Sweet Sins and Beautiful Scars by Dina

[lau]

Chapter 1

[Dina]

Sweet Sins and Beautiful Scars

Chapter 1


3rd January 1994

The sun was burning on the Valencia Tennis Academy’s courts. Players of all ages and skills were sweating on courts. Hitting backhands, shooting forehands and firing serves.

“Vamos Marat!” said Rafael Mensua a tennis coach “That’s not a proper serve! Use your height!”

“Well that’s the best I can do Rafa!” replied Marat Safin a 14 years old tennis player.

“If you keep telling yourself this; then surely you won’t do anymore than serving like a girl!” replied Rafa.

Marat gave him a disgusted look but somehow managed to focus on his game again.

As he was getting ready to serve again, a ball shot him in the middle of his forehead.

The shot was so strong that Marat felt dizzy and collapsed right on the clay court.

“Marat?!” said Rafa worried “You okay kid?”

Marat was quiet knocked by the shot; he didn’t reply.

“Oh my God!” said a girl who got into the court a racquet in her hand “I killed him!”

“Of course you didn’t!” replied Rafa amused “He’s just a bit dizzy, I guess!”

“You hear me?” asked the girl to Marat’s intention “I’m such a horrible player, I’m so sorry!”

Marat opened his eyes but got overwhelmed by the sun over his head.

“You okay Marat?” asked Rafa.

“I…I’m…what happened?” he asked trying to sit down.

Rafa helped him sit. He then spotted the girl kneeling next to him, wearing a worried expression on her face.

“I hit you with the ball from the annex court!” she replied “I’m so sorry! I knew it was a bad idea to use a racquet to hit a ball! I’m such a horrible player! But my father insisted on getting myself busy with any kind of sport….”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” said Marat interrupting her “You are forming too much words, and my head is kinda aching!”

“Sorry!” she said confused “I speak too much I know! My mother always tells me that I do! But I can’t help especially when I’m nervous and…”

“You’re doing it again!” said Marat annoyed.

“Oh come on!” she replied upset “I just hit you, you’re not dead!”

She suddenly stood up so he managed to look at her with more attention.

She was quiet tall almost as he was. Very long and dark hairs made in bread that stopped right down her hips. She could easily be confused as a player herself the way she looked. As she turned her face to the sun, he noticed her blue/green eyes sparkling like emeralds.

“Are you gonna stand up or you’re projecting to act like a dead one on that clay?” she asked impatiently.

She was kind of pissing him off, but he resigned himself and stood up.

“Alright kid, take some moments to pull yourself together!” said Rafa as he walked away.

“Better?” she asked amused.

“I think so!” he replied smiling “I’m Marat.”

He gave her his hand and she shook it.

“I’m Satine!” she replied.

“That’s a strange name!” noticed Marat.

“Yours is not that common!” she countered.

“That’s because I’m not from here, I’m Russian from Moscow!”

She looked at him surprised.

“So you practice here to become a pro?”

“Yeah!”

“I can not believe I’ve knocked out the future tennis prodigy!” she teased him.

He laughed caught by her spirit.

“Don’t blame yourself!” he replied smiling “Tennis prodigies don’t serve like girls!”

“How am I supposed to take that?” she asked slightly offended.

“As a compliment of course!” he said grinning “So you are just shooting players for fun or what?”

“The truth or a sophisticated story so I can sound as smart as I actually am?” she asked mischievously.

“I hope the truth is harmless!” he said.

“My father works at the American Embassy here in Valencia, we moved in four months ago!” she started “He thinks having a physical activity will prevent me from thinking about how frustrated I am that we’ve left Miami for this place!”

Marat looked amused.

“That’s why you’ve transferred your frustration on the yellow little balls!” he assumed.

“Pretty much!” she agreed “But I suck!”

Marat bursted out laughing.

“Yeah, I suck too!” he said “You want us to suck together on court until my coach comes back?”

“If you let me win at the sucking!” she said heading to the opposite baseline.

“I can hardly compete!” he said getting ready to serve.






27th June 1996


“See when you focus you do miracles!” said Rafa as Marat won a set over another academy player; Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“Yeah well!” he said without any interest “Satine isn’t here yet, that’s weird!”

“She might be still at school!” said Juanqui.

“Maybe she’s messing around with that Gabriel!” said Marat amused.

“She wouldn’t do anything like that before she makes him lose it totally!” said Juanqui amused.

“Speaking of the devil!” said Marat spotting her running from court to court in her school skirt uniform.

She looked triumphant and pleased with herself holding a paper in her hand.

“Got it!” she claimed happily running towards Marat.

“No? Seriously?” he said disbelieving.

“Si! I did! Seriously!” she said throwing herself into her best friend’s arms.

They hugged kissed and jumped.

“I’m so happy for you!” said Marat “Show me!”

“I got a total of 18 on 20!” she claimed proudly.

“That’s all?” he teased “I thought you were smarter!”

She playfully hit the top of his head with the paper.

“I’m major of my class AND promotion!” she claimed.

“That’s excellent Satine!” noticed Rafa “You deserve it!”

“Yes you do!” said Juanqui hugging her.

“I’m through my terminal high school year with recommendations for Harvard, Berkeley, Brown and Yell already!” she said excited “I’m so happy Marat!”

He fiercely kissed her cheek.

“I’m happy for you too!” he said “We gotta celebrate!”

“There’s a beach party tonight!” said Juanqui.

“Don’t drink and don’t stay up too late!” recommended Rafa before he left.

“Now that I’m totally relaxed, I can start enjoying the vacations!” she said mischievously.

“Gabriel?” asked Marat amused.

“His head will explode tonight!” she said pleased with herself.

“His head or something else!” said Juanqui amused.

“You never know!” replied Satine deviously.

“And what do we do?” asked Juanqui on a sad note.

“Well; Raquel heard a lot…a lot of your exploits Juanqui!” she replied smiling.

“My exploits?” asked Juanqui scared.

“Believe me, I made it work for you carino! You became the sweet Raquel’s number one fantasy!” she said with sparkling eyes.

“Dios!” he said impressed “You are so good!”

“I know!” she agreed.

“What about me?” asked Marat curious.

“Well you should pull Carla out of her misery!” she said grinning.

“I don’t like easy girls!” he protested.

“Of course you do Mikhailovich!” she said convinced.

“Seriously!” he said whining.

“Seriously?” she asked unconvinced.

“Seriously!” he confirmed “Why don’t you set me up with Camilla instead?”

“Camilla?! Why didn’t you put it that way from the start?” she said disbelieving.


7th August 1997

“So what did you choose?” asked Marat to Satine as they were both sitting around sodas in a local place.

“I don’t know!” she replied frustrated.

“Well milaya, you have to make up your mind!” he said holding her hands “You have all those great colleges which are waiting for you, just pick up a one!”

“This is not easy you Muppet!” she said burying her head in his neck.

“We are eventually both leaving Valencia by the end of the summer!” he said smiling “You gotta join a prestigious college, and I’ll become a pro!”

“Well it’s not that simple!” she sighed “You’re supposed to be my best friend, you’re my person why don’t you help me choose?!”

“How?” he asked amused by her frustration.

“Pick up for me!” she ordered.

“No way!” he said.

“I always pick up things for you!” she said annoyed.

“Seriously?” he asked laughing.

“Seriously!” she replied defiant.

“Satine, you pick up and choose clothes or girls for me!” he said disbelieving “I can’t make a lifetime decision for you! I know you’d crucify me if I happen to be wrong!”

“You are so not funny!” she said.

“I thought I was an unpredictable moron!” he said.

“Well, that too!” she said standing up.

“Don’t be silly and leave me alone here!” he said.

“I’m going to the bathroom!” she said storming away.

He sighed loudly.

“Your girlfriend seems pretty upset!” said a waitress who stood in front of him.

He looked up at her and realized how beautiful she was. Nothing like Satine’s stunning beauty, she looked simpler. Gorgeous but simple.

“She’s…she’s not my girlfriend!” he replied smiling “Satine’s my best friend!”

“Oh great! You need something else?” she asked smiling to him.

“No, thanks…” he said struggling for her name.

“Sylvia!” she said “I’ll be over there if you need anything!”

“Thanks Sylvia!” he replied smiling.

As Satine came back, she noticed him high in the sky.

“Are you planning on getting down earth anytime soon?” she asked amused.

“Huh? You already back?” he said distracted.

“No I’m still at the toilets, it’s my astral projection who’s sitting next to you!” she said.

He gave her a sufficient look.

“Did you have any premonition concerning your future studies over there?” he asked on the same tune.

“It appears that miracles do happen! So I’m going to Harvard so I can show off about my degree when I get it!” she said.

He laughed thinking how annoyingly smart and spiritual she was. She always knows how to make him laugh.

“Well that’s perfect milaya!” he claimed hugging her tightly “I’ll visit you from time to time and you can introduce me smart girls to keep me a good memory from Harvard!”

“Or you can try your luck and ask that lovely waitress for a date or a phone number!” she said.

“You think so?” he asked curiously.

“I believe she didn’t pour us coke four times already only because she wants us to get familiar with the place!” said Satine laughing.

“Why not?!” he said walking to Sylvia.

[Dina]

Chapter 2


25th May 1998

At the Roissy airport Marat was waiting for Satine. She was having her spring vacations a bit late in order to support her best friend in the French Open.

He was absorbed reading a magazine when she stood in front of him smiling.

“Seriously!” she said as he still didn’t notice her.

“Seriously sorry!” he said hugging her “That magazine is talking about me! That’s the first time I read something about me, so I got interested!”

“Bite me!” she said amused “You still are the same whining dude for me! That won’t change!”

“Well thanks to God!” he replied taking a suitcase from her “At least you’ll always crash me down on ground if you see that I’m unable to stay down myself!”

“Always!” she said flashing him with her exquisite smile.

I miss that smile he thought.

“So, how was your flight?” he asked opening a car door to her.

“The flight was…very…wild!” she said deviously.

He gave her an outraged look.

“Oh my God!” he replied laughing “Just speechless!”

“I bet you are!” she said “That’s been almost a damn year that you share your bed with the same girl; that would turn anyone speechless!”

“Well, I can’t afford wasting time wandering in clubs and bars like any 18 years old!” he replied “My career is starting; I need to stay focused and serious!”

She bursted out laughing.

“That’s a hell of an answer!” she pointed out.

“Why?” he asked.

“You could have said; I’m still with Sylvia because I love her! Or because she makes me happy! Or I feel good with her….” She said seriously “Instead of all that you say you need to focus on your tennis and remain serious?! It’s nothing like you!”

“Alright! I didn’t use adequate words; so I’m with Sylvia because she means a lot to me!” he said honestly.

“Oh Jesus!” she teased “You are falling for her? After ten long months?! That’s an exploit!”

He gave her a desperate look.

“Stop teasing me!” he said “Can’t you just be my best friend now and forget that crazy bitch you turned into since you joined Harvard?”

She gave him a faked offended look.

“Vamos!” he said “Stop it! I’m gonna start feeling guilty now!”

“No don’t!” she replied “I don’t want you to blame your Roland Garros first round defeat on me!”

“I didn’t lose yet!” he pointed out.

“Well with that draw you got….” she was teasing.

“Satine!” he complained.

“Ok, sorry!” she said “That’s me being supportive!”

“Really?” he asked doubtful.

“Yes totally!” she said “I’m your supportive best friend from now on!”

“Thank you!” he said “It’s not because he crashed me in DC that he must do it again hein?”

She bursted out laughing again.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t!” she said amused “Of course he’s gonna crash you, this is a GS tournament!”

“You’re nuts!” he said.

“And you LOVE me for that!” she replied kissing his cheek “No but seriously; I don’t know how your match is going to be. But I seriously believe you’ve got it all to beat anyone! You just need to build on some confidence and experience! But I trust you honey!”

He gave her a suspicious look.

“Seriously?” he asked looking for their trust word.

“Seriously, I’ve already said seriously!” she said.

“Thanks!” he said hugging her.

“You’re so welcome baby!” she said “Now we are in Paris?!”

He smiled down at her.

“Yes we are!” he said laughing.





“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” said Satine jumping everywhere as Marat joined her in the players lounge after he’s beaten Andre Agassi in the French Open’s first round.

“Did that really happen or I’m dreaming?” he asked laughing.

“You were great! Perfect! Awesome!” she said throwing herself in his arms “I’m so proud of you Marat!”

He hugged her happily smelling the coconut in her hair.

“I think I just played the best match of my career!” he said still embracing her.

“You did Mikhailovich!” she replied looking at him deeply “It’s too bad Sylvia couldn’t make it! It’s a shame she missed that match!”

Like crashing down on earth he remembered life’s reality.

“Claro!” he replied smiling “Her work kept her in Valencia!”

He gently caressed her cheek.

“At least my best friend’s here!” he said.

“Forever…” she started.

“And ever!” he continued.



Lying down next to each other in her hotel room; Satine’s legs on Marat’s, his arms around hers. She was reading newspapers for him.

“Pioline?!” she said curiously “The crowd can’t all be supporting him!”

“I don’t know!” he replied “They’re French! They like solidarity!”

“Who doesn’t?” she said.

“So when are you going back to Boston?” he asked concerned.

“Saturday.” She replied softly.

“What if I reach the final?” he asked laughing.

“Oh well! I’ll miss my flight then!” she replied amused.

He pulled her closer to him and held her tighter.

“You are the one person I’d like to see first if I ever happen to win a major!” he said sincerely.

“Seriously?” she teased.

“Seriously!” he said annoyed.

“If it makes you feel any better; I’m sure you’ll win dozens of majors!” she said.

“Ah, it feels much better!” he said smiling.

“Alright! This thing between you and Sylvia is serious, isn’t it?” she asked seriously.

He hesitated for a moment.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” he asked.

“For no reason!” she replied facing him “I’m just checking your heart’s state!”

“It is fine!” he said.

“I want the long and boring version!” she demanded.

“Since you witnessed the four last years of my life, you should know that it’s the first serious thing I’ve ever lived with a girl!” he said.

“I hear you.”

“She’s a very supportive person, she helped me in the rough moments, and she cares about me!” he said choosing his words.

“And?” she asked impatiently.

“I feel good around her! She makes me care!” he said “It might mean that I’m growing up!”

“Oh oh! I do doubt it!” she said laughing “Maturity my friend is a wisdom road; long and full of crap!”

He bursted out laughing.

“Does it mean you’ll reach it before me?” he asked amused.

“Of course moron!” she said “I always cross the finish line first!”

“Always!” he said resting his head on her chest.







25th July 2002

“So what you say? You come with me to New York?” Marat asked Sylvia.

“I don’t know!” she said activating herself in the kitchen of their house.

“You don’t know.” He repeated calmly “What do you know then?”

“Let’s not have this conversation, ok?” she asked putting the dishes in the machine.

“Why don’t you ever say the things?” he asked tired “Say what you feel, say what you think about!”

“I don’t wanna go with you there!” she said “We’ll be away for almost a month; it’s too much for me!”

“Sylvia! I’ve been away for two f£%§£%§ months!” he said pissed “That was too much! Don’t you ever miss me? You could at least travel with me from time to time; I can use your support!”

“You get all the support you do want from others!” she said sarcastically leaving for the bedroom.

“What did you mean by that?” he asked.

She looked at him nervously, deep down regretting that she revealed something she wouldn’t wanna reveal.

“I have my job here, I can’t travel with you around the world!” she said.

“Who said anything like that?” he said “I just say it’d be nice if you made some efforts and support me sometimes!”

“Why? I mean; you come here! “ she said “I have my life here, with my work and my family! This is my home…”

“This is a relationship!” he said loudly “To make it work; you have to participate making it work!”

He looked at her upset and sighed loudly out of frustration.

“Maybe you just don’t care enough about it, about us nor about me to try!” he said laughing nervously.

“I don’t care?” she yelled “I think I showed how much I care in several occasions! Maybe now that you have the world for you; it doesn’t matter to you at all how I cared in the past!”

“Don’t you dare say that!” he said offended.

“I say it because I mean it!” she countered “I say it because I actually care about THIS damn relationship!”

“I…I…I just can’t!” he said tired “I can’t do this…not anymore!”

“Of course!” she replied laughing sarcastically “You just end the arguing when you don’t like the way it’s turning! You always do this!”

He stared at her struggling to understand, tired to try getting a woman who never says what she really wants.

“Why don’t you just tell me what is it really about for once?” he said “Why don’t you just say what I do wrong with you? Just tell me, I wanna know!”

She looked at him mocking.

“You already know!” she hissed “You just wanna stay blind to some things, and you just avoid others because you feel too guilty not to do them because you can’t say you don’t want to!”

“Speak Spanish, I don’t get your coded language!” he said.

“That’s been how many years we’re together?” she asked “Almost five years? What did change with us in those years?”

He looked at her surprised. Reality was downing under his eyes.

“All of this, this life I’ve built up with you! Giving myself to you! All of this doesn’t count? The only thing you’ll ever give a damn to is a legal paper, isn’t it?” he said hurt “All you want is marriage and guarantee!”

She looked at him with watering eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I?” she asked sadly.

“Because I gave you my love for five years!” he said disbelieving “I’ve been true to you for five years! I respected you and tried to make you happy for five years! Damn it! I’ve been faithful to you all the time! All the damn time!”

She laughed amused.

“I bet you now wish you haven’t!” she said.

“I can’t believe you really think what you’ve just said!” he said outraged.

“Alright then! If you feel all these and just wanna do my happiness why don’t you ever think about marrying me?” she asked crying.

“For God’s sake!” he said caressing her cheeks “I’m barely 22! You want me to marry you now that I’m living the most important years of my career?”

She laughed and cried.

“Dios! Actually you aren’t denying facts to me! You are lying to yourself! You don’t know the reasons you won’t marry me yourself!” she said finally getting him.

“I bet you know them!” he said sarcastically.

“You wouldn’t commit entirely with me because you can’t!” she said laughing “You can’t because your heart won’t let you do! You won’t be with me completely because your heart bleeds for the one you just can’t have!”

He looked at her shocked, he completely lost her track. He just didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Believe me if you were with that person; all the things you won’t do with me you’ll be more than happy to do them with her!” she said “You’ll even wanna do them!”

“I swear!” he said solemnly “I swear I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“And the worst is that I knew it all the time for five long years!” she said blaming herself “I saw it the very first day, she owns your heart and you don’t even realize it! Jesus, I’ve wasted five years of my life when I knew this was all useless!”

“Amor!” he said softening “I think you must have things confused in your mind! I love you, it has always been you! I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I assure you that I’d do any possible thing I can to make you happy!”

She looked at him crying.

“Marry me!” he asked kneeling “Be my wife!”

“You don’t want me to!” she protested.

“I want you to be happy!” he said.

“You marry a person because you love her, because you wanna spend your lifetime with her!” she said distraught “You don’t do it to please her!”

“What do you want me to do?” he asked desperately.

“I want you to open your eyes and realize that I’m just a girl you’re trying to fill with the empty place in your life!” she said falling apart “You’re with me because you wanna believe it’s the right thing when it’s not!”

“You can’t know my feelings better than me for God’s sake!” he said upset.

“You don’t know them yet yourself!” she replied smiling “I wanna be happy, but it’s not gonna happen with you!”


He considered her for a moment.

“You’re right:” he said “None of us is happy here!”

“No we’re not!” she said.

“We must stop wasting each others time and messing our lives!” he added convinced “I’m so sorry I can’t be for you the one you deserve to be with!”

She smiled at him and caressed his face.

“See through yourself!” she said “Open your blinds and face the truth of your heart, you could be extraordinarily happy if you realize it before it’s too late!”

He looked at her puzzled.

“I’m gonna go to my parents!” she said “I’ll come back when you’ll leave!”

She hugged him fiercely and kissed him bitterly.

“I love you so much!” she said crying before she left.

He stood there still for a moment. He rubbed his hands on his face and started packing all his belongings in the house.

He wrote a note to her where he specified that she should keep the house and other stuffs; he expressed his great affection for her again and thanked her for all. He put the keys under the doormat and left.





14th August 2002

The US Open was about to start and Marat was the defending champion as he clinched the title over Sampras two years before and over Hewitt last year.

“How’s your new job?” Marat asked Satine as they were having diner “How is it to have your internship in one of the bests advertising firms?”

“It is great you know that, I told you dozen times on phone!” she replied disbelieving “Are you gonna say it or what?”

He gave her a look.

“It’s over!” he said calmly.

“Seriously?” she asked surprised.

“Seriously!” he replied annoyed.

“I thought you guys were trying to work things out!” she said.

“I kinda realised there’s absolutely nothing to work on!” he said with humour.

“I believe you’re not in a talkative mood, but I won’t get satisfied with this!” she said defiant.

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?” he said.

She stared him down.

“You already know the story; she wanted more commitment for which I’m absolutely not ready! “he said “She wants to live in Spain, my home is near to my family….”

“Are these the reasons you’ve ended it up?” she asked unsure.

“Mainly.” he said staring at his glass.

She sighed from impatience.

“I got bored! Okay? That’s what you wanted to hear?” he said pissed “I’m not the guy who commits at 22! She’s older, she’s much more mature, and I feel like I didn’t live my life yet!”

“Is it so?” she asked concerned.

“Don’t you think I’d have made a mistake if I gave her all what she wanted?” he asked looking for her support.

She had a sip from her glass.

“Oh come on! Say it! I know you are dying to say it!” he said.

“Yes you would!” she said sincerely looking at him straight in the eyes “You loved her, but not enough to change for her.”

“I needed to hear it said from you so….” He was saying.

“You could be sure you weren’t just chickening?” she teased.

“Kind of!” he said laughing.

“You are 22 years old, you are a world class tennis player; this world is yours!” she said smiling down at him.

“Now all I want is to run for the title!” he said with an exhausted smile “Finish the year and go sunbathe on the Italian beach with you!”

She gave him a half look.

He stared her down disbelieving.

“You are not gonna give up on me! Are you?” he said.

She reddened.

“The end of the season Satine!” he said disbelieving “We wait for those two weeks the whole year! Your job, my job…it all killed us this year!”

“I didn’t say anything…but what am I gonna do with Damien?!” she said.

“I can’t believe that’s actually been six months you’re dating that Upper East Side boy!” he said amused “You’re beating all your records!”

“Oh shut up!” she said “I can’t toy with guys forever! I’m not 16 anymore!”

“I liked you better back then!” he teased “You were having naked baths at midnight and you liked to dance on bars drunken!”

“Yeah it happened once only!” she said amused.

“Anyways, your mind was wickeder back then!”

“I told ya I’ll cross the maturity finish line first!” she recalled him.

“Predictable milaya!” he said drinking all his glass “Like always!”



5th November 2002

“Haas is a man whore! “said Marat to Satine “It’s not because you have no one now that you should date the first jerk who hits on you!”

She smiled at him amused.

“I like it when you talk like an older brother!” she replied.

“He loves doing it!” said Juanqui.

“All I say milaya is take your time!” he said seriously “I still don’t know the details about your break up with Damien, but I believe you should take your time! Enjoy freedom!”

“Enjoy your time with Marat!” added Juanqui laughing.

Marat gave him a look.

“You idiot! Tell her that Tommy isn’t a guy for her! She’s too good for him!” Marat said.

“I can say Satine is not a girl for him either!” said Juanqui “If she doesn’t break his heart, she’ll drive him nuts!”

Marat smiled.

“Fine; I’ll tell him you’re gonna have diner with him tonight!” said Marat.

Satine looked at him amused. She stood up and sat on his lap playfully.

“I came to Paris to support you in the Masters and spend time with my best friend!” she said “I won’t have diner with a German, I don’t like their accent anyway!”

The boys bursted out laughing.

“Seriously?” he asked.

“Seriously!” she replied.

“Yeah thanks!” said Marat kissing her “I know you had a lot of work and joined me here still!”

“What wouldn’t I do for my dorogoy?!” she replied laughing.


12th November 2002


“Game, set and match Safin! 7/6 6/0 6/4” said the referee as Marat fired a last serve to defeat Lleyton Hewitt in the BNP Paribas Masters Series.

“He played terrific!” Amit Naor said to Satine.

“Indeed!” she replied happily “Hope he’ll win the Masters Cup too!”

“Are you joining us to Shanghai?” he asked.

“Maybe!” she replied “My father’s campaign took me a lot of energy this summer, and the last advert campaign I managed was exhausting!”

“Yeah! Marat told me your father is running for a Senator post?!”

“True, he’s got good chances!” said Dina smiling as she saw Marat running towards her.

“Another title! Again!” he said taking her in his arms happily.

“Good for you!” she said “You’ve beaten him with quiet a fashion!”

“Yeah well!”

“Let’s go have diner I’m starving!” said Amit.

“Me too!” said Marat.

“You always are!” she said amused.



8th December 2002

“Hey guys!” said Satine getting into the Russian DC team practice court for the final in Bercy.

“Hey gorgeous!” said Zhenya Kafelnikov hugging her “That’s been a while!”

“Indeed!” she replied smiling “You look good!”

“You are stunning like every single time!” he said, turning to face Marat “If you don’t marry her I will!”

Satine laughed flattered.

“You perfectly know that guy is not a marriage kind!” she replied.

“It’s just some bullshits men say until they find the perfect one!” said Sasha Volkov kissing her “He’s not far, not at all!”

He and Zhenya shared a knowledge smile.

“Leave her be in peace!” said Marat walking towards them “Otherwise she will never accept travelling with me on a DC event again!”

“I shouldn’t actually!” she said “I should find you a new girl who’ll willingly accept following you around the world….”

“And who’ll make a happy man of him off courts!” added Sasha.

“Very good point!” agreed Satine “Have a couple of hot brunettes for you; I’m sure they’ll succumb to your charm like all the other ones!”

“It doesn’t matter if you find me someone to make me happy off courts; I’ll still need you to fight and talk!” he said.

“You don’t talk with your lovers?” asked Zhenya curious.

“What you want me to talk about with them?” he asked disbelieving “Those creatures only talk about hairdressers and new haute couture collections and other crap I can’t stand to listen to!”

“I do talk about these stuffs!” pointed out Satine.

“Not with me though!” he countered.

“I’d swear I saw her several times dragging you to shopping stores!” said Sasha.

“That’s useful!” said Marat “She’s not the only one who shops, she helps me with stuffs!”

“Yeah, we're used to do this since we were 14!” she said amused “I take his opinion and he takes mine! That’s essential to have the opinion of a one who’s from the opposite sex!”

“See! Our friendship is gold for me!” said Marat with a devious look to Satine “I can’t have a life without her!”

“So you guys do everything together but the sex?!” said Sasha.

“Eww!” chorused Marat and Satine thinking how weird and disgusting the idea is.

Sasha and Zhenya shared a naughty look once again.



13th December 2002

“So winning DC is better than sex!” said Satine disbelieving “All your previous ones looked quiet passion burning to me!”

“This victory is a way much better than sex!” he said amused.

“Unfortunately for you you’re my best friend; otherwise I’d made you change your mind on that specific topic!” she said staring at the clouds from the plane’s window.

“I’m gonna let this statement unanswered for my mental sake, focus on the fact that we’re taking off and still think about you as my best friend who’s insanely hot, but even more insanely; it doesn’t affect me!” he said closing his eyes.

She bursted out laughing pleased with the effect she has on her best friend.

“Take those!” she said taking pills from her purse “I can’t spend five more hours on this plane with a plane allergic adult!”

He gave her a look.

“I can’t help!” he said offended “Seriously!”

“Seriously?” she teased.

“Damn it Satine!” he replied annoyed “Seriously!”

“Alright then! Still, take those you’ll feel less nervous!” she said handing him the pills.

“Thank you!” he said flashing her with a smile.

“You’re a hero, it’s the least I can do!” she replied.

“The least you can do is to let the hero sleep till noon on these vacations this year!” he said with closed eyes.

“Miracles don’t work that way dorogoy!” she said.



21st March 2003

Biting her nails nervously; Satine was looking at the arriving hall of the Miami International Airport waiting for Marat to show up.

“Hey!” said a masculine voice from behind her.

As she turned around, she found him exhaustedly smiling to her.

She just threw herself into his arms for a moment.

“Hey!” she replied softly “I’m so sorry for your injury!”

“Yeah well!” he replied with a nonchalant face “I just hope it’ll get better!”

“You look exhausted!” she noticed “I don’t recall you so beaten up after a flight!”

“I think I might have caught a cold or something similar” he informed “I kind of feel dizzy, cold and nauseous!”

“Poor sexy thing!” she claimed smiling “Satine is gonna take good care of ya!”

She drove to their building and helped him get his suitcases into his apartment which was located in front of hers.

They both come back usually to Miami during the year; he likes to practice there for the hard court season and she usually have to get there because of her job and her family.

But this time, Marat came because he has to interrupt his current tennis season because of a wrist injury, and he was sent to Miami for re-education.

As they got in; she tucked him in bed after several harassment threats and violent language. She made him a soup and lied down next to him.

“You’re burning.” She said touching his forehead.

“That’s why I’m delirious, because it looks like raining outside!” he said.

“You are not delirious!” she said smiling “I’ve already told you miracles do happen, and it’s raining in Miami to prove you I’m right…”

“As it happens exactly; every time!” he went on for her.

“I’m a wise person!” she said “Wise people happen to be very often right!”

He laughed and coughed. He held her hand tightly and rested his head on her shoulder.

“Thanks!” he said coughing.

“For what?” she asked smiling.

“For never giving up on me!” he replied with blood teary eyes.

“You’re welcome!” she replied distracted by his pale face and his blood teary eyes “On a more serious note, I think I should take you to a doctor tomorrow! You don’t look too good to me!”

“I’m fine!” he said still coughing.

“Aha!” she said ignoring him.

“Whatever!” he replied giving up.

About an hour later he fell asleep on her shoulder. She gently moved his burning head to the pillow and walked to his office. She wrote a note to his attention and put it next to his phone on his bedside and reached her apartment where she focused on her work presentation.


As he woke up; Marat felt his head heavy. He put feet on ground and felt dizzy. He then saw Satine’s note:
“Ring me if you need anything!”

He looked at the clock displaying 10:37pm. He was pretty sure Satine wouldn’t be asleep right now, so he put an Adidas t-shirt on his burning torso and walked out of his place.

Arriving at Satine’s door he found a key under the doormat so he walked in.

Leaning against the living room wall, he looked at her amused. She was putting those funny glasses on that nevertheless made her look attractive in the smart way. She was so absorbed writing ideas on a board that she didn’t even notice him.

“You could get robbed and you wouldn’t even notice it!” he said.

She looked at him the glasses falling down on her nose.

“I could still use that racquet to knock-out anyone!” she said.

“The way you knocked me out the first time?” he asked smiling as he sat next to her.

“I used more than the racquet then!” she replied nostalgic “How you feel?”

“Dizzy but better!” he replied.

“Good for you!”

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“An advert campaign for Pepsi!” she said “It includes some football players.”

“Ah! You mean it includes some new lovers?” he teased.

She raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t hit on married men!” she declared.

“They’re all married?” he asked.

“Obviously Beck’s married.” she said “And he’s the hottest one that worths it!”

He stared amused.

“So how is it going?” he asked.

“It’s over!” she said sticking a note on a file before closing it “I’m the best at what I do; that’s why they pay me fortunes!”

“I believe so!” he said softly.

“So now what?” she asked pouring him tea.

“I’m taking care of this wrist!” he said.

“So you basically won’t be playing again for a certain moment, right?” she asked.

“Yep! Why you have a good idea to keep us entertained?” he asked deviously.

“We could do some travelling with proper sightseeing!” she proposed.

“That’s a glorious idea milaya!” he said enthusiastic.

“Around Europe?” she asked hoping.

“Wherever you want!” he replied.

“After this campaign which I hope will be successful; my firm owes me vacations!” she said brushing her teeth.

“By the way; how’s your love life?” he asked sipping from his tea.

“I’m giving up on men!” she said “I’m turning lesbian!”

He chocked drinking his tea.

“That bad?” he asked.

“I’m just getting fed up!” she said “I woke up last month and thought: how about enjoying life?”

“With women?” he asked amused.

“Why not?!” she said laughing “Don’t you do it?”

“Sometimes you really scare the crap out of me!” he said.

“That’s the fun being around me!” she declared “So what about yours?”

“I’m focusing on Marat now!” he said pleased “Marat and his health!”

“I can help with that!” she said changing into her pyjamas.

“You really wanna turn me on more than I already am!” he said wickedly.

“Cool down under the shower then!” she said getting into her bed.

“I like it better in your warm bed under your fresh smelling sheets!” he said joining her.

“I bet!” she said laughing “I change them every single week, unlike some I know!”

“I suck at house chores!” he said defending himself “You already know that!”

“Of course I do! How couldn’t I?” she said “Now let’s get into the silence time and sleep! I’m presenting a 10 thousand dollars campaign budget tomorrow!”

“Shuuut! I’m trying here to sleep!” he complained.

She rolled her eyes and fell asleep.




5th May 2003

“Would you apply some sun block on me?” asked Satine as she and Marat were laying down on one of Crete’s beaches.

“Sure!” he said applying some on her back “You’re uptight milaya!”

“When you work 15 hours on 24 every day, it happens to become uptight!” she said “You have good hands though!”

“You feel better?” he asked.

“Awesome Marat!” she replied happily “You are gifted!”

“Those hands master so many things indeed!” he said deviously “My exes could update you!”

“I had a lot of unwanted updates believe me!” she said “What’s the matter with the women you screw? They think because I’m a girl I like to hear that you can perform 7 hours non-stop?”

He bursted out laughing.

“You’re talking because none of the morons you’ve dated ever gave you that much satisfaction!” he teased.

“So much you don’t know hon’” she replied amused.

“So what do we do tonight?” he asked.

“Well diner and sightseeing! Apparently it’s a very nice atmosphere by night!” she informed.

“I don’t get why we always do what you wanna do you!” he said disbelieving.

“Because I’m the one who makes us have great time!” she replied “You can’t try to steal the leadership of our relationship!”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because after almost ten years of friendship it’s too late!” she replied amused.

“No, it’s just because you’re a dictator!” he said.

“Shut up!” she said annoyed.

“Dictator!”


12th June 2003

“So when are you gonna tell me?” Marat asked Satine as they sat on a restaurant terrace after diner.

She looked at him and smiled.

“Tell you what?” she asked.

“The two things you should say!” he told her adamantly.

“I’m not in a talking mood.” She said staring at the dark sea in front of her.

“Your father…he doesn’t rule your life!” he said holding her hand “If you don’t wanna take his politic campaign in charge; just don’t!”

“How do you know?” she asked surprised.

“He called me to convince you.” he replied smiling.

She sighed tired.

“You mustn’t think that you’d disappoint him if you don’t please him!” he said “You have to let him know that he’s the one who’ll disappoint you if he doesn’t let you be happy milaya!”

He caressed her cheek, pulled her closer to him and held her tight.

“I don’t wanna hurt his feelings!” she said sadly.

“I don’t want him to hurt yours!” he said smiling.

“Okay!” she whispered resting her head on his shoulder.

“Now talk about the second thing!” he demanded.

“What makes you think there’s…”

“Stop it!” he said upset “Not with me!”

She looked at him for a while and finally sobbed. As he tried to hug her she pulled away.

“F%§£!” she said “What’s wrong with me? I’m not heartless, am I?”

“Of course not!” he replied “What happened between you and Damien?”

“Why does it have to happen every time?” she said crying “Why can’t I just be happy? Why can’t I let myself be happy?”

He looked at her puzzled. He actually couldn’t find the answer for himself either.

“Explain.” He demanded.

“He said he loves me!” she said upset with herself “He said it, he meant it and I just couldn’t say it back!”

“Why?” he asked nervously.

“Because I don’t!” she replied “I never did love anyone! Every time I feel a man starts loving me I run away! The more available, sweet and thoughtful they get I turn away!”

She begged him with the eyes.

“I’m not normal am I?” she asked sadly.

“Of course you are!” he replied “You’re not bound to share feelings! You most certainly are not bound to say things you don’t feel!”

“No?” she asked uncertain.

“No!” he said holding her both hands tightly “You listen to your heart!”

“You are bullshitting me with pink sunglasses!” she said offended “Life is not a fairy tale where everyone gets their ever happy ending!”

“I know that!” he countered “It’s not what I’m talking about! I do logic! And logic says you mustn’t show reprocity of feelings if there isn’t!”

She looked at him doubtful.

“Alright! Then would you tell me why can’t I love a great guy like Damien? He’s hot; he’s kind, smart and thoughtful! He’s the guy my father would be crazy about, but I can’t love him!” she said frustrated “Why can’t I love him?”

“They say the heart has its reasons that reason ignores?!” he tried a bit scared.

“Well I have a Harvard degree and I didn’t find any better explanation!” she said amused.

“Means I’m as smart as you are!” he said laughing.

“You’re very smart, but nothing like me!” she said smiling.

“I’ll survive with this reality!” he said putting his arm around her.

“Why can’t I find a guy with whom things would be as easy as with you?” she asked sadly “The fabulous sex in addition!”

“I’m having the same wonder here!” he replied.

“I’d sworn you were a straight guy!” she teased “Never thought you fancied men!”

“Satine!” he complained “Seriously!”

“Seriously?” she asked laughing.

“Yeah seriously!” he said moving away from her.

“Don’t be angry!” she asked “I’ll get you a lemon pie!”

“You’re impossible!” he said walking out of the restaurant.

“Don’t be so touchy! Marat!” she yelled following him.



5th September 2003

“Why does she always have to take forever to get ready?!” muttered Marat to himself in the hotel pool waiting for Satine.

Finally, he spotted her in a purple bathrobe walking in with a pool trouser in her hand.

She flashed him with an amused smile as he was still pouting inside the pool.

“You took forever to put a swimsuit on; like always!” he complained.

“Stop whining!” she replied laughing “Had to call back people!”

She then opened her bathrobe and put it on the relaxing chair.

As she did, she was pleased to notice that she made that very satisfying effect on people around her. She felt some handsome gentlemen gazes admiring her absolutely perfect silhouette; perfectly fitting in her black swimsuit with a white lilac on its top.

Marat turned to face some guys around him with a dark look, instinctively always trying to protect her.

He knew exactly the effect she has on men; he had a way too much occasions to notice it since their teenage period. Something that usually pissed him off was the several requests of his tennis colleagues on Tour to set them up with Satine. He hated the fact to be considered like a matchmaker, but he especially always considered them never good enough for her. Actually, for him there was no man enough good for her, ever.

Aside of that; he rarely minded in the past when the press or people confused Satine with his girlfriend. But with time, they got the fact that she was clearly nothing else than his very best friend.

Right now, guys around wished they were him. He found it amusing and pleasant.

As she was standing in front of the pool, he quickly reached for her and made her flow into the fresh water.

Several minutes of water tickling later, they were both leaning on one of the pool ramparts.

“What about that blonde over there who looks like about to rape you?!” she asked discretely showing him a girl.

“Yeah I saw her earlier!” he replied deviously “The other ones aren’t bad looking either!”

She smiled getting which ones he actually meant.

“How come you never dated a blonde?” she asked laughing.

“I only do passionate and burning ones!” he teased “I’d like to try a red-hair this time!”

“Go ahead!” she said looking in details at the one that seemed to get his attention “After all these are holydays!”

He bursted out in laughters.

“So make a move!” he said “I believe all the guys around have turned into fire the minute you walked in!” he said caressing her wet cheek.

“I don’t know!” she said faking to think seriously about the matter “I don’t wanna look like an easy one!”

He smiled disbelieving.

“God! You are everything but an easy girl!” he replied amused “I actually have pity for every guy to whom you smile back! It means you’ll put them through Hell and throw them to recycling after!”

She laughed and looked at him faking to be offended.

“This is my bitchy way to protect my little heart!” she protested.

“You are a heartless one!” he countered “What do you wanna protect?”

She stared him down.

“I’ll make them wait longer!” she informed.

He smiled to her and remained quiet for a moment.

“Whatever it is, stop thinking about it!” she said.

“I can’t milaya…I wish I could!” he replied seriously.

She moved to face him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked calmly.

“I’m afraid this injury has ended my career!” he said looking at her worried.

“Don’t talk about disasters!” she ordered him “The doctors said you are healing perfectly and you’ll be able to return to competition by the fall!”

As he looked unconvinced she bound him face her by his chin.

“Don’t you dare give up, ever!” she said with burning eyes “You are going to be okay, you’ll be back there and you’ll keep kicking the asses!”

“What if I lost my touch?” he asked.

“Oh come on! It’s like bicycle you never forget!” she said confident “You have an inner talent, it’s a gift God gave you and you’ll always know how to use it! You have to believe in yourself; if you don’t; you’ll never be anything more than what you’ve already been!”

He looked at her concerned.

“I know you! I know you, and I know you don’t wanna be just what you are now, only!” she said her hand on his face.

He gently took her hand and caressed its palm tenderly.

Their eyes locked for an unknown time; none of them knew how long it lasted but they still knew it was perfect and scary at the same time.

“You have faith in you again?” she asked smiling.

He suddenly realized the inappropriate way he was still looking at her, and smiled back.

“Totally Dr.Freud!” he replied laughing.

“Good then!” she said facing again, deviously, the people starring at them.

“You think I should fight my shy attitude and hit on the red-hair?” he asked smiling.

“For God’s sake who ever got a girl by hitting on her?” she said disbelieving “Talk to her, be charming the way you know to! Just be yourself!”

He looked at her puzzled.

“Did you ever get the concept of holydays affairs?” he said “It’s never about ending up married with the girl you got laid with!”

She laughed.

“Seriously! No women fall for that!” she informed “You wanna have her in your bed or whatever? You certainly gotta seduce her!”

He looked startled.

“Seriously?” he asked surprised.

“Seriously!” she said standing up.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I’m gonna drop my book in front of that divine creature, who must by now be at the edge of an erection burst!” she said with a dirty look “It’s not because you don’t do blondes that I don’t!”

She could use the most shocking and frank words ever; she’ll always sound as refined and clever as she is! He just found that terribly lovely.

“Try not to be too violent milaya!” he advised “Content yourself to breaking his heart, breaking him as an individual is a terrible sin!”

She laughed amused.

“I’m not a character of ‘Les Liaisons dangereuses’!” she replied leaving him “You’re over-estimating me!”

“Like if you could ever be!” he said to himself thoughtful.



Marat and Satine left the sun and beaches of Crete for the hills and mountains of Vermont.
Two of Marat’s childhood friends: Leonid Nerushenko and Denis Golovanov joined them there accompanied by their girlfriends.

After two weeks fishing and camping in the mountains, the friends group had to tear apart to come back to their respective business lives.

Satine went to Chicago where she had work to do. While Marat went finally to Monte-Carlo where he seriously prepared his upcoming season with the help of Denis who accepted to travel with him for some months and help him.

[Dina]

Chapter 3

27th January 2004

Marat was waiting in the locker room for his Australian Open quarter-finals against the American Andy Roddick who was a brand new Master of the game at the end of the previous season.

“He wouldn’t have done what he’s done last year if I was around!” Marat once said to Satine about Andy’s achievements in 2003 while Marat was absent of the circuit.

Watching on a screen the match scheduled before him on the Rod Laver Arena; Marat didn’t realize Satine sneaked in the lockers with Denis’s help and was standing in front of him. That’s been four terribly long months they haven’t seen each others. It never lasted that long.

“Happy birthday!” she said smiling showing herself as a surprise.

“You made it!” he said happily hugging her.

He was pleased to have her with him on the most important match he was playing since he came back from injury.

“Goodness!” he said caressing her face “I missed you like hell!”

“I missed you too!” she replied sincerely.

“You are stunning!” he said admiring her in a casual pair of jeans and a red strapless top.

“Thanks! You look so handsome!” she said caressing his cheek happily “You’ve done some great job so far, birthday boy!”

“I’m trying, I’m trying!” he said soberly.

“I should leave you focus on your match!” she said “You’re the next one to step onto the court!”

“Alright!” he said beaming “We’ll catch up later!”

She hugged him again and started leaving when she returned to face him.

“There’s no use to tell you that you have no choice but kick that one’s ass!” she said firmly.

“That’s quite useless indeed!” he replied amused.

She waved and left.



“Come!” said Denis “Rauza, Dina, Lionia and the others are here! They’ll be so happy to see you!”

As they both walked in the players lounge, Satine spotted the little group talking to each others fervently.

“Oh my God!” said Dinara as she saw Satine walking in with Denis.

Dina jumped on Satine out of happiness, warmly hugging her.

“Didn’t know you were coming!” said Dina widening.

“I wasn’t gonna miss his b-day!” she replied laughing “Ya know he’d have killed me!”

Dina laughed and hugged her again.

“It’s so good to see you Sissy!” she said.

“It’s good to see you too!” Satine replied sincerely “But look at you! My gosh! You’re a grown up now! No wonder why Marat wanna keep you locked at home! You’re beautiful!”

Satine was warmly welcomed by all of them, happy to see her within them. Some like Rauza and Marat’s managers who didn’t see her for a long time couldn’t stop showing their excitement and pleasure to see Sissy again.

They all used to call her Sissy but Marat; he always liked to call her Satine.

As Satine was warmly greeting Rauza, Lionia thought it’d be appropriate to introduce her someone she didn’t know.

“I think you girls never met!” he said “Sissy, this is Marat’s new date: Daria Zhukhova! Dasha, this is the very famous Satine McAllister; Marat’s best friend!”

Satine looked startled. She didn’t know about the girl’s existence.

“It’s nice to meet you…Dasha!” she said slowly “It’s strange Marat didn’t mention lately he was seeing someone regular!”

Dasha smiled at her.

“I wonder why!” she replied laughing “Anyways; it’s a pleasure, to be finally meeting you! I’ve heard a lot about you at the opposite!”

Satine gave her a polite smile.

“Zhukova?” Satine replied thoughtful “You’re Alexander Zhukov’s daughter? Aren’t you?”

“Indeed I am!” she replied surprised “You know my father?”

“Indeed!” she replied smiling “He’s in business with my father Edward McAllister…”

“Sissy’s father is running for Senator Post in California.” Allon informed Dasha.

She looked surprised.

“Your father actually wanted to hire me for his 2002 campaign!” Satine said.

“Really?” she said surprised “I had no knowledge about this! But I don’t think….”

“No, I unfortunately had to turn him down” Satine said “For several reasons I wouldn’t like to annoy you with!”

Satine’s tune was embarrassed for Dasha.

Leonid who knew what it was about gave Satine an amused look.

“Anyway, that’s a lovely coincidence!” Dasha replied.

“I think we should go take our seats in the Stadium!” said Gerard.



During the match, Satine could barely catch up with Rauza and Dina because of her big nervousness due to the intense match. They actually seemed to really like her as well as all Marat’s other friends; Dasha herself had to admit that she’d probably love the girl if she wasn’t feeling some threaten from her affinity with the little group and her apparent great and solid friendship with Marat.


Almost four hours later, Marat showed a winning fist after he shoot a final winner backhand down the line.

He immediately turned a deep gaze to Satine who understood how relieved and satisfied he was with himself.

During his post match interview, he made some jokes about his resting vacations with his friends which apparently helped him adjust his body and mind during his injury time out.

Dasha meanwhile, didn’t miss the unceasing looks Marat exchanged with Satine throughout the interview and the match. She never had a best friend boy, so she thought she certainly was misunderstanding the thing. She just let go.




As Marat and Satine were chatting with Allon and Gerard, Dasha took the occasion to ask Leonid some questions.

“Can I ask you something without you judging me?” she asked.

“I think so!” he replied smiling “Go ahead!”

“Do you know Satine well?” she asked.

“I think pretty much!” he replied seeing through her question “I actually know her since we were kids!”

“Do you? I thought Marat met her in Valencia!”

“Absolutely, and we were kids back then!” he said “She usually used to accompany him to Moscow on his vacations! I know her from there, we actually all together used to have amazing time together!”

“That’s why she’s good friends with almost all his friends!” she concluded.

“Yeah!” agreed Leonid “You know Julia Denis’s girlfriend; she’s actually one of Dina’s good friends! She’s the one who introduced them!”

Leo thought about something that made him laugh:

“Actually Sissy introduced Marat to many girls when they were younger! She’s really his best friend, I believe you should try to know her more!” he added seriously.

“Yeah! It’s nothing like that you know!” said Dasha defensive “I just wanted to know the history so I know where I’m walking, you know?!”

“Sure!” he replied.



“Okay!” said Satine raising her glass “It’s toast time!”

Everybody turned to face her:

“24! I might say it’s the age of the wisdom journey for Marat!” she said as everybody laughed.

“Come on!” Marat protested “I’ve already started the journey!”

“No you didn’t!” she replied “Anyways, I just wanted to say, as your best friend, supposedly….”

“Satine!” Marat complained.

“Ok, not supposedly!” she said as people were still laughing around “Last year was nothing easy for him; I say that because I witnessed it, otherwise I wouldn’t!”

Laughing again:

“He fought hard to get back on courts and compete again the way he used to! And now he’s in a Grand Slam semi final after knocking out the top tennis player, supposedly!”

People laughed again:

“Here you’ve put it right!” Leonid said.

“For this achievement babe; I say I’m proud of you! Proud because you held on and never gave up! But I’m prouder of the amazing man you’ve turned to during years, the strong shoulder I cry on when I’m down sometimes!”

People sounded disbelieving:

“Yes I cry! Sometimes!” she said.

People who knew her were laughing out loud after this confession.

“I’m proud of the man of principles you are, the faithful and loyal person you’ve always been! You’ve always been there for me when I needed you the most…”

“So did you!” said Marat interrupting her.

“And I’ll always be!” she added under emotion “To Marat; my best friend! I love you!”

As she said those last words, Marat came to hug her fiercely. When they looked at each others with teary eyes, they knew that whatever it was linking them; it was constant, real and forever unchanging.

“My ego is at its top!” he said amused “Didn’t know you thought that many good things about me!”

“Oh shut up!” she replied hugging him.





13th March 2004


“So you’re in Miami tomorrow?” Marat asked Satine on phone.

“Yeah, have a 6 days conference there this week!” she replied distract.

“Good, I’ll pick you up from the airport then!” he said.

“Yeah, whatever!” she said.

“When is your plane landing?” he asked concerned.

“What?” she asked.

“Your plane! When is it arriving?” he asked again.

“Oh that, humm… I think 11.” she said.

“am?” he asked losing patience.

“Yea yeah!” she said bothered.

“Satine I know it’s a tough week for you, we could just…” he was trying to say.

“I gotta go Marat!” she interrupted him “See ya!”

“Satine!” he said but she already hung up “Damn it!”

He kept staring at his phone upset.

“What’s wrong?” Dasha asked.

“Humm?” he asked absent.

“Is everything okay?” she asked smiling.

He considered her and smiled sadly.

“It’s Satine.” He said with an occupied look.

“What’s wrong with her?” she asked obviously concerned.

“This is a bad week for her!” he said.

“Everybody has bad weeks!” she replied amused.

Marat looked at her straight in the eyes.

“10 years ago, her mother died.” he said blankly with teary eyes “It happened on that week.”

Dasha felt a bit ashamed, she judged too fast.

“Oh!” she said “Indeed, her week must be tough!”

“Indeed!” Marat agreed.

“How did it happen?” she asked.

Marat looked at her, rubbed his hands on his face and took his jacket off.



17th March 1994


“Marat!” yelled Rafa “What’s with you today? You hit the ball like a…”

“Like a girl?” said Satine amused.

She was sitting on a bench, writing a philosophy essay.

“No offense!” said Rafa smiling.

“None taken!” she said.

“That’s it for today kid!” said Rafa packing “Hasta manana!”

“Hasta manana!” they both replied.

“What’s your essay about?” Marat asked.

“Is the truth always right?” she replied disgusted “I know I’m smart, but this is just offending to my geniality! Of course it’s not! The truth hurts most of the time!”

“That’s surely not what they wanna hear from you!” he said amused as he drunk of his water bottle.

“That’s why I avoid telling you that your forehand sucks!” she replied deviously “I don’t wanna hurt your feelings!”

He gave her a face, and she replied back with another face.

He poured water on her, she took another bottle and joined him in his water battle.

“Senorita McAllister!” said Jorge her father’s driver.

“Jorge!” she replied surprised “I swear, it wasn’t me yesterday night on the back of your car!”

“What happened yesterday on the back of his car?” Marat asked out of curiosity.

“In the middle of the party, Maria Dominguez dragged Alejandro Gutierrez in the car to get laid!” she whispered amused.

Marat’s eyes widened.

“That’s why I couldn’t find him at the end of the night!” he said as facts dawned under his eyes.

“Senorita; it’s your mother!” said Jorge slowly “She’s in the hospital, she had an accident with her car!”

Satine’s eyes widened. She turned to face Marat who quickly took her in his arms.

“Your father says you have to come!” Jorge said “She wants to see you before…”

Satine buried her face in Marat’s chest.

“I’m with you!” he murmured to her.

She just held him closer.



As they arrived at the hospital, Satine’s father walked towards them.

“Sissy, sweetheart!” he said facing her with a grave expression “You are my daughter, and I know you’re tough!”

She looked at him lost.

“Your mother is going to have a surgery, but she wanted to see you first!” he said calmly “I want you to go in there and be as strong as I raised you to be! Give her hope Sissy, hope!”

Satine felt her world was falling apart, it felt like a nightmare, but she couldn’t wake up.

She also felt Marat’s fingers squeezing hers tightly.

She turned to face him.

“I’m here for you!” he said “I’ll be right here when you’ll get out!”

“Come on sweetheart!” said Edward “Be your father’s daughter; make me proud!”

She gave him a look. She didn’t know why, but at that exact moment, she hated him with all her heart.


As Satine got in, she saw her mother linked to machines. She felt her heart wring.

“My angel” Isobel said “Come closer!”

Satine ordered herself.

“I want you to listen carefully!” she asked.

Satine nodded. There wasn’t a single word coming out of her mouth.

“You are an amazing girl! Your heart is gold!” Isobel said caressing her daughter’s face “Life is an amazing gift, I want you to enjoy every single little part of it! You my daughter are smarter than I’ve ever been, you can achieve greatness in your life and you will! You aren’t that tough and frozen as you like to show the world, so you should make mistakes! Make a lot of them, because there’s no better way to learn and to grow, alright?”

Satine nodded with teary eyes.

“You are an extraordinary person, so you should have your very extraordinary life!” she said smiling tenderly “I don’t want you to let anyone change your soul, you have goodness and kindness in you; keep them always!”

She shed a tear from her daughter’s cheek.

“You don’t always have to be strong, it’s okay that people feel bad or sad! It’s okay to cry, to be happy!” she said fervently “It’s okay to love! I want you to love to the tips of your fingers! And when you find that love, whenever you find it, whoever you choose; don’t run away from it! But you don’t have to chase after it either, just be patient; it will come to you I promise! And when you’ll least expect it! Like you! You’ve been for 14 years the sunshine of my life! When you were a baby you looked like an angel, and I knew God sent you to me! You are stubborn, you are passionate and smart! But never let your pride win over your true feelings, never let fear keep you from realizing your dreams. Always be true my angel!”

Satine nodded again and let herself go to her mother’s warm embrace.

“Now join your father, but angel; never let his blind ambition keep you away from the values and happiness!” she said lovingly “And remember; to love is to live!”

Satine smiled. As she was leaving, the machines made an alarming sound which alerted the nurses and doctors who stormed into the room.

Satine stood still, looking at them trying to reanimate her vainly.

The doctor got out of the room and walked to Edward.

“I’m sorry senor, she didn’t hold on until the surgery!”

Edward looked startled. He turned to face Satine who was motionless staring blankly at the hospital exit. He went to a bench and sat.

Satine looked around her and saw him there helpless. She turned to face her mother’s dead body in the room. She walked in and stood still.

“Satine.” Marat whispered.

She leaned over her mother’s forehead and kissed it.

She turned to face Marat, passed over him, gave a look to her father and walked out the hospital.

“Satine!” Edward called weakly.

“I’ll get it!” Marat told him running after her.

He followed her with a distance all the way to the beach. She took off her shoes and walked on the sand to the sea. She remained still for a long moment before she finally decided to sit down.

As she did Marat did the same, he looked at her for hours staring blankly at the ocean; producing wave after wave.

Three hours later she looked shivering; he moved closer to her and wrapped her carefully with his jacket. She let him do. After a moment she rested her head on his shoulder still staring blankly. She suddenly reached for his hand and held it tightly before sobbing in his arms.

They stayed there silent until the sun came up.





14th March 2004

“So how was your flight?” Marat asked as he was driving back home from airport.

She gave him a look.

“You’re not obliged to make conversation; you know!” Satine said coldly.

He remained silent for a moment.

“I get that you’re not in a talkative mood now, but I should tell you I have a Centre Court entry badge for the whole week.” He said ‘Never know, you’d might wanna come and support me!”

She looked at him annoyed.

“Gimme your stupid badge and shut up!” she said “And don’t be silly, you already know I’ll attend to your dramatic matches!”

He gave her an amused look but didn’t say a word.


As they were home, he wanted to help her with her suitcase but she refused. He gave her a look and took her belongings to her apartment.

“At 8 we’ll go have diner all together! “he said indifferent to her bad mood “Have the courtesy of joining us in time!”

She gave him a furious look.

“Arrogant giant!” she said as he was leaving.

“Yeah yeah!” he said waving his hand without returning.



Marat walked in his place’s bathroom where he found Dasha shaving her legs.

“You’re back!” she said as he leaned to kiss her “Would you please hand me that towel?”

“Sure!” he said as he wrapped her with it and started kissing her neck “You’ve just shaved, why don’t we continue this in the bed?”

“You didn’t have enough this morning?” she asked deviously.

“I never have enough!” he replied “Never!”

He carried her to the bed where he tried to have enough for one day.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked caressing his chest.

“Nothing, just thinking about my second round match!” he replied.

“Yeah sure!” she said getting up from bed.

He looked at her walk away naked and sighed loudly.

“You know, sometimes a girlfriend feels good when her boyfriend talks to her about his feelings!” she said.

“Which I don’t?” he asked disbelieving.

“Never mind!” she replied “I don’t have to be a Harvard graduate to guess what’s occupying your mind!”

“Dasha!” he said amused “Come on! We’re not gonna pull a fight for its sake!”

“Surely not!” she replied “I’m not spoiling my evening for bullshits!”

He stared amused and raised an eyebrow.

“Okay then!” he said as he went back to his book reading.



17th March 2004

8:14am

“Come on Satine!” Marat said knocking on her door “Open, I know you’re still there!”

The door suddenly opened to show a rushing Satine a briefcase in her hand leaving the place.

“Hold on!” he said grabbing her arm “We need to talk!”

“I need to go to the office, I’m already super late!” she said “Just let go Mikhailovich!”

As she disappeared in the lift he felt frustration going up.

“Are we gonna have breakfast or is this one of your remedial fasting days?” Dasha asked leaning on his apartment’s door.

“After you!” he said showing her the hallway.

1:32pm

As Satine didn’t answer any of his calls, Marat tried a desperate attempt to her office.

“Hello Regine” Marat said to Satine’s secretary “It’s Marat, can you please say to your boss that I need her to answer me!”

“Hey Marat!” Regine replied excited “I’m sorry, she’s having a video conference with LA, but I’ll give her the message!”

“Do this!” he said annoyed.

4: 29pm
“Marat, would you please focus on the game?” Denis said as they were having a practice session with Roger.

“I am focused!” he protested as he fired an ace that almost hit Roger.

“What’s wrong with you?” Roger asked intrigued “You left your good manners in the lockers?”

Marat sighed and joined his bench.

“What are you worried about?” Denis asked disbelieving “I mean; what do you think can happen to her? It’s a bad day she’s gonna overcome and move on like every single year!”

“It’s about Sissy again, isn’t it? “ Roger asked.

“I don’t think she risks anything, it’s just that I’d rather prefer to be at her side today!” said Marat tired of their reflexions “She always finds a way to avoid me on this day; she always happens to be elsewhere! Now that we’re both in Miami, I could make this less difficult for her!”

The guys shared a look.

“I don’t think there’s anything you could do to help her in any way, it’s something you just live and with time it passes for a while!” Roger said.

“That’s not true!” he protested “I could be there for her! It’s unbelievable how she likes to hide her emotions and act like a frozen bitch!”

He took his towel and went for a walk.


10:54pm

“I can’t believe she’s not yet home!” Marat mumbled as he came back from Satine’s place.

“You are worrying for nothing; she’s probably hanging out with some friends after work!” Dasha said.

Marat gave her a look.

“Friends?” he repeated “Who would those be?”

“You already said she has lots of friends everywhere!” replied Dasha “Oh come on, stop freaking out! I can easily make you think about something else!”

As she talked she sat on his lap and started kissing him.

“You know, we should have attended to that players party!” she said between kisses “I heard the Miami tournament has one of the bests!”

“Next year!” he replied as he stood up.

“What now?” she said upset.

“I know where she is!” he said walking out.

He took his car and drove outside the town for about an hour.



1:17am

He finally pulled over in front of a cemetery gate. It was dark and he thought he would never find the grave he was looking for.

As he thought he was definitely lost, he thought he heard a noise; or more exactly a sob.

He just followed the crying to see a feminine figure sitting by a grave. He immediately recognized her. In her job outfit from the morning, Satine was apparently safe and sound.

He stood in front of her but she didn’t face him.

“I know I shouldn’t be telling you this now; but you scared the crap out of me!” he said calmly.

She looked at him with storming eyes.

“Sorry!” she managed to say.

He sat next to her and took her hand.

“If something like that ever happened to me, you are the only person I would wanna have next to me!” he whispered “No matter what!”

She just rested her head on his shoulder.

“You can cry if you want.” He said “I won’t remember you did anyway!”

She looked at him, and in a sudden; threw her arms around his neck and cried heavily for a very long time.

“You have a quarter final match tomorrow!” she finally said.

“So what?” he asked wiping tears from her cheek.

“So you have to win it!” she replied softly “I hate when you lose!”

“Yeah, I hate it too!” he replied amused “It sucks!”

She nodded and touched her mother’s grave gently.

“Let’s take you home!” he said giving her his hand as he stood up.

She leaned over the grave and whispered:

“I love you mother, and I miss you!”

“Bye Mrs McAllister!” said Marat.

Satine smiled to him and dragged him out by the hand.




16th October 2004

Marat was too happy to wait to be back to his hotel to call Satine. That victory over Stepanek in Bercy was just amazing. He indeed had a perfect year with several titles and finals, and two great runs in both the AO and RG. But winning a third title here in Paris was just amazing and he wanted to share it with his best friend.

“How great I am?” he asked.

“I believe very!” said a man’s voice obviously amused.

“I’m sorry, thought I dialled a friend’s name!” Marat said confused.

“Marat is it?” asked the man.

“Yeah it’s me!” he replied “Who am I talking to?”

“Julian Brandon!” he replied “I’m Satine’s new boyfriend, you might still haven’t heard about me. She’s under the shower; I’ll let her know you’ve called!”

“Okay thanks!” Marat replied out of surprise.

“You’re welcome! And congratulations for your win!” he said before he hung up.

Marat kept staring at his phone in disbelief.

“Her new boyfriend?” Marat repeated to himself “How about that?!”

[Dina]

Chapter 4

23rd January 2005

“I finally get to meet the very famous Julian!” said Marat shaking Julian’s hand in a restaurant at Melbourne Park.

“Finally!” said Julian flashing him with a smile.

The guy was almost as tall as Marat. A dark hair guy, blue sparkling eyes and an athletic body.

Satine had a lot of guys corresponding to Julian’s physical type, but none lasted as long as he did. She kept him even longer than Damien which highly intrigued Marat.

He was a successful businessman working in one of San Francisco’s most famous communication firms.

He and Satine met in his city in a coffee shop. He spilled coffee on her coat and insisted that she would send him the laundry bill. She later found out that it was his own way of hitting, they were both in a hurry that morning, but he wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to better know that spicy brunette.

“I gotta admit that I was a bit nervous about meeting you Marat!” Julian said.

“Why is that?” Marat said smiling “I believe you are not dating my 19 years old sister, only her boyfriends get nervous around me!”

Satine bursted out in laughters.

“Liar!” Satine said in a faked cough.

“That’s been years that I’ve stopped scaring your dates!” Marat protested “I’ve witnessed too much in 11 years, I worry more about your poor dates than for you!”

“Marat!” said Satine offended “I wasn’t that bad!”

“No you weren’t!” he said amused “So Julian, how do you find dating my milaya? You cope with her travelling around the world every time?”

“Actually, I travel as often! And in my communication job I happen to be almost every time where she is!” he said.

“Basically we collaborate with the same customers at the same time, but for different reasons!” Satine said.

“I see!” said Marat surprised “So, is it your first time here in Melbourne?”

“Yeah it is!” he replied “I’m really happy to be here during your tournament, it’s a quiet impressive organization!”

“Indeed!” replied Marat “So milaya; what did you think about the match?”

“I can’t help but agree with Courrier!” she teased “That was rude! The kid didn’t even have the time to look around the Court, it was his first time! You should’ve let him enjoy it more!”

“I so like it when you choose my opponent’s side!” he replied smiling.

“I know you do!” she replied.




27th January 2005

“How come you always join me here on my birthdays?” Marat said as Satine walked in the lockers where he waited for his semis match against Roger.

“I don’t know!” she simply replied “I guess it’s a kind of reflex; I join you to reassure you!”

He laughed and put his arms around her.

“I’m surprised; I thought you’d say you join me to throw looks on the naked guys around!” he teased “Or maybe mess their minds before a match!”

She laughed.

“No, I don’t do this anymore!” she replied “I’m done now!”

He gave her a look.

“Are you?” he asked surprised.

“Yeah, I am!” she said beaming “He didn’t say; but I know he loves me! He’s the kind of guy who would make me happy!”

He considered her for a certain moment before he kissed her forehead.

“Do you love him?” he asked suddenly “Are you in love with your Julian?”

She looked at him and smiled.

“I do!” she said sincerely “I love him!”

He smiled back and kissed her hair.

“Does he know?” he asked.

“No.” she replied calmly.

“Are you ready to let him know?” he asked again.

“Not yet!” she replied facing him.

“Are you ready to let him in?” he asked challenging her “Are you ready to let him make you happy?”

She kept silence for a moment and shaking answered:

“I’m trying!” she said honestly.



7th February 2005

“That was fantastic!” Satine said naked in Julian’s bed.

“It was!” he replied leaning over her again.

He started kissing her again.

“This is very entertaining but I gotta go!” she said moving him away and standing up “I gotta go to my place and get some sleep as well!”

“Stay here!” he replied “Sleep here with me! You know people do also the sleeping in beds!”

She bursted out laughing.

“Have a very serious presentation tomorrow and I can’t show up two days in a row with the same clothes!” she said amused “I gotta come back and change!”

He sighed loudly.

“You’ve got all your clothes there!” he said.

“That’s why people have places to live, so they can keep their stuffs in; including clothes!” she replied dressing up.

“Why don’t you bring your clothes here?” he asked as he sat down.

“Yeah sure!” she replied buttoning her white blouse and sliding it inside the grey skirt “Next time I’ll bring some for change!”

“Why don’t you bring them all?” he asked again.

“Why would I?” she asked confused.

“Because I want you to!” he said amused.

“It’d be quiet disturbing to have them all here!” she replied smiling “Don’t you think?”

“Why don’t you move in here with me and finally get what I mean?!” he said.

She widened her eyes at him and remained speechless.

“I love you.” He simply said “And I want you here all the time, with me!”

She turned her gaze.

“Sissy…say something!” he said smiling.

She kept looking at the void motionless.

“Sissy?” he asked.

She finally turned her gaze to him.

“I…I….I gotta go!” she managed to say as she stormed out of the room and left.

He remained alone in the house and shook his head.



25th February 2005

“Hey!” said Satine on her phone.

“Are you avoiding me?” Marat asked.

“Why would I do that?” she asked annoyed.

“If only I knew!” he replied sarcastically.

“Shut up!” she said upset “For the record; I’m not avoiding you: I’m not avoiding anyone!”

He laughed.

“Why are you avoiding him?” he asked amused.

“I hate you!” she hissed.

“Of course you don’t!” he said “So why?”

“He finally said it!” said Satine.

“Ouch!” replied Marat.

“I knew he’d eventually say it!” she said exasperated “But I couldn’t handle it yet! I thought I was ready but he had to say that too….”

“What else did he say?” asked Marat.

“He wants me to move in with him!” she said disbelieving.

“You’re not ready yet?” he asked.

“I hate that!” she replied “Why can’t I be ready? Why can’t I say those words he wanna hear?”

“Don’t you love him?”

“I doooo!!!!!!!” she replied whining “For the one time I fell in love; I can’t say it!”

“You have no cure!” he sighed.

“Marat!” she complained.

“Look; just face it!” he said seriously “Form the words one after the other one! Or write them if you can’t pronounce them!”

“I’m a helpless case!” she mumbled.

“Not that much!” he reassured her.

“I can’t believe I’m complaining about this!” she said before hanging up.



“Lucy, can I get the Marshall’s chart?” said Satine to her secretary “I wanna get sure of the budget estimation!”

As she walked out her office to talk to Lucy, she saw Julian sitting there with a magazine waiting for her to be done.

“Here you are Satine!” said Lucy handing her the chart but she was absently looking at Julian.

“Hey!” he said smiling.

“Hey!” she replied “You maybe wanna come in?”

“If you have time for me!” he replied.

“Sure, I do!” she said.

After she locked the door behind them she faced him. He was standing next to a window.

“That’s been two weeks that you’re avoiding me!” he said “I had to chase after you to Denver! God to Denver to be able to talk to you!”

“I’m sorry, Jerry assigned me a new campaign and I was in rush….” She was trying to say.

“I saw my ex Jennifer at lunch!” he said.

She looked at him startled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“It means that I enjoyed my lunch with my ex-girlfriend instead of my actually current girlfriend!” he said.

“Should I be worried or something?” she asked.

“Should you be worried that I had lunch with Jennifer? No! But the fact that having lunch with my ex was the highlight of my two weeks; I think you should definitely be worried or something!” he said before he left her office.

She remained there motionless. Is what she thought just happened to her really happened?




“Is your knee really hurting?” Dasha asked Marat in their hotel in LA.

“Episodically!” he replied.

“So we can do things?” she asked.

He pulled her next to him.

“Yes we can!” he replied kissing her “Thanks for joining me here this week; it really means a lot to me!”

She smiled pleased with herself.

“I’m happy if it makes you happy!” she said.

As they were kissing they rolled on a note from Gerard.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s an event Gerard want me to attend to!” he complained “Being number one in the world is funny only when tournaments draws are out!”

“Why don’t you wanna go?” she asked.

“I don’t like posh events!” he replied “You know me!”

“But it’s good for your image!” she protested “You are the new number one in the world; you have to show yourself more often!”

“I’m good hidden here!” he replied kissing her neck.

“Marat, you really should go!” she protested.

He gave her an annoyed look.

“Please, please!” she said smiling.

“Alright we’ll go!” he said giving up.

“You are the best!” she said kissing him.

“Yeah sure!” he said letting himself fall on the bed.




The day after; Satine arrived at her work and saw Julian in the lobby chatting with one of his colleagues.

He walked towards her and forced her to stop.

“We need to talk!” he said.

She considered him for a moment.

“If you wanna break up with me so you can see other women; just do it!” she said nervously “Don’t tell me you had lunch with your ex; just end it as fast as you want!”

“I can’t!” he replied smiling.

“Sure you can!” she countered “Here’s how it goes: Satine, I don’t wanna see you anymore! See; over!”

“Satine, I love you!” he said caressing her face “Don’t you see? You don’t understand; you’re the love of my life!”

She let show a smile.

“I can’t leave you, but you’re constantly leaving me!” he said “You walk away when you want; you come back when you want! I don’t do this, it’s not for me!”

She kept looking at him puzzled.

“So I’m asking you; if you don’t see a future for us, if you’re not in this; please, just end it because I can’t, I’m in it!” he said gently “Let me know where I’m going!”

“I…I can’t!” she replied “Gotta check on my team and see if everyone’s ready!” she replied nervously “I really have to make sure they’re all ready!”

“Go then!” he replied.

They both left silently in different directions.



“I don’t like her!” Leonid said to Marat during lunch”I’m sorry but as your friend it’s my job to say I don’t like Dasha!”

“Why?” he asked.

“You’re only sleeping with her!” he replied.

“You don’t like her because I’m sleeping with her?” he said bemused “That’s a little weird!”

“It’s not weird!” he said.

“It’s a little weird!” Marat insisted.

“Hey, I’ve been patient to hear you say!” said Lionia upset “You can’t fool me; you’re with her only because of the sex! You could instead be with your buddy; you and me for old time’s sake; two guys on the hunt!”

Marat smiled.

“You have troubles getting laid!” he said amused “And you need my help!”

“I can get laid! I can get laid whenever I want!’ protested Lionia “I do get laid whenever I want!”

“Huh!” said Marat.

“That’s the point, women are everywhere!” said Leonid “I only have one person I can talk to!”

“That’s sweet!” Marat teased.

“Shut up!” said Leonid annoyed.

“No it’s really warm and delicate…”

“Shut up!” complained Leonid “Are you serious about this girl?”

“I don’t know!” Marat replied “Could be!”

Leonid considered him.

“All right! I’ll give her a chance!” he said.

“Good boy!” Marat said.

“You’re pathetic and I’m a generous soul!” said Lionia.

“That’s my lie!” teased Marat “You can’t use my lie!”

“Oh just shut up and eat!” Leonid said annoyed.



Late at night, Julian got into Satine’s office where she was still working.

She stood up as she saw him and came to face him.

“I…I am…” she tried to say.

“You’re not ready for this!” he said.

“No.” she replied simply.

“I ask for too much!” he said.

“I think so.” She agreed.

“So this is it?” he asked.

She looked at him briefly.

“Yeah!” she replied.

“We’re breaking up!” concluded Julian.

“We’re breaking up!” she repeated.

He walked towards her closely.

“We’re broken up!” he said.

“It’s done!” she confirmed.

He slowly leaned over and kissed her lovingly.

“Break up kiss!” he informed.

“Break up kiss!” she agreed.

He kissed her again, with more passion this time. He took off his jacket, undid his pants and slid her skirt down.

“Some break up sex!” he said.

“Yeah, some break up sex!” she said throwing her arms around his neck.

He went on kissing her and took her to the couch in her office.




3rd March 2005

“That girl is killing me!” Marat said as he and Satine were walking down an empty site.

“Dasha?” she asked.

“I can’t let her drag me against my will to another damn posh social event!” he complained.

“She’s toying with you!” she noticed amused.

“This is not funny!” he said.

“This is so not like you!” Satine said.

“You’re gonna tell me where we’re going?” he asked pissed.

“Why does it always have to be about the destination?” Satine said “Why can’t it be about the journey?!”

“I’m wearing 3 hundred dollars shoes, so!” he said.

“Nice, is this your initial initiative?” she teased again.

“No!” he yelled “She made me buy them!”

“Told ya; so not like you!” she said amused.

“I hate to let her treat me like a puppy!” he whined.

“Julian and I are still having break up sex!” she informed.

“You’re still dropping all the feelings aside?” he asked.

“I believe we’re just in the physical part lately!” she said.

“Yeah, but your Julian is not the kind of guy who finds utter happiness only by making out with the same girl occasionally…” he was saying.

“Daily!” she corrected.

“Daily in an office or for little hours in a bedroom!” he said “Not that there’s anything wrong with that…” he was still saying.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I think break up sex is your way to run from reality; otherwise it seems funny!”

“No no no! “she said “What do you think of the view?”

“What am I looking at?” he asked.

“You are looking at the view from my communication and advertising firm!” she said proudly.

“Are you?” he asked surprised.

“Together with Julian!” she replied happily.

“Oh the break up sex story is so faked!” he said “He’s putting his feelings everywhere!”

“Who said it was his idea?” she countered “Maybe I’m the one using the break up sex to reach my goals!”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Wouldn’t be surprised though!” he said “But I’m giving you credit; are you?”

“No it was his idea!” she replied.

“See, break up sex is so fake!” he said laughing “He’s trying to show his love with gestures: It’s much more dangerous than words!”

“At least I don’t have to form words back!” she pointed out “I can deal with gestures!”

“Not when you’ll have to gesture back!” said Marat “This is the kind of commitment gesture! You’re screwed milaya!”

“Who’s really screwed?” she said mocking “Me who’s setting up my own firm? Or you; who’s stuck with a posh social events addict girlfriend, who makes you buy 3 hundred dollars shoes with which she drags you with her like a puppy?!”

He gave her a disgusted look.

“Why do you always have to be right?” he said upset.

“I have a degree from Harvard and my IQ is extremely high!” she said “Extremely high!”



17th April 2005

“I think you’ve never had that much fun in your life!” Satine said stretching her arms naked in bed “Much more than what we did on the 48 uninterrupted hours of sex last week!”

“You’re right! It was amazing!” Julian said kissing her nose.

“Amazing?” she replied surprised.

“Yes amazing!” he replied looking straight in her eyes.

He smiled and brushed aside a lock of her hairs.

“What is it?” she asked smiling.

“There are things you won’t let me say to you!” he replied still smiling.

“Come on!” she replied “You can say anything to me!”

He smiled and looked at her challenging.

“I wanna marry you, I wanna have kids with you, I wanna build a house. I wanna settle down and grow old with you! I wanna die when I’m all grey and sick in your arms, I don’t want 48 uninterrupted hours! I want a lifetime!” he said smiling “Humm…”

She was staring at him startled; totally.

“You see what happens?” he said amused “I say things like that and you run in the opposite direction! It’s okay; I understand. I didn’t, but now I do, I do! You’re 25 and you’re just getting started! I’m 34 and I’ve been doing this for a long time! Deep down; you’re still a baby girl and you’re not ready!”

“I’m not ready right now, but things could stay the way they are, and I can get ready! I’ll get ready!” she said.

“Things could stay the way they are; we can still meet in an office or the elevator, and maybe you’ll get ready! And I’ll wait; I’ll wait until you’re ready!”

“Ok then!” she replied smiling.

“I’ll wait because I love you; I’m so in love with you!” he said “I don’t know what’s so special in you, but it’s the way it is! It’s not just that beauty of yours, neither that extraordinary brain! It’s something I can’t define, but it’s still what makes me wait until you get ready for me, for us!”

“I feel it, and I struggle to say it…”

“I know you’ve never said those words back!” he declared “But it’s not a problem; I’m gonna wait because I know I’ll be the first one to hear them from you and it’s just worth waiting for!”

She caressed his face and kissed him passionately.

“Make love to me!” she requested.

“Love?” he demanded surprised.

“Love me the best way you can!” she said “And I’ll do it back to you!”

He got lost in her emerald eyes and kissed her to take her breath away. He leaned over her, took control of her shoulders and legs, and loved her all night long with all the love he had inside.

[Dina]

Chapter 5

19th July 2005


“I’m so sorry!” Satine said hugging Marat in his Miami apartment.

“I’ve done it twice already; I can do it once again!” he replied.

“Sure you can!” she said encouraging him “But you’re not gonna have the surgery, are you?”

“No, I took your advice!” he replied “I’ll try to heal it the long way! We never know what could happen during surgery!”

“Exactly honey!” she said “You’ll see, your knee’s gonna be perfect again, and you’ll return to the top rankings again in no time!”

He sighed loudly and gave her a sad look.

‘”I know it’s not easy for you; but maybe you’ll be back in time and nobody would have taken the top from you!” she said “But whatever happens; your health is the most important! Whatever happens you’ll climb the rankings again; you’ve already done it!”

“I know!” he replied.

“All right!” she said smiling “You want me to pick up your Dasha from the airport?”

“No it’s okay!” he said “I’ll do it, I can drive!”

“Good, when you guys will be here; bring her I’m cooking Lasagnas!” she said smiling.

He gave her an overwhelmed loving look so she bursted out in laughters.

“It’s Lasagnas!” she said amused “I’m not giving you a kidney!”

“I love you!” he said kissing her on the lips the way they do “You’re the best friend ever!”

“I so know!” she said amused as he was leaving “And Marat!”

“What?” he said returning.

“For God’s sake go cut those curls!” she begged “You’re about to start making ponytails!”

“I might one day get bald like dad, and before it happens I wanna see how I’d look like with long hairs!” he said.

“Look, I seriously doubt you’d ever turn bald!” she said “But if you don’t cut them; no Lasagnas for you, ever!”

He gave her a horrified look.

“You are a mean person!” he said outraged.

“You look like one of the Bee Gees!” she said.

“You look like….you look like….oh your hairs are wonderful” he said desperate.

“I know!” she replied smiling as he left mumbling.




21st August 2005


“I think you’re a genius!” Julian told Satine while they were both naked in bed and she was reading to him her ideas for a new campaign with glasses on “You are hot and brilliant; that makes you twice hotter!”

She giggled.

“Seriously!” she said amused.

“What?” he asked faking innocence.

“You have to say seriously!” she informed “Otherwise it’s not funny!”

“No I won’t!” he replied pulling her to him by her legs “I don’t wanna play the same games you play with Safin! I wanna play funnier and more exciting games!”

“Stop bringing up his name while we’re naked!” she replied laughing “It takes the desire away! And I’m very horny now!”

“Good stuff!” he said kissing her neck as she made a scream.

Suddenly her phone rang:

“Leave it ring!” he mumbled as she tried to reach it.

“It might be important!” she protested still giggling.

“It’s always important!” he said amused as he lied down on bed.

“Hey Dina!” said Satine cheerfully “I hope for you that it’s a death or life matter, because I’m so busy doing things now!”

As she spoke she was laughing because Julian was tickling her and kissing her back all the way down.

“It is!” Dina said seriously.

“Is Marat okay?” asked Satine worried.

“It’s not him; it’s Lionia!” she said crying a bit.

“What’s wrong with Leonid?” she asked scared.

“He’s gone Sissy!” she said sobbing “He’s dead!”

Satine dropped the phone and stared blankly.

Julian picked up the phone and tried to get the details from Dina.

“He had an accident with his motorbike tonight!” she said “He slid under a truck!”

“Jesus!” whispered Julian “That’s horrible!”

“Let me talk to her!” said Satine as she quickly regained her composure.

“I want details!” she asked her before she turned to Julian “Can you please find me a flight for Moscow?”

“You want me to come with ya?” he asked.

“No it’s okay!” she replied “You have important work here; we can’t both leave town!”

“It’s your friend Siss…I can be there for you!” he said holding her hand “You are more important for me than work!”

“You’re sweet but Lionia was more Marat’s friend than mine!” she replied going to the bathroom “Just try to book me a place in a flight quickly, please!”

He looked at her disappearing in the shower thoughtful.


22nd August 2005

“Hey!” said Satine as she saw Denis waiting for her in the airport “You okay?”

“I’m coping!” he replied with a sad smile “Marat sent me to pick you up because he’s gone with Leonid’s mom to pick up a coffin!”

“Yeah?” she said surprised “How’s he doing?”

He smiled.

“A bit like you now; you guys always like to stay tough, supporting everyone!” he said “You don’t wanna be weak when everyone’s around you break apart!”

“It’s not like that you know that!” she said.

“Huh!” he replied putting her suitcase in the trunk.

“Whatever!” she sighed “I complain Julia; you’re a pain in the ass!”

He laughed and hugged her.

“We missed ya here!” he said.

“I know; I’m so priceless!” she replied.

“I know you missed us too!” he said smiling.

She just smiled back and they drove to the Safin’s house silently.




“Hey sweetheart!” Rauza said as Satine walked in the house with Denis.

“Hey!” she replied hugging her back.

Since her mother died; Satine used to consider Rauza like another mother because of the great affection and love she showed her ever since she knew her and particularly after her mother’s death.

She also liked Satine because she spontaneously considered her as another daughter and liked her to gather with the family on several occasions with Marat.

“How did you cope?” she asked Satine.

“I’m coping!” she replied with a strong smile.

“Well I’m not!” replied Rauza sincerely “I so used to have him here around diner! Especially since Marat got injured! He really was like a son to me!”

“I know!” Satine said caressing Rauza’s face lovingly “Life usually takes us by surprise, but we should be able to stand the losses even as great as this one!”

“You’re right sweetheart!” she replied “But still!”

“Where’s Marat?” Satine asked concerned.

“He’s not back yet!” she replied “But soon! Come have something to eat and drink; your flight was very long!”



About an hour after, Marat arrived at his parent’s house.

He walked into the kitchen and saw Satine having an intense conversation with his mother and sister.

He stood in front of her and fiercely embraced her.

“You okay?” she asked concerned.

“I’m okay!” he whispered to her “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there at the airport!”

She gave him a look:

“Don’t be silly Marat!” she said “I perfectly understand!”

“You look tired!” he noticed.

“Jet lag.” She informed “By the way; you’ve cut your hair!”

“You were right; it made me look like one of the Bee Gees!” he replied smiling.

He sat and joined them around tea; he told them how Lionia’s mother was coping and how hard it was for her to get through the funeral’s details.

“I was forgetting; where’s Julian?” he asked her.

“I told him it was unnecessary to come with me!” she replied sipping from her tea.

He gave her an amused look.

“One of my best friends just died; but I can’t help thinking how frozen bitch you are!” he said.

She gave him a look.

“One of my best friends just died; but I can’t help thinking how arrogant asshole you are!” she replied with a defiant look.

“You people can’t help your nature!” said Rauza disbelieving “Not even on one of your best friends grief!”

They looked at each other and kept silence for a while.

Minutes later they were left alone in the kitchen.

“I realized something!” Marat said suddenly cutting the silence off.

“Did you?” she asked simply.

“I’ve never thought about losing a one of you!” he said “Leonid left us without warning….”

“People leave without warning!” she said staring blankly at the swing in the garden through the kitchen’s window.

“Yeah, but I’ve never thought I could lose you someday!” he said making her face him.

“Neither did I!” she said.

“He was the guy I could come to when you treated me like crap!” he said.

“I used to call him when I treated you like crap!” she said thoughtful “He was the bridge during the storm between us!”

“So why are we still pretending to be strong enough to deal graciously with his departure?” he asked disbelieving.

“Because we are tougher!” she said “We’ve always been!”

He gave her a look.

“And what if we’re tired to be?” he asked “Why can’t we let ourselves go for once?!”

“Other people do count on us!” she replied “We mustn’t fall apart when others do!”

“Never do this with me!” he demanded “Because I can’t do it with you!”

“You know me.” She said “Sometimes I just need time to let myself go even to you! But eventually I always do, only with you!”

He gave her a warm look and held her hand tightly for a long time.


On the funeral; Marat and Satine looked like those red guards at the entry of Buckingham Palace; unattainable and stoic. Both with sunglasses on to hide their emotions, they stood the whole ceremony holding each others hand. From time to time one of them used to tight the grip because of the fear to fall apart and finally look like real human beings.





24th August 2005

“When is your flight?” Marat asked Satine in his apartment.

“At 7pm!” she replied.

They kept silence for a moment.

“Did you have a row with Dasha?” she asked.

“No…not really!” he replied.

She considered him for a moment and smiled.

“Whatever!” she said amused “Just fix it!”

“Yeah!” he replied “How’s your Julian? You’ve had him on the phone this week?”

She frowned and smiled.

“What kind of person do you think I am?” she asked irritated.

“A frozen bitch who breaks men hearts!” he said smiling.

She threw her sweater on him.

“Alright!” he said laughing “You’re just a frozen bitch!”

“You are cureless!” she said upset “I am a nice person!”

“Of course you are!” he replied wrapping his arm around her “You’re the most generous and kindest soul I know; but only with strangers!”

“This is so not true!” she replied offended “Your mother, your sister and all your friends love me! Everybody thinks I’m a sweet girl!”

“Sure!” he replied “Every one but the guys you get laid with! And me of course!”

“I’m very often nice to you moron!” she countered “If you really care to know; I’ve talked to him every day since I arrived! And he’ll pick me up from the airport!”

Marat looked stunned.

“Oh Lord!” he said amused “You are letting him get into your life! You are so right; miracles do happen!”

“I hate you!” she said throwing her purse on him.

With that he attacked her with tickles until she bent down laughing.

At that moment Dasha walked in. She first stood at the kitchen’s door and looked at them having fun. They seemed to share such an intimacy and affinity that she thought Marat would never share with her.


“Hey dorogaya!” he said spotting Dasha “You got my message!”

“Yeah…I did!” she said slowly “We should be going, the restaurant doesn’t keep reservations after time!”

“You’re right!” he replied. He then faced Satine “What did you say you were doing tonight?”

“Humm…me, your mom, Dina and Julia are having a girls night!” she said “Before I leave!”

“Ok have fun!” he said kissing her.

He kissed her lightly on the mouth like they always do; a thing which used to bother Dasha amongst a lot of other things.

She felt slightly neglected and offended; none of the girls thought of inviting her for that girl’s night. She hoped Rauza could at least have thought of inviting her, she wanted so much to get the same esteem she bared for Satine. Not to talk about the love.


“You are so silent!” Marat noticed while he was driving back from the restaurant.

“Yeah…kind of feeling sleepy!” she said slowly.

“I know how to wake you up once we’ll be home!” he replied deviously.

“I’d rather prefer if you drop me at my place!” she said “I’m not in a mood tonight!”

He pulled over.

“Ok; what’s wrong?” he asked calmly “Don’t say it’s fine because I know it is not! You’ve acted weird the whole week!”

“This is nothing; really!” she replied smiling.

“Sweetheart, tell me!” he said softly “You can tell me anything!”

“I just feel like…your people don’t like me!” she whispered sadly.

He looked startled.

“What?” he said disbelieving “What makes you think that?”

“Marat…don’t fool me!” she said.

“I swear I’m not!” he said amused “Is it something particular or just a feeling?”

“Well…they are not very….warm to me!” she said “Why for example didn’t they invite me for their girls evening?”

He looked amused and caressed her cheek.

“Actually, you were!” he said smiling “I said you were having dinner with me! Besides I didn’t think you’d wanna go!”

She gave him an embarrassed look.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t know!” she replied coldly.

“Why do I have the feeling that this isn’t all?” he said.

“No this is all!” she said.

“Baby?” he demanded.

“You’ll think I’m crazy and over reacting and making up my mind for nothing!” she replied.

“You probably are, but try me!” he said.

“It’s about Satine….she…you and her….you guys are very….close!” she mumbled.

He considered her calmly.

“What do you mean?” he asked perplex.

“There’s that heat and connection between both of you….there’s nothing like that between you and me!” she said.

“But sweetheart; I know Satine since I was 14! “he said laughing “She’s my best friend! It’s normal!”

“So there’s nothing between you guys; right?”

“Trust me; there’s nothing!” he replied amused “And believe me; there’s no risk something would ever happen! Ever!”

He sounded so disgusted by the idea of him and Satine that it reassured her.

[Dina]

Chapter 6

11th October 2005

“How important for you is it to go to Tatarstan?” Dasha asked Marat.

“Honey, I wanna get to discover my roots!” he replied “It’s important for me! Besides, I’m invited to get there, I have to go!”

“But you won’t be too long I hope!” she said “We had that party to attend and we have to be there! I’ll be able to find people to sponsor my gallery!”

“You know; Satine can always help you with that!” Marat replied making her sit on his lap “Aside her professional experience, she knows a lot of people and has a good eye for arts!”

“You’re right!” she replied smiling “I’d be thankful if she could gimme a hand!”

“I’ll let her know!” he said satisfied.

“By the way; when is your meeting with the doctor?” she asked.

“In about two hours!” he replied “You wanna come with me?”

She made a face.

“You know me and the hospitals…” she started.

“Never mind!” he replied “It’s just a check up! I’m gonna leave now; I promised mom to stop by!”

“Ok!” she replied reluctant “Call me!”

“Sure!” he replied lightly kissing her before he left.



“Hey!” Marat replied on his phone.

“How was your meeting with the doc?” Satine asked.

“Gotta say it was positive!” he replied cheerfully “He’s optimistic I’ll be fit for next year!”

“The knee’s getting better?” she asked.

“Yeah thanks to God!” he replied satisfied.

“Does it hurt you still?” she asked concerned.

“Lightly, but it doesn’t happen often!” he replied “It’s more bothering but it should get better from now to the next season.”

“Certainly!” she replied confident “So how’s your day so far?”

“It’s ok!” he replied uncertain.

“Why do I get doubt through your voice?” she asked teasing.

“I’m perfect!” he replied “Don’t start being a pain in the ass!”

“There you go!” she teased “I care about you and you treat me with all nouns!”

“Doesn’t work with me the whining McAllister!” he informed.

“You suck!” she replied.

“So do you!” he said.

“You call me back?” she asked.

“Sure!” he replied “I love you bitch!”

“I love you jackass!” she replied.





15th October 2005

“I hate video conferences!” Julian claimed as he came back home late.

“How did it go with the Japanese?” Satine asked walking out of the kitchen.

“I had the weird feeling they’d preferred if you dealt with them instead!” he replied smiling as he kissed her “You are so good sucking up old rich asses!”

“I’m perfect that’s right!” she replied kissing him back.

“I know my luck!” he said “I’m a lucky bastard because you chose me!”

“You do know your luck!” she agreed “You hungry?”

“Of you?” he teased “Always!”

“I was referring to the duck I’ve cooked with love for you!” she replied.

“Oohh that!” he said leading her to the couch.

“I see you have a determined idea in mind!” she noticed.

“I’m a determined man who gets everything he wants!” he said “Absolutely everything!”

“We’ll see about that!” she replied.

As he was taking her blouse off, she recalled a little detail:

“Oh wait!” she said energetically “You made sure your assistant sent the Connors file to Detroit today?”

“This is your idea of a sexy talk?” he teased.

“No, I’m serious!” she said.

“What Connors file?” he asked stunned.

“Please tell me this is one of your jokes that you do but I don’t get!” she said.

“What joke?” he asked smiling.

“Like the one when you put the phone in your pants and talk!” she said.

He considered her, remembered and laughed.

“This isn’t funny! That file absolutely had to go out today!” she said upset.

“Sissy what file?” he said lost “You didn’t give me any today!”

“The one I gave you after lunch!” she replied standing up “I put it on your desk!”

“You didn’t!” he countered confident.

“Yes I did!” she replied upset “I even put a little posted on it that said ‘MUST GO OUT TODAY’ and I underlined today three times and then I put a little heart in the corner, cause I didn’t wanna seem too bossy!”

“I’m telling you; you never gave it to me!” he insisted.

“You know what Jule? If we went down to the office you would see that file sitting on your desk!” she said confident.

“No! I would see you looking embarrassed because it is not on my desk!” he replied sure.

“Or maybe I would see you embarrassed because you didn’t notice a file on your desk while I’ve spent the evening cooking a duck for you!” she countered.

“You wanna go down to the office right now?” he asked challenging.

“No come on it’s too late! I don’t wanna go down to the office!” she replied.

He considered her for a second and sat back on the couch.

“Yeah I understand!” he replied “I wouldn’t wanna be proved wrong either!”

“Oh come on get your coat!” she said heading to the door.

She suddenly stopped and tried to fix her bra.

“When did you unhook this?” she asked impressed “Nice work!”

“I master that too!” he replied pleased with himself.



“Dasha?” Marat asked as they were both in bed.

“She’s sleeping!” Dasha replied.

“I know, just quick question quick question!” he said “Which one was Spiderman? And which one was Armageddon?”

“Spiderman was the one with Tobey McGuire and Armageddon is what’s gonna happen to you if you wake me up!”

“It’s just that I can’t sleep!” he said annoyed.

He turned the lights on.

“Where’s that book that you were reading with the two women who are ice skating and wearing those hats with flowers on it?” he asked “Because every time I look at that cover I’m like snoring!”

“It’s in the living room where there’s also light and no one who’ll kick you in the foot!” she replied.

He looked at her lost.

“What?” he asked.

She kicked him in the foot.

“Ouch!” he said getting out of the bed.





“Hey!” Julian said “You’re free to look! I told you that file is not on this desk!”

“How could you possibly know?” Satine replied “Look at this mess Julian! That’s what I’m talking about; you have to be more organized! You got newspapers, you got magazines…oh…and who is this chippy?”

She was holding a girl’s picture in her hand.

“A little young for you Julian!” she added amused “But whatever!”

“It’s my sister!” he replied amused”You’d have known, if you’ve accepted to meet my family last week! Or even accepted that diner with your father who by the way I feel like I’ll never be introduced to!”

She gave him a look.

“Anyway! Start looking because you’re gonna find that file on your desk!” she said and left for her office.

“So again, when do you imagine you gave it to me?” he asked from his office to hers “In the morning or in the afternoon?”

“In the afternoon! Stewart came into my office after lunch; he put it on my desk! Then I put a posted on it that said…MUST GO OUT TODAY!” she said holding the file in question which she actually found on her desk.

She stared at it in consideration.

“So you just keep looking in there alright?!” she said.


Seconds later she got into Julian’s office.

“Not here!” he said.

“Puzzler!” she replied faking surprise “Bit of a puzzle! Why don’t you check in the coffee room? Maybe you’ve left it there?”

“How can I possibly leave it in the coffee room?” he asked disbelieving.

“Maybe it’s because you wander with papers and files in your hands all around the building all day long!”

He gave her a look.

“I don’t know either how your genitals can make phone calls!” she pointed out “It’s not a perfect world! Just go, please!”

“Fine!” he said leaving.

“Thank you!” she replied smiling mischievously.

As he left; she took the file of her coat and put it in the bottom drawer of his desk.

She also put the phone on her boobs.

“Hello?” she said to her boobs “I still don’t get that joke!”


Ten minutes later…

“Hey!” she said getting into his office again “Got you some coffee! So you got anything for me?”

“Still no luck!” he replied smiling deviously.

“Did you check your entire desk?” she asked “Did you check all the drawers?”

“You want me to check again?” he replied.

“Yeah I wish you would!” she said confident.

He started opening the drawers and looking but he found nothing.

“How about that drawer?” she asked referring to the bottom one.

He opened it and there was nothing.

She stonily checked again.

“Well it’s not here!” he said “Is there any chance it could be in your office?”

She gave him a wondering look.

“I don’t know!” she replied lost “I mean; let me check!”

As she was on her way to the office she turned again to look at him still wondering what happened.

Walking in her office; she immediately saw the file on her desk quiet obvious.

“Any luck?” he asked from his office located metres away in front of hers.

“Can I see you in my office for a minute?” she asked upset.

“Yeah!” he said walking in “You’ve found it! You know; I’m not even gonna glow! I’m just relieved….”

“You put this on my desk!” she declared.

“I did not!” he replied lying with quiet a dare.

“Oh really?!” she replied “So you’re saying it just slid out of your bottom drawer, crawled down the floor and jumped on my desk?”

“How did you know it was in my bottom drawer?” he asked suspicious.

She gave him a look.

“I am so hot for you right now!” she said.

“Totally!” he agreed clearing her desk and laying her down it.

“Too bad for the duck!” she said.

“Too bad!” he replied undressing her “By the way; you really have to hire assistants! Stop using mine; we should avoid confusions in the future!”

“I hate assistants!” she replied.

“You’re hotter when you whine!” he affirmed.



16th October 2005

“Hello; where’s Miss McAllister?” a boy asked accompanied by two girls.

“Why?” asked Stewart the projects chief “You wanna throw a look at your death like?”

“We are the new assistants she hired.” replied one of the girls.

“End of the hall!” he said.


“That’s our new boss?” said the other girl.

“She’s hot!” said the boy.

“Hey!” said one of the girls to Satine tending her the hand “I’m Allison Humphrey, but everyone calls me Ally!”

Satine looked at her hand and considered the three of them.

“I have five rules memorize them!” said Satine “Rule number one: Don’t bother sucking up; I already hate you that’s not gonna change! Rule number two: business work is 24/7 it only stops when you are in grave! You answer every page and you do it in a run! A run: that’s rule number two! Every customer’s name must be memorized in your little brains! You treat them with respect and make them feel like they’re kings of the world and you’re slaves under their feet! When I let you know; feel free to treat them like crap! Rule number three: You’re my assistants, you are nothing, and you’re nobody! You work for me and you represent me; only! Which brings me to rule number four: if my office door is locked, closed; don’t try to open it, don’t try to knock! When you can’t see me working on my desk it means you mustn’t disturb me! And I don’t care if the sky is falling on your stupid heads! We clear?”

The boy raised his hand for a question.

“Yes!” Satine replied already annoyed.

“You said five rules, that was only four!”

“The job I ask you to do, the orders I give you: everything must be done; everything must be perfect! If you make a single mistake; you’re not fired; you’re gonna live beyond Hell with me! It must freak you out because it’s already Hell that you’re gonna have with me! Failure is not acceptable! In business when you fail you lose! Here we mustn’t lose!” she said seriously “And oh; my morning coffee with cream, no vanilla and no sugar! I don’t care who brings it to me; but it has to be on my desk at 8am exactly! Clear?”

They all nodded shaking.

“Nice to have you on board!” she said locking herself into her office.

“She’s…she’s…hot!” said the boy.




22nd October 2005

Inside the hot tube; Satine and Julian were enjoying a bubbles bath together surrounded by candles.

“How does it feel?” Julian asked kissing her neck.

“What?” she asked her eyes closed.

“To be ‘The Business Woman Of The Year’?” he asked.

“It only means that business people know exactly how smart I am!” she replied relaxing more.

“Humm…we should go celebrate you tonight!” he said biting her ear.

“We already are!” she replied “Celebrate me more like that!”

“I’ll pick you after work!” he replied “Be ready!”

She turned to face him.

“I like you even more when you boss me around!” she said kissing him “I predict you we are going to be late for work today!”

“Are we?” he asked putting her legs around him.

“Absof£%&$!&lutely!” she replied smiling deviously.

“You’ll get me a note then!” he murmured amused.

“You don’t need a note when you date your boss!” she said laughing.

“So it’s good that we are both the boss!” he replied.

“But I’m the real one!” she replied “Because I toy with you the way I want to!”

“You woman have the power!” he said “Anyhow; your body and eyes do!”

“Every tool is decent!” she said drowning him into the water.






“Oh come on brat!” said Marat annoyed to his sister on the phone “Clear me out of this diner! Make up something for mom!”

“Like if she ever buys anything about you I make up!” Dinara replied “I won’t, okay? Be a responsible grown up!”

On that note she hung up on him.

“I can’t believe she just did that!” he mumbled.

At that moment Marat spotted Dima who finished his practice walking towards him with his tennis bag on the shoulder.

“You are not gonna believe what Dina just did to me!” Marat said.

“Humm…a kid is looking for you!” Dima said.

“A kid?” Marat repeated surprised.

“Daddy?” a kid said to Marat.

“What?” Marat said stunned.

“You were so right!” said the kid laughing to Dima.

“Nicely done!” Dima replied giving the kid money.

“I’ll be getting you back for this!” Marat said relieved.

“Looking forward to it!” Dima replied amused “Meanwhile you could use a picture with the kid, and perhaps an autograph?”

After Marat gave some attention to his fan they both headed to a restaurant for diner.


“I can’t believe you won’t play DC semis with us either!” Dima said upset “We are so gonna lose! We never make it without you when we play abroad!”

“I’m really flattered man!” Marat replied “But now you make it sound like you’re hitting on me!”

“You are useless Safin!” Dima replied upset.

“Sorry!” Marat replied “I kinda hang out too much with people with wicked minds!”

“I take that as a compliment!” Dima said smiling.

“Do that!” Marat agreed.

“So how’s your knee?” Dima asked “Are you ever gonna come back?”

“According to my doctors I might be ready for the AO!” Marat said.

“That’s cool; you’ll be able to defend your oh so glorious title!” Dima teased.

“You are too blond to be true!” Marat said.

“Now who’s hitting on whom?” Dima pointed out.




“Just send it Stanford!” Satine said “I want this contract to be signed yesterday, not today!”

She hung up and took a deep breath.

Suddenly the lift’s gates opened to reveal Julian beaming.

“Ah that’s the hottest businesswoman alive!” he said.

“Long! Long and bad day!” she informed “How did I do to surround myself with total morons! How can a freaking assistant forget to send a contract to the customer? I always said assistants are not to trust; but you kept telling me to delegate and….”

He made her shut by a breath taking kiss.

“I missed you today!” he finally said.

She smiled and gave him a comprehensive look.

“Gosh Siss!” he whispered “I hate that you are so beautiful…”

“That’s new!” she replied amused.

“Your eyes are confusing….I wanna say something….I need to tell….” He mumbled before sighing giving up.

“Speak!” she gently said caressing his lower lip “You can say anything to me…anything!”

He looked at her with sparkling eyes and smiled.

“You might wanna kill me after!” he warned.

“Probably…but I take the risk!” she replied.

“You didn’t even trust me with your feelings….” He protested “I can’t wait until we reach the restaurant…”

“Julian; speak!” she demanded.

“Satine I love you….marry me!” he asked “Marry me!”

She looked at him astonished. Suddenly she smiled:

“I…I…love you!” she confessed; finally!

He put his finger on her lowest lip and pressed it.

“God! It sounds even better than what I’ve imagined!” he whispered beaming “Is it a ‘yes’?”

She looked at him confident.

“Yes.” She replied calmly.

He looked stunned. How on earth could she be so confident and sure? Is that the same woman?

“What is it?” she asked amused “Is my answer troubling you? You hoped for another one maybe?”

He laughed and shook his head.

“Finally!” he said “I’ve melt your ice!”

“You did!” she replied sincerely.

“I love you!” he said kissing her.

“I love you too!” she replied amused “I don’t understand why it was so hard to say before!”

He smiled and caressed her cheek.

“The main thing is that it’s left your pretty mouth!” he replied.

As he said that he took out of his jacket pocket a black velvet box.

As he opened it a huge sparkling diamond dazzled her.

“Is that a reward for my answer?” she teased.

“Kind of!” he replied laughing before he slid it in her finger.

They walked together out of the building heading to his car which was brought out of the parking lot.

“Where are we going anyway?” Satine asked as they got into the car.

“Diner!” he replied laughing “God! I meant the proposal to be so romantic! I just couldn’t wait!”

“Never mind; I liked it anyway!” she reassured him.

“Good to know I didn’t spoil your lifetime proposal dream!” he said laughing.

“Like if I ever had a one!” she replied “Damn it!”

“What is it?” he asked.

“Forgot my briefcase in my office!” she replied “It contains the copy contract with IBM!”

“I wanted to check it again!” Julian informed.

“It will take me five to get it!” she said.

“Don’t bother…I’ll get it for you!” he said “Where is it?”

“The left drawer of my desk!” she informed.

“You got it!” he replied smiling.

He leant over to kiss her and left the car.

As Satine was checking her mails; she heard a sudden and violent car crash.

She turned her face and saw a man in the middle of the road lying in his blood.

Scanning the crash scene; she noticed the man’s grey suit and a black velvet box next to him that dropped from his jacket.

In horror she realised that the man was no one but Julian.

[Dina]

Chapter 7

23rd October 2005


3:17am


The doors swung open as Marat stormed into the hospital. He received hours ago a call from Blair Archibald one of Satine’s very good friends; she told him what happened.

“Hello!” he said stifling “Please, I’m looking for my best friend, her boyfriend was hit by a car; Julian Brandon!”

The nurse looked at the tall handsome man standing in front of her; he looked exhausted and very worried.

“Humm…let me check his room number!” she replied politely.

“Thank you.” Marat said.

The nurse was going through her patients list knowing exactly what room Julian was, who he was, who was the young man’s best friend and the medical state of his best friend’s boyfriend.

“Room 175 sir!” she replied.

“Thanks!” Marat said storming into the stairs because the elevators were sill late.


As he arrived the floor where Julian was supposed to be; he noticed a woman of a certain age crying surrounded by a young woman and her supposed to be husband.

He walked towards them and saw Blair standing at the door of the room in front of them next to a guy he never saw before.

As he walked into the room; Marat saw Satine lying on the bed next to Julian’s dead body.

“I forgot my briefcase in my desk’s left drawer!” she whispered “It contained the IBM’s copy contract…the contract had to be signed….”

“Satine!” Marat whispered.

“I wanted to go back to the office but he proposed to go instead!” she said “He went instead of me! He always tried to please me! I didn’t please him enough!”

“Satine sweetheart; let them take care of his…” Marat tried to say.

“His corpse?” she asked.

“Yes.” He replied softly.

“I said it Marat!” she informed “I didn’t even shake or sweat! I said it and it sounded so true when I heard it said!”

“Milaya!” Marat protested gently.

“I said it twice….only twice!” she said sadly “It’s not enough times…not enough!” she said slowly.

“Siss, you can’t stay here!” Blair said “I know you want to but we have to clean the room!”

“Can you please…please, just get out?” Satine replied “I wanna be alone with Julian!”

“Satine….Julian’s gone!” Marat said softly.

“Shut up!” she countered.

“Milaya he’s gone!” Marat said standing beside her “The minute his soul left his body; he died! I know you love him, but he also loved you! A guy who loved you like that wouldn’t have wanted you to do this to yourself! And he is not alive; not anymore!”

She raised her watering eyes to Marat.

“Hours ago he was proposing… and now…now he’s gone!” she said bitterly “Isn’t that absurd? Isn’t that the most absurd piece of crap you’ve ever heard?!”

She suddenly bursted into tears; painfully clinging herself to Julian’s corpse.

Gently; Marat carried her in his arms and took her out of the room.

“Get us a cab please!” Marat murmured to Blair.

Now clinging herself to Marat; she let herself carry out of the hospital and got into a cab.

“The Hilton Hotel please!” Marat told the driver.

“I can’t breathe Marat!” Satine said.

As she buried her face into his neck; Marat softly kissed her hair and cheek trying to reassure her.

“I’m here milaya!” he said “You’re gonna be fine!”


Satine cried for a couple hours more until she fell asleep; exhausted in her best friend’s arms.




2:118pm

Satine woke up in an empty bed alone in the room. She felt exhausted from last night’s drama; her eyes were still sore from all the crying. She wandered around the suite and found a note from Marat where he said he’d be back soon.

She decided meanwhile to get a shower.

After she finished, she looked in Marat’s closet for something to put on from his clothes; she smiled as she found one pair of her jeans and one of her black tops. She realised that Marat has already been to her apartment.

As she sat by a window giving on a park she watched mothers playing with their kids, pushing strollers around the green space.

As she was absorbed by those happy images she realized she was touching the engagement ring in her finger. A flow of emotion took control of her. This time it was anger; she was angry at life again. Life was taking happiness from her again.

As she was getting to her own conclusions; the suite door opened to reveal Marat.

“Morning milaya!” he said smiling softly.

She nodded and stared him down.

“You’ve been awake for long?” he asked standing next to her.

“About an hour.” She replied coldly still staring through the window.

“I think it might be late for breakfast; you wanna go have lunch?” he asked caressing her forearm.

“No I don’t.” she replied calmly.

“Ok, if you want we can eat at the hotel restaurant or even get room service!” he proposed.

“No. I have to go to work.” She said “The IBM contract must have been signed I have to meet with the board and the associates.”

He sighed loudly and looked at her startled as she was walking through the living room.

“Would you stop just one second?” he demanded following her.

“I told you I need to get to work.” She replied calmly “If you can’t give me a lift I’ll take a cab!”

As she was dialling the cabs company he stood in the middle of the place staring at her.

“You might need to slow down.” He informed as calmly.

“In business you can’t slow down!” she replied “I f you ever do; you lose! You never should lose!”

“Satine…” he protested.

“Marat don’t.” she said still keeping her cool.

“Don’t you wanna talk about it?” he asked disbelieving.

“What’s the point?” she replied as she lost her cool “What’s the point? Do you think if we talk about a dead guy he’s gonna come back?! You’ve said it yourself Julian’s gone! He’s just gone so there’s no point discussing it like if it was a social issue!”

He looked at her silent.

“I don’t pretend to know why such a dramatic thing does happen; but I do know that talking about it would make you feel better!” he replied.

“Better?” she repeated disgusted “Do you think I care about feeling better? The guy who proposed to me yesterday just died! Do you think talking about his dead would make me feel better? It’s not what I care about!”

As she said those words she headed to the door and left. He ran after her and caught her in the elevator.

He firmly held her by the arms and made her face him.

“It’s okay to be sad! It’s okay to be desperate or angry!” he said “It’s just not okay to pretend that you are not feeling these things and most certainly not okay that you are not facing them!”

“Let go of me!” she ordered trying to release herself from his tight grip.

“No!” he said firmly.

“I said let me go!” she screamed.

“No!” he replied more firmly “I said no! You are my best friend, my family! I’m here for you! I’m not leaving! Stop running away from your grief!”

“I hate you!” she said weakly.

“No you don’t!” he replied hugging her against her will.

“I do!” she replied crying “You don’t wanna let me be….I so wanna be….”

“It’s okay!” he whispered “I’m here; you’re gonna be fine milaya!”

“Marat I wanna die!” she said in a sob “I wanna die!”

“It’s okay sweetheart, it’s okay!” he whispered to her gently.

“I…actually I said…yes!” she said crying.

“What?”

“I said yes to his proposal!” she said in a broken voice “I so wanted to marry him and I didn’t even know I wanted to!”

His heart wrung as he heard that. He just realized that she’d have married Julian if he wasn’t dead.

He just didn’t understand why he was feeling bad about that. After all he just wanted her to be happy and Julian was making her happy.

As he looked at her distraught face; his heart wrung even harder. She was the person he cherished the most in the world; he just couldn’t stand to see her so miserable.

He carried her in his arms and took her back to the suite.

He sat on the couch and held her again in his arms, letting her cry all the tears of her eyes.



25th October 2005


Marat and Blair were in Satine’s place packing all her stuffs as well as Julian’s. Satine didn’t want to stay in the loft; she wanted it to get free.

“Is she gonna stay in the Hilton forever?” Blair asked Marat.

“Of course not!” he replied smiling “Since AMC Group’s headquarter is located here in Chicago; she’ll have to find a new place to stay in!”

“Why doesn’t she move in with me?” Blair suggested “My loft is even bigger than this one! She could use some company now….”

“That’s an excellent idea!” Marat agreed “I reckon she won’t be eager to look for a new place now! And I’d prefer if she doesn’t stay on her own!”

As he said that the door bell rang.

“Who could that be?” Blair said.

“I have no idea!” he replied heading to the entry.

As he opened the door he was surprised to see who was standing in front of him:

A tall man of a certain age with white hairs in a classy dark blue tux.

“Hello Marat.” said the man smiling “I didn’t know you were in Chicago”

“I didn’t know you were in Chicago either sir!” Marat replied with a voice full of unhidden sarcasm.

“How are you doing?” the man asked “I think I’ve heard somewhere you got injured this year!”

“Indeed!” Marat replied coldly “I’m actually here to help Satine out; what are you here for?”

“I’m here to see her!” he replied defensively “She didn’t give me a living sign for days; she was supposed to be in Miami yesterday to help out my team with some communication issues! Since she isn’t answering her phone, I called her office where I got the sad news! When is the funeral?”

Marat considered him for a little moment.

“Tomorrow.” He replied annoyed.

“Well that’s a good thing that I came!” Edward said “Me being absent from Miami to help my daughter for a couple of days; won’t do much harm to the city!”

“Why are you here Edward?” Marat asked unconvinced “Don’t you think that your coming is inappropriate?”

“For God’s sake why would it be?” he asked offended “A daughter needs her father when her boyfriend dies!”

“You didn’t even know him!” Marat countered.

“Whose fault is that?” Edward pointed out “She never introduced him to me!”

“How surprising is that?” Marat said “With all due respect Mr. McAllister; I think you should leave!”

“Don’t you dare kick me out of my daughter’s?!” Edward said furious.

“I dare because I know you’ll hurt her again!” Marat said “I believe she’s bad enough; she doesn’t need you too!”

“Why would you think I’ll hurt her?” Edward asked “When did I ever?”

Marat laughed nervously:

“Seriously?” Marat said “You don’t know how miserable you made your daughter throughout years?”

“What are you talking about?” Edward said “Sissy never was miserable because of me; or anyone else by the way!”

“Stop fooling yourself Senator!” Marat replied “Go back to your home and your job!”

“I don’t allow you to talk to me like that!” Edward protested.

“And I don’t allow you to hurt Satine’s feelings again!” Marat countered “You are here only because you hope she’ll come back with you to Miami and manage your office in there!”

“She’ll be much better surrounded by her family!” Edward said.

“I’m her family!” Marat informed “You only are a presumed father who pushed his daughter to despair, bitterness and demolition! You are nothing like a family for her; you’ve never cared about her feelings, you’ve never paid attention to what she really wanted! She’s spent her lifetime doing what you wanted her to, trying to please you so maybe…maybe one day you’ll show her some affection or fatherhood love!”

Edward was startled.

“How dare you…” he tried to say.

“My advise for you Senator is that you leave town and leave Satine be in peace!” Marat threatened “I swear if you hurt her again; I’ll be the one to pay you back for it!”

“Who do you think you are young arrogant?” Edward replied lividly.

“I’m the one person who’s always been there for her and will always be!” Marat replied.

“Have you seen her life?” Edward replied “She’s an emotional mess!”

“Whose fault is that?” Marat countered “You don’t get to criticize her life! She gives no excuse for the way she tries to repair what you’ve broke in her life! You don’t get to point out her mistakes because you don’t have the right to; you’ve lost that right many years ago!”

Marat stopped and considered him for a moment.

“You know what?” he said again “If you really knew your daughter and what her life is like you’d have known she was starting to get happy! She was starting to fix herself! She finally found the man with whom she felt she belonged to life! If you were a real father; you’d knew she got engaged to him and an hour later she lost him! If you were a real father you’d want her to be happy and she wasn’t for a long time because of you!”

Edward was speechless.

“So you don’t get to criticize, you don’t get anymore to hurt her and you don’t get to rule her life because you are no good for her!”

As Marat said those latest words he opened the door for Edward.

“You’ve never came here!” Marat said “Get out of her life!”

Edward walked out furiously.

Suddenly Blair walked out of the bed room.

“You’ve done the right thing!” she said.

“Have I?” he replied unsure.

“She’s better off without him for sure!”

[Dina]

Chapter 8

22nd January 2006

“Why are you grinning like an idiot?” Dima asked Marat as they were changing in the lockers of Melbourne Park.

“You look like you’ve done something evil!” Igor said.

“Not at all!” Marat replied offended.

“You obviously got your way!” Misha pointed out “Tell us!”

“I’ve been contacted by the ATP people today; they want me to propose Satine a job with them again!”

“Again?” Igor said puzzled.

“Indeed! Years ago, she proposed to them the ‘New Balls Please Generation’ campaign. Back then they wanted to hire her but she turned them down!” he said smiling “She was just starting and she wanted to make herself a reputation in the field! Now they thought about her again. They are dying to hire her as the head of communication and marketing within the ATP Tour.”

“What’s the job exactly?” Dima asked curious.

“She’ll manage and supervise the ATP campaigns, the contract with the sponsors and the communication between players, fans and media!” Marat replied enthusiastic.

“It means she’ll be on tournaments throughout the year!” concluded Misha “You’ll be able to keep an eye on her all the time!”

“Take it as you want, I don’t care!” he replied “But yes; it’d be great if she could be with me more often! Especially after Julian….”

“I think she’s doing fine now; why don’t you just let her live again?!” Igor said “She’s a big girl; she doesn’t need you to hold her hand!”

Marat gave him a look.

“First: this is absolutely not the case; I’m not over trying to protect her! Second: I think it’d be a great thing for her career and for the ATP if she could help! And third: she never let me help her or hold her hand like you say; she’d break mine before she gives me hers!”

They all started laughing.

“True; Sissy is the most annoyingly smart and stubborn hot girl I’ve ever met!” Dima agreed “Sometimes she just makes me wanna cry out loud my frustration!”

They all laughed.

“Besides; I seriously doubt she’ll accept to work for the ATP while she is a CEO of her own firm! She’d never leave the direction of AMC Group to her vice-president!” Marat informed “She and Julian set up that firm; I don’t really see her abandoning it to strangers hands!”

“You’ll be able to ask her tomorrow when she will be here in Melbourne!” Misha said.



23rd January 2006

“Sweet Jesus Satine!” Dima exclaimed during diner “You can not be so categorical!”

“Why not?!” Satine replied smiling “It’s my opinion; respect it!”

“But you can’t say there are no good deeds that are selfless!” he replied disbelieving “She can’t say that!”

“Then, may I get one single example of a good deed which isn’t selfish!” she asked amused.

“Yeah, it's… Y'know there's…no you may not!” he replied frustrated “You are so annoying!”

Marat sounded disgusted by their conversation.

“That's because all people are selfish in a way or another!” she replied.

“Are you calling me selfish?” he asked slightly offended.

“Are you calling yourself people?” she replied amused but trying to push Dima to his edge.

Marat rolled his eyes again.

“Yeah, well sorry to burst that bubble Dima, but selfless good deeds don't exist!” she said enjoying every word of it “Okay?”

“Ok; let’s say I let a bee sting me!” he said victorious “Isn’t that a selfless good deed?”

“What?!” she replied disbelieving “What good is that gonna do anybody?”

“Well, it helps the bee look tough in front of his bee friends. The bee is happy and I am definitely not!” he replied smiling.

“Now, you know the bee will probably die after he stung ya.” She informed him “I’m right on so many things it would make your head spin!”

He looked startled.

“Eww damn it!” he said frustrated “You hot genius!”

She laughed out loud and turned her attention to Marat who was about to cry from despair.

“What’s new with you champ?” she asked smiling.

“Except the fact that I’m through the second week of a major though I’m just coming back from injury?” he said with sarcasm.

“Pretty much!” she replied laughing.

“I have news for ya….” He said introducing to her the new job he hoped she’ll take.

She considered her friend’s speech for a moment before she looked up at him.


“Who proposed this to me?” she asked.

“DeVilliers himself requested me to ask you.” Marat replied calmly sipping his diet coke.

“I don’t need to fool you or fool myself.” Satine said straight “It’s extremely attracting….it would give me the opportunity to travel around the world and it might be funnier than what I’ve been doing these latest years! Plus I’ve started getting bored and fed up with my current job….there’s absolutely nothing more challenging…..”

Marat was silently listening to her; deeply pleased with himself, but he wouldn’t show it to her; like always.

“So what you say?” he finally asked.

“I say what I will do with AMC Group?” she asked seriously.

“That’s your call milaya.” He replied as seriously “I believe you don’t want to sell it….”

“No I won’t sell AMC Group!” she replied categorical “It’s true…lately it’s harder for me to work there since….since Julian died, but I still can’t sell it!”

“That’s what I thought!” Marat said “That’s why I think Stanford could easily handle the things without you! You remain the CEO and become the head of your department in the ATP Tour!”

“I’m very tempted…” she started.

“Say yes!” he said “For once be spontaneous!”

“I am so spontaneous!” she replied dignified “I’ve always been!”

“Yeah; spontaneous people schedule every minute of every hour of 365 days in a row!” he countered amused “Including rest room time!”

She gave him an offended look to finally kick his foot under the table.

“Hope that’s enough spontaneous for you jerk!” she replied.

“I think it’s very spontaneous!” Dima informed “Very!”

Marat gave him a dark look before he faced her again.

“So?” he asked impatiently “Don’t say you need some thinking; I know you’ve already made up your mind!”

“I need to meet the people who want to hire me first.” She answered.

“It means you agree?” Marat asked hopeful.

“Hide your joy!” she demanded “If I still get bored; I’ll quit as fast as I took the job!”

“Yeah yeah!” Marat said amused.



28th January 2006

“Your boy is a real tornado!” Satine teased Sasha as Marat kept his title over Roger in four sets.

“That’s amazing!” Sasha exclaimed happily “He’s returning to the top of the ranks tomorrow!”

“Well he wasn’t gone from it for that long!” Dina pointed out “Roger took the top only a couple of months ago!”

“It’s still a relief!” Satine said happily.



4th February 2006

“So you say Satine will be working for the ATP now?” Dasha asked Marat in a restaurant in Moscow.

“Yes!” he replied beaming “We’ll see her in LA!”

“So she will be on every tournament?” she asked with insistence.

“Yeah! Isn’t that awesome?” he replied.

“Awesome!” she repeated darkly.



21st February 2006


“A blog?” Dima asked disbelieving.

“Yes!” Satine replied smiling “Every player will take charge of a blog each tournament; reporting funny details about his day!”

“You mean like a diary?” Marat asked.

“Sort of!” she said amused “Players who can’t write themselves; can have their blog written by an ATP staff member!”

Marat gave her a look.

“People like whom?” he asked smiling.

“It’s useless to say!” she replied laughing.

“I think this is going to be amazing!” Dima said thrilled “You’re a genius on high heels!”

Satine laughed out loud.

“The main thing is that it’s gonna be a fabulous publicity for the ATP Tour!” she said “Who better than players to promote their game?”

“That’s true.” Sasha agreed.

“Marat?” Satine asked him when they remained alone.

He looked up at her questioning.

“Where’s Dasha?” she asked.

“Shopping!” he replied sarcastically “Where do you think she could be?”

“Women Marat!” she informed amused “They like to shop!”

“I’m seriously getting fed up of this!” he declared.

“Seriously?” she asked.

“Seriously!” he replied “She’s always shopping when she joins me somewhere; all what she thinks about is fashion, the gallery she wants to open and parties she could attend to!”

Satine considered him silently.

“You know I’m a person who does care.” He said “I show a lot of interest about her gallery project and all! But I feel like I’m dating a girl who only benefits from my image; she doesn’t care anymore!”

“Give her some credit!” Satine said “It sounds like she loves you; let her know about your feelings; gently!”

He laughed amused.

“How brutal have I ever been?” he asked.

“If you don’t think today’s match was brutal; than I don’t know what does this word mean!” she said laughing “You crashed the boy!”

“What were you expecting me to do?” he said “Maybe offer him a bunch of flowers and welcome him to the circuit before I lose to him?”

“Sort of!” she teased “The most important is that you guys can communicate! I bet she believes you are not giving her enough attention!”

“Why is that?” he asked disbelieving “God damn it! I’m a thoughtful guy!”

“Lover?” she teased.

“For God’s sake Satine!” he complained.

“Stop whining! You’re making my head spin!” she demanded.

“You are so annoying!” he replied upset.

“Whiner!” she repeated laughing.








25th March 2006

Dasha stormed into the hotel room closely followed by Marat.

“Can I know what the matter with you is?” he asked.

“You are unbelievable!” she replied livid.

“What have I done? Again!” he asked disbelieving.

“Satine McAllister? You tell her things about my father?”

“What?” he asked lost “I didn’t tell her anything; she already knew!”

“So that’s better?!” she replied upset.

“Look; she worked for years in the business field; she’s got a lot of influence so she knows a lot!” Marat replied calmly “If she proposed to help your father; it’s because she wants to help you!”

“So she didn’t say that because she wanted to act like a bitch with me?!” Dasha said.

“No!” he replied confident “Of course not! She would never do anything like that; it’s not like her!”

“Of course!” she said laughing “You’re defending her, like always!”

“Why can’t you give me the benefit of doubt that maybe I’m on your side?” he replied following her through the room.

“Because you choose your best friend over me; every chance you get!” she replied.

“No that’s not true!” he said “I’m with you; Satine isn’t the person who shares my life!”

“You think she doesn’t?” Dasha said amused “With whom do you spend most time? Me or her?”

“Come on!” he said lightening up.

“Why do you think she took that job with the ATP?” she asked sarcastically.

“Her fiancé died; she needed a change in her life!” he replied dignified.

“She has feelings for you!” Dasha replied desperate.

Marat looked stunned.

“What?”

“She wants you!” she replied “She wants you, that’s what this is about! That’s why she tries to humiliate me by my family!”

Marat looked amused.

“Marat, do not laugh at me!” she ordered “Do not laugh at me!”

“No, I’m not!” he replied slightly laughing nervously “I’m not! Oh God! Come on! She’s Satine! She’s a model beauty, I know her since I was fourteen! She’s a crazy nerd! And I’m Marat; her idiot best friend!”

She considered him for a moment.

“So what does that make me?” she asked hurt.

“Oh come on!” he replied “You’re gorgeous and smart! Thousands of guys fantasize about you!”

“Shut up!” she demanded.

“Dasha….”

“Get out of here!” she screamed “Just get out!”

He looked at her, grabbed his jacket and left.





“Hey!” Satine replied surprised to see Marat.

“Hey!” he replied lazily “Can I stay with you tonight?”

“Sure!” she replied “Get in!”

“You have something strong?” he asked looking into her mini-bar.

“Strong how?” she asked amused.

“Something like a Vodka or a Scotch….” He said.

“Let me guess…your girlfriend cried out her misery to your face and kicked you out of your room!” she said smiling.

“You smart ass!” he said pulling a face.

He sat down on ground after he found a Tequila bottle; put two glasses next to him and showed her a place next to him.

“I need to get over myself! I need to restart liking my girlfriend!” he said nervously “I need you to like her because sometimes I don't and I need you to talk me back into it. You say you're my best friend, that's the job!”

“Ok!” she replied having a seat next to him.

“I need to vent and I need it to be ok!” he added.

“Ok” she replied smiling.

“And I need to vent with alcohol because I got committed with a girl and I’m scared it was a bad idea!” he said.

“Nobody ever got committed and didn’t think that at least once!” she assured.

Two hours later they got together extremely drunk:

“Suck it up!” she said “Go back with your tail between your legs and just apologize!”

“No!” he protested.

“No really just say ‘I'm sorry, I'm an ass!’ "She replied pouring herself more Tequila.

“I’m always apologizing!” he complained.

“Blah, blah, blah and it's over, it's all over!” She said.

“I can't be wrong all the time, is that really possible?” he asked seriously.

She pours him and to her more drink.

“No, don’t!” he protested.

“Hey, don’t be grabby!” she ordered.

“I don’t have any, boogie!” he replied.

“Maybe you're wrong all the time, maybe she's just insecure!” she agreed “It doesn't matter; you still have to grovel!”

“She's insecure, that is a fact!” he concluded “She's insecure!”

“What? What?” she asked curiously.

He laughed and refused to say.

“Come on!” she screamed “Come on!”

“It's just...nothing!” he replied laughing nervously “She thinks you have feelings for me, and that is the problem!”

“I love it!” she said bursting out in laughters.

“And that…uh…I desperately want you!” he added laughing more.

“I’m crying!” she replied “Is she crazy?”

“I think she’s maybe a little crazy!” he agreed.

“I can’t breathe!” she said laughing hysterically “I can’t breathe!”

He gently caressed her cheek.

Suddenly; they both got lost deeply looking at each other.

She touched his finger on her cheek and kissed it.

Still looking at each other; they both forgot the world they lived in, who they were and what was going on.

Bewitched by her emerald eyes all he could think about was to possess her.

He gently framed her face with his and softly took her lips; exploring the marvellous unknown.

His kiss turned more passionate; her body was burning and he wanted it. That was all he could think of when he wildly carried her to the bed and undressed her even more wildly.

[Dina]

Chapter 9

26th March 2006

The sunlight warmed up Satine’s forearm which woke her up. As she did; she felt a huge headache that led her to the conclusion that it might be a hangover from last night’s drinking. As she thought about last night; she had a hole memory; trying to recall some of its events.

As she wanted to get up; she noticed a man’s naked body sleeping next to her. She widened thinking she might have had sex with a stranger last night; but her surprise turned to horror as she spotted a Chinese sign tattooed on the guy’s arm; it was Marat!

She lifted the sheets up and threw a look inside to discover in disgust that she was as naked as a new born. Suddenly; all the night’s events rallied into her mind.

She and Marat had a passionate drunken sex night!

She wanted to scream from horror but she thought it might be more appropriate to leave the bed before he wakes up and sees her….naked again!

As she was taking her shower; images from last night’s debates kept rushing to her.

What did they do? How did that happen? They’ve been drunk together thousands of times and yet it never led them to bed.

“Holy f£¨%§£ c£%/§!!!!!!!!!!” she thought angry with herself “Now I definitely gave Dasha a real reason to hate me!”

She put her clothes on, put his pants and shirt on a chair and turned the TV on; hoping Marat would wake up. Though she felt unable to face him.

“Oh God!” Marat screamed from the bedroom “Leave a man sleep!”

Minutes later he emerged from the bathroom freshly showered; he scanned the empty bedroom and saw his clothes.

A moment after he walked into the living room:


“Morning!” he said with a face.

“Morning!” she mumbled.

“Don’t ya have anything for my head?” he asked annoyed “I think it might burst!”

“Sure…” she replied hesitant.

“You slept on the couch?” Marat asked as he saw her blanket on it “It’s too sweet from you that you let me sleep on your bed! I feel terrible; it’s nothing like a gentleman!”

Satine looked startled.

“Don’t say I was so drunk that I kicked you out of your bed!” he replied amused “Did I?”

She couldn’t believe he didn’t remember a single thing from what they’ve done yesterday.

“No no!” she replied “Of course no; you didn’t!”

“Look; I’ll go talk to Dasha first!” he said heading to the exit “I don’t think I’ll meet you for breakfast, so I’ll see you later on before my doubles match! Ok?”

She was staring blankly at him.

“Ok?” he asked again “Hope you’re not feeling like a neglected mistress on the morning after!”

He was teasing her but she felt like the sky just fell over her head after what he’s said.

“Satine?” he asked “You okay milaya?”

“Yeah yeah sure!” she replied smiling “See ya later!”

“Ok then!” he said leaving.



“Hey big guy!” Dima said as he walked into a practice court with Sasha and Anatoly.

Marat held his head out of pain.

“Easy on my head Tursunov!” he complained.

“Somebody’s in a mood!” Sasha pointed out.

“Not at all!” he replied with eyes barely opened “I’m perfect!

“Marat!” Satine said storming into the court.

“Hey beauty queen!” Sasha told her.

“Hey guys!” she said surprised “You are here! You are all here!”

“Milaya?” Marat asked her.

“I….I….” she started.

“You forgot to tell me something?” he asked.

“Huh….nope!” she replied smiling like a fool “Here; for your hangover!”

She handed him pills.

“Thanks milaya!” he said as he dropped a kiss on her cheek.

She looked at him startled again.

“Satine?” he asked disbelieving “What the hell is wrong with you this morning?”

“My head too!” she replied laughing nervously “We drank too much last night!”

“Yeah we did!” he agreed picking up his racket.

“Gotta go!” she said leaving “Have to work! I work here; right! And you; practice! Tennis stuff! Yay!”

“She’s weird today!” Sasha pointed out.

“You got drunk with Satine yesterday?” Dima asked disbelieving.

“Just tell me; when are we playing?” he asked “And keep it a tune lower…my head…my head!”

“We are having a semi-final match Marat!” Dima said “What were you thinking?”

“It’s gonna be fine!” Marat replied “We can handle the Swedes! They’re easy!”

“It’s the Swiss ones!” Sasha rectified.

“Same for me!” Marat informed.

“Funny!” Dima said nervously “Funny, funny giant man! Funny smelly man! Get into a shower!”

“I’ve already did!” Marat protested.

“Just get into a shower again!” he insisted.

“You’ll see; we’ll be through the final in straights!” Marat said but Dima already left.

Anatoly and Sasha kept looking at him amused.

“He’s fine!” Marat said smiling “And I’m fine!”

“Good to know!” Anatoly said.






“Hey Sissy!” Dima said getting into the direction office of the Indian Wells tournament.

“Hey Dima!” she replied hesitant.

“I was wondering when am I gonna take charge of the blog?” he asked.

“Soon honey!” she replied amused “Around April! Not too long!”

“Hey milaya!” Marat said walking in “Your pills aren’t that efficient!”

“Hey I was looking for you!” Dasha said getting in as well.

“Me?” Satine replied horrified “Why? Why?”

Dasha gave her a look.

“You meant Marat!” Satine said smiling nervously “Of course; of course!”

“God Marat!” Dima exclaimed “You smell like….”

“I’ve already showered three times on a single morning!” Marat complained.

“It’s coming out of your mouth!” Dima protested “You’re weak, you’re shaking, there’s no way I step with you on the Central Court like that!”

He turned to face Satine:

“Can you please find a way to reschedule us tomorrow?” Dima asked “He’s a wreck; he can’t play!”

“It’s not my resorts!” she replied “But the responsible guy was hitting on me all week long; he might do me a favour!”

“You’re saving us!” Dima said before he left.

“Why don’t you girls have lunch together?” Marat suggested “I’m still having a long day!”

“Why not?” Dasha replied finding the idea quiet interesting.

“Sure!” Satine said swallowing hard.

Marat left showing his thumb up to her.

She smiled sadly to him.





Later on in the afternoon; Satine joined Marat in the gym where she found him trying to lift some weight unsuccessfully.

“I came to tell you that the guy didn’t show up at work today!” she said “So you guys still have to play your match last on the night session!”

“Oh God!” Marat complained “I can’t lift a 75! I have no power left! I will never get drunk again! I can’t believe I have to be fit for our semi tonight!”

Satine looked at him disbelieving.

“Hours!” she said “Hours of our lives, many hours that are all I think about and…seriously you don’t remember?”

He looked at her lost.

“How can you not remember those many, many hours?” she asked upset.

“Satine….whatever I did, whatever I said; I was drunk! I’m sure I didn’t mean it!” he replied resting his head on his knees.

“Marat, I promise you; you meant it!” she countered “You meant it a lot; you meant it more than once!”

His phone rang; he got a message.

“Oh crap!” he said.

She looked at him scared.

“Tursunov wants me to join him on court!” he said upset “Gotta go; see ya later!”

He kissed her again and left.

She sat there shaking her head and staring blankly.



“Are you getting already bored with your new life surrounded by hot and sweaty tennis players all day?” Blair said on her phone as she knew Satine was calling.

“I had sex last night!” Satine replied.

“Good for you!” Blair said “It means you’re moving on!”

“I had sex with the wrong person!” Satine added “The thing is; it didn’t feel wrong! It felt like something was falling into place! So what do I do?”

“Wrong person?” Blair repeated “You mean married man?”

“Just committed!” she replied quickly “He’s got a girlfriend and I’m not supposed to even think about him that way!

“So it’s kind of adultery!” Blair concluded.

“He’s not married!” Satine countered.

“Same for me!” Blair said.

“Ok; so what do I do?” Satine asked again.

“What am I?” Blair asked “An adulterer person for adultery advises?”

“No!” Satine replied “I just…I just don’t know what to do!”

“You stop!” Blair advised “That’s what you do!”

“You sure?” Satine asked unconvinced “I mean how you know that? Maybe it did feel so right because it’s God’s plan?”

“God wants you to be an adulterer?” Blair said disbelieving.

“God got a virgin pregnant by magic!” Satine replied “God’s not playing by the rules!”

“Sissy!” Blair said offended.

“Ok sorry I take it back!” Satine replied “I’m so screwed!”

“Yep you are!” Blair agreed.

“Ok I have a match to attend to!” Satine informed.

“Yeah you do!” Blair replied amused “And between; I knew you guys would eventually do it someday!”

“You knew!” Satine exclaimed.

“Always!” Blair replied.

“Screw you!” Satine said “And you know what? He doesn’t even remember we did it!”

“Why is that?” Blair asked laughing “You knocked him out while you guys were practicing the thing?”

“We were drunk!” Satine said in disgust.

“So he has a black-out!”

“Pretty much!” Satine said.

“Well; most of the time you only don’t remember the things you don’t wanna remember!” Blair informed.

“Great!”



Satine arrived on the Central Court an hour late. Marat and Dima were already one set up and a break ahead in the second set. Marat obviously recovered in time.

As it was his turn to serve for a 3-1 lead in the second; Marat spotted Satine who was sitting next to Sasha and Dasha. She had a worried look on her face.

Few games later; as he was to serve for the match; his eyes met her anxious ones.

In a sudden, Marat had flash backs flowing down his brain; scenes of him kissing Satine; undressing her on bed and having his hands on her bared skin. Scenes where he was lost in the ocean of her eyes. Scenes where they were having sex….

Right then, he turned to face her with an astonished face; she knew he did remember.

“Damn it!” Marat screamed as he crashed his racket on court out of anger.

“Marat?” Dima asked surprised “What’s with you?”

Marat looked at his partner with a distraught face before he turned to face Satine again.

She just stood up and left the court.

Marat managed somehow to hold his serve and send them through an AMS final.




Trying to get ideas out of the drafts under her eyes; Satine was barely focused when Marat stormed into her office.

He stood in front of her and looked at her with a face he never showed her.

“You remember!” she whispered.

He suddenly went to the copy room indicating her to follow him and slammed the door behind them after she got in.

He just leaned back on a wall staring at her with a distraught face. He then moved to stand close to her looking at her deep in the eyes. Like if he couldn’t stand the idea of what they’ve done anymore; he walked to the opposite side and shook violently the shelf in front of him. Satine was unable to face him when he faced her back.

Words died on her lips; she didn’t know what to say to him anymore. She just put her hand on his cheek trying to reassure him like she used to do but he took it away softly, held it tight for seconds and left without looking at her.



Late at night, Marat joined Satine in her place and walked in silently. He sat on her couch so did she.

After minutes of awkward silence she decided to speak:

“Ok, it happened. It was a mistake and it happened.” She said calmly “People make mistakes. We need to figure out where we go from here. We need to figure out how to tell Dasha. “

“I'm not gonna tell Dasha.” He replied “Do you know how much this would hurt her? I'm not gonna clear my conscious at her expense. She has done nothing but support me, encourage me and believe in me and this is how I pay her back? No, I have to live with what I did! This is our secret, ok?”

She looked up at him with watering eyes.

“Ok!” she replied smiling.

He got up to leave; as he reached the door he nervously pressed his hands on it, slightly hitting his head against it. He came back and kneeled down holding her both hands tightly.

“It was a mistake! It was just sex!” he said convinced “We were drunk; it wouldn’t have happened in a normal case!”

“No it wouldn’t!” she agreed.

“Our lives don’t have to change!” he said “We don’t need to try to avoid each other, or let the things become awkward and weird between us! You still are my best friend and I still love you the exact same way I did last night when I came to find comfort in you! We can’t live apart, we know that; there’s no point messing our lives uselessly!”

“No!” she agreed “There’s no point!”

He smiled down at her.

“Are we good?” he asked.

She hugged him fiercely like a kid does with a parent.

“I believe we are!” he replied amused “See you at breakfast milaya!”

He stood up; kissed her forehead and left.

She remained there alone, blankly staring at the void.

[Dina]

Chapter 10

27th April 2006


Satine walked into the players lounge in Porte D’Auteuil; the French Open’s site, looking for Marat everywhere.

Sitting with PHM and Llodra; he spotted her and waved.

“Hey Sissy!” Micka said grinning deviously.

“I won’t help you with that practical joke in the men’s locker’s Micka!” she said firmly “Forget about that!”

“Your sense of humour is degrading!” he replied pouting.

“Whatever!” she said facing Marat “Did you get the news?”

“I did!” he replied amused “How is that possible?”

“I have no idea!” she replied laughing “I think the world started to change dangerously!”

“There’s no other explanation to that!” Marat agreed.

“What is it about?” Paulo asked.

“You remember Golovanov my friend?” Marat asked him.

“Denis?” Paulo and Micka both said.

Marat nodded amused.

“Yeah Denis!” Satine confirmed.

“What about him?” Micka demanded.

“He’s getting married!” Marat announced amused.

“To one of my best friends” Satine informed.

“The eternal bachelor?” Paulo said disbelieving “This might be contagious! I heard a lot of people are getting married recently!”

Marat and Satine made a spontaneous disgusted face.

“People like to rush their lives foolishly!” Satine said.

“To regret it six months later!” Marat continued.

“Whatever; there’s a not so funny part of the whole story!” she said “Julia wants me to be her made of honour!”

Marat gave her a horrified face.

“Denis chose me to be his first best man!” he said sadly.

“What did we do to deserve that?” she said at the verge of tears.

Marat wrapped his arm around her in sign of comfort.

Micka and Paulo bursted out in laughters.

“You are pathetic!” Paulo said “You have an incurable disease when it’s related to commitment!”

“No we don’t!” they both protested in unison.

“Whatever; after the end of the tournament we are stuck in Moscow!” Satine informed.

“I know!” Marat replied burying his face in her chest playfully.

“We’re screwed!” she said “I think that’s Karma paying us back!”

“You mean it’s yours!” Marat rectified “You’ve done enough in your life to cover for both of us!”

She looked at him dignified and resigned herself willingly.

“Yeah I’m a horrible person!” she agreed “If I knew I’d ever get to be a bridesmaid; I’d never done all what I’ve done!”

Marat considered her unconvinced.

“You don’t mean what you’ve just said, do you?” he asked doubtful.

She considered the question for a second seriously:

“No!” she replied amused “I certainly don’t!”

“Ah doesn’t matter!” he said “You’re still my favourite bitch!”

“You’re too sweet!” she replied standing up “Thanks!”

She suddenly took a pillow from the couch they were sitting on and crashed it on Marat’s head.

“And you’re my favourite ass!” she replied smiling before she left.

“I know!” Marat replied rubbing his head.




11th May 2006

“It really sucks!” Marat complained throwing his bag on the ground “When will I ever win that f£%§£% tournament?”

“Next year I’m sure!” Dasha said trying to calm him down.

“I think it might never happen while Nadal is still around!” Satine teased him.

He gave her a look and bursted out in laughters.

“You’re a pain in the ass!” he complained.

“Seriously?” she asked smiling.

“Seriously!” he replied throwing some water on her.

Immediately, just like kids; they started a water fight. Sasha took the initiative to move away while Dasha watched the scene between them sadly.

Suddenly, Satine and Marat felt Dasha’s gaze on them. They didn’t realize the harm their attitude caused her.

“Ok, I’ll see you guys at the airport!” Satine said smiling.

“Ok!” Marat replied looking away.

He quickly turned to face Dasha and gave her his most charming smile.

“So, diner with your runner-up lover?” he asked seducing.

Irresistible, he is the most irresistible and charming man on earth.

“Only if the dessert is worthy!” she replied seduced like always.




Later on in the night; everybody was ready to go to the Airport Charles de Gaulle to go back to Moscow. As Satine was waiting for the lift, Marat who was in the floor beyond appeared to her inside it.

Their eyes locked for a second but she forced herself to ignore it. She walked inside and remained silent.

“Satine look…” he started.

“I hate that situation!” she hissed “I hate it!”

He looked at her feeling bewitched for a second. He loved the fashionable and classy way she used to dress. Right then she was dressed casually. She had her black long curls in a ponytail; she was wearing a blue velvet jacket and a pair of jeans.

“It’s not fair!” she continued with a broken voice “I know we can’t help what happened and I know that we didn’t…I spent hours today in your box smiling to your girlfriend; trying to reassure her, convincing her that you were going to win while I needed to be reassured myself! And I talked to her sounding like a…it’s not fair!! I hate being in that situation because I’m losing my best friend and it’s not fair! I can’t help either; feeling the guilt every single time I’m with you talking or having fun! I can’t help feeling guilty while we do all the things we used to do since we were fourteen, just because it might hurt her feelings! Just because we made a mistake and it’s messing our lives…it’s not fair! It’s just not fair!”

When she finished talking he made her face him holding her softly by the arm.
She looked at him straight in the eyes; he looked helpless. Without thinking she let her head fall on his shoulder to rest.

As their bodies got closer; he could feel her neck next to his face, next to his mouth.

Sensually his face framed hers, so she let herself go to his warm skin and moved her lips to his demanding ones.

Forgetting the place, forgetting the little sin; only the moment mattered: he kissed her softly, slowly putting his hands on her silky neck. The kiss was warm, out of love and attraction. But they didn’t realize it until he pulled apart.

“I can’t!” he said firmly.

“I know!” she replied.

“I’m not an unfaithful guy, I’m not a cheater!” he said with a broken voice.

In seconds the gates opened to show Dasha waiting in the lobby her phone in the hand.

“Hey!” she said to Marat “I was waiting for you!”

He smiled down at her, grabbed her hand and led her to the exit.





13th May 2006

Marat was sitting still looking at a window while Denis was trying to fix his wheel.

“You look like someone who’s made a terrible crime!” Denis pointed out.

“What?” Marat said realizing he wasn’t alone.

“It’s not because you didn’t win the French that you have to look like attending a funeral for the whole week!” Denis informed.

Marat gave him a look and sighed loudly.

“What the hell did you do?” Denis asked.

“Nothing!” Marat replied.

“Come on!” Denis said seriously “Don’t fool me!”

“I…I don’t wanna talk about it!” Marat announced.

Denis considered his friend who obviously was going through rough times.

“Ok!” he said “I’m here if you wanna talk!”

“I know!” Marat replied with a polite smile.



“I got vacations to be able to attend your wedding in Moscow!” Blair informed “And we are in a bridal shop! Yay!”

“Did she just cheer?” Satine asked “She cheered.”

“Someone’s not very bridey!” Dina pointed out.

“Don’t tease the caged animal!” Julia advised.

“You're not excited?” Blair asked “I'm excited! I love weddings! Weddings are all about hope and the future!”

“Ok, I’m here but I have to be at London in two weeks, so I wanna be clear: I will not be wearing pink or baby blue. I do not do flowers in my hair. And I will never be seen with a bow on my ass, ok?” Satine said.

“Don’t blow her happy wedding atmosphere McAllister!” Blair said.

“No no!” Julia said “She’s got it right! That’s the right attitude!”

“What are we waiting for anyway?” Dina asked Julia.

“Waiting for the last bridesmaid!” Julia informed.

“I thought it was only me, Dina and Satine!” Blair said “Who other friends on earth do you have?”

“It’s Dasha!” Julia replied.

Satine who was absorbed by her thoughts looked like hit by lightning.

“Dasha?” she said disbelieving “You mean Marat’s Dasha?”

Dasha walked up into the shop.

“Yeah!” Julia replied.

“Oh oh!” Blair said amused.

“Yeah, Da…yes, of course! “Satine said nervously “Dasha's a bridesmaid! Fun! Yeah!”

“Yeah!” Dasha replied unconvinced.




“You did what?” Denis exclaimed.

“He just said he had sex with Sissy!” Oleg said “And then he kissed her again in an elevator!”

“I know what he said!” Denis replied furious “I mean; how? Why? When? But more important: why? Why? Why did you do that? Why? I need to sit!”

He slowly sat down shaking.

“We were drunk!” Marat mumbled shameful.

“And you were drunk when you kissed her in Paris?” Emin asked disbelieving.

“No…I don’t know…what happened to me!” he replied shaking his head nervously.

“This is c£%§! “Denis informed.

“Why do you take it so dramatically?” Yuri complained “He didn’t kill anyone as far as I know!”

“Yeah but that’s Sissy!” Emin pointed out “He mustn’t fool around with Sissy!”

Agreement sounds were loudly heard.

“Alright; what did she say after you guys kissed again?” Teimuraz asked “What did you say?”

“I said ‘I’m not an unfaithful guy, I’m not a cheater’!” Marat replied hesitant.

“No!” the guys chorused disbelieving.

“Seriously; you told her that?” Oleg asked.

“I wonder how she still faces you after that!” Denis said “You’re crazy!”

“Oh f£%§%!” Marat said shaking his head “I wish she killed me instead!”

“Yeah it’s just like if she did!” Teimuraz said “Just like she did!”

Marat gave him a disgusted look before he left.



16th May 2006

“What the hell am I supposed to do with the stupid vows?” Julia asked exasperated.

“You still haven’t written anything?” Dasha asked disbelieving.

“Oh it’s stupid crap!” she replied annoyed.

“No it’s not!” Satine replied out of nowhere.

“Look who said that?” Blair said laughing.

“What am I supposed to say? I swear to love and cherish you every moment of everyday of my life? I mean that’s not real! That’s not how it works, right?” Julia demanded.

“It is! At first, then it passes!” Dina said.

“No it doesn’t!” Satine replied pretty upset “You guys are just used to it that’s all! You already have it! You have that thing that everybody else wants! You can take it for granted! But let me tell you… if you didn’t, if you couldn’t be with the person that you love I guarantee you that hearing him promise to love you and honour you and cherish you no matter what, it would be pretty much all what you can think about!”

“Can you say that again?” Julia asked “Just slowly!”

“You’re talking about Julian, right?” Dina asked.

Satine gave her a look.

“Yeah, Julian!” she replied calmly.

As she said those words; Dasha couldn’t help but think she was thinking different.





17th May 2006

“I hate weddings!” Satine complained to Dina as they were getting ready to go to the church.

“I know!” Dina replied amused “I bet that’s why you’ll never get married!”

Satine gave her a look and kept silence for a moment; remembering that she could have married Julian if he didn’t die.

“What if he changed his mind?” Julia asked suddenly “What if he can’t marry me!”

“Hey sweetie, look at me!” Blair demanded “He will!”

“What if he’s too scared?” she asked flipping out.

“We’ll tight him up and force him to say ‘I do’ to the minister!” Satine informed “Just relax!”

Dasha was silently observing Satine for a moment. She was so smart, so tempered. Above all she was a devastating beauty; how did Marat resist to her for twelve long years? How did she resist to him? She thought about that so much that she felt her head spin; she fooled herself if she still tried to get convinced that they were only friends.

As they were all ready they got into the limo and headed to the church.

Once there; the bride and her bridesmaids worked out on the last little details.

“Satine…” Dasha said hesitant “Can I have a word with you?”

Satine looked decomposed.

“Is it urgent?” she asked nervously “Because…we’re kinda in a rush now!”

“It won’t take long!” Dasha replied waiting for her out.

Satine swallowed hard and bravely walked out to join her:

“Don’ talk!” Dasha demanded “I know it’s not fair! I know it’s not your fault, and I know there’s nothing going on between you and Marat! I know that. Except there is… you’re his best friend! He loves you! He gets you and he needs you! And I’m just…I’m just…I’m his girlfriend! And I know I get the sex and the commitment and the life with him! But I want him to get me…to need me! And I can’t compete with you! I just can’t! So I am asking you; to please stop… stop! Find another friend, or whatever you do; just give me my man back!”

Satine was startled, Dasha’s voice sounded so lost and she looked so miserable.

“Believe me Dasha…I’m sorry!” Satine replied “I’m sorry, I do I do, I really do! But I still don’t know what to do to make you feel better which won’t make me feel worse! You’ve said it yourself; you ask me something unfair….he’s my best friend! He’s my family! And that’s been twelve years that it never changed! You can’t just ask me to give up on him like that; you just don’t have the right to!”

“So you won’t….” Dasha wanted to say.

“No I won’t!” Satine replied firmly “I might be a bitch here…but I need him so I can’t let go of him! Though I promise…I’ll try to keep more distance…and let you….I’ll try!”

She walked back into the room.


As the ceremony was about to start; the wedding organizer was setting the couples of best men and bridesmaids.

Marat spotted Satine talking to his sister and Blair. It’s been days that they were avoiding each others; pleased to be held by the wedding details.

All the bridesmaids were wearing the same strapless brown gown; but none of them looked as stunning and breathtaking as Satine. Marat felt guilty to not find Dasha more attractive at that moment.

“Ok ok!” the wedding organizer said “Who’s the best man? The first one?”

“I think that would be me!” Marat replied lazily.

“Ok, you go first with….what’s your name again?” she asked her.

“Satine…” she replied “But why? Isn’t he supposed to walk down the aisle with Dasha? Because she’s… his girlfriend! They’re a couple!”

“Doesn’t matter!” the lady replied “First bridesmaid goes with the first best man and so on!”

Marat gave her a face so she joined him.

“Hey!” he said.

“Hey!” she replied smiling softly.

“You look….” He tried to say.

“Don’t do that!” she demanded “Please don’t!”

He nodded and shut up.

As the ceremony started, Marat and Dina walked first together down the aisle.

“I’m sorry…” Marat tried to say.

“No please!” she asked.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you!” he said with a broken voice.

“I’m begging you; stop!” she demanded.

“Sorry!” he repeated.

“I know!” she replied confident.


After the ceremony the guests were invited to the wedding reception in a hotel.

“Hey!” a guy said to Satine who was sitting by the bar.

“Hey!” she replied.

The guy was tall and quiet handsome.

“I’m sorry to bother you.” He said “But I noticed you were alone; gorgeous girls shouldn’t be alone in weddings!”

Satine smiled amused.

“Your theory is to be respected!” she replied.

“Aleksander Popov!” he said shaking her hand.

“Satine McAllister!” she said.

“Satine?” he repeated “Beautiful; what does it mean?”

“It’s French!” she informed “There used to be a famous performer at the Moulin Rouge who was called like that!”

“Oh yeah the movie!” he remembered “I had no clue it was inspired from a true story!”

“You are not the only one don’t worry!” she said smiling.

“And it means….”

“Well it’s from the word ‘satin’….”

“That’s a sweet word!” he said.

“Not that sweet, believe me!” she said amused.

“Whatever; gorgeous name for a way more gorgeous beauty!” he concluded.

Meanwhile; Marat was carefully watching them talking. He didn’t understand why he did feel so bad seeing her talking to Sasha.

“Damn it!” he thought “What the hell is wrong with me?”

He got interrupted in his thoughts by Dasha:

“You dance?” she asked smiling.

“You know I’m a terrible dancer!” he protested.

“I don’t care!” she informed “That’s a wedding and I wanna dance with my boyfriend!”

“Fine!” he gave up smiling.

While dancing; he couldn’t take his eyes off of Satine who was still enjoying her conversation with the swimmer.

“Would you excuse me?” she asked “I need to refresh!”

“Sure!” he replied.

“I’ll be back in few!” Marat told Dasha as they came back to their table.

“Don’t get lost!” she teased.


Marat followed Satine to the room where the ladies got ready after the ceremony.

“Satine!” Marat called.

“Go away!” she demanded.

“Milaya!” he said “I just wanna make sure you’re all right!”

“No! I'm not all right!” she replied angrily “Ok? Are you satisfied? I'm not all right! Because you have a girlfriend, and you think I’m a whore…”

“No!” he protested “What makes you think….”

“Do you think I want you to be unfaithful?” she asked upset “Do you think I want you to be a cheater? I’m no whore to wanna tear apart a couple!”

“I’m sorry!” he said “That’s not what I meant when I told you that! I’d never think of you like a whore; you know that!”

“Ok apology accepted!” she said “So stop looking at me!”

“I'm not looking at you!” he protested

She stared him down.

“I am not looking at you!” he insisted.

“Oh yes you do!” she countered “You only did that all the evening! Please let me try to move on with my life! Let me breathe!”

“I’m letting you….”

“No you are not! And I can’t because you’re looking at me like that! So just stop!”

He gave her a miserable look so she turned away.

“Do you think I want to look at you?” he demanded bitterly “That I wouldn't rather be looking at my gorgeous girlfriend? God I hate that situation as much as you do! Because she doesn't drive me crazy the way you do! She doesn't make it impossible for me to feel normal! She doesn't make me sick to my stomach thinking about a swimmer touching her with his hands! Oh man! I would give anything not to be looking at you!”

As he said those words she faced him with teary eyes. Their eyes met begging for each other.
Without thinking, he cooped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately.

He stopped for a moment and sighed loudly:

“God damn it!” he said “All I want is you!”

As he said that; he kissed her again. This time his kiss turned more demanding, more burning, more loving. He consciously led her to a couch where he went on kissing her.

This time he was completely sober; he knew, he understood that his acts weren’t mistakes. His acts were desire. Her emerald eyes were an ocean of loss where he wouldn’t be able to swim, he would only drawn in it.

He undressed her; truly enjoying for the first time soberly the softness of her skin, shivering to the contact of her burning being.

He thought he was touching her but he was living inside her. It never felt strange, it never felt shameful. It felt more beautiful, perfect and satisfying than anything he’s ever experienced.

She was taken to a world unknown and yet so familiar. She felt like it was an accomplishment meant to be; meant to last. In her life she never felt so good and yet so scared. She was experiencing emotions she didn’t know about, with no one else, and that was enough to demolish her little world of self-confidence and pride.


Realizing that she was still naked; her bared skin under his hands, she felt an urge to burry herself under earth and disappear.

He put his pants on and turned around to give her more privacy to dress up again.

Facing each others; a flow of emotions ran into their beings.

She looked at him and shook her head in disbelief:

“I hate you!” she claimed.

“Milaya…” he started.

“Don’t…ever!” she ordered.

As she said that she violently threw on him the pillow she saw on the couch.

She screamed out of anger; angry at herself to be so weak and fragile, angry at him to be so passionate and masterful.


“I can’t believe it!” she whispered falling down into a heap.

He kneeled down next to her and looked at her with storming eyes.

“I…I never realized you have such…such an overwhelming power on me!” he confessed.

“What did we do?” she asked crying.

He came closer and held her hand tightly before he kissed its palm gently.

“Whatever this thing is…I will never let you go away from me!” he said truly “I can’t!”

She looked at his distraught face and felt an urge to wrap him in her arms so she did.

“I don’t know why…but I know I can’t let that happen either!” she replied.

He looked at her and smiled.

“Seriously?” he asked.

“Seriously!” she replied smiling back.

[Dina]

Chapter 11

11 June 2006

“Yes Clifford, I do know what time it is! But I’m looking at the press schedule and I’m not happy!” Satine hissed on phone late at night in her office at the All England Club “Oh really…really? So let me tell you something; you will care about it because I care about it! You got it? Good!”

She violently hung up, sat on her chair and considered what she’s just said freaking out about how flipped out she actually is about a press schedule.

“Whoa!” she whispered worried.

“You know they’re Brits right?” Marat said smiling leaning on her office door “They usually are less offended when you start your sentences with ‘please’ and finish them with ‘thank you very much’!”

She was surprised to see him but she still managed to smile.

“This is not really you giving us some space!” she replied.

“I know.” He said “But hey! You know me enough to know I very rarely do what you ask me to!”

“Whatever!” she replied “I still have things ahead me; I need to work on the press schedule, believe me you and all the players will thank me for that!”

“I’m sure we will!” he said “But it’s really late milaya, you need to have diner and get some sleep!”

She considered him.

“I really think you should join Dasha.” She informed him “She must be wondering where the hell you are!”

“We need to talk….” He started.

“No no no!” she said fervently “There’s nothing to talk about!”

“Milaya….”

“Stop milaying me!” she asked “Look; we’ve made a big mistake! It was wrong, so we should just skip it and move on! We’re adults, we can do that right?”

“It was a mistake the first time when we were drunk and unconscious!” he countered “We’ve been messing it up since then! It has to stop!”

“Marat… please don’t!” she demanded tired “We both know it’s not worth it!”

“Do we?” he asked unconvinced.

She walked up to him and faced him determined:

“Listen, we made a mistake; we had sex!” she insisted “We were drunk; it was a mistake of drunken people. That’s all it was! I think we both wanted it to mean something because you don’t wanna have to feel like the guy that cheats on his girlfriend and I don’t wanna feel like the girl who put you in that position in the first place! But the truth is it didn’t mean anything! I know you think I have feelings for you, but I don’t. So this is not worth breaking a lifetime solid friendship!”

He looked at her and smiled.

“Ok milaya!” he replied gently “I’m gonna go, just don’t stay here up too late!”

She smiled and nodded.

“And don’t you dare not to show up at my match again!” he warned amused “It’s a quarter final match for Heaven’s sake! It didn’t happen to me in Wimbledon since ‘01’!”

“I won’t dare!” she replied grinning “Now go away and let me work!”

After he left she locked the door behind him, leant on it, fell in a heap and sobbed uncontrollably.






14th June 2006


“You’re kidding me?” Dima said surprised to Satine in the players lounge.

“Not at all!” she replied beaming “I knew it’d work out, but I didn’t think you’d make it such a success! I owe you blondie!”

“ATP’s resident blogger?” Marat said amused “Is that some kind of promotion?”

“Suck it up Safin!” Dima replied “I’m the new Hemingway of the tennis community and you are only a pretty face on a big body!”

“I’m number one in the world!” Marat countered amused “What are you? 60th?”

“The pride is on the brain; not the muscles!” Dima said.

“Are you saying that I’m an idiot?” Marat asked offended.

“I wouldn’t say it like that…” Dima started.

“I’m smart Tursunov!” Marat replied “I’m better than that; I’m brilliant!”

“No you are not!” Dima protested.

“Oh I am!” Marat said livid “How many languages you moron speak?”

“Ok cut it out!” Satine interrupted

“Why?” the both asked.

“Because I said so!” she replied “You are not the new Hemingway; you’re full of spirit and very funny! And you; well you are a smart guy with a pretty face! That’s it!”

They both glared.

“I have to go!” she said standing up.

“Where to?” Marat asked.

“This is the ladies final; I have to attend to the post-match press conference!” she informed.

“What do you do?” Dima asked amused “You censor the questions and the answers?”

“This is the All England Club!” Satine pointed out “I can’t have Sharapova answering questions about her crazy father’s behaviour! It’s already enough that Marat said ‘crap’ twice and Roddick pronounced the f word yesterday! The Queen might choke sipping her tea if something goes wrong again!”

“God prevent!” Dima replied laughing as she left.

“Holy shit!” Marat added amused “I wouldn’t like to have the Queen choking in her tea because of me!”

“So you’d better win tomorrow and beam like a bride on your press conference!” Dima suggested.

“I was planning to!” Marat confessed laughing.




15th June 2006


“Hey!” Satine said as she walked into the lockers after Marat’s victory in the final.

“Hey!” replied beaming “Don’t worry; I’ll watch my mouth during the interview!”

“I need to talk to you!” she replied.

“Yeah right! Let’s meet at the reception diner later!” he said putting his shirt on.

“It’s not…I need to talk and you need to listen!” she said “Just listen!”

“Ok.” He replied calmly.

“I lied to you!” she whispered.

He considered her seriously.

“What about?” he asked coldly.

“I lied….I lied about….the feelings…my feelings!” she managed to say.

He looked at her straight in the eyes.

“I hear you.” He said encouraging her to speak.

“When Julian was alive; once he asked me if I was in our relationship or not! I didn’t reply and ran away from him!” she informed “It certainly doesn’t surprise you since you know me…you know how I am!”

“I do.” he replied certain.

“While you were playing out there…I kinda realized that after all I wasn’t really in that relationship….or at least not the way I thought I was! “ she said nervously “I realized that while looking at you….I so wanted to be happy and have that thing everybody has; that I fooled myself! I so wanted to be ordinary that I convinced myself being in love with him! Now I don’t know…I don’t know!”

He considered her confused face and tried to hold her hands but she moved back.

“No I still have things to say!” she informed “I need to say them now while I still have the guts to say them! “

“Ok.” He said smiling.

She hesitated and rubbed her hand on her face nervously.

“I…humm…I know I wasn’t in that relationship because I just realized that’s been years that I’m in this relationship or whatever it is with you! I’m so in this that it’s humiliating! It’s humiliating because here I am begging, because you have a girlfriend to whom you are faithful and all! And I know how loyal you can be…I know!”

“Satine….” He tried to say.

“No shut up! I’m not finished yet!” she said “I am your best friend and I love you! If you want this to be with Dasha; I would do everything to support you and help you make things work! Because I’m your best friend, because I love you, I also have to say…. that I’m in love with you! I’m in love with you Marat and I know you’re in love with me too!”

Slowly leaning back against the wall behind him; he looked at her startled and speechless.

“I know it’s too much for you right now!” she said “It was too much for me also when I realised it! But the facts are… they are what they are!”

He was feeling his heart wringing in his chest, for a very long moment he felt like about to lose consciousness. Her words were destroying him.

“Ok, here it is!” she said trying to find more courage inside her “Your choice is simple: it’s her or me! And I know she’s really great! And I’m a horrible bitch…I’ve always been! And what I’m asking you now is too much and unfair! But Marat; I love you!”

As she said those latest words she couldn’t hold on anymore the river of tears flowing down her cheeks.

“I love you so badly that I don’t even know who I am!” she whispered “I know we drive each others nuts and we might kill the other one; but I can’t help it! All those annoying things that you think make me hate you; actually make me love you! So pick me, choose me, love me!”

Words died on his mouth; he just felt his whole world falling apart. More than anything he wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go, but his legs were barely carrying him he was likely to collapse.

“I know you think it’s cruel what I’m asking you to; but I need to have you for my own!” she said “You know where to find me if you see through this!”

As she said that she left.

Alone he let himself fall down into a heap still leaning against the wall. Blankly staring at the lockers exit; his heart was racing like if it could reach after her.




During the entire reception diner for the 2006 Wimbledon’s champions; Marat couldn’t stop thinking about Satine. The words she said to him were playing over and over in his mind like a song chorus he couldn’t forget.

“What’s wrong Marat?” Dasha suddenly asked.

He considered her for seconds and smiled seducing.

“Was thinking about how weird was my presence in here!” he replied.

“Whys is that?” she demanded.

“Come on!” he said laughing “Even my mother couldn’t believe I’d beat Federer in his British garden!”

“Well I’m not surprised!” she said flattering.

He smiled and wrapped her tenderly in his arms.

“You really sound weird tonight.” She noticed.

“You love me?” he suddenly asked.

“What is this question about?” she asked startled “You know I love you; otherwise I wouldn’t be with you!”

He considered her for a second and smiled.

“I just wanted to hear it again.” He assured.

“And you?” she asked playfully “Do you love me Mr.Safin?”

“I do.” he replied calmly. “I think I do.” he thought.

“Good!” she replied kissing him; happy to give a valuable shot to the photographer in front of them “Why isn’t Satine here by the way? Isn’t she supposed to be here?”

Marat looked at her and hesitated.

“Yes she should be.” He replied calmly “I think she wasn’t feeling okay; she’s resting at her house.”

“Good for her.” Dasha replied indifferent.







Meanwhile Satine spent her evening doing something she’s never done before; she watched love movies. After ‘Gone with the wind’ and ‘Titanic’, she thought ‘The Torn Birds’ would be more cheerful; she was wrong.

Out of tissues; she felt the entire world’s injustice on her. She decided she’d do what Blair used to do after a respectable break-up; ice-cream!

She was half way through her Haagen-Dazs box, the spoon ready to dig further when the bell rang again.

Lazily she walked to the door her spoon and ice-cream in the hand.

As she arrived; her glazed door revealed to her Marat standing on her front door in his tuxedo wearing the world’s entire misery on his face.

As she opened the door to him; their eyes locked for minutes that felt like eternity to both of them:

“I…love you too.” He declared finally.

Startled; words died on her lips.

Again they stood still looking at each others unable to talk.

“Say something!” he finally asked.

“I don’t know what to say!” she mumbled.

“Fair enough!” he whispered before he took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately “I wanna come in!”

She looked at him stunned; still under the kiss’s effect.

She let him in and walked to the living room.

She considered him for a while before she asked.

“You don’t wanna take it back?”

He frowned.

“Why would I?” he asked lost “Do you want me to take it back? Maybe you wanna take it back?”

She gave him an offended look.

“No no I don’t!” she replied confident “I’m sure of what I said!”

“Good!” he whispered.

He scanned the living room and spotted the DVDs she had on a table next to the couch where a blanket and a big quantity of used tissues were.

“You watched love movies?” he asked astonished “You watched love movies and cried?”

She looked embarrassed.

He suddenly walked towards her and stopped very close to her body.

“I spent the evening thinking about you….what you said….” He was saying.

“Yeah?” she asked hopeful.

“I’m very confused!” he informed.

“Me too!” she confessed.

He gently took her hand and made her caress his cheek; feeling the fire burning his being to her touch.

“I want you.” He murmured calmly “I’ve never wanted another human being so badly!”

She watched him kissing the palm of her hand, caressing her neck with his lips; turning her on fire as well.

Lost in her emerald eyes he carried her gently to the couch where he started taking off her top; kissing her breast and caressing her neck in the same time.

With all her strength she broke apart standing up.

“What did you tell Dasha?” she asked suddenly.

He crashed down realizing what he’s done or not.

“Nothing.” He said.

“Oh!” she replied considering his words “Are you planning to tell her something? And when?”

He stood up and turned around his hands on the hips looking away.

“I don’t know.” He finally said.

“You don’t know what?” she asked in an unusual quietness “You don’t know when you’ll tell her or if you’re ever gonna tell her?”

He looked at her with storming eyes.

“I don’t wanna hurt her…” he whispered.

“You’d rather hurt me!” she concluded painfully.

He held her arm gently clinging himself to her.

“Please understand….” He asked sadly.

“I can’t understand!” she whispered in a sob letting her arm go of his tight grip.

“She doesn’t deserve to…I can’t just get rid of her….I’m not like that you know…”

“I know!” she said “I know! “

She turned around to hide the tears flowing down on her sore cheeks.

“Why did you come then?” she asked “Why did you…”

“Because…” he whispered “I need you…I love you!”

She turned to face him livid.

“Marat!” she hissed “Make a decision and stick to it! You won’t have us both…you know that!”

“I know!” he replied painfully.

“So why don’t you face her and come back to me?” she demanded “For God’s sake Marat! You don’t wanna hurt a girl you barely love and won’t hesitate to hurt me?! You can’t do that! Damn it! I asked you to pick me and to choose me and you still choose her over me? Over me!”

She again turned around to hide her despair from him.

He embraced her and kissed her neck lovingly.

“I’m sorry!” he said tears flowing down his eyes as well “You don’t know how difficult it is to choose between you two!”

As their bodies were stuck to each others, as his slow and tortured breath was on her; she could feel weakness taking control of her.

She violently faced him.

“Difficult?” she repeated disbelieving “You already know who to choose; it’s not difficult; it’s painful!”

“Milaya…” he started.

“Marat, please!” she asked “Don’t do this, don’t give up on me!”

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her with a wrung heart.

“I can’t do it Satine!” he said walking to the door.

“Marat!” Satine begged.

He turned to face her but couldn’t bear to see her in such a misery.

“Please don’t make it more difficult milaya.” He demanded.

She stood up dignified and walked towards him.

“I won’t!” she replied coldly “Just leave!”

“Satine…”

“From all the people in this world…you are the only one I’ve always knew would never, ever hurt me!” she said in a broken voice “But you just did, you broke me; I’m humiliated, so leave!”

He stood still in an enormous pain; he felt like thousands of darts were shot to his chest.

“Leave!” she ordered.

“If…if love were…enough; I’ll be with you….only you.” he bitterly said looking away.

He just walked away and left.

Alone she fell down into a heap and started sobbing uncontrollably.




“You didn’t take long!” Dasha pointed out as Marat came back.

“Yeah.” He replied calmly.

“Is Satine better?” she asked trying to sound interested.

“I think she’s not okay.” He said quietly “I let her rest.”

“Good! Now let’s celebrate the Champ!” Dasha said kissing him on the cheek but he froze and steeped back.

“I’m sorry…humm…I’m exhausted you know; rough two weeks!” he said.

“Of course!” she replied smiling.

“I’ll…I’ll shower first and join you later.” He informed.

Indeed he felt exhausted but for another reason.

He locked himself into the bathroom and let the water flow. Distraught; he put his hands on a wall to lean on it.

In his mind was playing over and over again the scene he had earlier with Satine; he couldn’t stop picturing her soft skin, her lips…

Above all; he couldn’t take off his mind their words, the hurt he inflicted her. He promised himself years ago he’d always be there for her and protect her from everything and everyone; he just realised that after all, he actually was the one who’s hurt her deepest.

Realizing that not only he loved her; she was the person he cherished the most.

“What have I done?” he thought.

He knew there was nothing else he could do or fix; not anymore.

He whipped the light tears from his eyes and got under the warm flowing water.

Suddenly; unable to stand what he’s done, disgusting himself; he started hitting his fists against the wall until he saw blood. He then collapsed miserably; crying quietly his pain.

But it was no relief…

[Dina]

Chapter 12

5th July 2006

Montreal’s time has come, and the tennis elite were gathered in the Canadian city to make the show.


“So you guys are on non-talking terms since Wimbledon?” Dima asked Marat disbelieving as they were having a practice session.

“I’ve called several times; but she doesn’t answer!” Marat informed “She never returned any of my calls.”

Marat’s tune was bitter and his gaze miserable.

“I’ve heard she’s been working on the new Armani campaign.” He said slowly “She’s supposed to be back on the Tour now; here in Montreal.”

“Yeah?” Dima said.

“And I know she had a one night stand with some guy in London.”

Dima considered him for a moment before he dared to ask:

“Are you in love with her?”

Marat looked at him hurt; the simple wording of the facts made him feel like thousands of darts were stuck to his chest.

“Yes.” He simply replied “I’m in love with her.”

“When did you realize this?” Dima wondered surprised.

Marat considered the question before he answered:

“I think I’ve always knew.” He declared.

“And she shares your feelings?” Dima asked again.

Marat nodded.

“And she asked you to choose her?”

Marat didn’t even dare look at his friend.

Dima was stunned.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dima hissed “Have you lost your mind?!”

Marat looked lost.

“What the hell was I supposed to do?” Marat countered “Break up with my girlfriend?”

“Yes, yes!” Dima said disbelieving “Marat; it’s Sissy we’re talking about for God’s sake! It’s normal for you to hurt a person who you loved and cherished more than all for twelve years and avoid hurting a girl you know for two years?! And you don’t even really love her for Heaven’s sake!”

“I had to give it a try!” Marat said “You don’t give up a relationship in which you’ve been committed for two years just because you…”

“Marat!” Dima interrupted “You don’t love her! There’s nothing to give it a try! The only things you’ve done are break Satine’s heart and make the three of you live miserably!”

“You think Dasha is miserable as well?” Marat asked unsure.

“I believe being with someone who doesn’t love you is certainly not a fact of happiness!” Dima said “She also deserves to be with someone who would love her the way she deserves to be loved!”

Marat shook his head and collapsed on his bench.

“What have I done?” he said to himself.

“You can still fix this!” Dima advised “Break up with Dasha and go beg Sissy’s pardon!”

“She will never forgive me you know that!” Marat said desperate.

“Tell her you made a mistake and you love her; I’m sure she can find for you some forgiveness strength!”

“After what I’ve done to her?!” Marat said bitterly “She can’t forgive that; not even to me!”

“Just break up with Dasha and try your luck with Siss’!” Dima insisted “You’ve already lost everything; you can only win at this!”


7th July 2006


“What is that meeting for?” Marat asked nervously to Dima.

All the top thirty ATP players were gathered in the players lounge for a meeting with the ATP’s head of communication and marketing Miss Satine McAllister.

“I don’t know.” Mitya replied “Maybe she wants to blow your head publicly; sharing the show with the 29 guys ranked behind you on the Tour! They might like it!”

Marat gave him a disgusted look.

“Screw you!”

At the same time Satine walked into the lounge followed by her assistant and Stephan Boulay; Montreal’s tournament director.

“Gentlemen; thank you all for your presence in this extraordinary meeting.” Stephan declared “You all know Miss McAllister of course; she gathered you all for a very important matter to both the ATP circuit and the Montreal tournament. Miss McAllister?”

Satine smiled to him and faced all the players without looking at anyone in particular.

“Thank you all for coming today; by the name of the ATP’s chairman Mr. De Villiers, I wanna thank you all for the great efforts you put in the latest months; cooperating with us promote men’s tennis and the honourable causes defended by the ATP.”

A round of applauses was made.

“Montreal’s tournament is an exceptional event; that’s why we chose this occasion to organize a special exhibition night on next Friday to help rise funds for the UNICEF.” She said “That’s why we are counting on each one of you to attend and participate to this event and help in your own way to improve some children’s critical lives.”

She paused and smiled exquisitely.

“We hope you’ll all stay; no matter what results you’ll make in the tournament!” she said “Don’t think you’ll sneak out of it discreetly; I’ll use every weapon on my disposal to convince the reluctant ones!”

They all laughed caught by her spirit.

“Laura here will hand you all, written informations; so you guys will get to know how you can do more for the UNICEF individually.”

“How convincing can you get Boss?” Andy Roddick asked amused.

“It depends Andy.” She replied mischievously “You might like my talents of persuasion and you might not!”

They all bursted out laughing.

Marat shot Andy with a look.

“Of course; whatever is Mr.Safin’s result in the competition week, he has to attend to the exhibition event in his quality of leader of the ATP race and one of the two tennis players godfathers’ with Roger of course!” she said coldly.

He gave her a look but she ignored him.

“Thank you all; I know your time is precious and you have to practice!” she said “Thanks again!”

They all applauded and made their ways out of the lounge.

Marat was walking towards Satine when he stopped abruptedly.

A tall handsome man was warmly hugging her before he murmured something to her that made her laugh and kissed her passionately.

Marat was astonished; he couldn’t move nor think. Only rage and bitterness were making him feel life.

“Marat come!” Dima said to him quietly.

He turned to face him with a distraught look; he then stormed out of the lounge without looking back.

“You’re taking me for lunch?” Satine asked the man.

“I don’t think so!” he replied smiling deviously “I’m offering you dessert first!”

He smoothly dragged her out by the hand.



Dima found Marat in the lockers, standing still; hands on his hips.

“I know that was tough, but you have to calm down!” Dima said.

“Calm down?” he repeated laughing nervously “I thought about breaking up with Dasha to get her back, and she just….”

“She’s not to be blamed!” Dima said calmly “You’ve turned her down in London, you know how she is…it was predictable!”

Marat looked livid.

“Who the hell is that gigolo?” Marat said furiously “I can’t remember where I’ve seen him before! Jackass!”

Dima looked hesitating.

“You know who he is?” Marat asked furiously.

“If I’m not mistaking; that’s Josh Hartnett!” Dima said biting his lowest lip to death.

“Josh who?” Marat asked lost.

“He’s an American actor.” Dima informed him.

“Shit!” Marat exclaimed throwing a racquet on somebody’s compartment “That’s the best she could find!”

“Marat….” Dima tried to say.

“I’m done with that!” Marat declared “You hear me? Satine’s dead for me!”

He walked out furiously and left Dima disbelieving.



12th July 2006

“Hey!” Satine said to Marat in the backside of the Central Court on Friday evening’s event.

“Hey!” he replied surprised.

“There’s a…a kid!” she managed to say “He’s hemiplegic and he’s a big fan of yours; would you mind meeting him?”

He looked at her lost. She was so beautiful! He remembered how stunning she was. Unbelievable! He thought.

“So?” she asked impatiently.

“What?” he replied crashing down.

“The kid!” she said “Are you gonna give him some time?”

He captured her gaze tenderly before he answered.

“Sure! Of course!” he said following her.

Marat met Gregorian a 12 years old boy with whom he spent some quality time.

Satine forgot how generous Marat could be with people in need, especially children.

She spent the last weeks all her energy trying to forget the good things about him and move on with her life, that she actually couldn’t see anymore all the things that made of him the most important person of her life.

“What’s next?” he asked.

“Humm…well you are the top ranked player in this competition; you’re scheduled to play….”she was saying.

“An actor hein?!” he suddenly said.

“None of your business Marat!” she replied coldly.

“Sure!” he replied “But all I can see is that you really like to get around more than you used to!”

She froze to that reflection. She felt her heart wringing in her chest; he never tried to hurt her with words before. He made a good try for a first time though.

“What did you just say?” she asked shaking.

“A regular Brit and now Josh Hartnett!” he said meanly “Who’s next; Roddick? Cause I know he likes to sleep around as well; you have that in common!”

He was about to take off when she violently grabbed his arm.

“You don’t get to call me a whore!” she hissed “When I told you about my feelings, all I wanted were you! I wanted to spend the rest of my life only with you! I was done! So all the guys, all the dramas and all the obvious daddy issues; who cared? Because I was done! You; left me! You; chose Dasha! I’m getting my life back now! I don’t get ashamed for how I chose to repair what you broke! You don’t get to call me a whore!”

“This thing between us is over!” he said bitterly.

“Finally!” she whispered in a painful voice.

She then stormed out and left him alone.

He couldn’t believe the words he said to her; he felt shamefully guilty.





20th June 2005


“Lionia!” Marat called as he walked in Leonid’s place “What the hell are you doing?! That’s been an hour that I’ve been waiting for you in the club! We’re gonna be late for….”

As he walked into Lionia’s room, the scene Marat saw shut him up literally.

Lionia was in bed naked with Dasha.

“Marat!” Leonid said miserably.

Marat laughed nervously and punched a fist of anger in the door.

“I think it’s ok if we don’t show up to the party after all!” he said sarcastically before he left.

Lionia rubbed his face disbelieving what just happened.

“He’s my best friend!” Lionia whispered “I know him since I was 8!”

“I know.” Dasha replied calmly.

“Why did you do that?” he asked hurt.

“I need him to feel that I’m alive!” she simply replied.

She stood up, dressed up and left.




Late at night Marat came to Dasha’s place:

“Hey!” she said surprised to see him.

“Why did you screw Lionia?” he asked adamantly.

“I think I felt neglected and I used him!” she replied honestly.

He considered her for a moment.

“So you’ve done that to get my attention?” he asked calmly.

She nodded.

“Why Leonid?” he asked slowly.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered.

He stepped back and leant on the entry wall sighing loudly.

He walked towards her and grabbed her fiercely by the waist.

“I forgive you.” He declared before he pinned her against a wall and violently took her clothes off before he laid down on her on a carpet.



28th September 2005

“Marat, open the door!” Rauza said from her kitchen.

“Watching TV!” he replied lazily.

“Marat!” Rauza insisted.

“Yeah yeah!” he replied executing himself.

As he opened the door, Marat saw Leonid standing in front of him.

Marat considered him for a moment.

“What are you doing at my parent’s?” Marat asked calmly.

“It’s always been a neutral territory!” Lionia replied smiling.

Marat didn’t react.

“I screwed it up!” Lionia said “I don’t even know how it did happen!”

He sounded sincere and Marat believed him because he knew how Dasha could eventually manage to get anything from any guy; especially if she used her physical assets.

“I’m so sorry!” he whispered desperately.

“I know.” Marat replied calmly “I stopped blaming you!”

“Did you?” Lionia asked surprised.

“Who’s there?” Rauza asked her son walking towards them “Lionia! What are you still doing out? It’s freezing get in! Diner’s almost ready!”

Lionia gave Marat a questioning look, but he already walked back into the house.

“You’ll get them all frozen!” Marat teased “Get in; we’re missing the whole match!”




20th July 2006

“I’m so happy you’ve finished your match quickly!” Dasha informed Marat as they were going down an elevator to leave the stadium.

“Yeah well!” he replied smiling lightly “Tsonga wasn’t playing his best today; he eased the task for me!”

As he said that; the lift’s gates opened to reveal Satine waiting with files in her hand.

She hesitated seconds but finally got in smiling to Dasha.

“Hey Sissy!” Dasha said.

“Hey!” she replied politely “How are you doing?”

“Great!” Dasha replied beaming “It’s a shame we haven’t seen you more lately; heard the new ATP job’s keeping you busy!”

“Indeed!” Satine said avoiding Marat’s gaze “I barely have time for myself!”

Dasha noticed how weird she and Marat behaved; they obviously had a big fight, but she preferred not to insist on asking Marat about the details. Actually, she was happy that Satine got away of their lives for a moment.

“So, Josh Hartnett?!” Dasha teased “You lucky girl!”

“Yeah!” Satine said amused “He’s awesome! By all means!”

They laughed together which made Marat more uncomfortable than he already were.

The lift stopped at the fifth floor finally.

“That’s me!” Satine informed “Bye!”

“Bye!” Dasha replied.

She then turned her gaze to Marat.

“What?” he asked upset.

“Nothing.” She replied smiling softly.





22nd July 2006

“If you win tomorrow; are you gonna thank me again in your speech?” Dasha asked smiling to Marat as they were together in the player’s lounge.

He faced her and laughed.

“Of course I will!” he replied “You’re my girlfriend!”

She considered him.

“It’s just because I’m your girlfriend that you do it?” she asked.

He gave her a look and got her point.

“Not only!” he said smiling.

“So what is it about?” she wanted to know.

“It’s about love!” he said tenderly “It’s because I’m into you.”

He leant over and kissed her forehead, and then he turned his attention again to his reading.

“It’s not about love Marat.” She said “It’s about you!”

He turned to face her surprised.

“Excuse me?” he replied stunned.

“It’s about how you pretend to love me but really you’re just using me to fill some need you have to be a good guy!” she replied seeing through everything.

“Now it’s not the time to talk about this; we’ll talk about it later!” he calmly replied, taking his belongings and heading to a practice court where Dima should be waiting for him.

“You walk away!” she said “That’s all I get?”

“Just calm down, please!” he asked her as people around were starring.

“What, you’re not gonna yell at me, or call me names?” she said out of her mind “Or maybe ignore me in an elevator?”

“What do you want from me Dasha?” he finally asked putting his belongings down.

“I want you to care!” she desperately said even louder “I slept with your best friend and you didn’t even care! He apologized to you and you forgave him like if he did screw the girl next door and not your girlfriend! What do I have to do? Oh, I know! Maybe what I should do; is going out on a date with a Hollywood star! Because that seems to be something that sends you into a blind rage! But wait, that won’t work either; because I’m not Satine McAllister!”

As she said those latest words a lot of people around were witnessing the scene; including several players and Satine who was passing by.

Marat took off and left her standing there alone and embarrassed.






Josh was laying down on bed naked next to Satine who looked lost in her thoughts.

“Wasn’t it good for you?” he teased.

“You already know how good you are, don’t glow!” she replied stretching her arms widely to kiss his chest.

“Yeah I do!” he said amused “So, when was the latest relationship you had?”

The legitimate question Josh asked made Satine feel like an eruption into her private life.

“What?” he asked smiling “Touchy subject?”

She considered him for a second and decided to soften.

“Kind of!” she replied.

“I know that’s not been ages we’ve been dating, but I reckon it’s long enough to ask you about your life!” he said gently “Besides; I really like you.”

His brown eyes looked sincere and deep; a part of her wanted to give up and let him treat her bleeding wounds, but the other part wanted to do what she so often did in the past; run away and never look back.

“It’s complicated.” She finally whispered.

“Obviously.” He gently said.

She considered him for a moment and rested her head on his warm chest.

“It happened almost a year ago.” She said softly “His name was Julian, he was a businessman and my partner….”

“But you said your partner died….” Josh was saying “Oh! I’m so sorry….”

“It’s okay!” she replied gently “You couldn’t know! Besides, today I’m much better!”

“Are you?” he asked.

“Yeah Julian’s death is behind me today!” she replied honestly but thinking about what was troubling her current life.

“I’m glad to hear!” he replied smiling “Because I wanna be the only one occupying your extraordinary mind!”

She laughed but in the same time thought how misled he was; he actually barely occupied her mind. She wished he was the one occupying her mind for sure.

“And what about your childhood?” he asked smiling.

Astonished she looked at him like a traitor.

“Oh my God!” he replied amused “Don’t be so creepy!”

“Creepy?” she replied offended.

“Alright!” he conceded smiling “Just freaked!”

She gave him a look and pointed out to him with her finger dangerously.

“My childhood was great!” he started “I was born in Minnesota and was raised mostly by my father Daniel who is a business manager; he divorced my mom and remarried my stepmother Molly. I have three younger half-siblings; Jessica, Jack and Joe! I grew up in Saint Paul and was raised Roman Catholic, attending Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Grade School, where I played Adam Apple in an eighth grade production of "Krazy Kamp".

As he said that she bursted out laughing.

“Do not laugh; it was an extremely serious thing!” he replied dignified.

“Ok, sorry.” She said with an amused little voice.

“I later attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School before switching to South High School in Minneapolis, from which I graduated in June 1996. I also played football in high school, but stopped because of a broken left knee. It broke my heart; but let’s say I beautifully moved on!”

She laughed again before he took a passionate control of her lips.

“The least to know about a person you share your bed with several times a week!” he pointed out.

“I guess I should speak.” She concluded.

“The least you can do after this detailed biography I gave you!” he informed.

“Right!” she sighed “I was born in Miami and grew up there!”

She looked at him smiling.

“You kidding?” he asked “That’s all?”

“Yeah!” she said trying to sleep.

“Oh come on!” he protested “You won’t sleep before you gimme dirty details!”
She sighed giving up.

“Hookay!” she said “When I turned 14 we moved to Valencia in Spain…”

“Why?” he asked.

“My father was promoted US Ambassador in Spain, that’s why! He worked in Madrid and used to come to Valencia in week-ends!”

“I bet it was tough getting there; new country, new language…” he said with compassion.
She instinctively smiled.

“Not at all!” she replied spontaneously “I had the best years of my life there!”

Suddenly she got lost in her thoughts again.

“Hey there!” he said waving his hand in front of her eyes.

“Sorry!” she said confused.

“Thinking about your first boyfriend?” he asked smiling.

She looked stunned.

“No!” she protested unconsciously “Marat wasn’t my boyfriend, he never was!”

“Marat?” he repeated surprised “The guy who…”

“Yeah that one!” she sighed.

“You know him since childhood?” he asked startled “Why you never told me?”

“Marat was…is…we grew up like best friends in Valencia!” she said

“He’s the best friend I ever had! I always had him in tough situations to help me and…he was my person.”

She looked sad.

“What happened?” he asked gently.

“We had a big row recently…we aren’t in talking terms right now!”

He considered her for a moment.

It happens!” he said smiling “Give you guys time to sort it out!”

She smiled.

“You don’t understand…he was the most important person in my life he was always, always there for me!” she said depressed “Only God knows what he did for me in my life!”

“Like what?” he asked.

She smiled.

17th April 1999
Valencia; 4:04


“Dios!” Marat complained as his cell was ringing “What the hell is that?”

Answer!” Sylvia demanded annoyed.

“Who the hell is that?” he asked.

“Hi Marat.” Blair said “It’s Blair Humphrey Satine’s roommate. I’m sorry to bother you but I didn’t know who to turn to…”

“What’s wrong with Satine?” he asked worried to death.

“Actually I don’t really know!” she replied confused.

“What do you mean?” he asked making instinctively his way to the bathroom.

“It’s…that’s been two weeks that I haven’t seen her!” she confessed.

“What?” he said nervously “Why? Where did she go? What the hell…”

“About two weeks ago, she was paid a visit from her father in the campus…”Blair started.

“Mierda!” Marat mumbled in Spanish “What happened?”

“He took her to lunch.” She said “When she came back she looked very upset and sad, she refused to tell me about it!”

Marat wasn’t surprised by her reactions but he didn’t share his thoughts with Blair.

“There was a dream party that night!” she said “She declined the invitation a week before; but that night she decided she wanted to go so we went…”

“And…”Marat demanded impatiently.

“There she met that guy Luke; she made out with him in the party and I think…”

“What?” he asked out of his mind “What do you think?”

“I think he used drugs and…I think Sissy used some as well with him!” she confessed.

Marat was astonished; the words were lost for him to talk.

“Yeah?” he asked calmly “Go on.”

"He took her with him, I know he lives in a big duplex downtown and I know she’s there with him!” she explained “I tried to get her out of there….but every time the guy kicks me out! He said she doesn’t want to see anyone!”

“Son of a bitch!” Marat hissed livid “Didn’t you go to the cops?”

“Yes I did!” she replied “They said she went with him willingly so….”

“F%§£§!” Marat said upset “Look I’ll be in Boston in the few upcoming hours, now I’m in a tournament in Valencia but I’m coming!”

When Marat told her he was to withdraw from the tournament and fly to Boston to help Satine; Sylvia wasn’t even surprised and didn’t protest; she knew better. She always knew she stood no chance next to Satine; she just took time to realize why.


18th April 1999
Boston

“Is that his place?” Marat asked Blair upset.

“Yes it is!” she replied nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’m taking her out of this place!” he informed her confident.

He knocked two times on the door but no one answered; he knocked a third time with more energy.

A guy finally opened; he looked wasted and high. His face looked like a mess and had a beard of several days.

“Hi.” Marat started quietly “I’m Marat Satine’s friend; I came to pick her up!”

Luke considered Marat but looked indifferent.

“She doesn’t wanna get picked up!” he informed mocking.

“Doesn’t she?” Marat asked sarcastically.

“No man, she doesn’t!” he replied “Now get lost!”

The guy was about to close the door when Marat held it back.

“I don’t think so!” Marat replied punching the guy straight in the face; he fell down straight on ground.

“That was good!” Blair said impressed.

Marat made his way through the place and went upstairs where he found Satine in a bed half naked in her underwear. She was unconscious and looked pale.

“Milaya!” he called taking her in his arms.

Her eyes narrowed tired; she was under drugs effect obviously. She looked very pale and weak.

Quickly he wrapped her up in a cover and carried her out heading with her to the Emergency.

Marat was nervously pacing in the waiting room in front of an ER gate while Blair was looking at him anxious.

“Marat…” she called uselessly “Marat!”

He turned to face her.

“I can’t calm down now….just don’t ask me to!” he informed.

Right then; a doctor walked out of the ER.

“Are you Miss McAllister’s friends?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, yes!” Marat said nervously “How…how is she? Is she gonna be okay? Is she awake?....”

“She will be fine!” the doctor said interrupting him “It was luck she was brought here, she wouldn’t have make it after a couple of days…she overdosed herself in a terrible way!”

Marat looked startled.

“Is she familiar with drugs?” the doctor asked.

“No!” Marat replied firmly “That was her first time.”

“Well for a first time she took a surreal quantity….wasn’t she trying a suicide?”

“Of course not!” Blair responded “She just…just a bad period and a couple of bad decisions!”

Marat sat down looking at the void. His head was spinning.

“Ok.” The doctor said “She’s still unconscious you can see her, but not for long! When she’ll wake up; after a couple of days she might need….”

“No she won’t!” Marat said “I’m taking care of her!”

“My boy; a detoxification is nothing easy…she needs professional cares!” the doctor said.

“I’ll be able to deal with it.” Marat insisted.

“Right!” the doctor said before he left.

“Marat…”Blair started.

“Don’t worry!” he said smiling “I’m making it my own business that she gets okay!”

Sitting at Satine’s bedside; scary thoughts were running through Marat’s mind.

He looked at her asleep peacefully and gently took her hand to his lips.

“Why did you do that milaya?” he thought “Why? I can never let you give up and leave me behind!”

He caressed her cheek for a while before he bent down and kissed her lips softly.

“A life without you is nothing!” he whispered to her ear.

Suddenly; like if she heard him say, she narrowed her eyes painfully before she could show him the emeralds sparkling.

He grinned like a kid and lovingly caressed her forehead.

“Welcome back!” he whispered.

She looked at him when tears formed in her eyes.

“You’re okay now!” he whispered in her ear “I’m here, finally!”

She stretched her arms out to him asking for his hug. He gently sat on the bed behind her and wrapped her in his arms.

“I am here!” he repeated strongly.

She just held his hand tighter and leant her head on his shoulder.

Minutes later….

“What were you trying to do?” he finally asked.

She kept silence for a moment feeling his impatience taking control before she spoke.

“I’m not sure I know!” she said.

“I don’t need to give you a piece of my mind about the shit you’ve done.” He said firmly “Just…just know that I’m never gonna let you get there…ever!”

“I’m sorry!” she replied.

“I know!” he said kissing her hair “I know! But I can’t lose you; you know!”

”I know.” She replied.

21st April 1999
Fuengirola, Spain (Tio Charles Village)

“Why did you bring me here?” Satine asked nervously as they arrived to the house Marat rented.

“I’m locking us up here!” he replied calmly.

“What?” she asked disbelieving.

“You heard!” he said unpacking her suitcase in a dressing.

She looked at him puzzled.

“Marat…”she tried “Marat!”

“Yeah milaya?” he asked calmly.

“What silly game are you playing here?” she asked upset.

“You spent two weeks under drugs effect!” he informed “You think it’s gone like magic? Your system got addicted to the surreal quantity you took! We are not leaving Spain before you get rid of this shit!”

She looked at him with storming eyes.

“I knew you’ll blow it to my face!” she hissed.

“How can’t I?” he replied disbelieving “You tried to screw yourself and you want me to stand still watching?”

She looked at him confused.

“I…I didn’t do it on purpose!” she said in a sob “You know that…don’t you?”

He looked at her disbelieving.

“I know!” he said hugging “Of course I do! But you have to admit that you need help! You didn’t stop shaking the whole flight from Boston to Madrid! I thought you wouldn’t make it on the road to here!”

“You think I’m a drug addict?” she asked scared.

“I think you made a mistake and I’m here to help you fix it!” he replied convinced.

“Ok!” she conceded.

Marat spent two weeks with Satine in some horrible conditions. He locked himself with her in her bedroom for 36 hours. She wanted to get out several times but he kept her in against her will. He forced her to eat even if she was constantly vomiting, shaking, shivering and aching.

He helped her again; get through one of the toughest periods of her life, just by being there like every time.

He gave up on his girlfriend, withdrew from the Valencia tournament and two Masters Series and neglected his rising ranking for her. Like every single time.

[Dina]

Chapter 13
18th August 2006

Satine was on her office desk in Cincinnati working on some special players’ interviews request from the local press with a strange heart wringing in her chest when her phone rang.
“Satine McAllister?” a woman asked.
“Herself.” Satine replied.
“Miss McAllister; you are the person to call in emergencies according to Mr.Safin’s papers, he was brought in here half an hour ago.”
Words died on Satine’s lips. She felt as her heart was trying to get out of his chest.
“What….what happened?” she managed to ask.
“Mr.Safin was involved in a car crash Miss….”
“What hospital is that?” she asked nervously interrupting the woman.
Seconds later Satine was rushing to the hospital. She was assuming the worst.

“Hello…hey! Hey!” Satine said nervously to a nurse at the hospital “I’m here! I’ve been…called!”
“And you are?” the nurse asked calmly.
“I’m…I was…I actually still am his best friend!” she mumbled.
“Good for you!” the nurse replied smiling “How can I help you Miss?”
“You called me!” she said defensive “You said I’m his emergency person! Though it should be Dasha or…”
“Who are you talking about?” the nurse asked trying to calm her down.
Satine looked at her feeling the ridiculous of the situation.
“Oh my! Humm…Marat Safin!” she said “He was apparently involved in a car crash!”
“Let me check for you!” the nurse replied kindly.
Satine was nosily trying to peek on the nurse’s list.
“Room 734!” she told her “Dr.Gavin is the one taking care of him, let me call him for you!”
“Later!” Satine replied taking the steps “I need to see Marat before!”

Running the steps for seven floors; Satine finally arrived out of her breath looking for Marat’s room.

Finally, she found the room and was about to get in when she stopped. Dasha must be already here she thought.

While struggling with her thoughts a doctor interrupted her thinking.

“Hello!” he said “Can I help you?”
“Humm…maybe!” she said “My friend is supposed to be in here!”
“You’re Satine?” he asked smiling.
Satine looked surprised.
“Yeah…that’s me!” she said, and then more quietly to herself “I think!”
“He said your name several times before he lost consciousness!” he replied “I’m Dr.Gavin!”
Satine looked stunned.
“I suppose you’re his….” started the doctor.
“I’m his best friend!” she interrupted “Only!”
The doctor seemed surprised.
“It sounded like if…whatever!” he said “I believe you are worried considering the look on your face!”
She nodded nervously.
“He’s asleep but he’s gonna wake up soon!” he said reassuring “He was lucky his airbags released! He only got some bruises in the face; he’ll need a lot of rest in the upcoming days if he wants to be ready for his next tournament….”
“It’s the USO!” Satine thought loudly.
“I know.” The doctor replied smiling “He’ll probably feel some stiffness in his neck and certainly some dizziness as well!”
“So he’s fine?” she asked doubting.
“He’ll be just fine!” he said smiling widely “He’s lucky to have a person who cares so much about him!”
Satine smiled to that reflexion.
“He asked after you…I bet he’d love to have you bedside him when he’ll wake up!” the doctor added mischievously.
“There’s no one in with him yet?” she asked suspicious.
“No.” he replied “We’ve called only you! And nobody came in with him!”
“Thanks doctor!” she said shaking his hand.

After he left, Satine took a deep breath and opened the door.

There he was; asleep, linked to heart rate machinery which froze her right then.

Slowly she walked towards him and held his hand in hers very tight.
And out of nowhere; she started to sob uncontrollably. She never felt so scared in her lifetime. It brought many, many bad memories to her. The only person she’d never stand to be left without in life was him.

“Stop fooling yourself!” she thought.

She then thought that she was in the biggest mess ever! Then she though about calling Dasha, but she changed her mind. She wanted him for herself, a little more. He was asleep; he couldn’t scream at her, or hurt her with cruel words. He was hers for now, at least.

She looked at him, peacefully asleep. He was so cute sleeping, she remembered the several times she did watch him sleep.

Sometimes, unconsciously; he’d hold her hands in his, even if he wasn’t aware of her presence. She loved him too much to deal with this pain. “What can I do? God!” she told herself.

Suddenly; like if he heard her crazy thoughts; Marat tightened the grip of his fingers linked to hers.

She smiled and caressed his cheek. “I love you” she whispered. And instinctively she bent down and kissed his lips.

Seconds later he started waking up; she didn’t know if he did realize she kissed him but he certainly was trying to open his eyes. He struggled as the light was bothering him.

Realizing that; she stood up to close the curtains but he firmly held her hand.

“Don’t go!” he whispered.

She sat back and caressed his forehead.

“I won’t!” she informed.
“You came.” He murmured happily.
“Of course I did!” she replied softly “You scared the crap out of me!”
His hand now was going up her forearm until it reached her silky neck.
“I’m sorry!” he said finally looking straight into her eyes “I didn’t mean what I’ve said the other day…”
“Shut!” she interrupted placing a finger on his mouth “I know!”

He reached the finger placed on his mouth and pressed it against his lips before he kissed it lovingly.
“I missed you!” he said pulling her down closer to him.
His gaze was spelling and insisting.
“Hating you is the most exhausting and painful thing I’ve ever done!” she managed to say “I don’t wanna do it anymore!”

She was shaking; he was dizzy but he still managed to take the control and make her feel like he was her master. His eyes now were inviting hers sensually; she let herself go and wrapped him in her arms.

“I missed you too!!” she confessed sinfully.
He then slowly lifted her face in front of his; his fingers ran sensually from her neck to her cheek. He clung to her and sat down on bed.
“How can you be so beautiful?” he asked sincerely amazed.
Not giving her time to pull off his reflexion; he masterfully took her lips in his and kissed her lovingly until they both felt they fed their hunger of each other.
“My God!” she whispered standing up!” What are we doing again?”
“What does this mean?” he asked hopeful.
“I have a boyfriend!” she said at the verge of tears “And you have your…”
“Don’t run away from me please!” he demanded.

As he said that the door opened; Dima and Misha walked in wearing worried expressions on their faces.

“Hey!” they said to them.
“Hey!” Satine replied panicking.
“You okay?” Misha asked Marat.
“Yeah I’m fine!” he replied.
“See; told ya he’d be okay!” Dima told Misha smiling “The Iron Man!”
“Not that much iron!” Marat said seriously looking at Satine.
“I gotta go; still have lots of work!” she said nervously “You guys look after him!”
When she reached the door she turned back and faced them:
“Make sure to call Dasha; I don’t think she knows yet what happened!” she said with tears forming in her eyes” And also; make sure he really does rest!”
Marat gave her a hurt look.
“Bye!” she whispered before she disappeared.
“How bad moment was the moment we walked in?” Dima asked Marat.
“I don’t know!” he whispered miserably “But I do know I haven’t lost her yet!”
His eyes sparkled with determination and confidence.
“I can’t lose her!” he informed them.

25th August 2006: New-York

The USO was at the end of its first week and yet only four matches have been played so far. A hurricane was troubling the Americans coasts and NY wasn’t spared; some violent storms unceasingly hit the city the whole week.

Marat didn’t have the opportunity to talk to Satine since her visit to the hospital, every time he tried to reach her on the phone she hung up on him or let her phone ring until it failed.

He desperately wanted to talk to her; but with the permanent rain he was most of the time stuck into the lockers waiting for his turn to step on the court.

Sunday night; after all the matches of the day were delayed; he prayed very loudly to find her in her place; hoping that Josh would’ve reached LA by now to join his movie set.

As usual when she was home; the NY house’s door wasn’t locked. He walked in.

There was light in the living room with one of her favourite Beethoven’s symphony “Fur Elise” playing. Walking further he heard some dishes jingling coming from the lightened kitchen.

She was there; busy putting glasses in the dishwasher.

As she moved to take some more from the table; she saw him standing still at the entry.

“Hi!” he whispered smiling.
“Hi!” she replied surprised.
“I was gonna come over sooner but…” he was saying walking towards her.
“The rain…I know!” she went on for him.

He smiled tenderly and she smiled back to him.

An awkward silence took place between them.

“So? What does this mean?” she finally dared to say.
“It means you have a choice!” he said straight “You have a choice to make, and I don’t wanna rush you into making a decision before you’re ready!”

She looked at him breathless.

“This afternoon I was gonna come over and I was gonna say…what I wanted to say was….but now all I can say is that…I’m in love with you!” he said smiling foolishly “I’ve been in love with you for ever! I’m a little late…I know I’m a little late in telling you that…giving you this speech…”

He got lost; not knowing what to say from all the things he wanted to say.

“I…I just want you to take your time…you know!” he said softly “Take all the time you need…because you have…a choice to make! And when I had a choice to make…I chose wrong!”

Satine’s eyes were about to storm; her heart was racing inside her chest, she was unable to talk or even to breathe.

He came closer; framed her face with his hands and softly kissed her forehead.

“Good night!” he said smiling and before he left he turned and said “Oh and yeah…I broke up with Dasha! It’s over! I’m finally free!”

After he left; she took a big breath back and allowed her river to flow down her cheeks.

She was simply overwhelmed and she needed to sit.

1st September 2006

“Oh mom!” Marat whined in an elevator “Nobody’s avoiding anybody! We’re just all very busy...Yeah well if you haven’t noticed I’m trying here to win a GS tournament!.... Well a fifth time is as important for me!.... Okay, we’ll have diner all together soon! Bye mom! Yeah I love you to!”

As he hung up he sighed loudly relieved to have ended the conversation. His mother was right, as usual. He and Satine weren’t in best terms right now, but he was highly hoping things would change very soon.

Lost in his thoughts, Marat didn’t realize the lift’s gate opened and a guy came in until he heard:

“Hi!” Josh said smiling.

Stunned Marat turned and realized Satine’s boyfriend got in with him. He was actually greeting him. And smiling!

“Hi!” Marat replied amused.
“I don’t think we’ve been already introduced…but I believe we should!” Josh said.

Marat nodded smiling.

“I’m Josh Hartnett…I’m dating Satine!”

Marat smiled mischievously.

“Yeah yeah!” Marat said shaking the guy’s hand back “I knew!”

There was an awkward silence for seconds when:

“I know it’s not really my place to say that….I think it’s a real pity that you and Satine are still….you know!” Josh said.

Marat was startled.

“What?” he replied stunned.
“I’m sorry you guys had that fight!” Josh said sincere as the lift arrived “Satine doesn’t seem fine about it….especially lately….”
“Lately?” Marat asked intrigued pushing the stop button.
“Yeah!” Josh said smiling.
“You don’t know what we fought about, do you?” Marat asked nicely surprised.
“Well I didn’t ask!” he précised.
“I think you should!” Marat encountered.
“Is there something you wanna tell me?” Josh asked suspicious.
“To you? Not really!” Marat said sarcastically “But I believe you deserve to know who you’re going on against!”
“What?” Josh said dazzled.
“I’m in love with Satine!” Marat said smiling “I just think you should know that I’m intending to get her back!”
“Get her back?!” Josh said laughing nervously.
He then stood facing Marat challenging him.
“What do you think you are?” Josh hissed.
“I’m the guy she’s in love with!” Marat replied quietly before getting out and leaving the guy alone.

[Dina]

Chapter 14

Later at night:

Satine was in her room, comfortably installed in her bed; reading some papers while listening to one her favourite singers Ray Lamontagne.

She didn’t pay attention that Josh just walked in until he sat next to her.

“Hey!” she smiled.

He considered her for a moment with storming eyes.

“I’m gonna ask you the question and I want you to answer me honestly.” He said seriously “Don’t be afraid to hurt my feelings….just be true!”
Satine saw already the hurt in his brown burning eyes; she felt like she would probably only add to his pain whatever are the question and its answer.
“I will.” She said carefully.
“Safin is in love with you…he told me today!” Josh announced “What about you? Do you love him back?”
The question sounded like storming on Satine’s head. She felt in his voice and his look that he was desperately hoping she would deny it, but in the same time she felt like he was already resigned.
She wanted so badly to tell him what would appease him though she owed him truth.
“Tell me…please!” he asked lovingly squeezing her hand.
“He did hurt me…he broke my heart!” she replied softly “Yes…I’m in love with him… I think I’ve always been!
“Oh!” he reacted with an opened mouth like if he could be able to deal with the news stoically, but he couldn’t. He quickly moved away and stood by the window.
“It’s too bad that I’m in love with you too!” he announced with a broken voice, his hands pressed on the window.
Satine froze to his confession.
“If only you weren’t that….astonishing!” he whispered sadly “How could I not love you?!”
Satine thought sadly about what could be so astonishing in her that made every man she’s ever dated fall head over heels for her. There was nothing astonishing left in her every single time she broke a man’s heart.
“Am I even competing with him?” he asked miserably facing her finally.
She couldn’t face him back; she didn’t know what to say.
“I don’t know!” she finally whispered.
Josh considered her for a moment.
He actually never had to care about his dates feelings; he used to have fun; an enormous amount of fun, without ever thinking of anyone’s feelings. He actually never really fell in love before.
“Ok, until you make up your mind…I’m not going anywhere!” he informed “If he’s up to fight for you because he loves you….so am I!”
Satine looked at him startled.
“What do you mean?” she asked almost inaudibly.
“I want you, I want to be with you….I’m most certainly not intending on giving up on you!” he said sitting back next to her.
She got lost in his dark eyes firmly intimidating her.
“Ok!” she mumbled.
“I want you and I know you want me to!” he said confident.
Then, he masterfully took a longing kiss from her and proceeded taking off her nightgown.
“You are so very beautiful. You are so very desirable!” he whispered to her ear before he kissed it “I have to possess you utterly!”
As she unconsciously started responding to his burning body, Satine felt the confusion in both her heart and mind. But right then, she only could give in to his warmth and overwhelming passion.

2nd September 2006
Marat was enjoying himself at the bar with Dima and Haas when Satine stormed in furiously walking towards them:
“How could you?” she said livid “You couldn’t help acting like a stupid moron, again!”
“I think that’s you Marat!” Tommy said amused.
“Cut it out Haas!” Satine warned dangerously.
Refusing to let her involve him into a bloody scene; Marat took a tight grip of Satine’s arm and dragged her against her will to a private lounge.
“Now would you calm down and tell me what you’re accusing me of, so I can eventually try to get myself out of it?” he asked slightly amused.
Satine’s eyes burned with anger.
“How could you talk to Josh?!” she screamed to his face.
Facts dawned under Marat’s eyes.
“That’s what you’re accusing me of?” he asked calmly “Telling your boyfriend the truth? Can’t say milaya that I wasn’t fair-play on that one! I told the man what he had to know!”
She looked about to burst when he asked her:
“Why does it bother you anyway?” he asked showing a sarcastic smile that only added to her anger.
“He wasn’t supposed to know that from you!” she hissed “Especially that there’s no point telling him since I’m with him and I’m not intending to leave him!”
She was trying to sound angry but her shaking and hands waving led Marat to conclude that she was deeply nervous; he knew her too well; unfortunately for her he was going to exploit her weakness right then.
“If I’m no winner in this why do you make such a big deal of it?” he asked smiling deviously.
She was decomposed by the sudden timing of the question; realizing that he walked towards her slowly she shivered.
“If I got it all wrong…why you look on the edge of tears?” he asked delighting every word he was saying “Why does every step I get closer to you makes you shiver more?”
He was now standing very close to her; he could hear her breathe difficultly. He could see the river forming in her eyes. He could sense her being.
“I hate you!” she managed to say before tears flew down her cheeks uncontrollably.
“Yes you do! “ he replied smiling “Right now you hate me because you’re feeling trapped, and you don’t want me here to see you struggle!”
“You are wrong!” she countered weakly.
“You know how come I do know all that?” he asked rhetorically “You wanna know Satine?”
She tried to leave but he softly held her arm.
“I know it because I know you love me!” he announced “You love me more than life! You love me like you’ve never imagined a human being could love! You love me with every breath you’ve got, every fibre of your soul! Life is not a life without being with me! You are not the same without me! You are not complete without me! You are lost and dead without me!”
She was now sobbing heavily; she was having difficulties breathing but above all she couldn’t stand on her feet anymore.
Every single word he said sounded to her like a slap on the face, because she just found herself in every little bit of it.
He held her firmly by the waist and caressed her wet cheeks with soft kisses.
“I know that because I love you the exact same way milaya! That’s how I feel for you!” he said lovingly “You’re my everything!”
In an abandon sign she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung her frail and shaky body to his.
She felt exhausted and overwhelmed. Never a man did have such a power on her who used to be so strong in the past.
He gently carried her in his arms and took her back to her house.
In the car while he was driving she unconsciously rested her head on his shoulder looking for his unbreakable shelter.
As he was parking outside the house; Josh noticed the car and got out of the place.
“What’s going on?” Josh asked Marat who stepped out of the vehicle.
“Facing the truth is exhausting especially when you deny it for the wrong reasons!” Marat replied as he was carrying Satine in his arms leading her to her bedroom.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Josh asked annoyed.
“Only what she’s expecting me to do!” he said.
Not giving a damn to Josh anymore, Marat took his precious burden to her bed where she was easily falling asleep, kissed her forehead lovingly and left the room.
“What happened?” Josh asked Marat as he followed him to his car.
“I think she chose!” Marat said seriously “I’m sorry for you though!”
“You do?” Josh said sarcastically.
“Believe it or not Hartnett; I do!” Marat replied smiling “By the way; I did watch your movie ‘Slevin’, gotta say; I kinda liked it!”
“You haven’t won yet!” Josh warned.
“I’m afraid I have!” Marat said before he left.

3rd September 2006

Satine woke up the morning after smelling waffles coming from the kitchen. Lazily she took her shower and passed on some clothes. Seeing her reflection in the mirror her wrung remembering yesterday’s events and realizing what she was bound to do now.
As she walked into the kitchen she saw Josh activating himself.
“Hey sleeping beauty!” he said kissing her passionately “You feeling better?”
She smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“You cooked!” she said blankly.
“I believe so!” he replied amused “Have a seat your waffles are ready!”
She gently sat down watching him serving her. She didn’t have to do that for so long that she actually didn’t know anymore how to proceed.
“I know you’re busy with work; but I thought that since I’m away from the movie set for a couple of days we could hang out together in the city…”
“You shouldn’t do that!” she interrupted.
“I don’t mind!” he replied all smiles.
“No Josh; really…you shouldn’t do that!” she said with tears forming in her eyes.
He considered her for a moment and felt awkward.
“So it’s Marat!” he concluded bitterly.
“I’m sorry!” she managed to reply.
“Can I ask why?” he asked miserably.
“You are a great guy!” she said “You’re the most decent guy…and you may even be the better guy…but…”
“He’s the one!” Josh finished for her.
“And I wish he wasn’t!” she said sadly.
“He’s gonna hurt you again.” he warned her.
She nodded crying.
“And when he does I won’t be here!” he informed.
He leant over and kissed her forehead before he took his keys and reached the door.
“Take care of yourself Siss’!” he gently said as he left.

8th September 2006

Satine was giving an interview to Eurosport as she finished she took her hand bag and walked towards the exit when she spotted Marat smiling to her.
He walked towards her and held her hands.
“I know that’s been days…I know I might be pushing my luck here…I know!” he said exhaustedly “But I need to know!”
She looked at him lost.
“Today I’m playing the final against Federer again….I need your support…I need your love!” he said.
She was speechless she didn’t know how to tell him she broke up with Josh.
“If you choose…me; come!” he said hopeful “Come and support me!”
She wanted to speak but he put a gentle finger on her lips.
“I’ve never played in my life a GS final without your support….don’t let it be the first one where I won’t be able to search for comfort and peace in your eyes when I’ll be lost!!” he begged.
He gently took off his finger from her lips and kissed the top of it that touched her.
“I’ll be looking for you….only!” he said before he left.

Rewinding the latest days events in her mind; Satine noticed that it has been over thirty minutes that no car did move! She was stuck in traffic jam for two hours now and she was already being extremely late for the match.
As she miserably rested her head on her wheel she heard the phone ringing in her purse.
“I know you guys have issues lately and are on non-speaking terms and I don’t wanna know what it is about….but don’t you think it’s a bit of pushing not to attend to his match?” Dinara hissed on the phone “If you don’t show up for his sake do it for your job’s sake at least!”
“I swear I wanna come!” Satine replied desperately “But that’s been over two freaking hours that I’m stuck into traffic!”
“Is that it?” Dina asked doubtful.
“Seriously Dina I’ve already swore to you!” Satine complained.
“Well make it here because the bro is a wreck!” Dina informed.
“Seriously?” Satine asked horrified.
“I find it weird when you try to make me say that word you guys!” Dina informed “Really weird!”
“Ok what’s the score then?”
“Two sets down and you don’t wanna know the score!” Dina said.
“I don’t?” Satine asked hesitant.
“You most certainly don’t!” Dina replied “Just bring your scary ass here so he can pull himself together!”
Forty five minutes later Satine got into an incredibly crowded Arthur Ashe Stadium storming to Marat’s box.
“What the hell is he doing?” she asked as she noticed Marat getting into a third set tie break.
“He’s being Marat!” Sasha replied upset “I’m sure you’ve already met the man!”
“Yeah I did!” Satine whispered.
As he sat down on his bench Marat stared at his box and saw Satine standing anxiously.
Their eyes locked for a moment that seemed like eternity until the umpire called time. Satine finally flashed him with her exquisite smile and showed a tight fist of support.
The match turned to a classic afterwards as could notice and comment Nigel Harris and John McEnroe:
N.H: How about that John?
J.M: For once I’m speechless!
N.H: That kind of emotional player always needs some momentum to get into the game obviously!
J.M: Yeah most certainly; especially when it comes to Marat! But he sounds happy! Can’t say he’s happy to be back like a storm in this final; because it’s nothing like him to play happily….
N.H: I can’t say I’ve ever witnessed it while watching him play….singles at least!
J.M: True! Now Marat Safin is indeed serving for a spotlight in history….
N.H: He’s not achieving the GS yet; but most certainly is deeply graving his name with the game’s fantastic legends!
J.M: Two points away from the championship….that’s strange he looks serene!
N.H: Strange even for Marat….
J.M: Yeah well here it is: first championship point….
N.H: Tennis world is holding its breath….
J.M: Not for long! Here’s the champion! Marat Safin the 2006 US Open champion!
N.H: An incredible one! Once again!
J.M: Look at him! Look at the man hopping the stands to reach his box like in the old days where he first won here for the first time….throwing himself into the same lady’s arms like the previous time….
N.H: I reckon he didn’t show so much enthusiasm…and affection the last time!
J.M: I second on that man!

As Marat reached for his box; he fiercely embraced Satine savouring the moment.

“You came!” he whispered to her ear.
“Yes I did!” she replied with storming eyes “I’m here!”
He smiled at her like a kid and dared to ask:
“You’re here for me?” he asked happily.
“I’m here because I couldn’t not be!” she replied simply.
“Meaning?” he asked hopeful.
“You should go down there…they’re waiting for their champion!” she insisted with a forced smile.
He considered her for a moment but couldn’t read into her eyes for the first time. He felt confused.
“Will I see you later?” he asked moving away.
“Most certainly!” she replied.

After the trophy ceremony Marat who freshly showered and changed clothes joined Satine in her office.
When she saw him she closed her laptop and stared at him:
“Congratulations!” she said slowly.
“Thanks.” He replied on the same tune before daring to speak his mind “Are you gonna tell me what it is!?”
She frowned and stood up:
“I broke up with Josh!” she replied coldly.
He considered her for a moment:
“Am I happy or not?” he asked perplex.
Her face suddenly changed from coldness to total anger:
“You broke my heart!” she said out of emotion “You gave up on me! I told you I love you and you still decided I wasn’t worth to be with….”
“Satine please don’t say that…” he demanded hurt.
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked livid “Isn’t that the truth? Didn’t I beg you for God’s sake to pick me?! And you still didn’t Marat! You …I so wanted to be with you then but you just left me behind!”
“Satine…I know I’ve done a horrible thing!” he murmured sadly “I still can’t forgive myself that I’ve done what I’ve done to you…I certainly don’t expect you to do it! But….but I love you so much that I had to fight for you…I had to fight for our love! We both made mistakes during those years; but don’t we deserve happiness?”
She looked at him with storming eyes and sat down shaking her head.
“We’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past…that’s right!” she replied amused “I just hope my bad Karma isn’t still covering for us both!”
He laughed and sat down next to her holding her both hands.
“Yeah you got a point there!” he replied smiling looking down into her eyes “So you really broke up with your Hollywood star? That was about time…”
“Don’t push it Mikhailovich!” she replied “You’re still on probation don’t you forget!”
He laughed and smiled pleased that she called him by his middle name; only she used to do it.
“So there’s a probation I’m going through?” he asked hopeful.
“I suppose there must be some…necessary to build that happiness of yours I’m afraid!” she said leaning her head on his shoulder.
He sighed out of relief.
“There must be a reason why I’ve never been able to love another woman but you!” he whispered “You’ve done something to me with that tennis ball of yours the day we met in Valencia!”
She laughed and then considered him for a while.
“You’ve never loved another woman but me?” she asked surprised.
“Yeah I’ve understood it recently!” he murmured “I should have understood why all my exes felt so jealous of you!”
“Even Sylvia?” she asked.
“Especially Sylvia!” he insisted “Now I know it’s you she was talking about when we broke up…I was still sadly blind back then!”
“So?” she asked standing up “Are you gonna try to seduce me? Or you think you won me like that trophy of yours?”
He swiftly stood up and got close to her in seconds. He gently leaned her on the wall his hands on her hips playing.
“Remember when we were kids and used to sleep together in the same bed holding hands?” he asked.
“I do!” she replied smiling “I remember!”
“I usually wake up in the night and look for your hand to reach…I never find it!” he whispered his face on hers “I wanna wake up at night and find you all wrapped up in my arms!”
“You do?” she asked bewitched.
He cleared a lock of hair from her face and took it in his hands. He handled her very carefully, pressing just the tips of his fingers softly against her temples, her cheekbones and her jaw line. Like if she was especially breakable.
“I want you so badly!” he whispered. His sweet breath fanned across her face “I wanna love you every second of my life like if I was dying tomorrow!”
“I hear you!” she managed to say her breathing uneven.
“I know you do.” his golden eyes smoldered.
Her head was already spinning by the time he leaned closer and pressed his burning lips against hers. His mouth lingered on hers, warm and smooth and gentle, until she wrapped her arms around his neck and threw herself passionately into the kiss.
Marat and Satine felt like caught in a whirlwind when they arrived to her house. They went up the stairs bodies locked together destroying everything they touched on their way. As they penetrated the bedroom their arms unlocked their grips and stood still staring at each others in amazement.
Suddenly Marat took off his shirt and pinned her on a familiar wall and sensually; shivering to every touch of their both skins; took off the light dress she had on.
Admiring her in some black underwear; he truly was astonished by the perfect harmony of her splendid body. Slowly he covered her neck, shoulders and boobs with soft demanding kisses. He then slowly carried her in his arms to the bed and put her like the most precious treasure he’s ever had. Leaning on her; they lost themselves in an overwhelming passion they longed for many painful years.