Page 105 of Taken By My Grumpy Pakhan

There were a lot of things tonight could be, and one thing it wasn’t, and that was business, but I’d learned not to look a gift horse in the mouth and enjoy what it brought.

I didn’t examine it too closely. Instead, I took a page from Anna’s book and let myself relax and enjoy the moment without obsessing over what it meant.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kazimir

I wasn’t a creature of sentiment and nostalgia, nor did I believe in memorabilia. I experienced what was in my presence and if, for any reason, I was in the mood for a repeat, I simply recreated the experience, but one look at her face and I knew this was a moment I wanted to immortalize.

I had questioned my decision and was a hair's breadth from backing out last minute, but looking at her now, I knew it would’ve been the worst mistake of my life.

Divine was hardly the word to describe her, but it did better than the generic adjectives. That dress wrapped around her in a way that flattered her curves without being vulgar, and the shoes? I never knew I had a thing for long legs in heels till I saw her strutting towards me.

“I look like a child in Disneyland.”

My lips tilted. She did look like a ten-year-old riding her first wave of dopamine, but it was the most unguarded and most pure I’ve seen her too.

“You look perfect.” The words materialized before I could give the permission.

She looked at me, eyes searching my face for a very brief moment before returning back to the picture.

“Mail it to me and make sure it retains its quality.”

I cocked a brow. “I take you on one date and you start giving me orders?”

The cast had gathered on the stage, but I knew they weren’t the reason she couldn’t look back at me.

Even through the dim lights, I could see the tips of her ears glowing red and her hair forming a soft curtain around her face.

My smirk turned into a full smile, but I didn’t bother her anymore.

The opera started and God knows I tried everything possible to follow through, but I simply couldn’t.

Every scene drew a reaction from her, and her soft sighs, giggles and sharp intakes of breath slowly became my own opera.

And by the time the show ended, I could hardly recall the names of the characters, but I could easily recount her expression to every scene and the face she made when it got to a part she didn’t particularly like.

“Did you see how he admitted to killing him?” Gen asked as we made our way out. “I expected him to convey it with more emotion. I hate Burr so much, but the character was so handsome I didn’t know how to feel.”

My smile turned sour faster than a breath freezes in winter.

“They could’ve made Alexander more good-looking and then I could’ve hated Burr to his best potential.”

“Handsome?”

“Yeah,” she continued, barely looking my way. “I hate when villains are good-looking. Makes it difficult to hate them.”

Against my will and to Lev’s irritation, Nico had once told an elaborate story of how he preferred to watch action, horror or straight-up animation with women because he couldn’t stand listening to them moan about a handsome actor.

I’d thought it was ridiculous to pay attention to something so insignificant and be threatened by a bloke on camera, but here I was, contemplating walking back and redesigning the face of whoever the fuck Burr was.

“It was a great…” Genevieve stopped in her tracks, peering at me with what looked like a mix of worry and confusion. “What is wrong with your face?”

“My face is fine, or would you prefer a different look to it?”

Her frown deepened. “What’s with the attitude?"

My jaw tightened mostly because it was a very good question. “I do not have an attitude.”