Naomi & Bradley, Reality Shows... (Vodka & Vice, the Series Book 3) (3 page)

NAOMI

Friday, February 18th

Bradley sticks his hands through the doorframe, stopping the elevator doors from closing, and pulling my hand, he marches back into the fray.

“Okay, I’ll bite, what the hell does that mean?”

Mr. Slotzky ignores Bradley and looks at me, he smiles and his face softens, “You’re so like her, love those stormy eyes KuKu, but accept it, you’re marrying one of my sons.  If Viktor and his love for whore tarts have soured your taste for him, then look at Aleksey and Luka.  They’re not models but both smart boys.  Aleksey is an attorney and Luka is an accountant, either would be acceptable husbands. Za sbychu mecht, let our dreams come true.
This Dobrov is too American.”

“I’m an American!”

I’ve never been more exasperated.  I feel like I’m starring in a cold war parody.  Who is this man to think he could blackmail and dictate terms to me?  This Soviet Bloc hoodlum with a mysterious accent.

“Pick Aleksey, he’s the clever boy who recently found your father’s will.”

“Absolutely not.  This isn’t like picking puppies from a litter.  Whatever you’re planning, I’m with Bradley.”

“Then reconsider Viktor.”

“No, Viktor mated with that disgusting creature Luba as soon as my back was turned.”

“Ha, so did Saint Bradley, just ask her,” Viktor snorts.

“Then choose my youngest son, Luka, he watches all the American and Dutch porn.  The women say he has all the right moves in the bed.”

I laugh, “Now you’re being ridiculous.”

Everyone crowds closer, and I notice Chase is especially enjoying this spectacle.  He’s polishing his nails on his five-thousand dollar sleeve and I wish I had a drink to throw in his face.

“And before you can suggest Darren Broderick, the answer is no.”

Fedor Slotzky barks, “He was just a decoy, my man, in case Viktor couldn’t seal the bargain.”

“So you did know all along about this farce Viktor, this entire time you’ve been pretending to be Bradley’s old friend and sucking up to me for money?”

“No, not the money, well, not all the money.  Before I go into the yoga, I watched you.  It was mostly for the sex.  You got the sexy vibe KuKu.  I went in for the pleasure, my pleasure, and yours.  Don’t deny it.  We had our fun; even the neighbors could hear you screaming.  Luba is just Luba, not a person for you to get jealous over KuKu.”

I can’t look at Bradley right now.  Hell, this is embarrassing.

“I am not jealous of Luba!  You’re all a bunch of maniacs and what was that last remark Mr. Slotzky, are you saying you are Bradley’s father too?”  I ask the older Russian, feeling Bradley move closer to me.

“Yeah, confess it all, you and my mom do the light fantastic in the sheets thirty-one years ago?”

“You jest Dobrov, but it’s possible.  We did plenty of sexy dancing back in the day.  You could be my blood, look at you, all four of you are much the same.”

“I’ll call her, or go get blood tests, you might owe her a ton of child support you old bastard.”  Bradley is angry and I can’t blame him.  What promised to be a happy day, our reunion, is being spoiled by a family of foreign manipulators.

“I want to see that uncovered will document Aleksey, but whatever it says, I’m with Bradley and I’m staying with Bradley!”

“Nah, he’s too pretty, marry me then, we older men know our stuff.  The beard, I can make you scream with my beard against your thighs,” Mr. Slotzky winks.

“Augh!  You must be mad!”  I hold on to Bradley’s arm, feel it flex and stand my ground.  There are five large men in here and Bradley wouldn’t stand a chance if fists start flying.  I have to do something.  “I’m marrying Bradley, whatever the phony blackmailing scheme you’ve devised, using money I supposedly inherited to finance some high-rise renovation, I might be interested in that deal, but you’re not naming my husband.”

Bradley hugs me and whispers, “Want me down on one knee in front of them all, this might be better than the M&M’s falling on our heads after all.”

I look into his beautiful eyes, and see the love he has for me.  Why not?  Let these manipulative bastards witness our connection.  They were
not
breaking us up again.  “Do you have a ring?”

He puts his hand inside his wool coat, drops to one knee and a hush fills the adjoining room. Bradley pulls out a ring box, flips it open, and we both laugh.  It will be my third engagement ring in a few weeks and we both realize this.  Luckily, I’m not wearing anyone else’s.

Mrs. Lucille Rochefort De La Cologne, LaLa my aunt peeks around the corner and smiles.  I’m not sure about her, but I’m sure about Bradley.

I raise my eyebrow and wait for him to speak.

BRADLEY

Friday, February 18th

I should never have stuck my hand in that elevator.  I should have let it close like the lid on a coffin, sealing all those insane criminals inside.  But, well, when Mr. Slotzky says that about my mother, something just takes over and I act before I think. 

When I confront him, he doesn’t exactly deny it.  Says he doesn’t know.  I wonder where they did it?  My house?  His house?  The thought of it makes me feel like vomiting.  No, I definitely can’t be his son.  My father was tall and dark and my mother has blue eyes.  I don’t need any stinking, sleazy Slotzky genes.  On top of the revelations about my mother, the Slotzky family is involving Naomi in a weird Russian version of the Dating Game.  Bachelor number one is an attorney from Kaliningrad.  Bachelor number two is an accountant, also from Kaliningrad.  Bachelor number three is a real estate mogul, most recently back from the dead.

Naomi’s having none of it.  She bats away their offers like Derek Jeter, hitting them out of the park and out of the question.  The last straw is Mr. Slotzky that dirty old bastard, suggesting she marry him.  I flex the arm Naomi’s holding; I’m about to lose control.  That’s when she tells the entire room that she’s going to marry me.  I can’t help but break out into a huge grin.  When she hugs me, I’m so happy, I whisper to her, does she want me to propose right there?  Shut all their traps once and for all? 

She says, “Do you have a ring?”

I had slipped it into my pocket that morning, just in case the right moment appeared.  Standing in this creepy white room, surrounded by Viktor’s whole family and Naomi’s scheming aunt, I am as far from a ‘right moment’ as I have ever been.  Oh well, I wanted it to be memorable.  I doubt we could ever forget this.  So I drop down to one knee and pop open the ring box.  We both laugh, realizing this is the third time she’s been engaged in a few weeks. 

“Naomi, they say the third time’s the charm.  You might have been proposed to by two other men recently, but there is only one that’s really and honestly in love with you.  Almost two years ago, you stole the seat next to me at the theatre and then you stole my heart.  And you still have full possession of it.  Please say you’ll marry me and I promise my heart will never belong to another.”

We all wait in silence as Naomi looks slowly around the room.  My eyes follow hers and I can see Viktor is as dark as the other side of the moon.  The others stare on as their evil plan crumbles before them.  Only LaLa seems to be smiling at us.  Naomi returns her gaze to me, looking through my eyes and right into my soul, the same as she had that first day I met her.  She smiles so wide, her eyes crinkle up in the corners and a little tear slides down her cheek.  Nodding yes, she holds out her left hand and I slip my grandmother’s engagement ring onto her slender finger.

As we hug, a cork pops and a maid appears with glasses of champagne for everyone.  Only LaLa, Naomi and I take one.  The Slotzky family knocks back their cognacs, almost in unison. 

LaLa raises her glass in the air.  “Congratulations, Naomi and Bradley.  You have chosen love over safety and security.  May you have many happy years together!”

We drink and when our glasses are empty, I break the awkward silence.

“Well, this was just great.  Thanks for having us.  Really top notch.  We are going to be recommending this place to all our friends…”  I keep it up as I shuffle Naomi to the door.

This time, no one says a word when we get on the elevator, not that I would have turned around for anything.  Once the doors close, I take Naomi in my arms and kiss her deeply, so we are breathing as one.  She comes up for a little air and looks so happy.  That I’m the source of that happiness is amazing.

“I’m so excited to spend the rest of my life with you, Mrs. Dobrov.”

“Who says I’m taking your name?”  Naomi smirks at me.

“It’s a fine name.”  I smirk back.

“Too Russian,” she says and we both laugh.  The elevator is almost at the ground floor when both of our phones ping.  I check mine.  It’s from a number I don’t recognize, and the message stops me cold.

You have made a terrible mistake.

Naomi has turned white again.  I take her phone and see it has a message from the same number.

No more chances.

As we walk outside, thick storm clouds have gathered and the sky is rumbling and flashing.  The doorman hails a taxi for us and we make a run for it, collapsing into the back seat in a wet heap.  She snuggles into me and I wrap my arm around her. 

“You worried?”  I ask her.

“Not when we’re together,” she answers.

I give the driver the address of the loft.  “Let’s go home, my love.”

NAOMI

Friday, February 18th

We barely make it through the doorway before Bradley lifts me and carries me into our old bedroom.  So many memories, our shared life before this Russian scheme broke us apart and a few thoughts of Viktor in this bed, which I try to clear out of my head.  Remembering Viktor is still my roommate, I break free long enough to slam the bedroom door closed and lock it.

Bradley is sitting on the bed, unbuttoning his shirt and I drop to my knees and reach up to finish the job.  I kiss every inch of his chest on my way down, and he runs his hands in my unruly hair and sighs.  He has that sexy way about him, the lopsided grin, the glint in his eye, I haven’t felt this excited in months.

“I’ve missed you so much baby.”

“Don’t ever leave me again Bradley, even if I demand it, you refuse, you stay here and fight for me, for us.  Promise you won’t leave me alone again.”

I run my hands over his thighs, push up against him, and taste his wide lips.  He holds back, I can feel it, something is wrong.  My insecurities flood back in and I look up into his troubled blue eyes.

“What?  You don’t want me?  You proposed because you felt trapped up there?  You’re afraid of that pack of Russian wolves?  Tell me the truth Dobrov.”

“I love you Naomi, hell; I’ve wanted to marry you for over a year, that’s not it.”

I stand up and take off all my unnecessary jewelry.  I wait.

“It’s the part about never leaving you…I have this thing…I signed a contract.  It’s only for three months.”

“A modeling job?  No biggie, I’ll go with you.”  I laugh with relief and start removing my clothes.  I turn around and see the heat in his eyes, but he’s chewing on his lip.  There’s more.

“What?  I’m quitting my job with Darren Broderick; I can’t go back there now.  Anyway, it sounds like I inherited some money, so no worries there.  I’ll go with you, is it on the coast, beach shots?  I hope it’s somewhere warm.  I have all those bikinis I bought for that phony Bahama’s trip.  Oh baby, it will be like a pre-honeymoon.”

I remove my bra and straddle him. I run my hands through his hair and kiss his temples.  Bradley responds by nuzzling my breasts and gripping my thighs tightly.

“Okay now?  Make love to me Dobrov, show me you still have it.”

I smile and he looks up at me and grins, “Oh, I still have it baby, can’t you feel it.”

I squirm in his lap and grin back, “I do.”

We make mad, passionate love all afternoon.  Every time he touches me I know Bradley is the one man who won’t ever let me down.  We’re together now, getting married, and those hounds of hell in that penthouse can’t break us apart.

I had sex with Viktor; now I make
love
to Bradley.  The difference is staggering.  His fingers are magic, his tongue is enchanted with white heat, and I cry out against him until my throat hurts from the strain.

His warm body, so perfectly formed raises over me, his thrusts are strong and resemble a velvet caress.  His hands gentle, then rough, Bradley has a spark of lust running wildly in him tonight, or is it desperation? We’ve never made love like this before and I love and fear it.  I feel like he’s trying to win me over before another fall.  Finally I can’t take the pressure of my emotions anymore and I roll over, raise my head, and rest it on my arm, stare into his ocean-colored eyes and say, “What?”

“It’s legally binding.  The contract.  I can’t break it Naomi.”

“Are you still talking about this modeling job?  I don’t understand, where is it, in Siberia?”

“No, it’s here in the city.”

My mind is racing with dread and I whisper, “Is it with Luba?”

“No,” he laughs and rolls over, pulling me against him.  “The job’s with all men, I promise.  There won’t be a woman in sight.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I’ll be in lockdown.  I can’t leave.”

Suddenly, I remember past conversations with Viktor and Bradley about some reality show job, male models locked in with live feed, and my skin goes cold.

“You took that job on Model House, after Viktor pulled out?”

Bradley nods.

“Well, Viktor easily quit, you can too, just quit.”

“They changed everything, after Viktor walked out.  They had attorney’s rewrite the contract, put in a million dollar fine.  I can’t get out of it Naomi.”

He tries to hold me but I roll over and jump off the bed.  I grab his shirt and put in on, buttoning it up with shaky fingers.

“You signed something like that, not caring about seeing me for three months, knowing you would be basically deserting me and not caring, going after the fame and the money?”

“Naomi, we were broken up.  I don’t give a shit about fame, but I desperately needed the money baby.  It’s three months, we can do three months.”

The tears come without warning and I don’t try to stop them.  His words sound markedly like my parents’ excuses when they’d take off sailing, or traveling in Europe.  “It’s just five months Naomi, you’re a big girl now, you don’t need us.  The housekeeper will be here on Mondays and we’ll leave you money for food.”

“How soon?”

Bradley reaches out to me, but I back up.  I have to hear it with no physical contact between us.

“It goes into production in a week.”

“So, March first?  Do I just shrug and say ‘see you sometime in June?’  Can you call…can I come over and see you when they’re not filming?”

My voice is choking with tears and I hate it.  This weakness, this heartbreaking disappointment.

“No contact with the outside world.  But Naomi, it’s just a group of male models, dude shit.  We’ll probably sit around in our underwear smoking and drinking most of the day.”

“And while you’re conveniently missing, that pack of ravenous wolves will be nipping at my heels, pressuring me, threatening me, maybe even worse.  Bradley, I need you…”  I realize I’m whining, sounding like my mom again.  It’s done and we can’t change it.  “Okay, never mind.  You’ve decided, you’ve signed.  I get it.  Maybe you should take the ring back.  Three months is a long time, anything could happen.”

“I didn’t do this on purpose!  I didn’t know Viktor’s family would show up with tales of long lost lust, claiming bastards and property rights.  Naomi, you just asked me never to walk away again.  Well, I have to go physically, but that doesn’t mean I’ll love you any less, or that I want my ring back.  We’re engaged Naomi, we’re staying that way.”

I want to believe him. 

I love him. 

But resentment is bubbling up inside my throat and I can’t swallow it down so easily.  Bradley signed a contract to be away from me for three months.  His actions don’t sound like love to me; they smell like a model putting his ambition on a giant pedestal over every other desire.  And all my dreams of being first in someone’s life wash away like a wet cigarette butt down some backstreet sewer drain.