Hello, Privet! #1: Hello/Привет

Chapter 36

HOT NEW COUPLE ALERT! Anton Akhmerov and Marieke Baumgarten?!

August 7, 2008

Jennifer Corelli

Tennis player Anton Akhmerov and model Marieke Baumgarten were spotted walking out of the W Hotel in Westwood last Wednesday night smiling sweetly at each other. That is, until they saw the paparazzi. The couple suddenly started walking far apart and trying to look like they didn't just exit the hotel together.

The dashing Russian athlete is in town this week for the Countrywide Classic...and it's anyone's guess what the beautiful and busty Ms. Baumgarten is doing there.

Akhmerov had been dating the French model Anais Renault, but the two broke up a few weeks ago. Just last week, Akhmerov was linked to the curvy Ms. Denise Dietz, and then Shannon Muller (you'll recall that these two have a habit of spending time together 'innocently' in various Greek islands sans clothing). Well...we think he has a thing for curvaceous blondes.

SOPHIE

"Auuugh," I groan.

Jane laughs.

We're sitting in the bleachers near the courts before Anton's first game. Anton and Hannes Dreschler are warming up before their matches. Quite a crowd has gathered to watch them.

Jane shakes her head in amusement. "So what happened?" she asks. "Did you have a fight with the Russian Bad Boy of Tennis again?"

"What's new?" I ask. "Apparently, I know nothing about tennis and I do not respect what he's doing."

"Relax. Stop listening to him and just look at him." She gazes at Anton in the court, who is getting somewhat reddish. I told him to wear sunscreen, but I wonder if he even listens to anything I say.

"He is so hot..." Jane says.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say reluctantly, with the enthusiasm of a vegetarian offered a lamb chop.

Jane is incredulous. "Oh, come on. You don't think he's hot? After the Calvin Klein ads we Googled last night?"

The photos we researched of Anton in Calvin Klein boxers flashes in my mind in quick succession. In most of them, Anton's lying down or something, looking at us with this vacant expression on his face. In others he's in bed with some female models, clad in black underwear. I must admit I still don't feel that sympathetic that he had to endure unwanted attention after the endorsement deal. He did accept the money.

"Jocks aren't really my type," I say evasively. "He looks like he spends too much time in the gym—well, I know he does."

"And what's wrong with trying to be fit?" Jane is smiling in amusement, as if I am a very precocious child who makes extremely clever remarks. "You know he's just—beautiful." She sighs, resting her chin on both her hands, her elbows on her knees in the gesture of a lovelorn schoolgirl.

"Beautiful? Give me a break." I smirk. "You won't think he's so beautiful after you've worked with this guy, Jane. Want to swap jobs with me?"

Anton bounces a ball three times. Henry is standing a few feet away, giving him instructions, and Anton's nodding. He twirls his racket, and bounces the ball with it again three times. I think Anton's about to serve. From watching him practice for the last four hours, I notice he makes a certain move. Now he's doing it again—first he steps back, then he jumps a little on one foot, and his T-shirt lifts just so—we have a clear glimpse of what the journalists referred to as his 'perfectly sculpted torso.' I cringe at the phrase.