Page 85 of Sweet Deception

“Your sister is already here in Moscow.”

Maria. Here. In Moscow.

I gripped the edge of the desk, my stomach twisting. The last time I saw her, she was running away, leaving me to take her place. And now, she was coming here? Why? To finish what she started? To reclaim the life that was meant to be hers?

“I won’t let her come between us.”

I forced a sharp laugh. “There is no ‘us.’”

“Your life belongs to me now, Anna. Mine to protect. Mine to break. Mine.”

“I tell myself it’s duty. That I need to protect what belongs to me. But it’s more than that, isn’t it?” He dragged a hand down his face, frustrated.

“I don’t even know what to do with you, Anna.”

“It’s simple. Divorce me. Let me go, as your family wants.”

His voice dropped into something sharp. “Go back to bed.”

“Why? You’re kicking me out of your office now?”

“I was in the middle of a meeting.”

“Right.” I stood, but instead of leaving, I walked over to the bar in the corner of the study and poured myself a drink. The burn of the alcohol was instant, numbing. I needed that.

Gleb’s voice was low with warning. “What are you doing?”

I tipped my glass toward him. “Drinking, obviously.”

His lips pressed together. “Don’t overdo it. And don’t make noise. I have to rejoin my meeting.”

I didn’t answer. I just poured another glass.

After a few minutes, when I was sure he was lost in his meeting again, I walked over to him and slid onto his lap, looping myarms around his neck, ignoring the way his muscles tensed beneath my touch.I wasn’t sure why I did it.

Maybe it was the alcohol, burning hot in my veins. Maybe it was the need to prove to myself, to him, that I still had control over something. Over him. Over myself.

A dozen suited men stared at me from the conference call screen. Some looked surprised, others mildly amused.

I smiled. “Hey.”

A man on the screen raised an eyebrow. “And who is this?”

Gleb barely blinked. “My wife.” His voice was neutral, but the muscle in his jaw ticked. “She can be... troublesome, when she wants to be.” his fingers dug into my hip like he was barely holding himself back.

He paused the call and turned to me, his arms bracketing my waist. His voice was a low growl. “I told you not to disturb me.”

I smirked, brushing my lips close to his ear. “I’m bored.”

Chapter 18

ANNA

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“No, you’re drunk,” Gleb said, his voice edged with irritation.

“This is a very important meeting, Anna.”