A Substitute For Pure Love

The night Zoran rescued me, he gently stroked my head.

Bit by bit, he helped dry my wet hair.

He looked at me, his tone soft and warm.

"Aria, you shouldn't be like this."

So he taught me, instructing me in business strategy, imparting all the knowledge he had acquired throughout his life.

But on the night I had learned enough and, blushing, confessed my feelings to him.

He got me drunk on a glass of vodka and sent me to another man's bed.

Later, he regretted it, and did everything in his power to take me away.

I laughed, reaching back to link arms with the man behind me.

"But Zoran, I don't want to leave now."