Chapter 12 - Pippa
I still can't wrap my head around it: Anoushka, the vivacious woman sitting beside me, is Lev's sister. The car glides smoothly along the city streets, and I can't help but blurt out my thoughts. "I had no idea Lev even had a sister!"
Anoushka lets out a light laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes, it seems my dear brother has been keeping secrets. Like you, for example. I must admit, I was surprised when I heard the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Why yes. Word spreads fast around our compounds, and some of his kitchen staff told mine that he’s been taken smitten by his captive. Perhaps you don’t know, but he’s made sure everyone knows that you must be catered to with the highest of service.”
“Really?” I ask, amused.
Anoushka nods furiously.
“And,” she changes the gears to the car. “My brothers have been saying he’s been spending less time at work. We realized it’s to spend more time with you! While he’s been trailing you, we’ve been trailing him, and we couldn’t be happier that he’s finally becoming a little more serious about life. Especially a woman.”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s that,” I blush, afraid Anoushka might be getting ahead of herself.
“He's always been a bit of a ladies' man, you know. I’m telling you, he’s acting different around you. Earlier, it was always some supermodel or C-list shallow actress every other weekend. He hardly went on a second date with the same person. It was a different girl every night. But now, he hasn’t been on the dating scene since you came into his life, that is."
"Are you serious?" I try to hide my surprise, but the thought of the brooding, intense Lev being a womanizer doesn't quite compute.
"Absolutely," she confirms with a nod. "And yet, here he is, housing you and spending all this time with you. It's like you've got him wrapped around your finger, Pippa."
My cheeks burn at her comment, and I quickly look away from her penetrating gaze. "I don't think that's true," I mumble, though a tiny part of me wonders if she's right.
"Maybe not," Anoushka acquiesces, her sly grin betraying her disbelief. "But it sure looks that way to me."
Before I have a chance to respond, she suddenly changes gears, excitement lighting up her face. "You know what we should do, Pippa? Let's skip the coffee and go shopping! Just us girls."
"Shopping?" I repeat, hesitating. My heart races at the prospect—I'm not exactly a fashionista.
Anoushka sees my reluctance and waves it off. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Trust me, I have an eye for these things. And besides, when was the last time you treated yourself?"
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and despite my initial protests, I find myself agreeing to go along with her plan. Besides, it’ll help me bond with her.
"Alright," I finally say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "Let's do it."
***
The moment we step into the high-end boutique, surrounded by Anoushka’s armed guards, Anoushka's enthusiasm is palpable. She immediately starts pulling garments off the racks, assessing each with a critical eye before adding them to an ever-growing pile in my arms. I can't help but feel out of place in this fancy store.
"Try this on!" Anoushka exclaims, holding up a slinky red, full-sleeved dress that looks like it was designed for someone much taller and slimmer than me. "It'll look stunning on you; I just know it."
I raise an eyebrow, unconvinced, but she shoves the dress into my arms before I have a chance to protest. "Anoushka, I don't think—"
"Trust me," she interrupts with a wink. "Now go try these on, and I'll find some more options."
I do as she says. The tight fabric clings to every curve of my body, making me feel exposed. As I step out of the fitting room, Anoushka's eyes light up.
"See? I told you it would look amazing!" she gushes, circling me like an excited puppy. "You just needed a little push outside your comfort zone."
"Really?" I ask skeptically, tugging at the hem of the dress. "I feel… I don't know, like I'm trying too hard."
"Absolutely not," Anoushka insists, her hands on her hips. "You're beautiful, Pippa, and you deserve to wear clothes that make you feel confident and sexy."
Her words catch me by surprise, and I find myself blushing at the sincerity in her voice. As much as I try to dismiss her compliment, a tiny part of me is thrilled at the thought that someone like Anoushka thinks I'm beautiful.
"Here," she says, handing me another outfit—a form-fitting black jumpsuit with a peplum faux skirt with a daringly low neckline. "Try this one on next. I think you'll love it."
And so we continue, with Anoushka encouraging me to try on more and more daring outfits while offering a running commentary of praise and support. Each time I step out of the dressing room, her excitement is infectious, and I can't help but feel a little more confident in my own skin.
"Last one," she promises, handing me a playful printed A-line dress that hugs my curves in all the right places, turning into a skater skirt from the waist. "You're going to knock Lev's socks off when he sees you in this."
"Anoushka!" I gasp, feeling heat rush to my cheeks at the implication. But as I slip into the dress and admire myself in the mirror, I can't deny the electric thrill that runs through me at the thought of Lev's reaction.
"Alright," I concede as I step out of the dressing room, meeting Anoushka's approving gaze. "I guess I do feel pretty amazing in these clothes."
"Of course you do," she replies, beaming at me. "Now let's go buy everything and make sure Lev knows exactly what he's got."
I laugh, shaking my head even as my heart flutters in my chest. Maybe there's something to be said for stepping outside of my comfort zone after all.
***
Afterward we sit down in a cozy café, sipping on our drinks after the whirlwind shopping spree. I find myself opening up to Anoushka in a way I never thought possible. She's warm, engaging, and genuinely interested in my life. Sharing stories from our past, we laugh over our mischievous childhood antics and commiserate about the struggles of growing up.
"Lev used to sneak into my room and steal my dolls just to get a rise out of me," Anoushka confides with a grin. "He always had a knack for testing boundaries, even back then."
I giggle, imagining a young Lev causing mischief. "Growing up, it was just me and my mom. We didn't have much, but she did her best to make sure I was happy. She'd take me out for ice cream, and we'd spend hours talking and laughing. Those were some of my favorite moments."
“Where is she now?” Anoushka asks curiously.
“She died,” I shrug. “Cancer.”
“Oh no,” Anoushka gasps, reaching out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was hard at first, being alone. But now, I’ve got it covered,” I tell her.
“And now, you have us,” she whispers.
"I guess I do," I reply hesitantly, surprising myself with the ease of my agreement. Maybe it's the bond we've formed today, or maybe it's the hope that someone as kind and genuine as Anoushka wouldn't steer me wrong.
We lose track of time as we continue to share stories, laughter bubbling between us like a newfound secret language. By the time we decide to head home, the sun has dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the city.
***
Anoushka drops me home and drives off from the driveway itself. I open the door to Lev’s house and I'm met with Lev's stormy gaze, his jaw clenched tightly as he glowers at us.
"Where the hell have you been?" he snaps. His voice is a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.
"Lev, we were just shopping!" I say, taken aback by his anger.
"Without telling me?" Lev scoffs, his eyes narrowing as they sweep over the shopping bags in my hands. "And you didn't answer any of my calls. Neither did Anoushka. I was worried sick!"
"Lev, I didn't realize my phone was on silent. I'm sorry," I say quickly, hoping to defuse the situation. His annoyance is palpable, and I can't help but feel a sudden sense of guilt for not keeping him in the loop.
"Whatever," he grumbles, turning away from me and stalking off toward the stairway.
"Wait, Lev," I call out after him, determined not to let things end on a sour note. He pauses and turns back to face me. "Look at what Anoushka picked out for me. She has excellent taste."
I reach into one of the shopping bags, pulling out a stunning red dress that clings to every curve. The fabric is soft and silky beneath my fingertips, and I can't help but feel a thrill at the thought of wearing it. As I hold it up against my body, I notice Lev's gaze lingering on the way it falls over my figure, his eyes darkening with something akin to desire.
"Nice," he says, his voice rough and low, sending shivers down my spine. "What else did you get?"
“Come, I’ll show you in my room. I need to put these things away anyway.”
In my bedroom, feeling emboldened by his reaction, I dig deeper into the bag, revealing a sinfully sexy set of black lace lingerie. My cheeks heat at the thought of wearing such an intimate piece of clothing, but the way Lev's eyes devour the sight stokes the fire inside me.
His breath catches as he takes in the delicate lace, and I can see the muscles in his jaw tense as he visibly struggles to maintain control. It's exhilarating to know that I have this power over him—the ability to make the formidable Lev Zolotov lose his composure.
"Anoushka insisted," I say softly, my voice teasing even as my heart races in my chest. "She said it would be good for my confidence."
"Is that so?" Lev murmurs, taking a step closer. His proximity is intoxicating, and I find myself swaying toward him, drawn in by the magnetic pull of his presence. "Well, she might be onto something."
"Lev," I breathe, feeling the warmth of his body so close to mine as if it's calling out to me. Our eyes lock, and the air between us crackles with an electric charge that sends my pulse racing.
"Tell me, Pippa," he whispers, his breath ghosting over my cheek as he leans in closer, "do you feel more confident now?"
My throat feels dry, but I manage to choke out a response. "I… I think so."
"Good," he says, his voice husky and laden with promise. "Because I want you to know how incredibly sexy you are."
The intensity of his words leaves me breathless, my body responding to the desire in his voice with an excruciating ache for more.
With that, he leaves a trail of kisses from my ear, down my cheek, to my lips. I moan as his lips graze my skin. I inch my body closer to his, wanting more, and bite his lower lip. He groans, and I reach for his shirt, ready to unbutton the top one, when he pulls away.
And just as quickly as the moment began, Lev pulls away, leaving me reeling from the sudden loss of contact.
“Lev,” I moan, trying to get him to touch me again.
“It’s been a long day. You must be tired,” he says.
With that, he leaves, shutting the door firmly behind him. I'm left standing there, the heat of his gaze still burning into me and the undeniable tension between us lingering in the air.
A lump forms in my throat.
How can he affect me like this and still keep me at arm's length? The uncertainty gnaws at me, making me question whether I'm misunderstanding the situation. Anoushka’s words come back to mind. He’s dated supermodels and actresses. He used to have a different woman on his arm every night.
Maybe… maybe he misses that. The beautiful, tall, thin girls. Maybe he’s just not that into me.
Yet, at the same time, Lev's words and actions echo in my mind, making me feel both desired and confused. How can he find me sexy yet continue to hold himself back?
Tears pool in my eyes as I reach a conclusion. Maybe he doesn’t give himself to me wholly because he thinks I’m sexy, but not sexy enough. Not like the girls he used to date.