Page 135 of Obsession

In her excitement, she reached class earlier than usual. Ten minutes passed and then fifteen, yet there was no sign of him. The class started on time, yet the reformer next to hers remained unbearably vacant.

Disappointment took over her excitement. Why had he not come? Had he not liked the interview? But that didn’t make sense, because contrary to what she’d threatened him with, she hadn’t painted him as a villain. In fact, she believed she’d done a decent job of telling his story.

Throughout class, she kept wondering why he wasn’t there, and if she were being absolutely honest, she missed him. She realized how much she enjoyed seeing him at her class. She liked having him around her, and she liked spending time with him. He’d gotten her used to him again, and then he’d decided to disappear without a word. And now, she was annoyed at him again.

She huffed out a breath. She really shouldn’t care. He hadn’t trusted her when it had mattered, and that’s why she was mad at him, she reminded herself. But even that argument felt weak now.

Unable to help herself, she checked with the instructor at the end of the class and was told that Mihir was unwell. Worry settled in her heart. What had happened to him? How sick was he? Why had he not told her? And why was she now feeling so restless because he was unwell? The damn man was once again creating chaos in her heart, and she didn’t know what to do about it, or about him.

37

“What does Andres want now?” Armaan asked Mihir. “It’s been three weeks since we last heard from him, and now suddenly he lands up in Dubai out of the blue?”

“It sounds suspicious to me,” Vedant said.

“He’s insisting upon a meeting with me,” Mihir replied. “He?—”

Vedant’s phone rang, and he spoke to the person on the other end. Mihir lifted his mug of ginger and turmeric tea and took a sip of the hot beverage. The liquid was soothing. The brothers were seated in their study of their house. Thanks to his damn cold, he hadn’t gone to the office today. He dabbed his nose with a tissue, sniffing. The cold had completely caught him unaware. He’d woken up feeling unwell with a body ache, a slight fever, and cold.

However, despite the illness, he’d spent most of the day working from home. His brothers had just returned a little while ago, and as was usual for them, they were catching up with him before they both headed to their own wings of the house, where Navya and Reina would be waiting for them.

He sighed. He’d been disheartened not to see Anna today, but he’d not gone to class so as not to risk passing his infection to her.

Vedant ended the call and looked at Mihir. “Sorry, that was our PR team. I’ll get to that bit. But first, you continue.”

“Andres says he knows Ivan’s whereabouts and will show me the proof when we meet in person.”

“Why in person? Why has he come here himself?” Armaan asked the very questions Mihir had been pondering over.

Vedant said, “He knows we are willing to pay millions to anyone who tells us where Ivan is. Of course, he’s here for the money.”

“Perhaps that’s the case,” Mihir said.

“This time, you’re not going alone to meet him, Mihir,” Vedant declared.

“This time, I’m not going until the fucker shows us proof that he knows where Ivan is. I’ve told Chekov to hold him off.”

“Then what do we do?” Armaan asked.

“Chekov is waiting on some information,” Mihir said. “We’ve been trying to locate Ivan ever since he left Moscow. I have an idea of what’s going on, but I need further proof. I’ll tell you both when I know more.”

Vedant pushed his glasses up his nose before rising to fix a drink for Armaan and himself. It was late evening now. Anna must have finished her class and gone home. He checked his phone and was disappointed once again. She hadn’t called or messaged to check on him; he’d been hoping she would.

These last few days, he’d felt Anna warming up to him. She spoke to him cheerfully and usually came early to class, knowing he’d be waiting for her. That half an hour when they sat outside class, in the waiting room, chatting, had started becoming special to him. He only met her on alternate days, but he’d truly believed that something was evolving between them. But now he wasn’t quite sure. Had he imagined the way her eyes lit up when she saw him? Had he imagined her happiness when she was with him?

Vedant handed a glass to Armaan and took his seat on the sofa in their study again.

“You should be in bed,” Vedant told Mihir. “You don’t look a hundred percent.”

“I’m fine,” Mihir said. “It’s just a cold. I’m taking the medicines Reina prescribed.”

“Still, you look pale,” Armaan argued. “We can continue tomorrow.”

Mihir ignored him and said, “I’ve been in touch with our men in India, the ones in JD’s organization. JD returned to India last evening.”

“Oh, fuck,” Armaan cursed.

Mihir continued, “Also, Ivan has again contacted JD to help him look for Karina. This time, JD answered his call.”

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