The man didn't return for dinner, and after inquiring with the cold and indifferent Alison Norris, they learned he was out socializing, so they waited patiently.
At around 10 p.m., Natalia, who had been keeping an eye on the outside, was the first to notice a car entering the mansion gates. She immediately jumped up from the sofa in the second-floor living room and dragged Yekaterina and Emily to greet him.
However, Alison had already beaten them to it, conversing with the man who had just walked in and even thoughtfully taking his coat.
He wasn't alone; two other beautiful women accompanied him.
One of them... well, she was quite something.
They all seemed very familiar with each other.
Natalia, who had been staying at the villa for several days, suddenly felt like an outsider, awkwardly stepping forward with the other two women, unsure if he would still recognize them.
He did get it wrong.
Though his smile and gentle tone were warm, calling her "Nana" was a bit off. While Natalia could accept being called Nana—after all, everyone was secretly jealous that he used this nickname exclusively for Yekaterina—this time, it was clearly a mistake.
Feeling a bit aggrieved, she looked up to explain, only to realize from the teasing glint in his eyes that he had done it on purpose.
After greeting Yekaterina and Emily, the others were dismissed, leaving just the two of them.
Yekaterina, noticing his return, immediately linked arms with him, snuggling up. Natalia quickly followed suit.
The three of them went upstairs to the master bedroom.
For the past few days, the two women had been sleeping together in this room. Initially, they considered sleeping separately since the villa had many rooms, but after learning it was his arrangement, they agreed.
After a day of socializing, Simon collapsed onto the large bed. The two girls flopped down beside him, giggling in surprise, but quickly sat up when they realized he wasn't making any further moves. Their faces were flushed with embarrassment.
Yekaterina got off the bed and, being very obedient, helped him remove his shoes. Seeing this, Natalia quickly followed, helping him with the other shoe.
After neatly placing the shoes aside, Yekaterina returned and asked in perfect American English, "Simon, do you want to take a bath?"
Simon shook his head, patted the bed beside him, and instead spoke in Russian, "Come here."
The two girls obediently snuggled up next to him.
Simon, with an arm around each, continued in Russian, "Did you enjoy yourselves these past few days?"
Russian and Ukrainian are similar enough that understanding one means you can understand the other. Although Simon's Russian wasn't as fluent as other languages, it was sufficient for communication.
When Simon brought this up, the two girls became chatty.
Last month, for certain reasons, Simon had arranged a trip for the two girls, providing them with a Gulfstream V private jet. Accompanied by Emily Joplin, Celia Miller's assistant, the girls had visited numerous places in Europe, Asia, and North America, only arriving in Toronto from Tokyo this past Tuesday.
"The Aegean Sea was so beautiful... We took a cruise from Greece to Rome... Paris wasn't fun at all, there were pickpockets—Emily's wallet almost got stolen, but Eve was there... I fell while skiing in the Alps, and my knee still hurts a little... London was too cold; we only stayed for a day before leaving... Emily said Egypt has been unstable lately, so we couldn't see the pyramids... The Great Wall of China was magnificent. Natalia and I took a lot of pictures—Simon, would you like to see them?... And Mount Fuji, this picture here, taken at sunset, isn't it beautiful?... Hehe, mainly because I'm prettier, Natalia looked a bit silly... Ah, stop it! I'm going to fight back... And this is Eve, isn't she tall? She used to be a basketball player—you probably know that, Simon, right?... Oh, I almost forgot, we bought you gifts, lots of them..."
They chattered on, recounting their journey, gradually shedding their initial nervousness.
After looking at the photos, they piled a heap of small gifts they had bought for Simon from around the world onto the bed, showcasing each one—watches, ornaments, cufflinks, rings, belts, trinkets, portraits... The assortment displayed the girls' delicate aesthetic sense.
Of course, all of it was bought with Simon's money.
The two girls talked endlessly, recounting their adventures for who knows how long. At Simon's request, Natalia tidied up the small items and placed them in a cabinet before returning to the bed. She noticed that Simon had already closed his eyes, with Yekaterina still snuggled up to him like a well-behaved kitten. When Natalia returned, Yekaterina even playfully winked at her.
It's often said that women are born actresses, and this couldn't be truer.
In private, neither Yekaterina nor the other girls were innocent, naive vases. Their docile and obedient behavior was reserved for the man they could only look up to with awe.
The fact that they were chosen to be by Simon's side in the first place indicated that these six girls were not just pretty faces; they were also quite intelligent. For instance, this trip—whether it was Natalia and Yekaterina or the four girls left behind in Rivne—they all likely sensed that something unusual was going on.
The man wouldn't arrange such a trip for just two girls without a reason.
When they mentioned it to their families during a phone call, they were simply told to enjoy the trip and not to worry about anything else. They were also advised not to bring it up in front of the man, acting as if they knew nothing.
Clearly, something had happened.
Fortunately, at least the two of them hadn't lost his favor.
That was enough.
As for the rest, it wasn't their concern.
As the clock ticked past 11 p.m., the man, who had clearly had some drinks while out, seemed to be drifting off to sleep. But shouldn't something else be happening? Could it be that he had forgotten something?
They couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
The two girls exchanged glances, and Natalia carefully snuggled up to him, whispering in his ear, "Simon, don't you want to take off your clothes before sleeping? It'll be uncomfortable otherwise."
Simon responded with a murmur but didn't move.
Taking his cue, the two girls got up and, with some effort, helped him remove his pullover and pants, leaving only his underwear. Natalia turned off the lights, and after some shuffling, they both lay down next to him, pulling the blanket over themselves. When they felt his arm naturally drape over them, pulling them close, they finally relaxed.
However, their anxious thoughts kept them awake for quite some time.
Half-asleep, Natalia felt the man get up. She tried to follow, but he gently pushed her back down, so she obediently stayed in bed.
After washing up and changing into workout clothes, Simon went downstairs. It was 6:30 a.m., and the sky was just beginning to brighten. Inside the villa, the Vichy maids were already bustling about. Simon stopped one of them to ask about the gym's location, and Sylvia, a new member of the Vichy maid team, paused her work to personally lead Simon to the gym.
Simon was a bit surprised to find that someone was already there.
A woman, who was more accurately described as tall rather than just tall, was in the corner of the gym, practicing her punches on a sandbag. She was wearing only a fitted sports bra and shorts, her fair, toned body fully on display as the sound of her powerful punches echoed in the room.
Noticing Simon's gaze, Sylvia introduced her, "Mr. Westeros, this is Eve, Miss Noskova's bodyguard."
Simon nodded. "You can go back to work."
Without further ado, Sylvia quietly left.
The woman named Eve noticed the commotion and, upon seeing Simon, stopped her practice.
Simon had already seen Eve in the travel photos with the two girls last night. In most of the photos, she was wearing sunglasses and had a cold demeanor. Now, seeing her in person, Simon noted her distinctly Slavic features—light eyes, a sharp nose, thin lips, and a face that was both delicate and enduring. Perhaps due to her athletic background, she also exuded a resilience that was uncommon among the other women around Simon.
Simon was used to having tall women around him; some of the women in his life were nearly 180 cm tall, but even they couldn't quite match Eve's strength. That's not to say Eve was overly muscular—her physique was perfectly balanced, exuding femininity, almost like a masterpiece of art crafted by a skilled sculptor, with an undeniable potential for explosive power.
However, Simon quickly noticed a flaw in her character.
Eve stood there, allowing Simon to scrutinize her for a few moments before she remembered to greet her boss. Her English was clumsy, and as she spoke, her eyes darted around nervously, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Simon couldn't help but smile.
So, she wasn't cold and aloof like Alice Ferguson—she was genuinely shy and socially awkward, perhaps using those sunglasses in the photos as a way to avoid eye contact and protect herself.
Amused by this realization, Simon headed towards a treadmill and gestured to the one beside him. "Come, run with me."
Eve, though reserved, was obedient. She quietly stepped onto the treadmill next to him, not looking his way, but
listening to his movements. As Simon began to run, she adjusted her speed to match his.
Simon didn't speak as they jogged, gradually increasing the pace after warming up for ten minutes.
Eve discreetly kept up with him.
The treadmills faced a large window overlooking Lake Ontario.
As the sky gradually brightened, the expansive view of the sea and sky was breathtaking, filling the room with a sense of tranquility.
After half an hour of running, Simon stepped off the treadmill and moved to the power rack for strength training. Eve, like a mimicking robot, followed him off the treadmill but seemed unsure whether she should join him.
Simon chuckled and gestured for her to stand beside him. As he worked out, he asked in Russian, "What's your full name?"
Hearing Simon speak in Russian, Eve switched languages and replied softly, "Eve."
"I already know that."
Eve hesitated, realizing what he meant, and added, "Eve Bessonoskova."
"Were you a basketball player?"
"Yes."
"What level did you compete at?"
"…"
"There must have been many tournaments. What was the highest level?"
"The Olympics."
"That's impressive. So why did you stop being an athlete?"
"The team... disbanded."
Simon suddenly remembered the fall of the once-mighty Soviet sports empire. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the former Soviet republics could no longer maintain their dominance in sports, with many top athletes forced into retirement, their brilliance fading away.
Thinking about this, Simon asked, "By the way, do you know Gutsu?"
In his memories, the decline of Soviet sports was perhaps best exemplified by the Ukrainian gymnast Tatiana Gutsu, who shone brightly at the Barcelona Olympics but quickly faded into obscurity.
Eve nodded. "She retired last year and moved to the United States."
Simon vaguely recalled that Gutsu's post-retirement life followed a similar path.
Some legendary athletes continue to make a name for themselves as coaches, but they are the exception. Most don't fare as well.
Gutsu was one of the less fortunate. After moving to the U.S., she became a gymnastics coach at a small college in the Midwest—essentially just a gym teacher. It took her nearly a decade to gain U.S. citizenship, and aside from being inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame years later, she left little other legacy.
In turbulent times, even legends can be reduced to mere mortals, a reflection of the broader situation in Ukraine.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Simon briefly considered intervening but quickly dismissed the idea. It wasn't his responsibility to revive Soviet sports.
However, sports could be a lucrative business. It might be worth investing in a few projects in Ukraine that interest him.
Having made up his mind, Simon glanced at the quiet woman still standing beside him.
He was well aware that Yekaterina and the other girls only displayed their obedient behavior in front of him. But this girl—her demeanor seemed entirely genuine.
So he asked, "How old are you?"
"21."
"And how tall?"
"188 cm."
"Would you like to be my woman?"
Eve froze, shocked that he would ask such a direct question. Her eyes darted around, not knowing how to respond. Her reaction, almost like a little girl's, contrasted sharply with her tall, athletic appearance.
It was, in a way, endearing.
After finishing his last set, Simon stepped away from the power rack and, noticing that Eve was slightly taller than him even when barefoot, took the towel handed to him by the quietly approaching Alison. "Not saying no means yes. So it's settled. Go upstairs, take a shower, and wait for me in bed."
With that, Simon handed the towel back to Alison and left the gym.
Alison didn't follow immediately. Once Simon had left, she turned to Eve, who still seemed a bit stunned, and said, "The boss was joking with you. Don't take him seriously. I'll arrange for you to leave. You shouldn't stay here for the next couple of days."
As she spoke, Alison felt a twinge of regret.
She should have sent the woman away yesterday.
Eve, a member of the Vichy Maidens, had been selected after passing the basic language requirements. Although her spoken English was poor, she had no trouble understanding Alison. Despite Alison's seemingly well-intentioned advice, Eve remained motionless, meeting Alison's gaze for a moment before suddenly saying, "You're lying to me."
Alison showed no embarrassment at being caught. She maintained eye contact with Eve. "I'm trying to help you. I might even get punished by the boss for this. Do you really want to become someone's mistress?"
Eve continued to meet Alison's gaze, neither nodding nor shaking her head.
After waiting a moment with no response, Alison said, "I'll arrange for a car to take you to one of the boss's properties near Rouge Park. You can stay there until you leave."
Eve finally shook her head, her eyes drifting away, her voice lowering as she softly said, "I'm not leaving."
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