Chapter 15
15
The past
M ihir zipped his Ferrari down the busy London roads. Even though it was early in the morning, the traffic was crazy. Luckily, he found a parking spot close to the coffee shop where Anna was waiting for their breakfast date. The last four months with her had been the best time of his life. Apart from the times when either of them had family visiting, they’d been together daily. In fact, Anna stayed at his place several nights a week.
Being with her, laughing with her, listening to her talk, making love to her, had all become the highlight of his days. Anna had intricately woven herself into the very fabric of his being, so much so that living without her was becoming next to impossible.
He hadn’t yet told his family about her. While initially, it was because their relationship had been too new, and then later, he wanted to have her to himself for a while before he got his family involved. His brothers would endlessly hassle him, and his dad would want to do a thorough background check on her. They’d all want to meet her and get to know her. He wanted Anna to himself for a little while longer before his family’s chaos descended upon them. But now, it was time to tell them. It was also time to tell her who he really was. He’d only told her that he was originally from India and that now he had no ties to it. He’d never told her more.
He hadn’t told her that he was an orphan who, by a random stroke of luck, had been adopted by a Russian billionaire. He hadn’t wanted her to think poorly of him. However, now, knowing her as he did, he was certain that Anna wouldn’t judge him. She’d accept him for who he was.
Parking his car, he headed to the café. His face lit up when he saw her seated at their favorite corner, staring into her iPad, her iced coffee and a half-eaten sandwich next to her.
She stood as he neared her and pecked his cheek. “Hey, handsome! You’re late, again.”
“Sorry, got stuck in traffic.” He palmed her cheeks and kissed her smiling mouth. “I missed you last night.”
Her cheeks pinkened prettily, as he wiped the lipstick off the corner of her mouth.
“You do know I have a house of my own and roommates. I have to spend some time in my own home. Besides, it’s hard to take video calls from my family when I’m at yours.”
He made a face.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re so damn stubborn. Why can’t you spend the night at my place?”
“Absolutely not,” Mihir rejected. “Your house is too crowded. And now Zeeshan is also living there with you girls. Seriously, Anna, you’re too kind to your friends. He’s mooching off you, and you let him. Ask him to get a place of his own. And that Devina too. When was the last time she paid you rent? Asha is the only decent friend you have.”
She pushed his hair back from his forehead. God, he loved how she always kept touching him, as if she couldn’t get enough of him. His heart warmed with all her attention; it craved it and her.
“I like how you’re always worrying about me, Mihir. I’ll talk to Devina. She always pays late. As for Zeeshan, he will move out soon enough. He’s just unable to find a place to stay of his own.”
“Really, is that what he tells you? And Devina has enough money to party from nightclub to nightclub. She seems to fall short only when her rent is due.”
He hated how Zeeshan and Devina took advantage of Anna’s generosity.
“Come on, Mihir, relax. They’re both my closest friends. Besides, I have enough money.”
“That is beside the point, Anna. Just because we are blessed with more resources than the others doesn’t mean we take it for granted or let others take us for granted.”
She lowered her chin. “You’re right. I’ll talk to them. But seriously, come live at mine for once. You will get to know everyone better.”
He kissed her wrist, scraping his teeth down her delicate skin. She shivered, exactly as he knew she would.
“My place is better,” he said. “I can have you all to myself there. Also, I don’t want others to hear all those sounds you make when I make love to you. They’re only for my ears.”
She slapped his hand playfully. “Stop teasing me.”
“Stop staying at your place. You belong with me.”
She laughed. “You’re just so… intense.”
“That’s what you like about me.”
“I do.” She sipped her coffee.
“By the way, I called you in the morning. You didn’t answer.”
She nodded. “It was crazy today. I woke up late, and in the rush to get to my Pilates class, I ended up leaving my phone behind. By the time I saw your call, I was already on my way here.”
A waitress brought over his Americano.
“Do you want something to eat?” Anna asked him.
Mihir looked at her plate. “Are you going to finish that?”
She made a face.
“Then no.” He pulled her plate of half-eaten sandwich toward him. “As usual, you end up wasting your food, and I have to finish it for you.”
“Hey, I can’t help that I get full very quickly.”
He shook his head. “I hate it when you waste food, Anna. Do you know how many people don’t get to eat? I can’t keep eating your leftovers.”
“You’re cute, you know.”
“Yeah, that’s what every man wants the girl he likes to tell him.”
She lifted her nose. “Who says I like you?”
“Oh, so you just like my hot body?” He chuckled. “Nice. I knew I was a divine God in bed.”
She slapped his arm playfully, her cheeks pink. “Stop teasing. But seriously, I do like how down-to-earth you are when it concerns your wealth.”
He didn’t reply, simply finished her sandwich in silence. How could he tell her that, at one time, he was the poorest of poor? That until he was eighteen, he was just a destitute orphan from a small town in India? How could he tell this beautiful, cultured, sophisticated woman that he’d fallen for, that at one time, he wasn’t even fit to kiss her feet?
That was one of the reasons he hadn’t told her much about himself. She only knew Armaan’s and Vedant’s names, and so far, she’d seen them only in the few photos he’d shown her on his phone. He hadn’t shared any pictures of Alexander with her. He wasn’t yet ready to answer all the questions that would surely follow once she saw Alexander.
However, to give her credit, Anna didn’t ask him too many questions. She didn’t dig into his past. She seemed happy to be with him, just him. For some strange reason, she had assumed that his family lived on an estate close to London. Of course, they did own an estate in the English countryside. The misunderstanding had arisen when he’d absently used the word ‘estate’ when referring to his home. She’d assumed he was talking about England, and he hadn’t corrected her. But soon, he’d have to tell her everything. He couldn’t keep her in the dark forever. Hopefully, she wouldn’t judge him for his humble beginnings.
He looked up and found her watching him, her face serious.
He raised his brows. “What?”
“My sisters are coming to stay with me when the semester ends,” she said. “They want to meet you.”
“I didn’t know you’d told your family about me…” He gave her a thoughtful look. “See, you do like me.”
She linked his hand with hers. “I like you more than you can imagine. This, you and me, it’s getting serious, isn’t it? It’s suddenly exploded and become so much more than I expected.”
“It’s more than I expected too,” he said softly, his heart clenching. She was more. She was too damn important to him. She was becoming his reason to wake up in the morning. He lived to meet her, to spend time with her, and to see her smiling face.
“Right now, only Navya and Reina know,” she explained. “I haven’t told Rajiv yet. He’s too protective. He’d come running here to see for himself if you were worthy enough to be dating me. And I don’t need him going big brother on me right now. I’ll tell him later. In fact, I was thinking maybe you could come with me to Dubai after we’re done with the finals. I’d like to introduce you to Rajiv and my parents as well.”
Mihir’s heart soared. Meeting her family meant so much. It meant taking their relationship forward by so many steps. And he was ready for it. Anna meant the world to him. He already knew in his heart what he felt for her. He just needed the perfect moment to tell her. Soon. He would tell her everything soon.
He’d heard enough about her family from her. Anna came from a strong, healthy, affluent family in Dubai. It was thanks to her solid upbringing that Anna was this smart, sassy, confident, and bold woman.
“So, will you meet them all?” Anna queried.
“Of course,” Mihir replied. “Let’s plan this properly. I have to tell my brothers about you. I’ll ask them to visit London at the same time as your sisters. We can all meet together. What do you think?”
She beamed. “Perfect. That sounds perfect.”
“And after the finals, we go to Dubai to meet your brother and parents,” he said. “I’ve never been there.”
Her eyes brightened. “Oh my God, you will love it. It’s my favorite city in the whole world.”
“Anna,” he said. “I want you to meet my dad as well. He will adore you.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait.”
Now, he, too, was excited to tell his family about her, to introduce them to her. They would be delighted for him. His father would adore her, he was certain of it.
“Wait, let me tell the plan to my sisters,” she told him.
She immediately began texting her sisters. He knew Anna was very close to her siblings. She’d told him that the girls were actually her cousins via her maternal uncle. That Anna’s family had formally adopted the girls only a few years ago. He also knew that Reina was studying medicine in London, and since her college was a distance away from Anna’s, she lived on her own. Navya, on the other hand, was studying fashion in Edinburgh. Anna constantly complained that she hardly got to spend time with her sisters, and their visits to London were few and far between. Her brother was already heading their family business in Dubai, Poseidon Corp. Mihir knew how much Rajiv loved his sisters, and that Anna doted on him. He liked everything Anna had told him about her brother. Perhaps, one day, Mihir could be friends with him. It would be nice to have more people in his close circle.
“Are you done?” she asked. “I have a class in twenty minutes.”
He stood up. She wound her arm in his as they made their way to his car. “By the way, I have to tell you something. Asha is getting married after the semester ends.”
He paused. “So soon? How come?”
“Her grandmom is unwell, and she wants to see her married. Her parents, too, want them to get married soon, and since Sunil is from London, they’re having the wedding here. There’ll be the wedding plus a few pre-wedding festivities. And Asha’s invited you as well. So, will you come with me?”
“To be honest, I don’t do well in crowds, especially among people I don’t know.”
“You know me,” she said, “and you know my friends. Also, I really want you to come with me.”
He sighed. “Alright then. Guess I’m going to the wedding with you.”
A bright smile lit up her face. Fuck, that smile—he’d do anything for her if she kept smiling like that for him.
The present
Moscow
A knock on his door made him look up. Dmitri, his butler, entered the study.
“She’s here, Mihir,” Dmitri said. “Her car is coming up the driveway.”
His heart leapt in his chest. She was here. Anna was finally here.
“Ask Anton and Lenin never to let her out of their sight, not for a single moment,” Mihir reiterated his instructions. He had two men following her now. “They go where she goes, and ensure another car filled with guards is following her the second she steps out of the estate.”
The older man’s face turned grim. From experience, Mihir gathered that Dmitri had something to say to him, and he wouldn’t shy away from saying it. Mihir watched him take his time as he moved further into the room. The limp in Dmitri’s leg got more pronounced in the Russian winter, but he still followed Mihir to whichever house he decided to live in, be it Dubai, London, or Moscow.
Dmitri came to stand in front of him, still not saying anything.
Mihir looked heavenward. “Come on, just say what you have to say. I haven’t got all day.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Dmitri asked. “It’s her, and she’s always been your weakness.”
“She’s not my weakness.”
“I suppose then you can clear the air with her once and for all,” Dmitri stated.
No one in his staff would ever dare to speak to him so casually, but Dmitri wasn’t just staff anymore. He’d been with Alexander for years and had chosen to continue working with Mihir and his brothers after Alexander had passed. They all trusted him immensely, and they spoke openly in front of him, which meant he was privy to Mihir’s past with Anna.
Mihir shot him an annoyed look. “Can you, for once, mind your own business?”
“That is what I am doing. Caring for you is my business. Your father told me to look out for you all, but especially you. He knew you were sad. Once I learned about her?—”
“—by eavesdropping,” Mihir remarked.
In response, Dmitri only glared at him.
“She’s here to interview me, Dmitri,” Mihir reasoned. “Nothing else. Please, can you wipe that frown from your forehead?”
“Just be careful…” he said. “I don’t want you to get hurt, so for God’s sake, don’t do anything stupid.”
“Stop treating me like a child.”
“Stop acting like one.”
With a last reprimanding look, Dmitri left the study. Mihir huffed, shaking his head, reminding himself that their butler meant well and that he was fond of all of them, especially him.
Mihir walked to the window. This late at night, it was dark outside. Heavy snow blanketed the grounds of his home here in Moscow. It was snowing even now, and despite the closed windows, he could hear the wind howling. December was always too cold here, the weather fiercely unpredictable. It was raining some days, some days it snowed, and once in a while, the sun shone bright. He hoped Anna would adjust to this weather during her short stay here.
A current shot down his nape. He turned, and there she was, her hand raised to knock on his door. The anticipation that had been building in his chest for the last whole week finally settled.
She gave him a tentative smile as she moved toward him. He took her in. Her face had that rosy glow back again. Her gait was normal, with no hint of pain as she moved. She seemed fine, like she had recovered well from that attack. He heaved out a relieved breath. Dressed in black leather pants, a maroon roll-neck sweater, a black trench coat, black ankle boots, and black leather gloves, she was well covered for the weather. With her hair flowing in silky waves down her back, her lips painted nude, and her nose a cute red from the cold, she was absolutely stunning. Beautiful.
His body hardened. Fuck. His body had its own mind when it came to her. She only had to be around him for it to remind him that she was what it wanted. Desperately.
He shut all his scandalous thoughts and focused on her.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hello, Anna,” he replied.
Silence reigned between them as she took her time assessing him. Someone cleared their throat. Mihir looked at Dmitri, who was standing behind Anna. The older man arched a knowing brow at Mihir.
“That will be all,” Mihir told him.
Dmitri turned to leave, but Anna said, “Thank you for showing me in.”
Dmitri gave her a smile, and then faced Mihir. “Behave.”
He looked heavenward.
“Doesn’t he manage your home in Dubai?” Anna asked. “I remember him showing me to the pool at your pool party.”
“He’s our head butler. He chooses to tag along with me, regardless of which home I’m staying in.”
“He’s fond of you?!”
“Why do you sound surprised?”
“You don’t make it easy for anyone to like you.”
“I don’t care about most people.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I trust you had a comfortable journey,” he asked.
She started pulling off her gloves. “Yes, although I don’t get why you insisted on me flying in your airplane. You do know I have my family jets too.”
“Just being cautious,” he said, watching her.
“I got to meet Anton and Lenin on the flight here,” she said. “I could finally thank Anton for coming to my rescue that day.”
“He was doing his job.”
“Still, had Adam and he not intervened in time, that guy could have caused more damage.”
Mihir sighed. Thankfully, that hadn’t happened.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Mihir asked.
Her lips pursed. “Sure, I’ll have what you’re having.”
He moved to the leather bar on the side of his study. “Since when do you have vodka neat?”
“Since when do you know everything about me?” she snapped. Then she shook her head. “Sorry, I promised myself that I’d try and be decent with you, but it’s hard when I’m so mad at you.”
He busied himself pouring the drinks. Anna removed her jacket and went to the fireplace, warming her hands.
Anna and he had a lot of negativity and bad history between them. So, he didn’t blame her for how she felt around him. He had his own qualms about spending time with her, about being close to her. But after her attack, one thing had been intrinsically clear. Even though she had destroyed him, even though at one time the thought of ruining her had kept him going for years, he now knew with absolute certainty that he’d never be able to see her in pain.
And this had nothing to do with their families being related now. This was all him. Because the truth was that, at his core, he still felt strongly for her. Something powerful that time, distance, and his hostility toward her hadn’t been able to change. That was the only reason she still got under his skin. That was the only reason that, despite the several feet of distance between them, his body was tilting toward her, wanting to feel her heat, craving to touch her.
And if she ever learnt that… He sighed. Oh, the power she’d wield over him—the power to hurt him and destroy him again. And that, he could never allow to happen. Hence, he was going to give her the interview she wanted, and then let go of her, once and for all.
He ushered her to the leather sofas in the corner. Handing her the vodka, he raised his glass in a toast. “ Na zdorov’ye . To health.”
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 that you do 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… and you . Writing gossip about you highly benefits me , 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.”
She stood. “Then let’s call it a night.”
He rose as well. “Let me show you to your room.”
Collecting her things, she followed him out of the study. He took her down the corridor lined with paintings of so many famous artists, new and old, watching her eyes light up in appreciation.
“Fuck, this is like a museum,” she said.
Suddenly, she stopped in front of a painting. His heart clenched.
She looked at the artwork and then at him. “ Noir comme la nuit... ”
“You remembered?” he asked.
“I can’t believe you bought it.”
Of course, he had. Years after they’d had their first proper conversation in front of this painting, the artist had put up an auction for some of his works in London. This painting had come up for sale, and he’d bought it on impulse.
He shrugged. “I told you then that I liked it. I still do.”
She stared at the painting. She tilted her head to the right and then to the left. Her face scrunched. “Nope, still don’t like it. His eyes are very creepy. Although, I do agree that the artist is very talented. Pedro Pavlov, right? Why couldn’t he have painted something brighter? Something which means as bright as sunshine.”
He laughed.
She watched him, a smile playing on her lips. “You don’t laugh enough, you know.”
He stilled. He didn’t remember the last time he had laughed with her. It had been so long that he’d forgotten when. Clearing his face, he preceded her up the stairs, allowing her to catch up with him, waiting as she took in everything around her.
When Alexander had brought them here for the first time, Mihir had been in awe of everything. He’d never seen so much opulence and splendor ever in his life. Gold-gilded walls, pure white marble floors with gold lines, chandeliers so huge and shiny that one could see their reflection in the cut glass, and furniture fit for royalty. Everything was larger than life, too much for him to take in. Now, seeing her appreciate the very same house he’d grown up in and fallen in love with felt surreal.
On the first floor, he led her to the right, stopping in front of a room. He opened the double doors and stepped aside, as she walked inside the large suite.
He followed her. “Sorry, I forgot to ask. Do you need anything to eat?”
“I ate on the flight. I’m good, thanks.”
“Nonetheless, if you need anything, just press zero on the landline. Someone will always be there to cater to anything you want.”
She dropped her gloves, purse, and jacket on the sofa and turned to face him. “Thank you, this room is fabulous.”
He looked around. This room was special, and it was fabulous.
A yawn slipped out of her mouth.
“You should rest,” he told her.
With a quick tilt of his head, he walked away from her. Pausing at the door, he turned to look at her. She stood where he’d left her, by the sofa, looking down at nothing in particular, her shoulders slumped, her face looking lost and forlorn.
The urge to go to her and soothe her rammed through his heart. But he held it at bay. This possessive need unfolding inside him to protect her and take care of her would lead to nothing but his doom. Anna had already doomed him once. He’d gotten out of the scenario scarred and a colder, harder version of himself. Her deception had given birth to the dangerous man the world knew him to be.
He couldn’t and wouldn’t allow her to destroy him again. Which meant he had to stay away from her. No matter that his body wanted her with a stunning ferocity that shocked him, he would stay away from her.