This is probably one of my most amusing chapters 🙊❤

Aleksei stretched out on the sofa, hearing the blender in the kitchen. He had overslept as usual. Raising his body he saw Zakhar in the kitchen together with Nikita making their protein shakes after running.

"The fact that you guys do this every morning even after a party, is some crazy shit." He yawned. "Just go to the gym after school like the rest of us."

"I'm surprised you even hit the gym considering how lazy you are," Nikita answered him.

"It's cause you get up that early that you're cranky." Aleksei leaned his head over the headrest of the couch.

"The housekeeping is going to come tomorrow morning to do a deep clean," Zakhar said coldly. "Make sure to hide all forbidden things like alcohol, cigarettes, and condoms. Tell Lev that as well."

"Alright." Aleksei got up lazily and took the vaseline and used tissues off the ground next to the couch. He had quite the fun time last night thinking about his Tai. For the next time, he would see her, he would make sure she knows he is serious about her.

"Hey um, Nikita." Aleksei stopped mid-way before heading upstairs for a shower.

"Mm?" Nikita raised his head.

"Why don't you call Tai over today. I see you don't invite anyone here and you should feel more comfortable having someone over."

Zakhar didn't comment anything on that subtle attempt of manipulation.

"I can't," Nikita answered. "She's busy today."

"Studying?" Aleksei smiled.

"No, she's going on a date." Nikita took a sip of his smoothie.

Zakhar froze on the spot too. He glanced up at Aleksei to see his reaction.

Aleksei had sunk into oblivion. That very thought was hard to process.

"Date?" Zakhar decided to help out. "When did she get a date? Last night?"

Nikita shook his head. "Few days before that. She met him while shopping and agreed to meet him on Sunday." He took a look at the time. "She's probably going to meet him in an hour."

Aleksei sprinted upstairs.

"What's with the rush?" Nikita gave Zakhar a subtle glance.

"Nature calls." Zakhar pulled out his best excuse.

Tai going on a date was probably Aleksei's biggest nightmare.

***

Tai and Conrad sat across from each other in the cafe place they met.

"You like my choice?" He asked her after they sat down."Daytime romance."

"It was very charming." She smiled and then heard Aleksei's voice in her head. How can you laugh with other guys then?

Shoo, get out of my head!

She swore she would deal with this person first and then with her feelings after that almost second kiss with him. There was just no time to think about both.

Conrad was certainly a flirty guy, but very gentlemanly. He was trying to impress her, she noticed, and was asking her all sorts of things about her. How did she like the school? The town and the people? If it was hard going away from home to join the boarding school.

"It was hard at first. But most of the students only get used to it in the second year. It took me until the third to stop hating having to leave my family to study. But I knew independence would do me good."

"How brave of you." He smiled, staring at her face. "Did I tell you, you were beautiful?"

"Many times." She laughed.

"How are you not taken?"

That she wondered herself, but knowing she was going to reject Conrad at the end of the date was pointing to another reason why she was single.

"I'm just waiting for someone to impress me enough, for me to want to date him." She took a sip from her drink. "Tell me do you date often?"

"No, actually. I'm not some guy randomly dating many girls. Only ones I'm interested in." He smiled. "I was in a long relationship until six months ago."

"Was she someone special?" Tai asked in her calmest and sweetest tone. "I'm just curious. You don't have to go into details."

But in detail, he went. And just like that Tai was conducting another therapy session.

Aleksei was going to rip off the newspaper of the older man in front of him who felt the need to lift the paper every time he wanted to flip a page. He couldn't see what was really happening on the date from his table, and he was starting to get annoyed. No wonder paper newspapers were getting extinct.

He managed to take a picture of the guy with Tai and mailed it to Lev to do a quick background check. He needed info on this person, pronto.

Upon receiving what he needed from Lev he took out his wallet and went to the waiter who was serving their table.

"Keep filling his glass with water and get him a bottle of anything and say it's from one of the customers who wanted to stay anonymous."

The waiter received his tip and did exactly that.

Aleksei waited for his reaction. The guy seemed to awkwardly refuse the drink, but the waiter left it at the table. Tai seemed to encourage him to drink it.

Aleksei shook his head. You should be more concerned that someone is sending him drinks, woman. Eventually after ten minutes of the waiter filling up his cup, the guy had to get up and head for the bathroom. Aleksei waited for him in front of the bathroom. Now that he had him alone, all he had to do was threaten him a bit.

Tai was wondering if she could use the random drink or his break-up story as an excuse to reject the guy. Surely he would want to go for a walk later and she will need to tell him the reason why she won't go.

Abruptly Conrad came back to the table. He looked at her with worry. "I'm so sorry but I have to go. Maybe we can reschedule this."

"Um sure but why the rush..."

He picked up his stuff from the table. "I'll pay for the tab. Sorry once again." He was tripping over his legs to get away.

"Bye, I guess." She waved her hand and sunk back into her seat to finish her drink. Well, at least that problem was taken care of even though it seems she was dumped first.

Getting her bag, she made her way outside and placed the sunglasses on top of her head. Should she head back home or walk around town? As she headed down the street, looking through her purse for her phone, she bumped into someone. "Uh, excuse me I -"

There he was again. Aleksei just kept popping into her life like this.

Aleksei bumped into her on purpose and tried to stay calm. Coincidence, remember. This is a coincidence.

"Oh, what're you doing here?" He asked her, surprised.

"I was on.." She started and then stopped. "Having coffee with a friend."

Well, well look at the little fox. She could lie too. Aleksei felt particularly snarky after the whole ordeal.

"Really where is your friend?" He crossed his arms.

"He left."

"Oh it's a him"

She bit her tongue, swallowing back any remarks," What about you? What are you doing here?"

"I was shopping." He lied.

"I see. And where are the shopping bags?" She looked down at his empty hands.

"I still haven't bought anything I like." He answered in a hurry.

"What are you looking for?"

He was getting more irritated by the second. He was not the one being questioned here.

"Underwear." He grinned. "Would you like to come with me? Share your opinion?"

"I don't know if I can. I'm in a hurry to get home." She tried to pass him.

"You didn't seem like you're in a hurry five minutes ago." He blocked her path.

She flicked her tongue over her teeth. "Fine, I was thinking of shopping myself, now if you excuse me."

"Perfect. Join me then." He locked hands with her dragging her down the street.

"I can walk on my own." She shook him off and then straightened her posture.

Aleksei was still angry about her date. "You're dressed nicely for just a coffee meeting."

"I'm always dressed nicely." She snorted.

"Yes I know, yesterday was another proof of that. But today you seem particular..."

Whatever he said after, went out the other ear. She was still replying to the words in her head. He confirmed she always dressed nicely. Did that mean he was observing her other days as well? I mean how often did he see her so far to come to that conclusion.

"Are you listening?" He asked louder.

"I don't know if there are any underwear shops around." She changed the topic.

"Well." He stopped and looked around. "Let's go in there." He dragged her to a small shopping street and found a store. They were welcomed by a dark gray ambient.

"Welcome." The man behind the counter was polite. "How can I be of assistance?"

"Do you have Ralph Lauren brief boxers?" Aleksei asked.

"Certainly." The man walked from behind the counter and then turned towards Aleksei. "Color?"

"Pink," Tai added from behind.

The man stood in place blinking, confused.

"She's only joking." He turned towards her. "I wouldn't want to clash with yours now." He stared at her. "Is that your preference? Pink?" He whispered, squeezing her hand.

Realizing he was holding her hand, she abruptly pulled it out of his. "Focus on your shopping."

She was looking around for a few things until she found the tie and bowtie section. She could buy something for her dad and give it to him when she sees him.

She picked a nice one and took it to the counter. After Aleksei and the clerk were back, she pulled out her wallet. "Just this for me, please."

The clerk cleared his throat. "May I make a suggestion if it's for your boyfriend. This is more for older men."

"It is for an older man." She smiled politely.

Aleksei was confused for a second and then turned towards her. "Your father?"

She didn't give him an answer, but the way she sweetly smiled, he got his answer.

"One of those for me as well." He told the clerk. "I trust your taste and I will get my dad one as well."

After the clerk packed their purchase, they left the store with Aleksei smiling at her.

"You didn't tell him that I wasn't your boyfriend."

"He said boy-friend."

"You know what he meant."

"What's the point of denying it when I kept you company to buy briefs. He just assumed. I didn't want to embarrass him."

"Ehee, I think you secretly liked it."

She smiled. "Why do you keep provoking me?"

"I can't help it, you're fun to mess with."He grinned.

"Please stop." She sighed.

He clicked his tongue over his teeth, gleaming. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Want me to whisper it in your ear?"

Aleksei stopped walking for a moment making Tai smile in amusement. She decided to change the topic and continued walking. "Are you close with your dad?"

Aleksei ran to catch up to her. "I am. You?"

"Same." She smiled. "He is a daredevil and a busybody which sometimes annoys me so much, but I love him to death. "

Tai was close with both her mother and father. But she particularly cherished her time spent with her dad since he was working most of the time. She had grown used to it, but any spontaneous things they did together mattered.

"Any siblings?" He asked.

"A younger sister." She answered thinking of her charming and nosey sister. "You?"

"An older brother." Aleksei smiled coldly. "He is more mature and is expected to continue the family business. So I'm a bit free from the expectations."

"Rebellious even at home?" Tai raised a brow.

"My mother almost fainted when she saw the tattoo. My dad, on the other hand, shared a glass of vodka with me and told me he won't pay for removal surgery."

Tai laughed to her heart's content. Somehow walking with him like this and having a normal chat was something new. She didn't expect him to be this open with her. Maybe her talent was being very helpful now.

She walked at a slower pace. "Do you spend a lot of time with your father back home?"

"Yes." Aleksei smiled. He was the only person in the world who didn't openly judge him. Maybe because they were similar. " I look like him and have most of his characteristics. My mom says we're very similar. We both like to joke around a lot and tease people."

"I see. Your mom is stricter?"

"So-so."

"What about your brother?"

A cold shiver ran down Aleksei's back. He was sharing more information about himself than he wanted. "Let's go in there." He stopped in front of a woman's lingerie store.

"How about no." Tai shook her head and continued walking.

"I'll give you a choice." He said unmoving from that spot. "Either you enter this shop with me or you enter the next shop I chose without complaining. I can choose the second store to be whatever I want."

"I don't think so." She said,

"I didn't think you'd be such a coward."

"I'm not. Don't try to manipulate me into this." She crossed her arms.

"It's just shopping and you're chickening out. Why are you so afraid around me Tai?"

The way her name rolled off his tongue, so playfully, she wanted to throw the bag she held at him. He just knew how to press her buttons.

"Fine. I'll choose the next store option. I'm not going into a lingerie store with you."

"Alright." He smirked and continued walking.

She bit her lower lips, hoping she made the right decision. After walking a few more stores down, he stopped in front of a jewelry store.

"Go on." He opened the door for her.

She entered the bright glittering store. Jewelry was dripping on every corner. She observed the cute designs on the neck mannequins and the little rings under the thick glass.

"Anything specific you're looking for?" The saleswoman asked her.

"I'm just looking, thank you," Tai answered and continued walking until she spotted a pair of earrings. They were so delicate and beautiful. Pink cherry blossoms and other pink flowers topped with diamonds were dripping down into the softest most beautiful earrings she had seen.

"They would suit you." Aleksei spoke behind her.

"Those go with a necklace." The woman said bringing out the necklace as well.

"Beautiful." Tai's eyes gleamed as she saw the necklace.

"We'll get these." He pulled out his wallet and his credit card.

Tai turned towards him confused.

"It's a gift." He gave her a kind smile that made it impossible to refuse.

"If it's a gift then.." She bit down any remarks.

"Should I pack them for you?" The woman asked.

"No, she'll wear them right now." Aleksei pushed her hair back gently, taking off the earrings she wore and then placing the new ones.

He was leaning so close, Tai could smell his cologne but she was more distracted by his breath next to her face and his ticklish touch. Once her new earrings were on and asked her to turn around. She lifted her hair and he gently placed the necklace around her neck. It looked beautiful with her outfit.

"Thank you." She smiled at him.

He caressed her hair gently. One simple touch and her heart fluttered. Why was it that she found him so attractive? Was it too late to turn back now?

Until the next one on Monday darlings 🤭💖