"Evva?"
Evva also looked genuinely surprised to see Liam amidst the unexpected street-side encounter. "Oh, Liam," she said, a slight sigh escaping her lips. "We are so sorry about that... um, and look at Grace." She gestured to her friend, who offered a tight, slightly embarrassed smile, as if to say, "Well, that was a graceful moment."
Liam chuckled softly, waving a dismissive hand. "No harm done, thankfully. Just glad everyone's alright." He then turned his attention to Evva, a touch of concern in his eyes. "Is your friend alright, Evva? She looked a little shaken up."
He then glanced towards Lev, who was standing slightly behind him, observing the scene with a thoughtful expression. "Lev, this is my sister-in-law, Evva... my wife Maria's cousin."
Lev, who had indeed been surprised to see her - the fleeting image from the airport now sharp in his memory, though he consciously pushed it aside - extended his hand towards Evva with a polite smile. "Lev Petrov," he introduced himself.
Evva returned the handshake, her smile warm. "Evva Trembley."
But as she spoke her name, Lev murmured, almost under his breath, "Yeva."
Evva's smile faltered slightly. "No, not Yeva," she corrected gently. "Evva. E-V-V-A."
"Of course," Lev replied, a sly, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. "Evva."
"And this is my friend, Grace," Evva added, turning slightly to include Grace in the introduction, looking at both Liam and Lev.
Grace offered a friendly smile and a small wave. "Hi, Mr. Davis. Hi, Mr. Petrov."
Liam and Lev both nodded in acknowledgment.
"So, Evva," Liam then asked, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected encounter. "What are you two doing around here at this hour?"
"We were just having dinner at that little Italian place down the street," Evva replied, gesturing vaguely behind her. "And now we were heading back to my penthouse... which, as you know, isn't too far from here. What about you?
Liam chuckled slightly. "Actually, I was invited for dinner at Lev's penthouse tonight. Had a really good evening, but then my car decided to throw a little tantrum and wouldn't start when I was leaving. So, Lev was being a true gentleman and giving me a ride back to my hotel." He gestured towards Lev with a grateful nod.
Liam glanced at his watch. "Well, this is quite the unexpected intersection. Did you two happen to drive your car tonight, Evva? Or should Lev and I give you a lift back to your place?"
Evva smiled and shook her head. "Oh, no, don't worry about us at all. I actually did drive tonight. We were just heading towards the parking garage around the corner. You two go ahead . It was nice seeing you, Liam... and it was nice meeting you, Mr Petrov."
Liam smiled warmly and gave Evva a light pat on the shoulder. "Alright, Evva. Good to see you, We'll catch up properly soon."
Lev offered a polite nod, his gaze lingering on Evva for a brief moment. "Okay, Evva, Grace. Bye. Good night."
His "good night" was directed primarily towards Evva, a subtle emphasis in his tone.
Then, with a final exchange of nods and smiles, they all turned and headed in the directions of their respective cars, the unexpected encounter on Mulberry Street coming to a close as they drove away into the New York night.
Lev was the only one to recognize her from the airport, the brief but striking image of her amidst the bustling terminal still vivid in his mind.
As for Evva at the airport, her attention had likely been focused elsewhere - perhaps on navigating the crowds, locating her gate, or simply lost in her own thoughts. Their encounter had been fleeting and impersonal for her, a face in the sea of travelers, easily forgotten amidst the journey. There was no flicker of recognition in her eyes when she first met Lev on the street, her surprise stemming solely from the unexpected meeting with Liam.
____________________________
Lev's POV
The screech of tires still echoed faintly in my ears as Liam and I climbed out of the car. My heart hammered a little faster than usual - a reflex reaction to the sudden near-miss.
On the sidewalk, a woman stumbled back, her hand clutched to her chest, a picture of startled surprise. Beside her, another woman, her face etched with immediate worry, reached out to steady her.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice carrying a genuine note of concern.
The woman who'd stepped into the road took a shaky breath, her eyes wide. The other woman looked up at my voice, and then her gaze locked onto Liam. A flicker of surprise crossed her features.
"Evva?" Liam exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and recognition in his tone.
Evva. The name hit me, sharp and clear, pulling the hazy memory of the airport into sharp focus. There she was, the woman who had caught my eye amidst the chaotic flow of travelers.
I watched Liam and Evva speaking, their words a muted background hum. My focus was entirely on her. Beautiful. That was the first word that sprang to mind, and it felt utterly inadequate. Her eyes held a captivating spark, her smile genuine and warm.
I was thankful, in a strange way, for that fleeting airport glimpse, for the way her image had lingered, unbidden, in my thoughts. Now, knowing her name felt like a small victory.
Liam's voice broke through my reverie. "...Lev, this is my sister-in-law, Evva..."
I snapped back to the present, a touch of heat rising in my neck. "Lev Petrov," I said, offering my hand, trying to appear composed.
"Evva Trembley," she replied, her hand surprisingly soft in mine.
And then it happened. A word unbidden, a feeling given voice. "Yeva," I murmured, the name feeling strangely right, like a missing piece. My life? Where had that come from? I hadn't meant to say it aloud.
Her smile faltered, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "No, not Yeva. Evva."
Idiot. I mentally berated myself, trying to recover. "Of course. Evva." I hoped my smile didn't betray the sudden rush of... something... I was feeling.
Evva then introduced her friend. "And this is my friend, Grace..." Or was it Macy? The name barely registered. My attention was still caught in the orbit of Evva's charm. Her presence was...magnetic.
Liam and Evva continued to chat, catching up. I nodded politely when appropriate, but my mind was still replaying that slip of the tongue, the way her name had felt so... significant.
Finally, it was time for goodbyes. "Okay, Evva, Grace. Bye. Good night," I said, my gaze lingering on Evva a fraction longer, a silent message in my eyes that went beyond a simple farewell.
Then, we all turned and headed towards our respective vehicles, the unexpected encounter leaving a subtle ripple in the evening. As I got back into my car, the image of Evva's surprised face, and the way she corrected my pronunciation, lingered in my thoughts. That brief moment at the airport now felt less like a random encounter and more like... a prelude.
◇◇◇
Author's POV
In the relentless energy of a major city, a new chapter was quietly beginning for Lev Petrov. A second, unexpected meeting had left a lasting impression.
Meanwhile, far away in the calm quiet of a grand home, Victor Petrov was filled with a different kind of energy. His focus had changed, becoming more private.The atmosphere around him felt quietly determined, like something was about to happen that no one else knew about.
Victor Petrov held his secure phone to his ear. The lights of Moscow outside his window were a distant glow.
"The payment will be one hundred thousand dollars, once I'm satisfied with the result," Victor said, his voice calm and serious.
There was a short pause from the person on the other end, their voice changed to hide who they were. "And what do you need me to do?" they asked carefully.
"The most important thing is to keep this completely secret," Victor replied. "Don't tell anyone about our conversation or what you're doing. Nobody can know I'm involved. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand." The voice was flat.
"I will tell you exactly what I need you to do once I know I can trust you to keep quiet," Victor continued. "Basically, it's about changing how people see someone. You need to make them doubt that person. You have your own ways of doing things, but the result must be convincing."
"Convincing in what way?" the voice asked, sounding a little impatient.
"Convincing enough to make people lose trust," Victor explained, looking out at the city. "Convincing enough to make them weaker. I will tell you who the target is soon. You only get paid if your work is effective and if nobody can trace it back to you."
A quiet laugh came over the phone. "Keeping things secret and getting people to believe things is what I do best, Victor Petrov."
"Make sure that's true," Victor said, his voice firm. "The money is good, but if anyone finds out I'm behind this, there will be serious problems for both of us. Remember that."
"I will. You have my word."
"Good," Victor concluded. "I will contact you with the details of the target and what I need you to do within the next two days. Don't try to call me before then."
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