Page 26

"Send his head to his partner," I told one of my men as I stood by the chauffeured car where my driver held the door open for me.

"We kill his partner too, Koslov?" one of my men asked.

I immediately shook my head, sliding down into the Maybach, "Keep him alive—he goes insane eventually," I said, settling in my seat as my driver closed the door.

I let out a deep content sigh, rolling my shoulders back as I grabbed the pill container in the cupholder.

And as I swallowed the white pill with water, the car slowly rolled forward to drive back to my compound.

I had spent all day handling various business matters, and I could finally fucking relax.

Well, not really given Sevan still hasn't texted.

And I refuse to text her.

She gave me a gift, da, but I want a text instead.

I want her attention.

So I refused to text her or even acknowledge the gift delivered yesterday.

I hope my actions weigh her head down, wondering what I'm thinking.

I want her to go fucking insane.

Simple.

Why is she complicating it?

I suddenly glanced over when the back door opened, realizing we had already made it back to my compound.

And I had zoned out the entire car ride.

Something that's typical with my thoughts naturally drifting elsewhere.

I let out a deep sigh, sliding out of the car past my driver to head up the short set of stairs.

The double doors to my house were opened immediately by my men, allowing me to walk past.

Given the day and the time, I immediately walked past the grand marble staircase—heading toward the formal living room.

Where Ivan sat in front of a chessboard, waiting for me.

Nikolai was off to the side of the room, in the midst of handling a phone call.

I sat down silently in front of Ivan, who already had a glass of vodka waiting for me.

But I didn't take my first sip until I made my first move.

The first move always sets the tone for how the game will go.

And even after a few turns, it was clear how this would play out.

We still continue to finish the chess match anyway—one that I always seem to win.

But Ivan appreciates the challenge.

He can beat everyone but me, so it gives him motivation.

"Via," Nikolai suddenly said, lowering the phone from his ear as he walked over to us.

I hummed in response, not bothering to glance up from the chess board.

"There's formal dinner tonight," Nikolai explained as I moved my next chess piece, "Your attendance is required."

I immediately glanced up from the board, locking eyes with Nikolai, "Says who?" I said, my words easily sounding like a threat.

They were.

"The executor," Nikolai quickly explained.

And suddenly my words were no longer threatening.

I was no longer stiff either.

Yet I still clenched my jaw, fighting back any trace of a reaction.

"Da," I mumbled tightly, moving my next chess piece, "Checkmate."

And before Ivan could respond, I stood from my chair and grabbed my glass of vodka to finish off.

Once every drop of the burning liquid was gone from the glass, I set it back down with a clatter and backed away from them both.

"I get car ready for six, da?" Nikolai clarified as I continued walking toward the hallway.

"Da," I said, feeling the burn of both their analyzing stares.

They think I'm mad.

Partially so.

Sevan is playing games.

She didn't text when she landed—she hasn't texted at all.

She knows what she's doing.

So da, I am mad.

But I'm also...

Nyet.

I refuse to be excited about something of this nature.

But fuck, am I excited.

I can feel the knots growing in my stomach—how my chest tightens every time I envision how this dinner will go.

Is this business?

I smirked slightly to myself, shaking my head a few times.

Of course, it is.

It always is with Sevan.

But I can make it harder to do business.

At least for her.

So I began getting ready immediately, taking my time in and outside of the shower to make sure every inch of my skin nearly shined against the light.

Then I pulled on my robe and focused on my hair.

I curled it into loose waves, creating more of a messy look with my hair.

But fuck did it look so good on me.

Almost in an effortless way.

Next, I focused on my makeup, keeping it light but still making sure my contour was sharp and my blush added a flush to my face.

My lashes were coated and lengthened by the black mascara that highlighted my green eyes.

Last, I finished with highlighter to give me a glow—and then my favorite lip combo.

It was a brownish-pink liner with lipstick and a gloss to top it off.

I quickly slid my silk robe off, walking into my closet where my outfit was laid out.

It was a nude long-sleeve dress with pearls attached all over it.

The neckline emphasized my chest and the short length of the dress left my long legs on display.

But it's what I wore underneath that mattered.

Considering the dress is double layered you couldn't see it through the nude, but it was a certain lacy emerald material.

One gifted to me just yesterday.

I sighed contently, eyeing my five inch Valentino heels that I wore with purpose.

The only thing left to do was accessorize with layered diamond necklaces and bracelets—slipping on a diamond banded ring to match.

And once I sprayed myself in my favorite perfume, I was walking out of my bedroom—my heels clicking precisely as I walked down the hallway.

My dogs immediately ran toward me, hearing and seeing my presence.

Which made me halt my steps, leaning down to show them the love and affection they always deserve.

I was already ten minutes behind, but I liked the idea of being late.

It shows she doesn't have the power to demand me to be somewhere at a certain time.

So I took the time to pet my dogs—more than usual.

Until I leaned up and continued walking down the hallway with them clinging to my side.

My men awaited me at the bottom of the stairs where Nikolai and Ivan also stood.

"The car is ready," Nikolai immediately told me as I made it to the bottom of the stairs, "We go distribute tonight's shipment."

I nodded, "Collect profits too," I specified, walking past them both to head out to the running car.

My driver opened the back door for me immediately, allowing me to slide into the backseat where I got comfortable.

Even if I suddenly felt on fucking edge.

It was a tick that wouldn't go away.

So I did the only logical thing and made myself a glass of vodka.

Which managed to smoothen out my nerves slightly.

Well, as much as it could with only a twelve-minute drive.

I counted the minutes.

Until we pulled in front of the hotel that had the familiar rooftop restaurant.

I was out of the car before my driver could open the door, immediately walking into the restaurant as my men quickly caught up with me.

They nearly had to throw their keys to the valet, following behind me into the historic hotel.

Where we headed up to the highest floor.

And with each level that we passed, I anxiously tapped the tip of my heel against the floor.

But eighty-five floors was enough to drive me mentally insane, feeling my ears pop as the elevator grew higher.

Until finally—

It dinged.

"You leave, I handle dinner alone," I told my men as I stepped off the elevator.

The last thing I wanted to do was walk inside the restaurant with them by my side.

And my men understood that—immediately nodding in acknowledgment as I walked further past the elevators.

The hostess waited at the restaurant entrance, contently smiling as her dark eyes fell on me.

"Koslov," I told her, barely stopping for her to acknowledge me.

Instead, I impatiently walked over to the wide circular table.

Where I spotted her short dark hair immediately.

It wasn't gelled back for once, instead, it was almost messy—but in the most attractive way.

It looked soft, shiny even.

She wore her usual blazer and black shirt underneath—and even with her seated I knew she most likely wore matching pants and loafers.

Her face was bare and glowy and her eyes—

Were already on me.

And her stare looked visibly restrained, almost as if she wanted to openly stare at my body but couldn't with everyone seated around her.

I drew in a visible breath as I—

Glanced away from her?

What the fuck?

Why am I looking away from her?

And why the fuck can't I look back at her?

"Zinovia," her familiar voice coated the air around me like loud shattering glass—unable to focus on anything else.

I hummed tightly, "Present," I mumbled as I sat down in my chair that the nearby server immediately pulled out.

"You made it Koslov," Dima said as I immediately grabbed the menu to look at.

But only to avoid her eyes that almost burned so harshly into me.

"I wouldn't miss it," I said almost sarcastically, analyzing the menu as the other leaders at the table began conversing again.

I clenched my jaw—so tightly that I considered if it would break.

Until finally—

I glanced back up, meeting her dark eyes immediately.

And this time Sevan was the one who drew in a deep breath, rolling her shoulders back as her eyes clung to mine.

Unlike last time, I couldn't pull my eyes away from hers.

I didn't want to look away.

Which made me wonder who the fuck I had turned into.

What the fuck is this?

Her being away was supposed to be beneficial.

It was not.

Not when all we could do was stare at each other like something in a fucking museum.

It was nauseating.

It also made me cross my legs tightly together during the entirety of dinner.

I couldn't tell you a single thing they discussed, and luckily I didn't have to add anything to the conversation since everyone is used to my silence.

I used actions instead.

Drinking my martini as I dared to meet her stare again—or eating my food a certain way.

A sensual way almost.

But also in the most subtle way.

One that made Sevan draw in a deep breath every time.

It was satisfying.

Because she deserved nothing less.

But I wanted more.

So I subtly adjusted my neckline, flashing only a hint of the green lace underneath.

Which her dark eyes immediately glanced down to, noticing the lace immediately even if it was barely exposed.

I raised a brow as soon as Sevan sharply stood from her chair, scraping the marble floors as she set her cloth napkin down.

"I'll be back," she bluntly said to everyone, who nodded and carried on with their conversation.

Meanwhile, I had to fight the urge not to follow her.

Because I refuse to make the first moves—or to do anything at all.

This is all her.

Not me.

So I sat stiffly in my chair.

For a total of fifteen minutes—I counted the minutes yet again.

Everyone had ordered dessert, but I skipped out, barely even touching my dinner.

"This cake is fucking incredible," one of them said, but I didn't even bother keeping up with the conversation.

I was zoned out, eyeing my martini glass as I listened to the nearby clock tick.

Until suddenly, I felt her presence pass me.

Along with her familiar cologne that I couldn't help but inhale with intention.

Until she finally sat back in her seat, looking almost content?

I furrowed my brows almost immediately, wondering what Sevan had done.

Especially since she wouldn't meet my stare.

It made my jaw naturally tighten, nearly snatching my separate bill from the waitress who passed them out to everyone.

For once, I willingly glanced away from Sevan, opening the leather book with my receipt.

But my bill had already been paid.

And then there was a card in the left pocket of the leather book.

A hotel room keycard.

I suddenly glanced up from the leather book, immediately meeting her eyes that were now on me.

Until I drew in a deep breath, squeezing my thighs together as I subtly slid the card from the book and closed it.

Sevan stood from the table first once everyone's bills were paid, shaking their hands and saying various things.

I remained seated, even with everyone standing, sipping on my martini.

"Take care Koslov," Dima said as the others nodded, saying various things.

Which earned a firm nod from me, watching as they walked away with Sevan.

Who eyed me almost with impatience.

Especially since I purposely remained seated.

But I decided to make her wait.

Even if it left me impatient too.

Fifteen minutes to be exact.

That was the longest I could fucking last until I sharply stood from the empty table.

I walked out of the restaurant at a quicker pace than normal.

But with each step, I could feel something in me running thin.

How my hands twitched by my sides.

Or the way my breathing grew more wavered.

The room she booked was only one floor down on the eighty-fourth floor.

Yet, the elevator ride felt like it lasted minutes, imagining so many scenarios.

Explicit scenarios.

Until the doors dinged open—immediately heading down the long hallway.

Where a door was situated at the end.

But it was also the presidential suite.

I clenched my jaw as soon as I stopped in front of the door, drawing in the deepest breath of my life as I held the card to the door handle scanner.

And as soon as it clicked, beeping with a green light—I almost felt dizzy.

Like I was on a high that this all had put me on.

That she had put me on.

But it was nothing compared to the goosebumps that rolled down my spine, meeting her dark eyes as she walked over to me.

Each step was impatient, especially as the door fell shut behind me.

Blyat.