She tried on a night dress, the dark blue silk went with her eyes. She liked what she saw, she was thin, but not model thin, she had the kind of body that makes men of all ages turn their heads, and women pale of envy. She could have been a model, actually she had left Russia to become one, but once in the States, she had realized that being in relationships with rich men was much more lucrative. And she needed to starve less. Natasha brushed her long honey colored hair aside to see the back of the dress, she was still pretty taned from their vacations in the Seychelles.
Richard appeared through the dressing room door at that very moment. He wasn't handsome. He wasn't ugly, either. The best way to describe him was elegant, even then, when he wasn't wearing a suit, he looked dressed up. He looked at Natasha smiling with those mocha-colored eyes of him. That was the first thing Natasha had noticed about the media mogul, and the one that made her fall in love with him. He approached Natasha and embraced her from behind. Natasha felt him kissing her ear. That was the other thing that made her think twice about breaking up with him, the sex. It was just fantastic, their bodies responded to the other's as if they had been made to measure. Richard whispered something at her, but she was so distracted thinking about what would happen in the night to pay attention.
-What did you say?- she asked as soon as she realized he was expecting a reply.
-I have to leave for New York.
She broke her embrace.
-But, you said we would stay here for a week.- she was angry and her Russian accent showed up.
-I know, mmmm... Know what? You stay here and I'll come back as soon as everything is solved.
Some days alone in Paris, that would be fantastic! Natasha's eyes glistened with excitement.
-Oh! Really? Yes!
Richard smiled and started making preparations so Natasha could do whatever she pleased, they, then, went back to the hotel in Place de la Vendôme, where Richard picked up the most important things before going back home.
Natasha had four days all for herself, she decided she would visit things. That same afternoon the driver took her to the Louvre. It was impressive from the outside, the classic building with the glass pyramids in front. But what was better was the inside. She went straight to visit the Mona Lisa, but after that she got lost inside the exhibits going from Ancient Egypt to Mesopotamia, to all kinds of paintings and sculptures. The beauty of it all took her breath away. In front of the Venus de Milo there was an art student sketching on a notebook, his drawing skills were impressive. She was so focused on his drawing that she didn't realize he was staring at her.
-You're even more beautiful that the Venus.- he said with thick French accent.
-Oh, thanks, you're very kind.-Natasha replied blushing.
-My name is Pierre, by the way. I'm an artist, but I'm also an art student at Sorbonne, my parents insisted.- he shrugged his shoulders.
-I'm Natasha.
-So, new in town, Natasha?- he picked his things up to leave.
-Only visiting.
-Oh! I could be your tourist guide. I love showing my beautiful city to beautiful ladies.
Natasha looked at him closely. He was around her age, he has clever green eyes and a half smile. His blond hair fell in curls over his forehead. He wasn't rich, that was clear. He was wearing a pair of paint-stained worn-out jeans and a plain white t-shirt. It couldn't hurt, she decided, after all was there anyone better to show her the city than a Parisian?
-Ok, show me around.
-Great!- he said clapping his hands.-Where are you staying? I'll pick you up after university, around 1pm.
-I'm at the Ritz, in Place de la Vendôme.
-Wow! Someone likes to be spoiled,...-he joked.
They walked outside and Natasha told the driver to go back to the hotel. She and Pierre walked through the Tulleries gardens in the low sun of the summer afternoon. Pierre took her to her hotel and reminded her about their date. He looked out of place in the elegant hotel hall, she kissed him on one cheek thanking him for the walk back.
The following morning, Natasha woke up surprised to be alone. She couldn't remember when was the last time she had been alone in a bed. As a kid she would share it with her siblings, when she first moved to the States she shared a room with another Russian girl who was as used to share beds as she was, and from that moment on there had always been a lover in her sheets. She stretched across the bed taking as much space as she could. She bathed filling up the bath tub with bubbles, the warm water made her sleepy again, and, although she knew it wasn't good, she fell asleep again. She woke up when the water was already cold, she showered to get out all the foam out of her body and headed for breakfast, when she realized it was lunch time already. She had a quick lunch at the hotel's restaurant and sat on the hall waiting for Pierre. Her outfit was casual, a light summer dress and sandals, she knew Pierre wouldn't take her to fancy places.
Exactly at 1pm, Pierre arrived. He was wearing acid washed jeans and a white paint stained t-shirt. He was also carrying two helmets. He threw one at her, who barely caught it.
-Ready for adventure?- he smiled, crookedly.
-Yes, I guess.
-They walked out of the hotel into the hot midday sun. Pierre had parked his old Vespa on the sidewalk. They climbed on it and he drove the to their first destination: Nôtre-Dame. Natasha had seen pictures of it, but none would actually show how breathtaking it was, or the queue there was to get in. She did her best not to look disappointed.
-Isn't it a bit, cliché?-she asked.
-How many times have you been inside it with an art student?
She fell into silence. "Just once, with Vladimir" she thought.
-I thought so.- said Pierre suficiently.
He guided her through it, finding a way to skip the queue. He was a source of knowledge, having explanations about even the smallest details. Natasha was enjoying it a lot, both for the guided tour and for the memories that arose. After that he took her to the Luxembourg gardens, new for her, where she was in awe with the variety of plants that were around. They sat on a bench at the sun. Natasha closed her eyes feeling the sunshine kissing her skin.
-Wanna see my favorite place in Paris?- she heard Pierre ask from far, far away, she made an effort to open her eyes.
-Mmm, yes...
He drove her back next to the Seine, where he left his motorcycle along with the helmets. He told her they wouldn't be needing them again. For being a Parisian, he really enjoyed walking around. They walked through the streets until they got to a big fountain. Pierre stoped there.
-Here we are, place Saint Michel.
Natasha looked at it. It was beautiful and different from everything around, but she didn't understand what made it so special. She looked at him clueless.
-I know, you don't understand, I get it, no one ever understands. I like it because I like it, because it makes me calm. And because it's beautiful, I don't really need any other reason.
Natasha looked at it silently, leaving the boy lost in his thoughts while his stare was fixed on the statues. All the sudden Pierre seemed to wake up again, renewed.
-Ok, you're going to like the next one.
They walked along the river, checking out the second-hand book stalls until they reached a pedestrian bridge. It was covered in padlocks, she already knew that.
-Lovers come to lock their love, or something.- said Pierre somehow bitterly.
-You don't believe in love?
-I do, but I don't believe in the way they make us believe love is. Love is beauty, not pain.
They crossed the bridge, looking at random padlocks and wondering if those names would still go together. Natasha knew the answer for at least one of them, her own and Vladimir's. They walked by the Louvre, again, and trough the Tuilleries gardens to the Place de la Concorde. As they approached Natasha's hotel she insisted on inviting him for dinner in one of the excellent, and ultraexpensive, restaurants next to her hotel.
-But, I'm not dressed appropiately.-he complained.
-Don't worry, Richard has left some of his stuff behind, it should suit you well enough.
-Are you sure?
-Yes, come on, there are separate dressing rooms.
Pierre was impressed by the opulence of it all, it was not only that there were separate dressing rooms, there were two separate rooms. The whole suite was at least five times bigger than his own apartment. Natasha picked up a summer dark grey suit, a white shirt and a tie a shade lighter than the suit for him, while he tried on some shoes. Apparently he and Richard used the same number. Natasha left the room to get changed, while Pierre tried to figure out how to wear all that without looking uncomfortable. He was in the process of strangling himself with the tie when Natasha appeared through the door. She was wearing a knee long flowy pink dress that made her tanned skin stand out. She approached him and tied the tie without saying anything, he saw she was wearing heels as she was almost his height then. As soon as she was done she stepped back to contemplate her masterpiece.
-Not bad, you should comb your hair, though.
He smiled, but replied.
-The next thing I know, if I do it, is you'be taken me to a make-over TV show.
He offered her his arm and they walked to the restaurant. Natasha ate as if she had never eaten in her life, wanting to try everything on the menu. Pierre looked at her in awe, how could such a thin girl eat so much?
-So, tell me, what happened with the girl of the padlock?
-Which girl?
-Don't lie to me. There was a girl you loved, one who went to the Pont des Arts and locked your names together, wasn't it?
-Yes.
-So?
-We had been dating for ages, we were young, and I was foolish, and I left university to go around Europe with her. I wanted her to marry me, I was thinking about the best time to propose, when I found her in bed with my best friend.
Natasha reached for his hand over the table, but stopped just before touching him.
-You'll find someone else.
He smiled sadly before dessert arrived. They started eating in silence.
-Do you mind if I ask you a favor?- Pierre said.
-Go ahead.
-I want to paint you.
-Why not? It could be fun.- she replied not even considering it for a second.
-So, can I sketch you tomorrow afternoon? I don't have class tomorrow morning so I'll show you around in the morning and we can go to my studio afterwards. Don't worry, I share it with other painters.
She smiled in agreement. After she charged the bill on Richard's credit card, they went back to the hotel where Pierre changed back to his clothes. He left after wishing her good night and reminding her about their meeting time. The following morning Natasha was up at 8am sharp, she had a fast shower and dressed into something comfortable; a pair of shorts, a tank top and some sneakers. She felt younger dressed that way. Pierre took her to Montmatre. They left the Vespa and climbed the stair to the Sacré-Coeur, sugar white at the top of the hill. Natasha was glad about her outfit choice, it did look as if they would be walking a lot that morning. They got themselves lost between the tourists.
-Natasha!- a deep man's voice shouted.
Her blood froze in her veins as a shiver went down her spine. She was doomed, yet she had been hoping for that moment from the same second she had set her feet in Paris again.
-Vladimir.- she said softly.
She hadn't seen him in ages. Leaving him behind to chase the American dream as he had done to chase his own. He was as handsome as ever. His ice grey eyes met her dark blue ones and she knew she wouldn't be going back ever again.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteAmazing story you have here! Can't wait for more; A Story A Day.
-Edwina, the Writer