Page 61 of Obsession

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello, Anna,” he replied.

Silence reigned between them as she took her time assessing him. Someone cleared their throat. Mihir looked at Dmitri, who was standing behind Anna. The older man arched a knowing brow at Mihir.

“That will be all,” Mihir told him.

Dmitri turned to leave, but Anna said, “Thank you for showing me in.”

Dmitri gave her a smile, and then faced Mihir. “Behave.”

He looked heavenward.

“Doesn’t he manage your home in Dubai?” Anna asked. “I remember him showing me to the pool at your pool party.”

“He’s our head butler. He chooses to tag along with me, regardless of which home I’m staying in.”

“He’s fond of you?!”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

“You don’t make it easy for anyone to like you.”

“I don’t care about most people.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I trust you had a comfortable journey,” he asked.

She started pulling off her gloves. “Yes, although I don’t get why you insisted on me flying in your airplane. You do know I have my family jets too.”

“Just being cautious,” he said, watching her.

“I got to meet Anton and Lenin on the flight here,” she said. “I could finally thank Anton for coming to my rescue that day.”

“He was doing his job.”

“Still, had Adam and he not intervened in time, that guy could have caused more damage.”

Mihir sighed. Thankfully, that hadn’t happened.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Mihir asked.

Her lips pursed. “Sure, I’ll have what you’re having.”

He moved to the leather bar on the side of his study. “Since when do you have vodka neat?”

“Since when do you know everything about me?” she snapped. Then she shook her head. “Sorry, I promised myself that I’d try and be decent with you, but it’s hard when I’m so mad at you.”

He busied himself pouring the drinks. Anna removed her jacket and went to the fireplace, warming her hands.

Anna and he had a lot of negativity and bad history between them. So, he didn’t blame her for how she felt around him. He had his own qualms about spending time with her, about being close to her. But after her attack, one thing had been intrinsically clear. Even though she had destroyed him, even though at one time the thought of ruining her had kept him going for years, he now knew with absolute certainty that he’d never be able to see her in pain.

And this had nothing to do with their families being related now. This was all him. Because the truth was that, at his core, he still felt strongly for her. Something powerful that time, distance, and his hostility toward her hadn’t been able to change. That was the only reason she still got under his skin. That was the only reason that, despite the several feet of distance between them, his body was tilting toward her, wanting to feel her heat, craving to touch her.

And if she ever learnt that… He sighed. Oh, the power she’d wield over him—the power to hurt him and destroy him again. And that, he could never allow to happen. Hence, he was going to give her the interview she wanted, and then let go of her, once and for all.

He ushered her to the leather sofas in the corner. Handing her the vodka, he raised his glass in a toast. “Na zdorov’ye. To health.”

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