The picky eater

"You seem disturbed. Is it about your brother?" Mrs Babanin has been stealing glances at her son, as he chopped the vegetables they needed for an omelet.

He did not seem to be in a good mood at all. They always had small talks whenever they worked together.

"It's nothing we can't handle", he muttered as he let out his frustration on the vegetables.

His brother made trouble wherever he went. He felt the urge to knock off a tooth or perhaps teeth? Or he could leave his face battered or break a leg? He really needed to vent his anger on him. Or something.

And the so-called brother was nowhere to be found.

"Things would have been better if I were the one with the child. At least I would be giving you a little brother", She tried to lighten up his mood.

"Or sister"

The thought of his 55 years old mother with a baby bump exhilarated him. He couldn't help it when he burst into fits of laughter, his mother followed suit.

Once they had calmed down, Fyodor honestly said, "It would not hurt to have a little niece or nephew", after a few minutes, he added, "And a sister in law too".

His mother pecked him on the cheek, "Thank you son".

Fyodor's parents simply respected him, not that they feared him. They just really appreciate his response to issues that concerned them.

Besides, he was the CEO and he managed the company well.

"Let's finish up real quick and let the staff prepare something for our visitor",

Fyodor nodded and fastened his pace.

…

"They are here", Mrs Babanin alerted her son, who was already dozing off on the chair.

The duo had made sure the house was presentable for a guest. They had made the exact dishes Ivan had told them to prepare. He kept on rambling that his fiancee is a picky eater and very sensitive.

Mrs Babanin held Fyodor's wrist and literally pulled him towards the front door.

Mrs Babanin made it to the front door even before the intercom system buzzed to announce their arrival. She flashed a toothy smile as soon as the door opened to reveal the much awaited Ivan and his picky eater.

"Mama, I have missed you so much", Ivan murmured lovingly as he hugged his mother.

Fyodor nodded his head in greetings towards the woman

who also stood and watched the mother and son reunion.

Ivan held his mother's cheeks in his palm as he questioned, "How have you been mama? Do you sleep well at night? Look mama! A pimple. Have you been skipping your skin care routine?"

His mother blushed as she listened to her first son worry about the tiny details of her life, she turned to his fiancee and greeted her warmly as Ivan introduced her.

Ivan turned to the left, he was caught unaware as his eyes landed on the last person in the room. "Brother", he murmured sourly.

"Brother", Fyodor murmured in the same faith.

"It's an honor to have you here. Ivan please show our dearest, her room. It's been a long journey, she could use a short nap", Mrs Babanin pleasantly said.

"Dearest, let's get you freshened up"

Ivan held his beloved hands in his and led her further into his home.

"Now that wasn't bad, was it?", Mrs Babanin asked as she watched her first son take the steps carefully with his fiancee by his side.

Fyodor only yawned and asked nonchalantly, "When are we having lunch? I'm famished".

His mother slapped his butt cheeks again and walked away.

…

Alina Smith. That's her name. The picky eater. Fyodor watched in amusement as she talked and ate merrily with everyone on the table. Except his father and of course, him.

Alina Smith is a tall, skinny woman with very fragile features. She truly looked picky. She is a half breed of Russian and American blood but spent all her life in the States.

"So Alina, what do you do for a living?", Fyodor asked as he twirled his fork in his half eaten pasta.

"Uhm, basically modeling, I'm also an ambassador for a cosmetic company", she replied with a smile gracing her features.

"Wow, a model! Nice job", Mrs Babanin gushed.

"Thank you Ma'am", Alina smiled at Mrs Babanin and held Ivan's hand.

"Enough of the formalities, call me mama"

Alina smiled and looked at Mr Babanin who had been quiet throughout the meal.

Mr Babanin caught her eyes on him and waved his hands, "Oh, it's still Mr Babanin for me. Perhaps with time?"

His wife nudged his leg under the table for his blunt words.

Ivan smiled happily at their exchange and turned to his brother with a smug smile,

"Fyodor, what do you think?"

Fyodor frowned and raised his cup to hide the frown , "How do you mean?"

"Can you ever meet a woman that surpasses mine in beauty, intelligence and any and everything in the world?"

Fyodor laughed into his cup and mistakenly spilled some of the contents in his mouth to the table.

"Ivan…", Mr Babanin queried as he gave Fyodor nervous glances.

Fyodor apologized profusely, he began to clean the table with a napkin but couldn't help the constant laughs and sounds of mockery that left his mouth.

At one point, he could not help it but to laugh shamelessly.

"Hurray! My brother is a man now", Fyodor mocked.

Ivan laughed as well, "Mama, papa, did you see that? That's what you subject me to every single second. The boy has no respect for me because he mans the company"

Mr Babanin cleared his throat,

"Children, we have a visitor in our midst!"

He turned to Alina and spared her an apologetic smile, "Sorry you had to witness this, my boys may act like children sometimes".

Directing his gaze at Fyodor, he addressed formally, "Mr CEO, perhaps you would like to help Mrs Babanin clean the table, while I take our visitor for a little tour around the house?"

With his gaze still on his brother, Fyodor answered, "Absolutely sir. Miss Smith, so sorry you had to witness all of that. There's no denial, you are a very beautiful woman, both inwards and outwards"

Alina smiled in understanding.

"Take your sinful eyes off my woman!", Ivan shouted as he stood to his full height.

Mr Babanin led Ivan and his fiancee out before he would start a fight with his younger brother.

Alina has never seen Ivan so worked up.

Why would he ask his brother such a thing?, she wondered as she followed Mr Babanin and a very displeased Ivan out.

She had just gotten here, but she felt like leaving already. To think that she would be staying for two more weeks troubled her.

For now, she needed to study Ivan and his brother. Would they always disagree and quarrel like children all the time? She thought.