Page 39 of Addiction

“I say it as it is,” Lavina chirped.

“Stop encouraging her,” Ananya scolded. “She’s clearly not thinking straight, otherwise she would’ve run away from him the first opportunity she got instead of kissing him that first time.”

“I know, and you’re right,” Navya accepted. “I ought to hate him. Till some time ago, I thought I did. But now, I’m not so sure anymore.”

Ananya studied her. “You have to stay the fuck away from him.”

Navya dropped into the single seater sofa. “That’s just it. I don’t think I can. He… He… He’s freaking hot and so bloody gorgeous. Damn, his body is perfect. It hurts my eyes to even look at him. And the chemistry between us is next level. Scorching hot.”

“The fuck, Navya!” Ananya shouted. “Are you mad? Have you totally lost it?”

Lavina stood. “I think I’ll go finish my wine outside and let you two talk.”

“See, you scared her away,” Navya commented drily. “You can be so intimidating, you know.”

Ananya glared at her. “Don’t you dare deflect. I’m still mad that you didn’t tell me about the deal you made with him all those years ago,” Ananya said. “Does Reina know?”

“Nope, though she did see us kissing at his party in London. She thinks it was a one off, and the only reason I kissed him was to run away from him. We didn’t tell you anything because of Mihir and the feelings you still harbor for him.”

Ananya’s lips tightened. “My feelings about Mihir became irrelevant a long time ago. And this is not about me; it’s abouthisbrother andyou.”

No matter how hard Ananya denied it, Navya knew she still felt something for Mihir Oshnov. Proof of that was the lack of makeup on her face, the ill-fitting dress hanging off her thin body, and the fact that she had rarely stepped out for four years—since that night when she’d run away from his yacht. Her sister was lovesick, and that was plainly visible.

“Can I ask you something?” Navya said. At her sister’s nod, she said, “I need you to answer me honestly.”

Ananya’s brows knitted. “What?”

“Armaan told me that the only reason they held Sheena and me hostage on their yacht that night was because Mihir wanted you, and you knew that. And yet, you ran away. Hence, Rajiv had to come negotiate our release with them.” When Ananya’s face fell, Navya held her arm. “Hey, I’m not judging, okay. I just want to understand whether he was telling the truth.”

Ananya looked sad. “That night, I learned how much Mihir had changed and how much he hated me. He told me that I had walked into his den, and he would let me go only when he was done extracting his revenge from me. That if I agreed to stay, he’d let Sheena and you go. But that look in his eyes…” Ananya’s fingers shook. “I was scared. When we got an opportunity to escape, all three of us ran. It was unfortunate that only I managed to get out,” she exhaled. “Yes, you could argue that I could’ve returned and allowed Sheena and you to go scot-free. But I knew he wouldn’t hurt you because he didn’t want both of you; he wanted me—to punish me for how he thinks I’ve erred with him.”

“And have you erred?”

Till date, Navya and her family knew very little of Ananya’s ill-fated relationship with Mihir. They only knew that Ananya had met Mihir while studying in college in London. She had fallen in love with him, but then he had died in an unfortunate accident. It was only some years later that Ananya had learned, via a news article, that Mihir was alive and that he was the adopted son of Alexander Oshnov. That day, her world had crashed again. Post that, Ananya categorically refused to talk about him. And now, after the yacht incident, she had clammed up even more when it came to him.

The hard look painted on her face right now was proof enough of that.

“This isn’t about me,” Ananya said. “It’s about you, and it’s not just some random guy, but Armaan fucking Oshnov. What were you even thinking getting involved with him?”

“Clearly, my brain fries when he’s around,” Navya murmured.

“He’s wrong for you in so many ways. He’s a playboy, a charmer, a bad boy, and so bloody handsome. To add to that, he’s a billionaire. He’s ruthless, reckless, and he’s dangerous—all traits you never wanted in a man. I thought you’d never be able to trust a man like that. So, now what’s changed?”

“I know all his red flags. I’m attracted to him, Ananya; I’m not marrying him.”

Ananya stared at her wide-eyed. “Which means what, exactly? That you want to fuck him?”

“Yes… no… maybe. Hell. I don’t know. Don’t expect me to answer sanely when his touch and taste are still lingering on me.”

Ananya’s eyes popped. She gulped her wine in a single sip. “I’m calling Reina. She needs to be in on this conversation.”

Reina answered immediately. It was early in London and hence their youngest sister was at her apartment and, from the looks of it, just about waking up. Before Reina could even say hello, Ananya filled her in on what was going on.

“Okay, first, hi, both of you,” Reina said. “And second, what the fuck, Navya?”

“That was exactly how I reacted,” Ananya responded.

“Why didn’t you tell me all this while you were here in London?” Reina scowled at Navya. At Navya’s silence, she asked, “So, you’re attracted to the bad boy?! How very naughty of you.”

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