Natalya’s English
was very good and she asked how long I had been in Poland. I told her that it
was nearing 10 years. She smiled and asked, “Why didn’t you greet me then with
the traditional Polish three-kisses?” My answer was somewhat in keeping with
the tradition as I said, “I was waiting for our first bruderschaft. Isn’t that
the rule?” Somehow Alyona showed up at that moment with two Belvedere vodka’s
and Natalya proposed a bruderschaft at the table: “Natalya” she said, turning
to me holding the drink in her right hand and crossing hers slowly around my
right arm. “Bill” I returned. We drank the small shots in one gulp, as is the
rule, and kissed cheeks left-right-left. She brought her face back in front of
mine and hesitated with our noses barely touching. She kissed me on the mouth
very lightly to finish our bruderschaft introduction properly. Natalya’s
perfume, probably Chanel, was not the sweet and syrupy fog that filled the
lounge. It lingered lightly around us as we talked about Moscow and my trip
from Poland. She put her hand on top of mine several times during the first
five minutes we chatted. Natalya was interrupted half a dozen times in the
first few minutes by men and women that seemed a part of the fashion show
crowd. Most had said they were sorry they hadn’t seen her at the event. She
replied every time, (twice in Russian and once in English) “I had an important
date” and then looked at me with a smile.
Natalya asked how
well I knew Moscow and if I would have a chance to do any sightseeing or
shopping while here. She then asked, “What have you been doing since FEDEX
announced its retreat from Europe? I was talking to your former colleague,
Brian, here in Moscow, and he said you had left the company when operations in
Poland were suspended.” Not completely surprised about her knowing the FEDEX
story, I smiled and said “not the ideal situation for me losing the FEDEX gig
but the consulting office in Krakow is doing fine. This trip is the first of
many to make sure I don’t lose contact with folks over here.” “Please let me
know if there is anything I can do to help.” She offered. “I certainly hope
this contact is secure” she said and looked at me with a smile. “You seem well
connected. I’d be a fool to lose contact with you I am sure.”
Natalya pushed her
coffee away slowly and asked “What time are you inviting us up to your room for
a night-cap?” Her left hand had worked its way slowly up my thigh and very comfortably
between my legs. “And do you require that I introduce my friends first…or do
you trust me?” Her hand was now firmly resting as close as it could without
touching my growing excitement. “That will not be necessary, Natalya. Just come
up before midnight, please. I need to be up pretty early tomorrow.” “I promise, we won’t keep you from your early
morning Polish consulting business.” She laughed quietly and kissed me on the
cheek as she stood and walked to a table out of sight from the bar in the lobby
lounge. Alyona strode past my table and asked on the run if I wanted another or
should she put our two drinks on the room. I asked for another and watched the lobby
bar “show” another 30 minutes before I retired to my room. On the way out of
the bar, I scanned the room for Natalya, assuming she was working on getting
other evening jobs lined up or, if not around, doing someone at this moment in
their room. I wondered if she always had two women colleagues with her…and what
it was like to be with three women. I laughed embarrassingly to myself and
guessed I would find out very soon, in fact.
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