Page 98 of Fixation

He squeezed her fingers. “Thanks.”

“What happened when you reached Russia? It must have been so different. What did you feel? How was it?”

He sighed. “To be honest, I was petrified. We knew Alexander was wealthy,but the extent of his wealth became apparent the moment we entered his home.To us,it wasn’t just a house; it was a palace.We were assigned separate rooms,each with wardrobes filled with clothes,shoes,and accessories from brands we’d never heard of.On the first night after dinner,I refused to sleep alone. I’d never slept alone in my entire life. So,I went to Mihir’s room. Armaan came in a few minutes after me.We slept together for many nights like that—Mihir and I on the bed, and Armaan on the couch—until Alexander discovered what we were doing and put an end to it.And then he decided to separate us."

“What?” she gasped, removing her hand from his. “Why would he do that?”

“Alexander was incredibly intelligent.Without telling us,he had decided to make us his heirs.That’s why he adopted us as soon as we arrived and gave us his name.However,he kept it a secret.He wanted to prepare us for handling his vast empire.We didn’t realise it at the time,but separating us was the best thing that could have happened.He met with each of usindividually, identified our strengths and weaknesses,suggested courses we should take,and sent us to universities around the world.” He smiled, thinking about that time. “Mihir went to London for chemical engineering,Armaan went to Michigan for mining and gemmology,and I studied mechanical engineering in Russia.Later, he also insisted we all get a master’s in business management.Initially,we hated being separated,but it taught us to survive,live,learn,and be independent.Alexander also forced us to learn Russian and to fight, and we did everything he asked of us. We worked diligently,studied relentlessly,and learned to connect with people from all walks of life.Soon,our lives began to transform.We transformed.For the first time,we realised that we had the capacity and backing to accomplish anything.Over time,we became the men we are today,and it was all due to the brilliance and foresight of a kind and generous man who not only welcomed us into his life but also embraced us in his heart.”

He sniffed, refusing to let his tears fall. He looked at Reina, who was watching him intently. “We returned to Russia ready to conquer the world. Alexander finally revealed to everyone that he had adopted us, and then our lives changed dramatically again. The media went wild. Overnight, we became the most sought-after men in Moscow, if not all of Russia. Reporters followed our every move and women threw themselves at us. Mihir hated the attention; he still does. But that time, he’d just been involved in an accident…”

Her eyes widened. “The one that also involved Ananya?”

“Yes. The same one for which he holds a grudge against her till date. However, Armaan and I saw how he’d changed post that incident. So, the two of us decided to step into the limelight so Mihir didn’t have to. We all began working under Alexander in our respective businesses. He started us from the bottom and encouraged us to climb the ranks. Even then, wenever anticipated inheriting his wealth. It was only when he passed away and his will was read that we realised he’d left it all to us.” He sighed, remembering that monumental day. “Fuck. It was unbelievable. In a strange twist of fate, three orphans from a small city in India became the richest men on the planet. The news of Alexander Oshnov bequeathing everything to his adopted sons sent shockwaves through Russia.”

“It must have been quite unbelievable.”

“It was.” He smiled. “So, this is my story. Fate bestowed upon us an opportunity granted to very few and we took it. Even today, O-Corp is a huge success because of the hard work and sleepless nights each of us puts in it.”

“That is incredible,” Reina said. “I am so impressed.”

“Does that mean you’re ready to forgive me?” he asked, hopeful.

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t push your luck right now. I am spending time with you, aren’t I?”

He held his hands up. “Okay, no pressure.”

“Good.” Her brow furrowed “You all moved to Dubai soon after this, right?”

“After the world learned of our inheritance, we were targeted by a swarm of opportunists—media,businessmen,politicians,government officials,mafia,and women.Everyone assumed we were naive and could be exploited for favours or through intimidation. But none of their tactics worked.Alexander had taught us how to navigate these situations.We formed alliances with the mafia,won over influential politicians and government officials,and ruthlessly dealt with those who obstructed our path.However,this constant pressure was draining and diverting our attention from work.So,Mihir suggested moving to Dubai.It was close enough to Moscow for frequent visits,a tax haven,and suited our luxurious lifestyle.We moved here,andthe pressure on us immediately eased.We could focus more on work and ourselves. Over time, we realised we could be happy in any city as long as we all were together.”

The corner of her lips tipped up. He exhaled a sigh of relief. She was warming up to him once again, and that felt great.

“Were all these people the reason you needed to learn to fight?” Reina asked, curious as ever.

“Along with inheriting Alexander’s wealth, we also inherited his enemies. Like I said, he was preparing us for this life, which meant we needed to learn how to deal with all these people, to eliminate them if needed, and ensure we always survived.”

“Please tell me all your businesses are legal,” Reina stressed. “I won’t be with anyone who deals in drugs, trafficking, or weapons, no matter how much I lo…”

She shut her mouth and her eyes.

He laughed. “You have nothing to worry about. We are good people.”

Her eyes opened. “I suppose I believed that anyway.”

“Reina, before my attack, I had never killed anyone. If I hadn’t killed those men then, they would have killed me,” his tone turned serious. “But now I know without a doubt that I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you. You need to know that as well.”

“I am a doctor. In my profession, I have seen awful things inflicted upon the most innocent of people—kids, women, elders. Some people deserve to be killed.”

His heart lifted on hearing her words. To know she truly didn’t judge him for the things he’d done was… it was… freeing.

“You are amazing, you know,” Vedant said.

He stood and leaned over her, putting his hands on the desk, on either side of her, trapping her to him. “I’m glad to know you’re at least thinking of being with me and that you lo…”

She slapped her palm on his lips, preventing him from saying the words out loud. He kissed her fingers. She shifted her palm away and looked into his eyes.

“I love you so much!” He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Thank you for being curious to listen to my story and giving me a chance to be with you again.”

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