Page 62 of Obsession

She clinked her glass to his and downed the vodka shot along with him. Her nose wrinkled and she cleared her throat. “That was strong.”

“Another?”

She shook her head. Mihir poured himself another shot and downed it in one go.

Anna looked around the room. “This house is beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Long ago, he had wondered how it would feel to have her in his house in Moscow. To see her at the very center of where his life had changed for the better. And now, Anna was actually here, seated in his study, looking perfect, like she absolutely belonged here. His heart roared its approval.

He ignored it to say, “I hope you find your living arrangements here acceptable.”

“Living arrangements?” Her eyes rounded. “I thought this was just a stop on the way to the hotel.”

He frowned. “Why would I put you up in a hotel when I have this massive home? Besides, it is safer here.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed. She looked down at her hands and then at him. “Why did you agree to the interview, Mihir?”

“Isn’t that what you’ve wanted for the longest?”

“I have, but that wasn’t my question.”

“It was time, Anna. I haven’t spoken to the media in years. However, with the board breathing down my neck, it made sense to do it now. And given that I am in this situation thanks to your gossip column, it made even more sense thatyoudo the interview and put me in a better light. I hope you’re okay to do that.”

“I suppose I am.”

He stared at her. “You know my reasons for agreeing to the interview. I want to know yours, Anna. Why have you agreed to make me look good in Noir? Does this also mean that you’re going to stop publishing gossip about me?”

“I never said that, Oshnov!” Her eyes lit with mischief. “Doing the interview highly benefits Noir… andyou. Writing gossip about you highly benefitsme, because now I know that it irritates you. Don’t worry. I promise not to make it worse for you.”

He looked heavenwards. She was truly impossible.

She looked at him, more seriously this time. “I had asked earlier about your hard limits for the interview. Topics that you don’t want me to venture into. Have you given a thought to that?”

“No hard limits, Anna. Ask whatever you want.”

Her eyes widened, and she blew out a breath. “Whatever I want?”

“Anything. Past, present… whatever. I will answer the best I can.”

“Do you give me your word on that?”

“Yes.”

She studied him carefully. “You know that means I will ask you questions about our past. I won’t print your answers, of course. But I will ask.”

Of course, he’d anticipated that. Finally, he was ready to talk to her about the past. After learning that Ivan had used her then, he needed to know how that had come about. He needed answers from her as well. Besides, his brothers were right. He needed to clarify everything with her before he ended things with her.

“I have just one request,” he said.

Her eyes narrowed. “And what is that?”

“Once we are done, I want you to delete that video you have of me meeting those men.”

“Alright, that I can do. So, when do we start?”

“Tomorrow morning, after breakfast.”

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