Chapter 5 Fire and Ice

Anya arrived at the Pushkin restaurant distrusting everything, Alexei's invitation had put her on alert, a new beginning? Ha, maybe a new trap.

Alexei was waiting for her at a private table, he looked dangerously attractive in his dark suit, his smile could fool anyone, except Anya who saw the hidden threat behind all that charm.

"You came, I knew you couldn't resist me, darling." He said jokingly, getting up immediately to kiss her cheek, Anya felt it was a false gesture.

Anya moved away from him, ran her hand over his cheek to clean where he had touched.

"Save the falsehoods, Alexei, and tell me once and for all what it is that you want."

He pretended that her words hurt him, in a theatrical gesture he brought his hands to his chest.

"Is it so hard to believe that I want to fix things between us? You are my wife, Anya."

"I am your wife in name only, we both know this marriage is a farce."

Anya crossed her arms over her chest, protecting herself.

"But it doesn't have to be, imagine what we could achieve together, moya zhena, the power that would put the world at our feet." Alexei came closer, lowering his voice to almost a whisper.

"Ha, ha, ha, what about what I want? Have you ever wondered about that? Or is all you care about is getting your way?" Anya laughed humorlessly.

The mask on Alexei's face disappeared for a second, revealing his anger, but he managed to quickly compose himself, turning it into a look of regret.

"You're right, I have been selfish, I admit it, but I am willing to change, to be the husband you deserve, I just need you to give me a chance.

Anya watched him, analyzing him, looking for a trace of a lie in his eyes, but Alexei was a master of manipulation, and she couldn't see it.

"One chance, but at the first sign that this is another one of your twisted games, it's over, I'll leave." She said at last, thinking that maybe things between the two of them could work out.

A strange gleam appeared in Alexei's eyes, he had succeeded.

"You won't regret it, Iyubov moya, I promise."

They sealed that deal with a dinner that was tense, full of double meanings, but Anya knew the truth, that was the beginning of a new game in their twisted game, and she was walking of her own free will into the lion's den, hoping that God would take pity on her soul.

Alexei's phone began to ring insistently, it was her grandfather, Anatoly.

"Is something wrong, grandpa?" She asked, sensing that he was calling her for nothing good.

"In two weeks the Petrov and Ivanov families will meet at the Urals estate, it is time for them to live together as one again after so long, we hope that Anya and you will attend as well."

Alexei clenched his jaw, a weekend with his manipulative wife and poisonous in-laws was just perfect.

"I will talk to Anya, if she accepts we will be there." He promised, while thinking of a way to use this opportunity to her advantage.

Anya had no choice but to accept in order to keep up appearances.

After dinner at the Pushkin restaurant, Alexei and Anya returned to the mansion they shared, a great tension could be felt between them, but also a great desire that they were holding back.

As soon as they crossed the door, Alexei pulled Anya towards him, kissing her passionately, she responded with equal passion, tangling her fingers in his hair, pressing her body against his.

Alexei took her in his arms to carry her to the room, he placed her on the bed and then began to undress her, he immediately took off his clothes and covered her body with his, he began to explore her body with his lips, when he finally sank into her, the room was filled with muffled moans.

They moved together at the same pace, lost in the passion they felt, Alexei brought her to the peak of ecstasy again and again, while she moaned his name, then exhausted and satisfied, they lay next to each other.

Alexei began to kiss Anya's back.

"You are amazing, moya zhena, I can't get enough of you," he murmured and then kissed her shoulder.

Anya snuggled up to him, enjoying the warmth of his body and his closeness, she knew that Alexei was not a romantic man, that his way of expressing himself was through power and sex, but at that moment she wanted to pretend that there was something more between them, something real and lasting.

In the following days they dedicated themselves to giving free rein to their passion, letting themselves be carried away by desire, their nights were of unbridled pleasure.

In the office they let themselves be carried away by a game of seduction and power, as president and vice president, they had to maintain a professional facade, but behind closed doors they gave in to their desires, in moments of passion between kisses and caresses.

Alexei enjoyed provoking Anya, pushing her to the edge of desire, insinuating himself and touching her expertly, Anya despite resisting at first, enjoyed that game, she let herself be carried away by the emotion of the forbidden.

But beneath all that passion, doubts and fears tormented her, Anya could not forget Alexei's true face, and the cruelty of his manipulations, Alexei despite the obsession he had developed for her, was still a cold and calculating man, unable to open his heart.

Still, the two clung to that fragile truce between them, letting themselves be carried away by the fire that burned between them, everything was better than facing the reality of their false marriage.

But the weekend in the Urals had arrived, and as she packed her bags, a strange feeling settled in Anya's chest. Would they be able to keep up that false facade in front of their loved ones?

She had a feeling that this trip would put their relationship to the test. She hoped that they would be able to heal old wounds and build something real and true. Shortly after, they left for the Urals estate.

When they arrived, most of their family members were already there, waiting for them. They greeted them effusively. They all seemed to get along very well, although Alexei and Anya knew that not everything was so wonderful.

To Anya's relief, Katya had not yet arrived. She had no energy to deal with her constant teasing and taunts. Alexey, for his part, was grateful that he did not have to put up with her. She and Misha were an explosive and uncomfortable combination.

The Butler took their suitcases to the room they shared. At night, after dinner, they went up, aware that everyone was watching their behavior as a couple.

"Well, we've already been sleeping together, and we've had interesting nights, it doesn't have to be any different now." Alexei said with an attractive smirk.

Anya blushed, remembering their passionate nights together, Alexei moved in to give her a passionate kiss, soon the room was filled with gasps and muffled moans, in the morning, the dark circles under her eyes betrayed their lack of sleep, when they went down to breakfast they were greeted by snickers.

"Wow, looks like someone had a busy night, is it so good to be newly married, huh?" Nikolai, Alexei's cousin, mocked.

Alexei gave her a cold look in response, restraining himself from not wiping the stupid smile off her face, Anya pretended not to hear, taking refuge in the company of her grandfather, although she couldn't help but blush.

At that moment Katya entered on Misha's arm, the girl was smiling widely, everyone stared at Misha, surprised, after the scandal at the wedding, they did not expect to see him again, his presence was quite uncomfortable for Anya and Alexei.

"Good morning, family, I hope you don't mind that I brought my boyfriend, Misha and I have an important announcement to make." Katya said in a honeyed tone.

Anya paled, feeling nauseous just by looking at them, while Alexei made a disdainful comment. Alexei

"Wow, just look at that, what a surprise, the harpy and the traitor."

"Alexei!" His grandfather called his attention, but Alexei ignored him, his gaze was fixed on Misha, his eyes had a dangerous glint.

"Tell me, have you already told your new girlfriend how you tried to sabotage my wedding? Or would that ruin the farce of her great love?"

Misha blushed, feeling humiliated and furious, but before he could respond, Anya stood up abruptly.

"Excuse me, I don't feel well, I need to get some air."

And with that, he left the dining room, ignoring the murmurs behind him, Alexei cursed under his breath, he knew he should go after her, but a dark part of him gloated at seeing Misha's suffering.

Anya walked around the garden for a while, soon after her grandfather came out to talk to her to calm her down, his words had an effect, the girl thanked him with a big hug, then went straight to her room.

But when she opened the bathroom door, she froze, Alexei was in the shower, but he wasn't alone, he was with Katya, naked, kissing passionately, unaware of her presence.

A loud sob escaped her throat, Alexei and Katya separated abruptly, Alexei's face reflected surprise, instead Katya smiled wickedly.

"Anya.." Alexei took a step towards her, but Anya stepped back, shaking her head.

"I can't believe it, how could you? How could you do this to me with her?" she said as tears ran down her cheeks.