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“Oh, checkmate! Look at the fine specimen who just walked in!” Jaelynn exclaimed energetically, breaking the silence that had overcome the dinner table.

Sasha and her friends all stopped drinking to simultaneously turn their heads toward the entrance of the dimly lit restaurant. The low lighting, which was meant to create a homey and mysterious ambience, only resulted in frustration as they all found it difficult to peruse the figure completely. It wasn’t until he slowly made his way to the maître’d that his features were graced with the light from a large chandelier. Sasha inwardly gasped as she gazed upon an Adonis belonging on the Hollywood red carpet. Her friend was more than correct in reacting so rambunctiously. Standing nearly six and a half feet tall he was dressed in a fitted shirt and khaki pants. He followed the maitre’d toward a table, unaware of the four pairs of hungry eyes watching his every move. He had a strong angular face to match the large bulging muscles confidently displayed by his clothing, with slightly thin lips, a straight aristocratic nose, and short ink-black hair that caressed the back of his neck. Though his skin was fairly pale,
it was a beautiful contrast to his hair and deep-set eyes.

“He’s mine,” Faye said, her voice laced with arrogance. The table immediately disrupted in petty arguments.

As her three friends, Jaelynn, Teagan, and Faye, continued to argue, Sasha kept her eyes glued to the handsome figure as he took a seat by himself near the back of the restaurant. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies as his gaze quickly met hers before turning to his menu. Self-consciously, she finally averted her gaze and slowly ran her fingers through her thick set of dreadlocks. She knew there was no use in joining in the bickering. After all, her friends were all very beautiful and she was used to fading into the background when she spent time with them.

She looked toward Faye. A glowing blonde with grey-blue eyes, Faye was striking in both beauty and mind. She had recently graduated from a small liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts before gaining an internship at a local veterinarian hospital. Her arrogance and forward personality were justified given her obvious good-looks; she had never been turned on by the opposite sex. In fact, Sasha knew she took much delight in rejecting the slew of men who came running to her, drooling with desire.

“It doesn’t matter if you saw him first or not, look at me! I can have him wrapped around my little finger by tonight” Faye exclaimed to Jaelynn.

“Oh, please! I called dibs first” Jaelynn swept her hands across the table in frustration, nearly spilling the expense wine as she protested.

“Be careful”, Sasha warned quietly. Jaelynn was normally always this passionate, so it would be no surprise to anyone at the table if she did have an accident. With honey golden skin and a short pixie-cut, Jaelynn was just as striking visually. Her exotic beauty attracted as much attention as Faye’s all-American looks but everyone knew to never say as much out loud. If they knew nothing else from the years they had all spent together, it was common knowledge that Faye prided herself on being the most sought out amongst the four of them.

Teagan turned to Sasha with a sly smile. “While they continue to argue, why don’t we go introduce ourselves?”

Sasha returned her smile. “Oh, no. I’m good. But you should definitely do it before they notice. He may have a thing for redheads.”

Teagan laughed as she quietly stood from her seat. Before Faye and Jaelynn noticed her movements, she straightened her form-fitting dress and made her way to his table. Sasha watched as her slim hips swayed back and forth; her feminine walk exaggerated by four-inch stilettos. Teagan was her closest friend and confidant. Having been roommates since the beginning of their significant graduate programs at Boston University, they had easily formed a bond of sisterhood through the years. On Sasha’s part, it was a friendship also riddled with admiration. Teagan, though less obviously beautiful than Faye and Jaelynn, had an inner beauty that seemed to shine through.

But, for the first time, Sasha had a small hope that the mystery man wouldn’t be overcome by her friend’s attractive and inviting personality or be awed by her red hair and blue eyes.

Teagan made her way to his table. He looked up as her stilettos approached and caught her gaze. A cocky grin spread across his face as he took her in from head to toe. She knew she was looking good that night and her confidence surged as she saw genuine appreciation in his eyes. Further exaggerating her hips, Teagan propped her right hand on her hip and placed her left hand softly on his table. Her movement allowed her to bend down slightly, giving him a clear view of her ample bosom. She caught his glance slide down slowly to her breasts. He made no qualms about ogling them and his confidence only made her want him more.

“Hello” she said in a husky whisper.

“Hello. What can I do for you?” His voice was deep and gravelly. Teagan felt her panties instantly become wet. She couldn’t seem to tear her graze away from his. His eyes were nearly black and were a deep contrast to his pale white skin.

“I hate to sound cliché but…I couldn’t help noticing you from across the room. I just had to come over and introduce myself. I’m Teagan.” She reached out her hand for a light shake.

The mystery man chuckled softly before taking her hand, but instead of a shake, he reached forward and brushed his soft lips across the back of her slim hands. “It is nice to meet you Teagan. I’m Dmitri. Please, take a seat.”

Teagan coyly took her hand from his firm grasp and took the seat across from him. “I hope I’m not interrupting a special occasion.”

He smiled at her, his hands circling the stem of a wine glass. “It can’t be too special. After all, I am eating alone. The company is much needed, believe me.”

“Really? Recovering from a bad day at the office?”

“You can say that. I don’t wish to bore you with the details. I’d rather ask why a beautiful woman like yourself is not out on the town instead of in such a dreary restaurant.”

Teagan played with her long strands of hair, not shying from his direct gaze. “It’s been sort of a girls’ night gone wrong.”

“How so?” Dmitri’s brow wrinkled with interest.

“Well, you showed up. And, if you don’t mind me being too forward, it is a rare occasion for us to come across a man like yourself.”

Before he could respond, he looked up, feeling the presence of others near their table. Teagan followed his gazed and kept herself from groaning out in frustration as Faye and Jaelynn made their way to the table.

“Speaking of showing up”, Teagan murmured to herself.

“Hello,” Dmitri greeted politely. “I assume you are Teagan’s friends.”

“Were,” Jaelynn corrected.

Faye immediately stepped in, realizing the impropriety of the situation. “We are so sorry for interrupting your dinner. We only came to retrieve our friend so that you can continue eating in peace.” She showered him with her angelic smile.

“I will not lie; I am quite honored to be surrounded by so many beautiful women. But the table is getting quite crowded-”

“Would you like to join us?” Jaelynn interrupted.



Sasha watched in horror as the mystery man made his way toward their table with all three of her friends surrounding him. He was chuckling at something Jaelynn said when he spotted her. He perused her quickly before turning to politely set out chairs for her three friends. Teagan politely smiled up at him while he pushed his chair in and then took a seat between her and Jaelynn, directly across from Sasha.

“Dmitri, this is our other friend Sasha. Sasha, Dmitri,” Teagan introduced them both, giving Sasha a mischievous wink.

Sasha nervously smiled at him. She noticed that he only gave her a quick curve of his lips before turning to Faye and Jaelynn. Taken aback by his rudeness, Sasha said nothing and decided to return to her food. She couldn’t help but admit to herself that she was slightly disappointed at his nonchalant dismissal of her. Though she was used to it, a part of her had hoped he was different.

“What am I thinking,” she thought to herself. “Just look at him! A man with such good looks would probably grow up to be a douchebag with the world catering to his every need and women constantly throwing themselves at him. Why would he be interested in me?”

Conversation continued around her as a waiter returned with Dmitri’s food and desserts for the women. All three clamored for his attention and he adeptly catered to them all. Sasha quietly sat amongst the group, watching with envy as they competed for the mystery man. He rarely spoke of himself, instead fueling their egos by constantly directing questions about their persons.

“So, what do you do for a living Dmitri,” Sasha surprised herself by asking.

The table turned to her in surprise. Having been silent for most of the night, it had almost been as if she hadn’t been there.

Dmitri’s brow was raised as he looked at her suspiciously.

“I mean-" Sasha felt her confidence waiver at the disapproving glances. “You have been sitting with us for close to an hour and we have yet to hear a single detail about your life. I’m sure your tired of hearing about us.”

His gaze suddenly turned cold as he looked at her. “From what I recall, I have yet to hear anything about you as well. By all means, please tell me something about yourself. I am dying to know.”

Sasha flinched at the sarcasm in his voice. Before she could reply, Faye interrupted. “Oh, Dmitri. Ignore her; her life is as boring as it gets. She’s just a student at BU. Nothing special,” she said sweetly before giving Sasha a quick glare.

“A student, huh? What do you study, Sasha-wasn’t it?” His gaze never wavered from her own.

Sasha gulped. “Yes. I-I’m studying international relations.”

With that said, Dmitri turned once again to Teagan. Skillfully redirecting the conversation, he stated, “Aren’t you a student as well?”

By that point, Sasha no longer tried to follow the flow of conversation. Having been thoroughly dismissed once again. She turned once again to her food. She chewed slowly, not tasting the lasagna they had brought for her. It might as well have been sawdust.