Personal Concern

Nikolai POV

I stepped out of her office, the door closing behind as I stepped into the quiet hallway feeling accomplished. I stood there for about three seconds before any further step.

I took the elevator down, my hands in my pocket as I thought of the way Anastasia carefully read the contract, reading every clause. She's meticulous I'll give her that. Not showing any atom of fear or weakness.

Satisfaction coursed through me at the thought of keeping her by my side, and making her realize never to have messed with me in the first place

No one, not even a woman would dare make me feel disposable like she did.

I got to the parking garage, seeing Elias waiting for me by the car. I got into the back seat of the car, while Elias sat at the driver's seat.

“I need you to bury the footage, it shouldn't be accessible or traceable either.” He nodded in response as he started driving.

Elias knew better than to ask questions about why I was taking such a drastic steps.

“And also prepare the penthouse guest room, Temporarily,”

He looked at me through the rearview mirror. “Yes, temporarily.”

He grabbed his phone, typing while driving at the same time, careful not to lose total focus on the road.

I looked through the window as we drove through the city of london. The city looks the same as it always does. Everything has been quite boring until her.

Anastasia.

My mind instantly replaying the scene of Anastasia reading the contract, she wasn't just skimming through it or performing, she read through it. I bet she was looking for an exit out of it.

Watching her pretty lips curl into a frown, her eyes blazing with rage all I could think about was how hot she could look, pressed against the wall, screaming my name.

I smirked, my dick going hard at the mere thought it her.

I also couldn't help but think about the first time I met her.

The way she was seated on the barstool in Monaco gulping down alcohol like it was nothing. I had been watching her for twenty minutes and the one thing that amused me the most was the fact that when everyone in the room decided that I should be the one to choose them, she chose me.

What baffled me the most was the fact that she just left, no note, no phone number just cash on my night stand like I was someone she had hired to satisfy her sexual desires. No woman had ever made me feel that disposable before.

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‎‎I had spent two months trying to find her. I continually told myself that it was about the briefcase until the briefcase actually became relevant. Before that it was something else entirely.

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We got to the penthouse, I walked into my study, poured myself a drink.

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‎ I just stood by the window doing the thing I usually do when a situation requires recalibration, which is hold very still and think it through completely.

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I thought about what six months living with Anastasia would be like. Would it be rough? Would she hate even more? Would she beg on her knees just to be with me?

None of that really mattered I had arranged the terms that will give me proximity and time.

I recognize the fact that proximity and time is exactly what i need, not because I have a plan beyond that, but because every instinct within me says that she requires patience and I have so much of it when it truly  matters.

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‎The bedroom? It's just a facade. I only told Elias to prepare the guest room because i knew she would need to feel like she had a choice in that specific thing.

My intention? Is for her to end up in my own room. But I need her to want it, to beg for it and I've got just the magic for it.

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Elias knocking of the door of the study room snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I turned to face him, dropping the wine glass on the table.

“Have you carried out the tasks I gave to you?”

“Yes sir! The footage is secured, the guest room is prepared and the press contact is on standby for the engagement announcement whenever you're ready,”

“Hold off the announcement for now,” Taking the glass wine and sipping from it.

“When she gets settled in, then we can move forward with the announcement,”

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‎Elias clears his throat as though he was itching to say something.

“What is it Elias?” Putting down the glass wine on the table.

“It's very considerate of you to hold off on the announcement  of the engagement sir.”

I scoffed at his words. “I'm not fucking considerate. It's strategic on my part, nothing more.”

He looked like he didn't agree to what I had just said. Elias always had an opinion of his own but he knew when to cross the line and when not to.

“Can I ask a question sir?”

“Go ahead,”

“Not to disrespect you or anything of such, this is out of personal concern for you,” he paused, reading my face for emotions that would give him go ahead.

I placed my hands into my pocket. “What is it Elias?”

‎‎

“Do you think this arranged marriage is wise sir? Have you thoroughly considered what will happen after six months if the terms do not evolve?”

I shot him a look that said ‘Know your place’ which he understood immediately. I was in good mood today I wasn't going to ruin it with Elias petty concerns.

“Make sure her closet space is adequate, and get the fuck out of here.”

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‎‎Elias leaves immediately.

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I go back to my desk, opened the bottom drawer and take out a single photograph, the one Elias had sourced from the Monaco's club external security footage. It looks grainy and from a distance.

‎‎

I take one long look at the picture, before putting it back in the drawer‎ and gulping down the remaining drink.

I came to the conclusion that I've been circling around for the last two months. I wasn't going to tell her that I've been looking for her ever since we met in Monaco and that the briefcase was secondary