Page 24

The next morning I was impatient to get out of bed and begin getting ready for the day.

I wore my usual short dress with black stockings and stilettos, pulling an icy grey fur coat on.

My light hair remained down and tucked behind my ears to emphasize my face covered in minimal makeup.

I blinked a few times, suddenly recalling everything that happened yesterday.

Specifically, me stumbling out of the car.

I physically grimaced.

Especially when I thought back to that dressing room.

Which was enough to make me awkwardly squirm, correcting my posture as I pushed the thoughts away.

But even with them gone, I found myself squeezing my thighs together, digging my short manicured nails into the marble bathroom counter under my hands.

"Blyat," I breathed out, shaking my head as I unhanded the counter and took a firm step back.

I walked back into my room almost stiffly, grabbing my phone that I inevitably checked.

For the tenth time this morning.

Still no new notifications.

Or specifically, a text from her.

I clenched my jaw, hating how desperate I suddenly felt.

This, I won't stand for.

I need to handle numerous business affairs today, and I can't have her taking up even a fucking inch in my head.

A deep sigh fell from my lips, slipping my phone into the pocket of my fur coat as I backed out of my room.

My girls greeted me almost as soon as I exited my room, approaching me after two snaps.

I leaned down, petting them and scratching behind their ears as they eagerly licked me.

Until I rose up to my full height, causing them both to immediately follow behind me.

I headed downstairs to the dining room that my dogs sat outside of, noticing Nikolai and Ivan already seated at the table with Yuri and Arina.

"Good morning, Via," Yury spoke first with his normal soft smile.

I nodded in response, "Good morning," I said, eyeing Arina who didn't bother to lift her eyes away from her plate as she continued eating.

"You have board meeting today," Nikolai reminded me as I sat down in my usual chair, "Ivo and I go handle other business," he vaguely specified with the other people seated at our table.

I nodded once, "Da," I mumbled, picking up the glass of water to take a sip.

"Arina has been doing very well at the library," Yury told me, naturally earning a narrowed look from his granddaughter, "Her studies are going smoothly too."

I hummed, setting down my glass, "That's good," I said, glancing over to Arina, "Good for you," I said attempting to be... nice.

Which only earned a half shrug from Arina.

Better than an eye roll.

I let out a soft sigh, motioning the server nearby over to make my plate.

Which I barely even touched considering my nonexistent appetite.

But I managed to eat as much as I could stomach before heading off to this board meeting.

Arina and Yury left around the same time for school—along with Nikolai and Ivan who had other business to handle today.

The familiar skyscraper nearly gleamed under any shred of sun as people entered in or exited out of the building.

My men escorted me in as usual past the lobby where the assistants always recognized me.

There were numerous people waiting by the elevator, but as soon as one dinged open, my men secured it only for me.

I rode the elevator up to the highest floor with only my men by my sides, stepping off when the shiny doors dinged open.

The hallways lingered with different people, who naturally stared at me as I walked past—heading into the conference room.

Where people already sat around the large table but left one specific spot open for me.

"Koslov," one of the brunette men spoke, earning a nod from me.

I never bothered to learn their names—I have far too many companies to keep up with.

Except for one.

The CEO I always make sure to remember.

"Dima," I said as I sat down in my usual chair, crossing my leg over the other.

"Ah Koslov," Dima said, glancing away from the projector he was setting up, "How are you?"

I nodded once, "Well," I said, glancing away from him as I eyed the packet already laid out on the table in front of me.

"That's good to hear," Dima said as I continued reading over the packet.

And soon the meeting began—with various talking points and presentations.

But I just couldn't get out of my fucking head.

The one person that wasn't supposed to take up space in my thoughts somehow found a fucking way.

And all I could think about was her pressed against my body—her warm mouth touching every inch of me.

My imagination took me past what happened in that dressing room, now imagining her trailing lower.

Touching me lower.

But that's nothing I can't do for myself.

But would she feel different inside of me?

Hit certain spots or grip me so fucking roughly in place that it was enough to make me get off.

I suddenly cleared my throat, blinking a few times when everyone at the long conference table glanced to me.

Which made me quickly shake my head at my previous thoughts.

"Continue," I forced out, eyeing the person who had previously been talking.

And almost immediately, they picked back up where they had left off.

This time, I had to force myself to remain present in the moment and not drift away to my annoying fucking thoughts.

But it was almost like flashes.

I would get nothing but flashes of her that I couldn't control.

Being out of control is something I despise.

And something I dealt with all fucking day.

I even found myself checking my phone against my thoughts screaming at me to stop.

But I am not desperate.

I'm not.

I just...

I'm curious if she'll text first.

It's a game.

That's all.

And I know she wants to text me first.

So I focused as best as I could on the meeting.

And when I was done and back in my chauffeured car, I took a Xanax, smoothing out my nerves as I stayed busy on my phone.

The rest of my business errands had blurred past me, submerging myself in anything aside from Sevan.

But once I was back at my compound that evening, eating dinner almost vengefully—the thoughts came at me tenfold.

I tuned out Nikolai discussing the latest model he's interested in—along with Ivan who remained completely silent.

But still analyzed me, picking up on my silence.

Or how I was noticeably lost in my thoughts.

"Via."

I suddenly glanced over to Yury who had joined us with Arina around thirty minutes into dinner.

"Da," I mumbled, suddenly picking up my glass of vodka for a sip.

Yury tilted his head with a confused smile, "I ask how your day was," he explained as Arina openly stared at me for once.

Which left me feeling like a fucking animal in a zoo, noticing them all looking at me.

"Tiring," I said, suddenly standing from my chair as I grabbed my glass of water to take a brief sip of, "I go to bed early," I determined, setting the glass of water down on the table beside my half-finished vodka.

"Have sweet dreams," Nikolai said as he chewed his food.

Yury nodded, "You get plenty of rest going to bed early too," he said as I backed away from the table.

I nodded once in acknowledgment of both statements, walking out of the dining room before any of them could say anything.

My heels clicked precisely under me, nearly ticking my nerves off even more.

I feel so fucking overstimulated—and for what?

I'm so mad at Sevan, words can't even fucking explain it.

"Via," I heard her familiar voice say, naturally making me turn around.

To Arina who had followed me out.

Great.

"Where's your friend?" Arina asked as soon as she captured my attention.

I raised a brow at the word, "Friend?" I emphasized, knowing not a lot of people surpassed to that label.

"The one you share dinner with," Arina clarified, tilting her head at me, "Sevan her name was."

I narrowed my eyes at her, already hating hearing her name aloud, "Out of town," I mumbled.

Arina's brows raised, her lips twitching up slightly, "I see," she whispered under her breath.

Which made my stare narrow even further, "You see?" I repeated back to her for clarification.

Arina hummed, her smile growing as she leaned into me and whispered—

"You miss her."

My brows immediately raised, scoffing in offense.

"Out of everything you say to me, that has to be most offensive Arina," I said, feeling my jaw tighten in disapproval.

Arina's smile only grew, "Vau, you really miss her," she mumbled, giggling when I rolled my eyes.

Which I oddly wanted to smile at the sound of.

I've never heard Arina laugh before.

The sound was soft and bubbly—almost contagious enough to make me want to laugh with her.

But I quickly refrained, needing to shut her observations down immediately.

"I don't—we work together, that would be weird," I said, keeping my voice serious, even if Arina only smiled wider.

But no one can know or assume anything of the sort.

Not even Arina.

"I go to sleep," I suddenly said, turning away from her before she had a chance to accuse me of anything else.

"Have the sweetest dreams of her," she purposely emphasized, which furthered the irritation I was already harboring.

It took everything in me not to turn back around and argue with her.

Instead, I headed up to my room, immediately stripping out of my clothes to take the coldest fucking shower of my life.

Especially after only thinking about one thing—one person, all day.

My brain was beyond exhausted and my body felt sensitive to the touch.

The shower seemed to work—along with a glass of vodka that I didn't chase with water for once.

I only brushed out my damp hair and pulled on my silky robe before finishing my nighttime routine.

Once my skincare was done and my teeth were brushed, I slid into bed.

And I felt tired.

But I also felt this ache between my thighs that just would not fucking go away.

I tried to fall asleep.

For over thirty minutes I argued with my internal thoughts.

Until I eventually let out the longest irritated sigh of my life, turning on my back as I slid my hand between my legs.

And somehow I was already more than wet.

So I started with tracing my slick folds, randomly applying pressure to my clit.

Until naturally my legs widened for more.

So I began flicking my clit, arching up into my touch which somehow electrified it.

But it wasn't enough.

I needed more.

And I needed her to feel just as frustrated as I had previously felt.

It's only fair.

So I grabbed my phone with my free hand, navigating to her contact even if half of me screamed not to.

She was supposed to text first.

Yet here I am... calling her.

"Sevan," I sighed out in irritation, hating that she even answered my call.

Now I'm regretting this.

"Zinovia," her raspy voice filled my ears.

Except she sounded tired, and so fucking attractive.

It made the wetness between my thighs grow as I continued rubbing my clit.

"Keep talking," I breathed out, quickening my pace against myself.

"Keep talking?" Sevan emphasized my previous words, "That's a first from you baby," she said, which naturally made a whine vibrate in my throat—suddenly so fucking turned on by the pet name.

"Call me baby again Sevan," I said, my breathless words sounding more like a threat than a desire.

I heard her hum, the line remaining silent for a moment.

Which quickly made me grow impatient and irritated.

Until she suddenly said—

"Slide two fingers into yourself for me baby."

I let out a content hum, immediately trailing my fingers down to my entrance.

That I immediately slid them past, thrusting into myself and making a moan fall from my lips.

"Deeper, Zinovia," I heard her say.

Which naturally made me sink as deeply as possible into myself—growing knuckles deep as I moaned even deeper.

"There you go," Sevan said, and with my eyes closed I swear it was like she was right here with me, "Go slow baby."

I hummed breathlessly in acknowledgment, slowly sliding in and out of myself.

"How wet are you for me?" Sevan suddenly murmured as my body began tensing and un-tensing with pleasure.

"Blyat," I breathed out, moaning even deeper as I continued my slow steady pace.

"That's not an answer, Zinovia," Sevan said, her tone more firm with me.

Which naturally made my jaw tighten, breathing so fucking heavily as I continued fucking myself.

"Dripping," I finally breathed out, moaning when I slid back inside myself.

"Good," Sevan said in approval, "Go faster for me."

I furrowed my brows as soon as my pace unconsciously quickened, feeling my legs immediately tighten.

My moans grew more uncontrollable, echoing around me as I chased the one thing I needed.

"Curl your fingers baby," Sevan instructed, and I immediately listened, curling directly into my g-spot.

Which naturally made a drawn-out moan bubble in the back of my throat, nearly panting with each breath.

"Good girl," Sevan murmured in approval, listening as I came undone by my touch and her voice alone.

"Blyat," I forced out, arching even more into my fingers, "Sevan."

I heard her hum in approval, "Do it for me baby—you got it," she encouraged me as I continued my quick pace.

But it was her words that made me grow so tight around my fingers, which I curled again into my spot that I hit just right.

It was a spot that I hit repeatedly, moaning over and over again as I basked in how good it felt.

Until finally—

My orgasm washed over me.

It was a bundle that made my entire body tense up as strings of moans and whimpers fell from my lips.

Until I eventually grew limp with a deep sigh, desperately trying to gain control of my breathing again.

"That's what you miss out on..." I trailed off, drawing in a deeper breath and letting it out, "When you leave town," I finished my statement.

"You know I have business to handle, Zinovia," Sevan said in response.

I hummed, keeping my eyes closed as I settled deeper in my bed, "I know," I mumbled.

"Then why the fuck are you doing this to me right now?" Sevan said, clearly very frustrated by this phone call.

Good.

"You feel how I feel now," I briefly explained, smiling contently when I felt a tiredness seep in around me.

Especially with the line remaining silent for a moment.

Until eventually Sevan said—

"Tell me about your day."

I lazily raised my brows, "Long," I mumbled.

Sevan hummed in response, "I agree," she said.

Which naturally made my eyes flutter open, suddenly feeling curious, "Where are you?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Hong Kong," Sevan immediately said, "And it's three in the morning here."

I pursed my lips, "Good, I interrupt your sleep," I determined.

Which earned a soft chuckle from Sevan, weirdly making my heart speed up in my chest.

It must be the Xanax or vodka—or both.

"Sure Zinovia, if that was the only point of calling me," Sevan said, her tone entirely unserious.

I rolled my eyes, "What business is in Hong Kong?" I said, deciding to avoid the specific topic of why I called her.

"Check-ins baby," Sevan sighed, "I leave for Italy in two days, then the U.S, and so forth."

I felt my brows naturally raise, "You do this often?" I said, realizing how much work that is.

Jet lag is already a bitch.

Imagine flying so frequently between countries.

"Once a year," Sevan explained to me, "But the executioners drop in a few times a year—they focus on their assigned sections."

I hummed, "Still a lot," I mumbled, closing my eyes again, "They put on show whenever you come," I added, knowing these syndicates could do whatever in their free time.

"There's still people under the executioners—they keep an eye on everything for us," Sevan explained as I grew more comfortable in my bed.

I could barely form a response, I only hummed again—this one more softer than the last.

"Get some sleep, Zinovia," Sevan suddenly said.

"Da," I whispered, leaning the phone away from my ear when the call ended.

And I didn't bother putting my phone on the charger—instead, I sunk even deeper into my bed with the covers tugged over me.

Now I can truly sleep.