Chapter 12
12
M ihir entered his office, angry and irritable. He tossed his car keys on his desk. He’d deliberately gotten into work calls the whole car drive from Poseidon to the tower that housed O-Corp’s offices to keep himself occupied. He stood at his desk, powering up his laptop.
He let out a heavy breath. His mind, however, kept returning to her and the way he had lost control around her , again. Anna knew how to push his buttons, and he’d reacted to her exactly as she’d wanted. She knew how to break his resistance and to rile him up. She knew how to make him forget the world until the only thing on his mind was her.
She’d deliberately provoked him, and instead of walking away, he’d kissed her. He’d ached to do more. If it wasn’t for her phone ringing, he would have buried himself deep inside her wet heat, uncaring of the consequences.
Thank God he’d been interrupted.
He looked outside his window. The sunlight glinted off the mirrored facades of all the skyscrapers adjacent to his. Today’s incident had highlighted a very important fact—that he was unable to control himself around Ananya Mehra. This attraction between Anna and him was off the charts. It smoldered hot despite the time, distance, and all that had transpired in between. He just had to touch her, and the heat turned into an all-out inferno. He’d entered her office, and had wanted to touch her on sight. She’d looked so pretty in that beige dress, her hair loose around her shoulders, his ring dangling on her chest, and her pink lips pouted in irritation.
That instant need to touch her had unsettled him, and instead of the calm discussion he had intended, he’d behaved inexplicably rude with her. Their interaction had been doomed from that moment, and Anna had made it worse.
He could no longer deny that he wanted her. Desperately. Intensely. This desire, this need he felt to claim her, was growing by leaps and bounds, and he was helpless in controlling it. Once again, she was getting under his skin.
It had taken him years, but he’d believed he was over her. Now, despite her betrayal, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
In retrospect, everything would have been different if he hadn’t approached her that day in the art gallery. Had he stayed away then, everything would have been so different now. His mind drifted to the past and to that time long ago, when she had started to mean the world to him.
The past
Eleven pm on a Friday night, Mihir lay on his bed, unable to sleep, counting the hours till he’d meet her again. His first date with Anna had been something else. Of course, she’d chosen the restaurant and had made a huge display of texting her location to her brother. He’d been thoroughly amused and taken in by her. They’d spent long hours together that night, talking, and it had been fantastic. He didn’t remember ever enjoying himself so much with a woman.
After that night, he’d met her daily. They’d take long walks in Hyde Park or sit in cute cafés, talking non-stop.
Anna was delightful. She was naughty, sassy, vivacious, and gave as good as she got. Somewhere deep down, he had always known that she would change the landscape of his heart. That was why he’d hesitated to pursue her prior to this. She was special. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and kindness. She was effortlessly graceful, confident, and so damn bold. It had only been a week since they’d started dating, and she’d captivated him completely.
Tonight was the first time in a week that he hadn’t met her or even seen her in college. He knew she had classes at all odd times today, and he knew that she was going out with some friends to a nightclub. She’d asked him to join so she could introduce him to her friends. But he’d refused. Already, he felt that things were moving too fast between them. They were anyway scheduled to meet tomorrow. Perhaps a day away from her would clear his mind from the spell she’d woven around him. Perhaps then, this strange new ache he felt in his heart would settle down or even go away.
However, now, alone in his house with nothing to do but think about her, the ache in his heart felt even more persistent, and he realized how foolish he’d been. He was sulking at home all by himself, feeling lonely, when he could have been out spending time with Anna. Fuck, he was an idiot.
He sent her a text.
Hello, Anna
He waited for a reply but it didn’t come. Disappointed, he’d just put his phone down when it beeped. His heart soared.
Hello, Mihir. Are you missing me?
He chuckled.
What if I am?
Come meet me. I’m at Luxe.
Ugh! I don’t do nightclubs
Are you like 70? Just come. I’ll put your name on the guest list
Don’t. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Suit yourself. You don’t know what you’re missing.
Assuming the conversation was done, he put his phone down. It beeped again. His eyes widened when he saw the selfie she’d sent him. His heart flipped. Holy hell. Dressed in a strappy silver dress, her eyes smoky, her hair flowing loose, and her lips painted a bold red, she was absolutely stunning.
He shot out of his bed. God, he was behaving like a fucking idiot again.
Half an hour later, he was outside the nightclub. He grimaced at the long queue of people waiting to get inside. Mihir knew this place. Armaan insisted on coming here whenever he was in town. And while Mihir didn’t like to use the influence of his name, tonight, he had no choice. He called the manager, and within seconds, he was ushered inside.
Loud, thumping music hit his ears as he entered the club. Flashing strobe lights sliced through the smoky air. And the people. God, there were so many of them — moving, talking, dancing. It was a sensory overload. His eyes searched the crowd for her, pausing and moving past every woman in sight. His heart squeezed when he looked at the dance floor, and there she was.
Anna was dancing with a guy. His hands were on her waist, while her hands rested on his shoulders. Jealousy, swift and sharp, cut through him. He had an inexplicable urge to leave. Perhaps, he had misjudged what she felt for him.
The guy whispered something in her ear, and the two of them moved to a side corridor. Mihir watched them from a distance, his entire focus on her. The man said something, and Anna turned away from him. He caught her arm, pulling her closer. Her face contorted with anger as the two of them began to argue. Mihir rushed to her.
She moved out of that man’s hold. The next time the man reached for her, Mihir caught his hand and twisted his arm.
“Touch her again, and you will die,” Mihir said aloud.
The man recoiled. His face contorted in pain when Mihir twisted his arm some more.
Anna stepped in front of Mihir and put a hand on his chest. “Alright, Mr. Intense. Take it down a notch.”
“No. He was harassing you.” Mihir’s vision was still tinged red. “I didn’t like the way he was touching you.”
“Touching her?!” the guy in front of him said. “Will you, like, chill out, dude? I’m not into women. You seem more my type.”
Anna gently pushed at Mihir’s chest. “He’s my friend. We were arguing, that’s all.”
Mihir finally looked at the man properly. He was smiling a little too much and looked a little too sneaky. Very reluctantly, he released him.
“I will talk to you later, Zeeshan,” Anna said coldly.
“Fine, I’ll dip from here,” he said. “But will you be fine with him?”
Anna lowered her chin in a nod. The man, Zeeshan, looked between the two of them and backed away.
“What the fuck is dip?” Mihir asked her.
“It’s new age lingo. It means he’s leaving.” She looked at Mihir, her eyes bright. “You came?”
“What was all that about with him?” Mihir asked her instead. “You looked mad.”
Her face scrunched. “He was behaving like a dickhead. He was insisting on going to another party, and I didn’t want to go.”
“Why?”
She studied him. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
He arched a brow.
She shook her head. “He was forcing me to go to this other party, and I don’t like going to random scenes where I don’t know anyone. I never go, and hence, many times, he doesn’t either because of me. So tonight, we just ended up fighting about it. He thinks I don’t live wildly enough.”
“Always follow your instincts, Anna,” Mihir said. “If you don’t want to go somewhere, then don’t. Fuck him.”
“He’s a good friend, really,” she said. “Just that he likes to party differently from me.”
“Where are your other friends? Or were you alone with him?”
“No, Asha is here with Sunil—her fiancé—and Devina’s at that same party that Zeeshan wanted to go to. But enough of them.” She beamed at Mihir. “You’re here, and that’s what matters. I’m so happy you came.”
The music changed, and the song ‘ Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night’ began to play.
“I love this song,” Anna said. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“Uh, I don’t dance.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “You don’t like to dance, or you don’t know how to dance?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Both.”
“Then you’re in luck, mister,” she said. “Because I am a good teacher. Come with me.”
When he stayed in place, she tugged at his arm. When he still didn’t budge, she smiled at him and offered him her hand. He stared at it for a long moment before placing his hand in hers. A rush of electricity flowed through him. Her red lips curved in delight.
Taking his hand, she began to pull him to the floor. Once there, she put both his hands on her waist and wound her arms around his shoulders, before she began to sway to the music.
He stood stiffly in front of her, not moving at all. This was stupid. He didn’t know what to do. Growing up in an orphanage, they hadn’t had the opportunity to attend parties and dance like all these trendy people here. And later, after Alexander had adopted them, he’d attended several parties, but he’d always been too conscious. He had stood at the side while his brothers danced with the women.
Anna leaned closer and spoke into his ear, “Shut your eyes and listen to the music.” She placed a hand on his chest, right above his heart. “Feel it here, lose yourself in it, and then let go.”
He stared at her.
“Try it,” she pressed. “I promise you will love it.”
Sighing, he did as she told. Shutting his eyes, he exhaled. He listened to the music, the lyrics of the song. For all we know, we might not have tomorrow…
He felt his lips curve. The music increased in tempo. His heart tuned to it. He opened his eyes. Saw her beautiful smile. She tipped her head to the mirror above the bar. He looked to where she was pointing. Found their reflections in it. The two of them were moving together, dancing. And they looked beautiful.
He focused on her. She was watching him with an intensity that mirrored what he felt inside his heart. One song melded to the next, but her eyes remained on his. Something hot and heavy began to flare around them. He knew what it was, felt the beat of it pulse beneath his skin. He wanted her.
His eyes took her in, coasting over her face, down the graceful column of her throat, her bare shoulders and arms, and her long legs encased in thigh-high boots. Her silver dress moved prettily as she swayed. So sexy.
Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled, showing him that she knew he was watching her, and that she liked it. Her hand caressed his face, and then she took her time assessing him. His blood heated at her appraisal.
“Nice jacket,” she said blandly. Her eyes, however, told him she found more about him that was nicer.
“Nice dress,” he said.
She leaned closer to whisper in his ear. “The dress maybe nice. I, however, am not nice. I’m very, very bad.”
He laughed. She was too damn much.
“I like your laugh,” she said, touching a corner of his lips.
“Your mouth will get you into trouble, Anna.”
“Maybe trouble is what I am looking for, with you.”
Desire pulsated between them. His hands tightened around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Anna’s warm body pulled flush to his. Her scent washed over him. She scraped a hand down his chest. This close, her head barely reached the top of his chin. Her face lifted up. His own dropped down. Her mouth brushed against his. His lips parted on a gasp. Using his shock as an excuse, she surged inside his mouth, licking his tongue in bold strokes.
His mind blanked. Fire raged under his skin. His hands fisted in her soft hair, holding her in place as he proceeded to ravage her mouth for the first time. She tasted of mint and lime. Delicious. He continued to savor her taste, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.
Reluctantly, he released her. He stared into her eyes. “Come home with me.”
She lifted her jaw. “Okay.”
“Just remember, Anna, this is not a one-night stand,” he warned her. “If we do this, then you become mine.”
She brushed her mouth against his, bold as ever, making his head spin and his heart quake.
“Just remember, Mihir, if you do this, then you become mine as well. Are we clear?”
He laughed. Damn, he loved her sass. Taking his hand, she led him to where her friend Asha was dancing with her fiancé. Anna quickly introduced them and told her friend she was leaving with Mihir. He rushed her out of the nightclub and into his Ferrari.
He’d never brought a girl home before, but with her, this right now felt perfect. It felt like forever.
The present
That night was the first time he’d made her his. That night was the night Anna ruined him for every other woman.
His phone rang, shaking him out of his thoughts.
“ Da ?” he answered in Russian.
“Sir, Andres is on the call,” Chekov said. “He has news about Paul.”
“Put him through.”
A pause later, Andres’ voice filtered through the line. “Mr. Oshnov, good afternoon. How are you?”
“Get to the point Andres. I don’t have time.”
“Paul is in Dubai,” Andres said, his words measured. “My associates just messaged me, and I called Chekov immediately. I’ve texted him Paul’s location.”
“Good, is that all?”
“Mr. Oshnov, I hope my family’s debt to you stands paid now that I have given you info on Paul.”
“Your debt will be considered paid when Paul is in my custody,” Mihir said. “Chekov will find him.”
He disconnected the line and immediately focused on his emails. He had too much on his plate to lose focus.
A few minutes later, Chekov called again.
“Now, what?” Mihir asked.
“Sir, there’s a problem,” Chekov’s voice sounded strained. “It’s Miss Ananya.”
His stomach swooped. “What about her?”
“She was stabbed in the chest.”
The blood in his veins froze.
“Is she… Tell me she lives,” Mihir choked out.
“Yes. She’s been rushed to the hospital,” Chekov said. “Anton caught the man. He was Paul’s guy.”
His vision turned red. Paul had hurt Anna. If something happened to her…
So many horrific scenarios flashed through his mind. She’d be fine. He’d ensure it.
“When did this happen?” Mihir asked.
“About half an hour ago,” Chekov replied. “Anton couldn’t call earlier. He’s taken the man to the warehouse.”
“You have Paul’s location. I want him found and brought there,” Mihir ordered. “No mistakes, Chekov.”
Rajiv’s call buzzed in between. Mihir disconnected Chekov and answered Rajiv.
“I know, Rajiv, I know,” Mihir said before his friend said a word. “How is she?”
“I’m with her. She’s in surgery.”
“Fuck, what do the doctors say?”
“I don’t know yet…” Rajiv sighed. “I’m scared. That man got to her in broad daylight.”
“I’m so sorry. I…” Mihir was at a complete loss for words. “Which hospital have you taken her to?”
Rajiv rattled the name of a top hospital.
“I’ll be there soon,” he said, getting up to leave.
“I need you to find out who tried to hurt my sister, and I need you to make him pay for it. Promise me that you’ll do that. She was… is innocent in whatever war you have going on. She didn’t deserve this, Mihir.”
Mihir swallowed thickly. Anna was hurt because of him and Rajiv was too kind to not say it out loud.
“I will.”
“I’ve got to go now…” Rajiv sighed. “You’re coming?”
“I’m on the way,” Mihir replied, disconnecting the line.
He took the elevator back to the basement, signaling Chekov on the way. His bodyguard joined him in the elevator. Just as he was seated in the car, his brothers pulled him in on a conference call.
“We heard,” Armaan said. “I’m on the way to the hospital. Navya is panicking.”
“So is Reina,” Vedant said. “I’m reaching there too. We need to talk, Mihir.”
“And we will. Let’s talk in the hospital. Right now, I need time to think.”
Mihir disconnected the line and pressed his foot on the accelerator. Fear had settled like a roiling ball in his stomach. He needed to get to the hospital and see for himself how Anna was. She had to be fine. She would live. Anna was a fighter. She was tough. He couldn’t perceive a world where she didn’t exist.