Page 81 of Obsession

Their time together reminded her of how they’d been at one time, how in sync they’d been back then, and how much in love she’d been with him. And how much she still… No. She wasn’t voicing that thought out loud. Not yet.

Hence, she’d refrained from talking about their mutual past and what had gone wrong then. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to know. She did. But she hadn’t wanted that to come in the way of her happy day.

Yes, she’d wanted to live in the moment with him, because being with him, when he was like this—happy and relaxed—made her so happy. Despite the vast differences and misunderstandings between them, being with this man had always made her heart soar.

The car stopped in front of his house. Mihir climbed out and helped her out of the car. She climbed the stairs with him in silence.

When he stopped at her bedroom door, she said, “Thank you for today. I had a great time.”

He smiled. “Carpe diem, Anna. We’re living in the moment, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Then let’s live a little more.”

Saying that, she pulled him into her room, and then, there was no need for words anymore.

* * *

Ananya wokeup for the second time in a row to a fully dressed Mihir seated in the armchair, watching her.

“You watching me when I sleep has got to stop,” she muttered, rising up to lean against the headboard.

“Why?” he asked, brows pinched, as if watching her sleep was the most normal thing in the world. It had been at one time. But now…

“Uh, it’s just… I’m not used to it anymore.” The sheet fell from her chest. His eyes sparkled in amusement as she quickly covered herself again.

“I just came to check on you before I left for work,” he said. “You were sleeping so soundly that?—”

“—that you sat and watched me instead!” She rolled her eyes. “Like I said, not used to it anymore.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m good.”

He smirked as if he knew exactly how good she felt. Her skin heated. She exhaled slowly, taking him in fully. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his hair slightly damp. “When did you leave?

“I left at five, after the last time that we… I couldn’t sleep again. Not that we slept much to begin with.”

Her cheeks flushed. They’d made love through the night. Even when she’d fallen asleep, she’d woken up to Mihir’s hands and mouth on her skin. Her pulse quickened, thinking of their time together.

Mihir stood. “I have to go in to work today. Will you be okay by yourself?”

“Yes, I have to compile my notes on everything we’ve spoken of concerning the article. Can we continue when you return?”

“The UK ambassador is hosting a gala for O-Corp’s board to celebrate the new business deal.” He observed her for a long moment before he said, “Why don’t you come?”

She gulped. “You want me to attend a party with you?”

“Yes. You’ll get to see first-hand how I work and mingle with the who’s who of world finance, trade, economics, and technology.”

She chewed her lip, thinking. He’d told her that whatever was brewing between them was temporary. Going to a party with him felt like a date. Playing with him in the snow, kissing him like she had, going sightseeing with him, spending time with him, and then making love to him—it had all felt too familiar. It had felt like he was hers. Like he’d always been hers.

Her heart thundered, finally voicing out the one critical thing that she’d refused to accept out loud for years. She was in love with him. She’d never stopped loving him, and being with him on his arm tonight… She exhaled.

Carpe diem, Ananya, she told herself. She was living in the moment. But all this, too, would end once she was done interviewing him.

Like him, she, too, didn’t want to get hurt anymore. She had suffered enough already, thanks to him. She couldn’t, and wouldn’t, put herself through more pain. And going to a party with him, with so many people watching…

Before she could make up her mind, he clasped her cheek. “Anna, please come.”

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