If Only

If Only - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Novosibirsk, Russia

Julian

Three weeks later

"Minus f*****g 30 degrees," I groaned as I stepped outside the standard worldwide branch hotel. I hoisted the camera gear over my shoulder and walked to the driver, who was already waiting by the curb. He came armed with two travel mugs of steaming hot coffee. Last week I'd been commissioned for an icy photoshoot in the middle of Siberia. The temperatures quickly fell below zero in this area. With Cora in London and only one or two day jobs in Kenya, I'd opted for this longer stint. The pay was good and with my signature still wet on the house contract, a little extra money for refurbishment and new furniture would be nice. No wonder the travel magazine hadn't been able to find another photographer to go to this deserted place.

"I'm already freezing my balls off and I've walked but 50 meters to you," I said when I reached Oleg, the driver, by the car.

The job description was to catch the vast nature, which was rough, cruel and unforgiving and which the Trans-Siberian railway carved through. Novosibirsk had been founded in 1893 on the Ob River, and the place would be the future crossing point for the Trans-Siberian Railway. The travel magazine was creating a special edition dedicated to the Railway and the cities on its route. I'd been to Russia before, but never this far into the country. Moscow and St. Petersburg were the destinations where I'd most often been sent.

Interestingly enough, Novosibirsk was the third largest city in Russia and a major industrial hub. Yesterday we'd been shooting by the crossing of the river. Today we were going to the railway station. I would photograph the train as it arrived and the magazine had gotten permission for me to come on board and shoot the interior. Oleg pulled out into the slow morning traffic and I checked my watch. We were seven hours ahead of London and Cora would still be sleeping. My mind and body ached for her. We texted and FaceTimed as much as our schedules allowed. She was the head journalist on the story that now ran for the third week in a row. It turned out that Kenya was only one country where the organization hadn't been in control of their funds. She was killing it and her on-screen performance had gotten me hard, a revelation that made her laugh and afforded me a very hot FaceTime session. Who knew I was a sucker for women in command? Or maybe it was just her!

I opened my text messages and started typing. She usually replied quickly, but I hadn't heard from her yesterday or the day before, when I'd been traveling the long way between Mombasa and Novosibirsk. It had me worried.

"Good morning, princess. ? I wish I'd woken up next to you this morning, and I'm counting the days until I can. Show them who's in charge and know that I'm cheering for you. ? Julian."

Our days together started to fade in my memory. Fortunately, I'd captured her from behind my lens and had sent a few shots to my phone. A sleeping Cora was my screen saver.

I documented the lavish design of the train’s restaurant, café and compartments, then got a few conductors and personnel to pose smilingly. We waved the train off to their next destination: Krasnoyarsk, located on the Yenisei River.

"Lunch?" I asked Oleg as I stowed my equipment in the back seat of his car.

"Ja," he answered in Russian. He spoke very little English, but we got by. He had a translated copy of my itinerary, courtesy of my employer.

Oleg ordered for us: Borscht, a red-violet soup of beets, potatoes and tomatoes. He insisted on vodka to drink. I already knew that it was common to drink vodka with meals. He was driving afterward, but if he only had one drink it would be okay. I declined. I was still working and had photos to edit and submit this afternoon.

I twisted and turned my phone, wanting to write to her again, but I didn't want to come across as a possessive boyfriend. It was now late afternoon and my calls went directly to voicemail. The numerous texts hadn't gone through.

"Where are you, princess? Please let me know you're okay. I'm worried sick. If you want to break it off, you don't have to ghost me. I'm a big boy.❤️ "

She continued to avoid my messages and calls. I sent her a final one before I went to bed.

"You are a gem, a treasure, and even if we're just friends I'd love to see you again when we're on the same continent. Princess, it's been a pleasure.♥️ "

The wind was coming in strong on the building, but my room was warm and comfortable. My mind wandered to long nights of lovemaking in tropical Kenya. I loved her with all my heart. How inconvenient was it to have found love and it was one-sided? I knew she guarded her heart and feelings. She tried to come across as tough, but in our private moments I'd been fortunate to see her soft side. I closed my eyes and let myself loose in the memories. My hand found my erection. I feverishly m*********d to a quick finish but was unfulfilled.

A few hours later I woke up from a nightmare bathed in sweat. Two guys had chased me down a dark alley, but I'd woken up before they reached me. My heart was pounding and I chugged down a full bottle of water. I rechecked my phone, but everyone I knew was silent. The alarm clock blinked midnight. For the next few hours, I woke up every hour. That was it. If I hadn't heard from her in the morning, I would contact her London office. I needed to hear she was okay, even if she didn't want to talk.

At four a.m., my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I'd finally fallen asleep and woke up confused. The room spun when I sat up in bed. I flicked the light on and grabbed my phone.

"Finally," I exhaled, relieved. The missed call was from Cora, and I dialed her back. The phone rang and rang. "Where did you go?"

A few minutes later she called me.

"Hey, princess. You had me so worried; what's up?" She must have forgotten our time difference.

"Julian," she croaked. "I'm so sick. Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick again. Will call you." The line went dead as she disconnected. I used the time to go to the toilet and brew a cup of coffee. Something was off.

The phone rang again.

"Cora, where are you and what's going on?"

"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, but it's been hell..." She paused. "I'm in Bogotá."

"What? Why?" was all I could say.

"For work, but I'm stuck sick in my hotel room and I was mugged,” she said matter-of-factly.

"f*****g hell, Cora, are you all right?"

"They didn't harm me, if that's what you're asking. I willingly handed over my wallet and jewelry. I always have an emergency stash of cash and I carry an extra passport. This is not the worst. I'm so sick. I can't go anywhere. I can't work or function."

"You need to contact a doctor. Can you ask reception to call one for you? You have insurance, right? I'm in Novosibirsk."

"Siberia?" Her voice was low.

"Yes, I took a job. You were otherwise occupied, and it pays well."

"I didn't think you were just going to sit and wait for me, but isn't it freezing up there? You're kind of a summer person." I detected a smile in her voice.

"God, it feels fantastic talking to you. It's so horribly cold I'm sure that my balls have frostbite. Besides that, all's well. Now that I know you weren't ghosting me or breaking up."

"You thought I was breaking up? Do you want to break up?" Her voice was a low whisper.

"No, princess. No I don't, but we've only just started and we've been away from each other for almost a month."

"Julian, I’ll call you back; I need to throw up again."

"Which hotel are you at?" I didn't know if she heard me.

"Intercontinental," and then she was gone again.

I looked up Intercontinental Bogotá and dialed the reception desk.

"Julian Dexter, por favor, mi novia. My girlfriend is staying with you and she's sick alone in her room. Cora Green. I don't know her room number, but I need you to get a doctor. She has insurance. Gracias. Muchas gracias."

I knew enough Spanish to get by and the receptionist assured me they would call on her.

As I waited for her to return my call, I looked up flights from Novosibirsk to the Colombian capital. She needed help now and it would take me 30 hours to get to her.