Page 9 of Tyrant

Tabitha

The arrogant bastard!

His deep, sea green eyes borrowed into my psyche, making my stomach flutter. I wanted to reach across and knuckle him on the forehead, the way my cousin used to do to me when we were little. I was so angry I wanted to scream when he insisted on a second date with me after I told him no.

But since he insisted, I would make his life a living hell. Moreover, if I said no, Linda and her aunt would only find another man to save me. If this date was a disaster, I would have an excuse to not allow them to fix me up in future.

It was always the most handsome men I meet that were the most insufferable. Since bumping into each other at the restaurant the day before where he refused to apologize, I knew he was bad news.

This man had a haughty air about him. He was the kind of man that intimidated other people. But I wasn’t one of those people. The only reason I agreed to a second date was that I wouldn’t hear the end of it with Linda or Aunt Beryl when I returned to the US. In Linda’s mind, my potential new husband could be in Dubai.

I leaned back against the pillows, observing him trying to soften the impeccably harsh lines of his face. I knew it was something he purposely did to make himself appear tough, but it only added to his appeal. I didn’t know who this man was, but I assumed that he was some kind of a businessman by the way he dressed.

He was quite tall, perhaps six-three – or more. I could see how his presence could make a girl’s knees weak, but I ain’t falling for that shit. Moreover, what he wanted with a black woman anyway? His accent was distinct even though his English was flawless. I suspected him to be Russian or close to that region such as Bosnia or Croatia. It didn’t matter how piercing his eyes were, or the aquiline features of his nose, or the way his suit molded to his obvious muscles, I wasn’t some desperate female waiting to be swept off her feet.

While he offered his fake ass apology, I basically zone him out while I thought about my business in Dubai and what that meant for me. I closed my eyes while his smooth deep voice echoed in the room. Unwittingly, I found myself being caught up by his tone and I heard the last part of the apology.

“I’m truly sorry,” were his last words before silence.

I didn’t open my eyes and pretended I was asleep. I heard him chuckle softly, perhaps amused of himself as he thought he might have fooled me. I heard him move and I relaxed, thankful that he was leaving, but the compression of the bed told me otherwise. What was he doing? The heat of his body answered my question as he leaned over me.

“You look like an angel when you’re asleep. I could take these luscious lips and make them mine.”

My eyes flew open as I reached up and pushed hard. He chuckled once more, and he raised himself and stood upright.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I shrieked.

“I’m Zakhar Mikhailov, your future husband. I’ll see you tomorrow …”

“I never gave you the date.”

He continued speaking as though not interrupted. “…at one o’clock sharp, and if you break that date, I will find you.”

“Who says I’m not married?”

“Divorced, with a deadbeat ex that I will eliminate, given the chance.”

I sat straight up, my heart thudding. “Who are you?”

“I told you, I’m your future husband.”

I leaned back, now confused and a bit scared. “I need you to leave, now. Please!”

He strolled to the door then turned around. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Just meet me tomorrow and I will explain everything.”

I waved him away and closed my eyes. This man must be very powerful, unless Linda told him about Gary. However, she wouldn’t tell a stranger my personal affair. Did he run a background check on me? That would make sense if he was serious about meeting someone, especially from another country. Russians were known to not trust others, or for being untrustworthy themselves.

Tossing half the night, I could not get Zakhar off my mind. At around midnight, I started scrolling through my phone and decided to look him up on the internet. My mouth hung when I discovered who he was. One of the most powerful men in Asia and Russia. Power not only in terms of money, but business acumen, as well as he himself was often referred to as ‘The Business Tyrant’.

So many questions plagued my mind as I finally drifted off to sleep. What did he want with me? What did he mean when he said he was my future husband? What did he mean by eliminating Gary? Who was Zakhar as a person? What would his kiss feel like … zzzzz.

Chapter 5

Tabitha

Wednesday…

I had no intention of meeting Zakhar Mikhailov, especially now that I knew how influential and powerful he was. I didn’t need someone like that in my life. There always seemed to be some paparazzi hidden somewhere taking his photos because there were even articles about him within the last few days. There was one about his visit to the hospital, as well as one about a woman walking out of the restaurant during a date.

---