Page 76 of Obsession

Disappointment washed over her. “Okay, then let us continue tomorrow.”

She turned.

“Come with me,” he said softly.

She whirled around. “What?”

“Come with me.”

“Where are we going? Do I need to change?”

He shook his head. “You’re perf… You’re fine the way you are. Wait for me. I’ll quickly change and meet you here in ten.”

She watched him cross her and hurry up the stairs. She wondered where he was taking her, and why he wanted her to come with him.

She thought about the kiss they’d just shared. When they were all alone and he was laughing with her, it felt like time had stopped and they were still the same Mihir and Anna from seven years ago, a young couple crazy in love. Her heart hammered inside her chest.

She was fooling herself. Mihir and she were not the same anymore, and she better remember that at all times.

21

Mihir’s car sped down the busy Moscow roads. From the corner of his eye, he saw Anna watching the streets go by, looking fascinated. He knew it was her first time here. She hadn’t told him that, but her brother had, when they’d met last. Rajiv had subtly warned him to treat Anna well while she was alone with him. Rajiv trusted him, and that’s why he’d sent Anna alone here. And already, he had failed his friend’s trust by making love to her.

He exhaled. He had never expected that this attraction and fascination he had with her would erupt into this volcano of desire that was taking them both under. What was worse was that he didn’t know how to stop it. Being with her, playing with her in the snow, laughing with her, kissing her, and making love to her—all of it felt exhilarating. It had made him happy—happier than he’d been in years.

And for now, for just a few days, he wanted this status quo to remain. For a little more time, he wanted to live in this bubble with her and be happy, like he had been once, only with her.

The car slowed. Her wide eyes met his as they drove into a cemetery.

“Are we going to pay homage at your father’s grave?” she asked, intuitively.

“He died on the fifteenth of May,” he replied. “Thus, whenever any of us is in town, we try to visit his grave on the fifteenth of the month, that is today.”

The driver parked at the side, and Anna climbed out of the car, waiting for Mihir to join her. Parked behind them was the car with his bodyguards. Chekov and four others got down and fanned around them, their eyes scanning the surroundings. His driver handed him a bouquet of white lilies. He looked up at the sky. Dark clouds had hidden the sun completely, and a cold breeze blew around them. He glanced at Anna’s attire. Dressed in a beanie, his red muffler, a sweater, boots, and a long overcoat, he was convinced she was dressed warm enough. Satisfied, he moved forward.

“Wait…” Anna plucked a lily from the bouquet. “Had I known, I would have insisted on getting my own flowers. I hope this will do for now.”

He nodded, touched by her gesture.

She placed her hand on his arm as he led her through the graves, up to the ones right on the top of a tiny hill. The wind ruffled his hair as he knelt in front of the first grave. He placed the flowers near the headstone.

He spoke in Russian. “Hello, Papa. We all miss you so much. I miss you terribly, you know.”

Anna stood a step behind him. He tiltedhis head to the side. “This is her. The girl I once loved more than my life. She’s here in Moscow, and I couldn’t help but bring her to meet you.” He put his hand on the granite slab. “I’ve never spoken about her to you before. She hurt me once, but like a fool, I’m letting her in again. I’m so confused about her, about the way my heart aches for her, and I just… I don’t know what to do anymore. I wish you were here to help me, Papa.”

His eyes teared, but he swallowed his sadness and smiled. “Yes, I know you don’t like it when any of us is sad. But you will be delighted to know that Armaan and Vedant have fallen in love with two wonderful girls. They’re her sisters, and you would have loved them. I’m sure my brothers will bring them to meet you soon. I’ll try to meet you once more before I return home to Dubai. It really has become home for all three of us. We do love it there. Wish you had been alive to see us succeed and do so well. Thank you, Papa, for everything you’ve done for us, and know that we all love you very much and that we think of you every single day.”

He stood and returned to where Anna was waiting for him. She went forward and put her flower on the grave.

“Hello, Mr. Oshnov,” she said quietly. “I’m Ananya, Anna—Mihir still insists on calling me that despite me repeatedly telling him not to. But I’m sure you know how difficult he is.”

Mihir chuckled.

“Anyway,” she continued, “I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for all three of them. They’re all good men. Yeah, I know—even Mihir, although he’s a grump most of the time and is not so nice to me. But I know he’s good to everyone else. So, thank you. I hope you keep guiding them and protecting them from wherever you are.”

His heart rumbled at her words and at the sight of her hand on his father’s grave. She was utterly adorable, and he was so in love with her. A shocked breath escaped his mouth.

Fuck. This was why he’d stayed away from her for years. But now that he’d voiced that thought in his head, it wouldn’t go away. It refused to be wiped out, no matter how hard he tried.

---