The Translator

Chapter five.

" Can we get two copies?" Sebastian asked.
Sebastian and I left the building with big smiles spread across our faces. "You are good at escape rooms, I'm very glad I'm on your team" I chuckled.
"All that work made me hungry, do you want to get something to eat before we head back?" He asked
"Sure, what did you have in mind?" I asked
"Lady's choice," He said, trying to be generous.
"Well, I'm craving Brownies," I said
"Brownies?" He asked surprised "Where am I going to get Brownies in Moscow"
"I don't know, but you are the best problem solver I know," I said coyly
"I accept the challenge" He laughed "I might need your translation abilities though"
"I'm more than willing to help, after all, I'm the one that requested Brownies" I giggled
"Call me a tax, I, Asteria," he said passing me his phone
I spoke to the taxi company for Sebastian over the phone. They arrived quickly. Sebastian and I piled in the back. I asked the driver in Russian where we could get brownies.
"Those are not common in Russia, but I know a place you could go. Hop in," the driver said.
"Why did you ask for something more simple?" He complained.
"You asked me what I wanted. I want a brownie" I said boldly.
"Brownie it is," He said with a straight face.
The car ride took approximately 20 mins to stop in front of a small shop called 'Brownie café'. I thanked the driver, while Sebastian paid. Walking up to the place, it was small but quaint. It had lots of lights and it looked busy. We walked inside and were quickly seated at a table in the back with menus. I opened the menu, which was almost entirely in Russian.
"What would you like to have Sebastian. I will take a brownie." I joked
"I'm not a chocolate kind of guy, I'd rather have a pie or white cake" He answered
"The portion sizes are really large; do you want to share?" I tried to be practical.
"If you can find something that incorporates what you want with what I like," Sebastian responded.
I searched the menu for something that had a brownie but each item was either one or the other. I decided to order Sebastian a berry cheesecake and I ordered a brownie. They were not joking when the waitress said that the portion sizes were large. I saw my meal and knew that I could not finish it. Sebastian and I chatted over our desserts. He was funny, kind and down-to-earth. He went into extreme detail about computers and software. I could see that he was very passionate about it. I figured that he just needed someone to listen to him. I didn't understand everything that he was saying, but let him ramble on. I felt a bit like a therapist.
"You enjoy building software, Sebastian," I said letting him know I was listening
"Do you find any of this interesting?" Sebastian asked stopping himself mid-sentence
"It's interesting to you Sebastian, I don't have the mind for computers and mathematics like you do," I said "I've learned a lot just listening to you talk about this new software"
"I see," He said staring at my plate "You're done your brownie I see"
"I am" I replied "but I'm also in no rush to leave, I see your done your cheesecake too"
"I'm getting a bit tired, I'll take you back to the hotel," He said
Sebastian stood up and I followed suit. We left the restaurant, full and satisfied. We went by taxi back to the hotel. Sebastian was a perfect gentleman as he escorted me back to my room. He stood outside my room door as though waiting for me to make the first move. I drew him in close and kissed him passionately on the lips. He ran his hands down my hips and embraced the kiss. He pushed his tongue inside my mouth, as though trying to taste me and savor the flavor of my chapstick that I had placed on my lips moments before.
"Thank you Asteria" Sebastian said after our kiss "See you tomorrow morning"
"Bye Sebastian. Thank you for another wonderfulnight" I said all giddy as I walked into my hotel room and closed the door.
My heart was racing with glee. I knew that I had to go to bed, but I wanted to stay up and think of Sebastian. He was the perfect man. Sexy, respectful, caring, wonderful, and an amazing kisser. I wanted to run back to his room and taste him again but I knew that it would take every part of me to not sleep with him. I didn't want to give off mixed feelings towards him either. I wanted to make sure that my intentions were clear. I needed to put myself first, at least for now. My education was my main focus. I'm not sure how the rest of the trip will go but I knew that it was more than half over, then back to business as usual at home. I changed into my pj's and curled into the bed with a textbook. I should at least try to study a little bit since the whole weekend has felt more like one long date than anything else. I set my alarm for 7 AM, to allow me time to get ready before Sebastian came to get me for the last business meeting at 07:30 AM. I put on some boring late-night comedy show and read my textbook till I fell asleep.
BEEP! BEEP!
I woke up still half asleep. I finished my morning routine just in time for Sebastian to arrive at my hotel door, 730 AM sharp. Sebastian looked older somehow wearing a black suit and tie. I had settled on a loose-fitting blue and red checkered blouse with straight-cut black slacks.
"Are you ready?" He asked, standing in the doorway.
"Yes!" I answered.
"Last meeting. " He said with a sigh of relief.
"The last meeting," I said, agreeing with his sentiment.
He offered his hand and we both made the all too familiar trek from our hotel room to the 26th floor of the Moscow skyscraper that we had been negotiating the day before. I sat beside Sebastian, translating his words for the businessmen sitting across the table. The meeting took approximately three hours. Sebastian and the team were able to successfully negotiate a price for the software that satisfied both parties before the end of the meeting. We made all the arrangements to deliver the software. Sebastian looked very pleased with the outcome. The team and I left the building basking in the delight of success. We decided that instead of trying to find something for lunch in downtown Manhattan, we would just go to the hotel and get room service. We had to eat quickly. The flight was scheduled to leave at 1:30 pm. The team and I quickly gathered our luggage and checked out of the hotel at 11 AM. We piled into the taxi van, dropping us off at the airport. Sebastian said very little on the taxi ride back to the airport. I could not help but think about how my life would change at work now that I had gotten to know my boss on an intimate level. I followed the team to the waiting area, where we waited for Sebastian to check in to the front desk. We dropped off our luggage at the baggage carousel and boarded the plane as soon as we were allowed. Part of me was grateful to be going home and getting back to my daily life, but a bigger part of me was sad that the trip was coming to an end. there was a distinct possibility that I might not ever run into Sebastian again. Working in the file department did not allow much social interaction, let alone with the head of the company. I wasn't sure how he had interpreted our intimate interactions. If he was just having fun or if he was more serious about pursuing me. He again chose a seat that was beside me on the plane.
"What did you think of the trip?"Sebastian asked after the flight announcements were over.
"I loved every minute of it," I said honestly "I wish it was longer"
"Do you plan to do any traveling after you are done nursing?" He asked with marked curiosity
"Depends on how much money I have, travelling will most likely have to wait till I'm a bit more established" I answered.
"Where do you plan to work when you are done with school?" He asked
"I'm not sure yet," I said feeling a bit like I was being grilled for information "I will take the first job that comes my way. However, my dream job would be working in pediatrics or being an Operating Room nurse"
"How long do you have left in the program?" Sebastian asked listening intently
" a year and a half" I answered back.
"My mother works as a doctor at Manhattan general, if you are looking for work after school. She may be able to help" Sebastian offered
"Really!" I gasped, "I would be so grateful if she could put in a good word for me."
"Anything I can do to help," He said with a warm smile
"I, appreciate it," I said
Sebastian adjusted his chair in a more comfortable position, then curled up in his chair with a small blanket. He must have been tired because he was fast asleep and snoring not more than 10 min later. Sixteen hours was a long flight, sleep sounded pretty good, I curled up in my chair with my jacket and fell asleep in a comfortable fetal position.