Her Russian

Chapter 61-Back To Life, Back To Reality

Seven days.  Seven blissful and mostly uninterrupted days is what Ilia enjoyed with his wife.  Now they were almost back to the compound.  He glanced over at his sleeping wife.

She was so unspoiled and unselfish, that even when it was time for them to leave, she kept her brave face on, although Ilia knew she wanted to stay longer and she did her best not to make him feel guilty.

There were businesses to run, collections to be made, meetings to attend, things that he had to be present for and she understood that.  She understood it all.

He couldn't help but smirk at his household staff when they pulled into the drive way.  They were all standing in a welcome line, waiting for he and his wife to return.  

Ana, the woman that basically ran the household, the chef, the butler and then all of the attendants were standing there smiling when Ilia got out of the car and walked around to open Galina's door.

"Baby" he said, gently shaking her shoulder.  Before she opened her eyes, she placed her hand in front of her mouth and yawned.  So very lady like she was.  Blinking a few times, he found himself waiting for those amazing green eyes to meet with his.

When she finally did open them, he was met with a world-ending smile, one that he would never get used to as being his.  One that he would never feel that he deserved but she would keep giving him.

"I'm glad to be home" she murmured as she took his hand getting out of the car.  He could see the surprise on her face when she saw the staff lined up waiting for them.

"Did you do this?" she whispered to a smiling Ilia.  He shook his head no.  "They wanted to do it to welcome you home, since you are now mistress of the house" he explained.

Her mouth formed an 'o' at his explanation.  Galina walked up to Ana, stuck her hand out and said "Ana, you run this house magnificently.  I have no desire to get in your way or to change things up.  We have a saying in America that if it's not broke don't try to fix it.

I know that if I should need anything, that I can come to you and I would like us to work together as much as possible.  I also hope that you know you can come to me with anything."  Ana smiled brightly at Galina, acknowledging her kind words.

Then she met the chef, Pierre, who was actually half Russian and half French.  His father was from Moscow and his mother was from Paris.  He was a short little man who acted like everything and everyone bothered him, that is until he met Galina.

She thrilled him to pieces when she spoke a little French that she had picked up.  She was not fluent like she was with Russian but it was enough that it made his day.  Ilia told her later that was the first time in ten years he'd seen the man smile.

Once they were inside, Erik and Yuri took their bags to the room, followed by a very tired Galina, while Max and Ilia disappeared into Ilia's study and shut the door.

Max started filling him in on everything.  "A meeting has been set up, like you requested, of the five bosses so Galina can return the money.

Everyone was receptive with the exception of Andre Petrov.  He's being a first class asshole like always.  I think once he actually sees his cashier's check, with his name on it, he'll disappear and we won't have to deal with him again until the next scheduled meeting.

The clubs are running smoothly.  Dancers and all staff seem to be happy, so no complaints there.  The Irish are asking for a phone call regarding the next shipment.  They are wanting to add some things to their wish list.

Our American counterparts are going to be sending our gift baskets in the next day or two.  They will arrive at the club, mixed in with the liquor shipment.  Jack said that he included a sample of a new product that is being tried out in Colorado.  He said if we like it, we can add it to our already existing order or we can replace one with this one.

That's all for business.  Your mom called.  Nothing urgent, she just wants an update on you and Galina.  I didn't say anything as I knew you and Galina would want that news to come from the both of you.  Congratulations, by the way" Max said, finishing up with his portion of the business.

Seeing as how everything had been wrapped up so neatly with Allister and Igor, Max had boxed all the things up they had brought from Zoya's and stored it away.  The last thing anyone wanted was for Galina to come into the study and see that stuff still there.

They all knew that she considered that portion of her life closed and none of them wished to re-open still healing wounds.  Although the men would never verbally voice their feelings or opinions, they thought the world of Galina and admired how she handled their boss.

"Well" Ilia started to say, as he lit a cigarette.  "It seems my being here was unnecessary.  You handled everything just the way I knew you would, so thank you for that.

Now, Galina and I have already talked about the baby and she knows how badly I want a boy first, so she insisted that we discuss names and this is what we've come up with for our son.  Aleksei Nikolai Savin.  What do you think?" Ilia asked his friend and second in command.

Slapping Ilia on the back and grabbing the bottle of vodka and two glasses, Max said "I think we need to drink and celebrate that we are finally going to have a Savin heir!"

Two cigars and several glasses of vodka later, Ilia and Maxim were feeling no pain.  But he had every right to celebrate; he had much to be happy about.

Erik assisted Maxim and Yuri helped Ilia up the stairs to the bedroom.  He didn't realize how intoxicated he was until he tried to navigate the stairs by himself and almost fell.

Knocking on the door, Yuri called out for Galina to open it and let them in.  Ilia couldn't help but laugh when he saw his wife's eyes.  She wasn't mad, which kind of surprised him but she was shaking her head, almost like she was trying to figure out what to do with him.

After Yuri got him on the bed, Galina bent down and started taking off his shoes and socks.  "You're too beautiful to be at my feet" he slurred.  She scoffed at him and continued what she had started.

"Well you are sweet for saying that, but I am your wife and part of my job as said wife, is to assist you when you get yourself into certain situations.  This being one of them.  Now, can you stand up?" she asked.

Ilia stood up while she pulled the covers back from the bed and got his clothes off, with the exception of his underwear.  She coaxed him back down into bed and then said she would be right back.

He waited patiently for her to come back and when she did, he grinned stupidly at her, causing her to lose it and start laughing until she cried.

"Oh you are an impossible man" she said as she wiped tears from under her eyes.  Ilia held his hand out as she dropped some painkillers into his hand and then handed him a bottle of water.

Once he'd laid down and got settled in, he watched Galina remove her clothes and throw on a little nighty.  Oh she looked so sexy but he was exhausted and he was sure she was as well, so he waited for her to crawl into bed with him.

Placing herself under his arm, he kissed her forehead and mumbled "Goodnight my little kot."