir.” He rubs the back of his neck, feeling badly that he’d scolded her with no apparent reason. He’s still on his knees before her, and as much as he’s tempted to ravish her right here, her nosy mother needed to be put to rights.
“Let’s get out of here alright?” He stands to his full height of six-foot-two. Ivan would kill him for making such an ill-fated move but that was ok with Aleksander. He of course could not reveal that he was indeed, Aleksander Morozova. The billionaire who’d made his name in ruthless trade deals and back alley marketplaces. He was, after all, the Black Heretic, who defied the rules of finance.
He walks out of the room but turns back and catches her hand in his. His hands are big and calloused. They walk down the streets of Manhattan, and he points out some of his favorite places to eat. They walk into a bar, a place you’d never think to find a rich man. Ivan always complained that Aleksander had forgotten that while Ivan was rich he wasn’t half as rich as Aleks.
Aleksander waves with his other hand, and he see Ivan’s eyes go wide. Aleksander orders them up some pizza, and he gets something to drink for himself. The bartender knows him well here, “A cosmo for the lady please.” Aleksander asks.
His big, warm hand goes to her petite thigh and he grins at her, “Alina, this my best friend, Ivan. He’s the grumpiest bastard you’ll ever have the misfortune of meeting.” Alina’s cosmo gets placed on the counter before her. And they get their cheese pizza a few moments later. Personally, Aleksander was famished.
Alina was surprised when he lightly scolded her, but quickly did her best to hide it. "Thank you. And, sorry...I was just trying to be polite," she explained, one hand nervously fiddling with the strap on her backpack. The longer he was on his knees before her, the more color bloomed in her cheeks. Alina didn't know why, but she found herself wanting him to think positively of her.
When he stood up, it really hit her just how tall he was -- and not simply because she herself was short. She let him lead them out of the room, walking a few steps behind until he turned and caught her hand in his. Another series of flutters erupted in her stomach: his large, rough hand dwarfed her small, smooth one. Was this normal? She wasn't sure.
Alina had been raised by a single mother. No siblings or stepfathers, and her father -- along with the rest of her family - were all dead or estranged. She attended an academy just for girls, with all female teachers, and the only boy she had ever gotten close to was Mal. There was no frame of reference, other than books and movies.
The lights and sounds of Manhattan hit them all at once as they ventured outside. It truly was the city that never slept. She had never been to any of the places he pointed out, though other girls in her class would talk about fancy restaurants their parents took them to.
To her surprise, they didn't enter any of the places he had pointed to. Hand still in hers, Sasha led her to a bar -- and at the counter? She hopped up onto the stool, backpack on the ground by her dangling feet. He ordered a cosmo for her, and Alina looked nervous. "Sasha, I don't have ID...won't you get in trouble?" she asked, voice almost a whisper.
His hand touched her thigh, and she tensed...but didn't move away. Again: was this normal? Maybe most kids had experiences like this, and not every strange man was out to attack you. Maybe, some people simply wanted to be kind. After all, parents sometimes made huge deals out of nothing. He introduced her to his friend, and though she was overwhelmed by everything going on, she smiled at Ivan and politely waved. "Hello, sir! My name is Alina...it's nice to meet you."
She was soon distracted by a cosmo being placed before her, followed by fresh, hot pizza. Alina made sure to place a napkin on her lap, following all the 'rules' of how to be a 'polite young lady'. She wanted to impress Sasha. It was unlikely, but she was already hoping this could happen again in the future. If there was a chance, she wouldn't complain so much about being dragged to her mother's workplace almost every night.
The pizza was delicious -- it was hard to eat it slowly, considering how hungry she was. As for the cosmo, her nose scrunched up at her first taste of alcohol. It became easier with each sip, and it didn't take long for her pale face to flush.
Halfway through her slice of pizza, she leaned close to Sasha so he could hear her clearly without being too loud: "I really can't thank you enough! I haven't eaten since lunch...this might be the best pizza I've ever had." It was a serious claim, coming from someone who had lived most of her life in the city.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-12-15 05:05 pm (UTC)"Good evening, sir." There was no trace left of her parents' accents in her voice, though she could hear the Russian in his. "Yes...my mom is part of the cleaning staff."
Just by his suit alone, she could tell he was wealthy. It fit him perfectly, and was clearly made of quality material. Refusing to feel ashamed of her station, she lifted her chin just a bit. It was clear that she was spirited.
The way he smirked at her drew her gaze to his lips, and made her feel warm. And his eyes...she had never seen eyes like that before. So dark, she could easily get lost in them. Faint color tinged her cheeks.
Alina's instincts told her to decline, to study some more...but she was hungry. "I don't have any money on me...could I pay you back?" she asked. Her tone of voice was cautious: testing the waters, seeing how he would react. "And...I don't even know your name."
Really, she should be thinking about her mother, and how the woman would react if she were to find Alina gone. But just that morning she had been slapped and accused of 'being a whore' for spending time with her close friend, Mal. Her mother's feelings were not at the top of her list of priorities.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-15 10:52 pm (UTC)He doesn’t mention that he was worried about her—her mother had reminded him of Baghra. A cruel and venegeful mother made no one happy. He notices the slow coloring of her cheeks. He steps forward and he can see Alina’s mother spying on them, though she thinks she is unnoticed, the old maid probably doesn’t even know who he is.
She says nothing, just goes back to her cleaning supplies and dirty toilets. He is disgusted, amazed, and very sad for this girl. “My name is Sasha, and you won’t need to pay me back, I just want some company.”
It was lonely, his job and his life. Cursed or blessed with genius, he thought he might never know. He smiles, and helps her pack her things. He helps her clean up balled up papers and when they’re about to leave, he whispers, as if he doesn’t dare speak loud enough for the Saints to hear him—“Your shoes is untied, milaya.” He gets on his knees and looks up at her, ties her shoe, and looks into her deep, dark eyes. They match, and he’s glad of it. He would be a fool to let her go now.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-16 02:04 am (UTC)Sasha. She liked the sound of his name -- even if he hadn't given her his full name -- and offered him a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Sasha. My name is Alina."
Before she could formally accept his offer, Sasha was walking over and helping her to pack up all the books, folders, and papers that were spread out. She scrambled to put everything away, and pull her school blazer with their colors back on. Alina was aware that this was a dangerous, foolish thing to be doing, and yet she didn't protest. The man obviously worked here, her mom wouldn't be done for a while yet, she was hungry...and after years of being responsible, the idea of taking a brief risk was tantalizing to her.
If she was already being accused of things she did not do, she might as well have a litte fun.
With her backpack on, she followed him to the door. She had an ancient phone -- the kind you got for free when you were poor enough -- in case anything happened. He stopped her...and whispered that her shoe was untied. Before she could stoop down to fix it, he got on his knees and carefully tied the laces, all while looking up at her.
There was a deep, warm flutter in her stomach. Were his eyes actually black, or the darkest brown she had ever seen? Alina couldn't tell. It was that moment though, when she felt as if this meeting had been inevitable, and a shiver run down her spine.
"...Thank you, sir."
no subject
Date: 2021-12-16 06:26 am (UTC)“Let’s get out of here alright?” He stands to his full height of six-foot-two. Ivan would kill him for making such an ill-fated move but that was ok with Aleksander. He of course could not reveal that he was indeed, Aleksander Morozova. The billionaire who’d made his name in ruthless trade deals and back alley marketplaces. He was, after all, the Black Heretic, who defied the rules of finance.
He walks out of the room but turns back and catches her hand in his. His hands are big and calloused. They walk down the streets of Manhattan, and he points out some of his favorite places to eat. They walk into a bar, a place you’d never think to find a rich man. Ivan always complained that Aleksander had forgotten that while Ivan was rich he wasn’t half as rich as Aleks.
Aleksander waves with his other hand, and he see Ivan’s eyes go wide. Aleksander orders them up some pizza, and he gets something to drink for himself. The bartender knows him well here, “A cosmo for the lady please.” Aleksander asks.
His big, warm hand goes to her petite thigh and he grins at her, “Alina, this my best friend, Ivan. He’s the grumpiest bastard you’ll ever have the misfortune of meeting.” Alina’s cosmo gets placed on the counter before her. And they get their cheese pizza a few moments later. Personally, Aleksander was famished.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-16 07:11 am (UTC)When he stood up, it really hit her just how tall he was -- and not simply because she herself was short. She let him lead them out of the room, walking a few steps behind until he turned and caught her hand in his. Another series of flutters erupted in her stomach: his large, rough hand dwarfed her small, smooth one. Was this normal? She wasn't sure.
Alina had been raised by a single mother. No siblings or stepfathers, and her father -- along with the rest of her family - were all dead or estranged. She attended an academy just for girls, with all female teachers, and the only boy she had ever gotten close to was Mal. There was no frame of reference, other than books and movies.
The lights and sounds of Manhattan hit them all at once as they ventured outside. It truly was the city that never slept. She had never been to any of the places he pointed out, though other girls in her class would talk about fancy restaurants their parents took them to.
To her surprise, they didn't enter any of the places he had pointed to. Hand still in hers, Sasha led her to a bar -- and at the counter? She hopped up onto the stool, backpack on the ground by her dangling feet. He ordered a cosmo for her, and Alina looked nervous. "Sasha, I don't have ID...won't you get in trouble?" she asked, voice almost a whisper.
His hand touched her thigh, and she tensed...but didn't move away. Again: was this normal? Maybe most kids had experiences like this, and not every strange man was out to attack you. Maybe, some people simply wanted to be kind. After all, parents sometimes made huge deals out of nothing. He introduced her to his friend, and though she was overwhelmed by everything going on, she smiled at Ivan and politely waved. "Hello, sir! My name is Alina...it's nice to meet you."
She was soon distracted by a cosmo being placed before her, followed by fresh, hot pizza. Alina made sure to place a napkin on her lap, following all the 'rules' of how to be a 'polite young lady'. She wanted to impress Sasha. It was unlikely, but she was already hoping this could happen again in the future. If there was a chance, she wouldn't complain so much about being dragged to her mother's workplace almost every night.
The pizza was delicious -- it was hard to eat it slowly, considering how hungry she was. As for the cosmo, her nose scrunched up at her first taste of alcohol. It became easier with each sip, and it didn't take long for her pale face to flush.
Halfway through her slice of pizza, she leaned close to Sasha so he could hear her clearly without being too loud: "I really can't thank you enough! I haven't eaten since lunch...this might be the best pizza I've ever had." It was a serious claim, coming from someone who had lived most of her life in the city.