Chapter 9 Part 1. Chapter 9

In early May, they left for Turkey. A day later, in the city of Bodrum, they boarded a cruise ship. Spartacus looked very sexy in shorts, a T-shirt and sunglasses, although he looked that way in any form. But outside the working environment, the girls became more predisposed to him, or maybe there were more noticeable changes in him. He revived. He smiled more, was less sad or lost in thought. But almost every night, he struggled to fight off another groupie. And he tried to always stay close to his boss, he also did it ex officio. After all, he was her personal bodyguard.

And her body really needed protection. Spartacus tried not to look at her, especially when she was in a bikini, sunbathing or swimming. After all, he was a man, and a lonely one at that. Recently, it has become quite difficult for him to cope with the abstinent lifestyle. And he began to think about an easy and non-committal romance with one of the girls resting on the ship. And his eyes began to look for a suitable candidate.

One evening when their liner called at the port of Palermo, on the Italian coast, the usual party was held on board. Valeria, always reserved, suddenly lost control of herself. She was bloated from her drink, began to molest him openly. Hugged him as if by accident, touching his chest, or stumbled and hung on his arm. And of course she laughed and apologized afterwards. Spartacus was a little alarmed by her behavior. He didn't know how to react to it all. All he could do was get her out of sight and put her to bed. But she flatly refused to go back to her quarters, so he had to find a quieter and more distant place.

They crouched on the quiet side of the deck. In one of the romantic-looking gazebos with lots of pillows and soft mattresses under the cover of a canopy fluttering in the wind. Grabbing a couple of beers with us, we settled down comfortably looking out at the Mediterranean night sky. Spartacus would have had no qualms about satisfying his boss's wishes, but being a responsible man, he felt that their working relationship should not be diluted by a personal one. In such a job, as a rule, don't stay long, and he didn't want to change it. So he accepted the role of listener and soulful friend. And to make it clear to her, he decided to slightly open the veil of his personal life.

- Boss, you know, I'm smiling and laughing, - he began, sipping from the neck, - but ...

- Come on! Please don't call me boss... I know my age isn't young, but it's not so big that you think I'm an old lady! – Valeria interrupted him. She tried to stroke him. Anyway, she was being carried from side to side like a sail in stormy weather.

- Well, - he agreed, giving her a glance from head to toe. – You're beautifully preserved, a lot of young girls don't look like you. – He said, and, noticing the twinkle in her eyes, he turned away and added, - But that's not the point.

But it was too late. At that moment he felt her thrusting against his body and her face inevitably moving closer to his. He started to move backward automatically until he fell on his back. And then her hands were untied. Or rather, she completely let herself go.

Spartacus didn't even have time to react when he felt the weight of her body on his and her greedy lips covering his mouth.

- Valeria - Trying to free himself from her, he lifted up and began to pull her off him. But then she took his face in her hands and said softly, - You can't forget who I am and who you are?

- It is better not to do that.

- Maybe that's what we both need?

- Lera...

- Spartacus, do you know why I, so beautiful and successful almost gave God my soul that miserable night, say?

Her hands went down. He looked at her in silence. Indeed the night was miserable for both of them.

- Because, I lost a child and the father of my child left me for another girl, twenty years younger than me.

She turned away from him and rose quickly, looking for her shoes.

But he took her by the hand.

- Not need. I don't want anything anymore. – spoke Valeria hrough her tears, not turning head in his direction.

But he pulled her to him with a jerk, and she fell down next to him on the soft pillow. Spartacus hovered over her and ran his finger over her wet lashes and kissed her softly on the lips. Then he pulled away and looked into her eyes, softly said, - you're very beautiful and sexy girl, and I don't care how old you are.

The sound of music echoed off the walls of the waterfront buildings. But from the deck, where there was a scattering of arbors, one could hear the splash of waves crashing against the surface of the liner with the rustle of a light sea breeze. All these noises were mingled with the sounds of kisses and soft moans of two people hungry for love.

By the end of the vacation, everyone knew that Valeria and Spartacus were a couple.

When, the morning after the passionate night, she told him they had made a mistake. And she added that she would not interfere with him, to build a relationship with some girl, if he decided to do so. Instead of answering, Spartacus hugged her and so went into the restaurant for breakfast. In doing so, he made it clear to everyone, and especially to her, that he didn't care about anyone else's opinion.

- But please, Katerina Aleksandrovna must not find out, - Valeria asked embarrassed. They had already returned back to Voronezh and immediately stopped by the office and picked up the car left there.

- Okay, - agreed Spartacus. Then he made a suggestion, - but I would like to sleep with you, every night, you will sneak into my room?

She laughed and so did he. Then they kissed.

Now there was another woman in his life. Of course, no one could replace Nadezhda. But he needed a woman. And Valeria was there for him in all his difficult moments and helped him not to fall. In addition, she did a huge favor by providing her home and support for him and his mother.

What would have happened if not for her? With horror, Spartacus thought, he might have been in prison half his life and his mother would have suffered in this undeserving man's house.

One day they came home from work late at night and saw someone's car in front of the gate. Valeria was surprised by the stranger.

- Wait, I'll figure out who came to us, - said Spartacus, parking, but suddenly hesitated. Next to the car was a guy about 25 years old, whom he recognized. It was Stepan, his stepbrother. He has lost weight beyond recognition. His fat evaporated like it never existed. Dark circles appeared under the eyes and the hair strongly grew.

Spartacus got out of the car and Stepan immediately walked over and began smiling embarrassingly. Valeria came out too, and guy said hello to them, somehow hunching over his shoulders.

- This is Stepan, my brother, - he introduced the guy to her.

- Nice to meet you, - she replied and invited him in.

- No, we'll talk here, - Spartacus told her and make she go.

They said hello by hand.

- Stepan, why have you lost so much weight? – asked the older brother.

- Without mother not easy, - he muttered and turned away.

- Well, yes, she has taken care of you since you were a small child.

Stepan didn't turn his face. His eyes were ready to cry, his chin was trembling and he was nervously rubbing some twig in his fingers. Spartacus looked at him expecting to start a conversation, a request, a complaint, or anything else. But he hesitated to speak. Then he sighed and took the guy in his arms and led him into the house.

Stepan wiped away his tears and stomped under the weight of his brother's hand.

- You'll see mother, you'll eat. What kind of car did you drive?

- Father bought a new one, - Stepan answered.

- Mm... congratulations. Older too, but better than his UAZ.

Stepan nodded.

Spartacus didn't ask how his father was doing. He didn't care about him and didn't pity him one bit. He didn't even want to hear his name anymore. But another thing happened.

Mother had raised Stepan from a very young age, just over three years old, when they got together. And, of course, her heart had always ached for the boy, too. Now, when she saw him at the door, so emaciated and tortured, she rushed to embrace him, as if he were her own child.

- What's the matter, are you ill?

- No, Mother. I just don't feel like living, - he admitted, wiping away his tears.

She pressed his head to her shoulder again and patted it.

- Your wretched father has made it impossible for us to live together, my son.

- He's dying, - he burst into tears.

Valeria and Spartacus stood beside him. Then calmed down a little and sat the guy in a chair and began to ask what happened and why he said so.

- He drank vinegar the other day, - Stepan explained.

- Oh, my God! – Katerina said in emotion and Spartacus was just as horrified.

- Now in intensive care, - continued the Stepan. – But doctors say that even if he pulls through, it will not last long. He drank a lot and everything burned inside him, - and he started crying again.

- I never thought Uncle Pasha had so many faces, - Spartacus said with a heavy sigh, turning to the side and folding his arms.

Damn those suicides! Then he looked at the bewildered Valeria and pursed his lips.

In the end Spartacus, together with his mother still decided to go to Rogosovka to visit father of Stepan and ask the doctors about his condition.

Valeria also agreed with the correctness of this decision, although she didn't want to part with her boyfriend. She got used to him. From the very beginning of their relationship, she felt a surge of energy. And the work went more optimistic, and it even seemed to her that outwardly she became much better. In any case, compliments rained down endlessly. Spartacus even from time to time turned into a jealous man, seeing a male gaze turned on her or even bouquets of flowers in her hands.

Yes, being the boyfriend of an independent, well-off and beautiful girl was not an easy thing. Especially since he was primarily perceived as her employee and many didn't know that he was also her man. He felt extremely uncomfortable. It was as if he were an alfonso, a dependant, a gigolo. And such roles were definitely not part of his conceptions. But he didn't want to end the relationship either. Valerie, as a woman was pleasant to him. And as a person really liked. She was loved and respected at work by all the staff. No one allowed themselves to say something disapproving of her behind her back, as it often happens. The whole team was really in love with their boss and this made him admire her even more.

Katerina Aleksandrovna packed a small bag with the necessary things, and headed to her son's car in the KIA Optima that had been parked in the garage almost all the time. Stepan, too, was already sitting behind the wheel of his car outside the gate, waiting for Spartacus.

He supposedly forgot something, popped back into the house and peeked into Valerie's bedroom. She was sitting with her laptop on the bed and wasn't expecting anyone else. But at the sight of him she raised her eyes in surprise. Spartacus quickly walked over and, without a word, laid her on her back and began to kiss her passionately. She gasped, but wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself to the kiss. Then he finally pulled away and looked into her eyes and whispered, « I don't want to part with you so...

She smiled and ran her fingers along his cheek, - you're making me fall in love with you.