Irish Promises

Chapter Twenty

Irvin

I sit and listen whilst Anastasia goes into details about everything she's managed to pull together so far, and I have to give it to her she's definitely done a good job. Which I wasn't expecting at all.

I also wasn't expecting to be genuinely interested either, before she came up I couldn't have cared any less about the ball or the cause behind it. It was all just rouse to get close to her without the prying eyes of the brothers. 

But as she goes on becoming more animated with every word and new ideas springing to mind now she knows the cause I have to admit that I'm a lot more interested than I thought I would be. I actually pay attention and find her enthusiasm riveting. 

I always knew she was unique, there's an air to her that sucks you in. An innocence and optimism towards life that most people in this world we're in don't have. 

I was already enthralled by her but I can now see how she has the brothers so sucked in. 

She's beautiful and confident without even being aware of it, and when she's like this it's so easy to set her apart from others. 

"I like the hair" I say as she tucks a strand of it behind her ear as she continues to throw idea's at me. 

She's no longer sitting across from me, now she occupies the seat next to me with my arm slung across the back of it. Sweet floral perfume wafting over to me every time she moves. 

Blushing she tucks her hair behind her ear again and her eyes dart my way as if she's too scared to fully look at me as she replies. 

"Thank you, it was a bit of a mishap that turned out well in the end" she says on a breathy chuckle and then proceeds to attempt to shuffle herself in her chair to put some distance between us. 

She's uncomfortable around me now, like she's too scared to be close to me out of fear of what she might do if she is. 

She doesn't trust herself and that tells me even though it's friendship she wants she can't deny there's more to it than that. I fluster her, make her doubt her own actions and that I can work with. 

"You never told me what it was that you thought I did?" I ask referring to the text she sent me a couple of days ago. 

Her silence to my response being the main reason I had Zara set up this lunch. They've clearly had enough influence to make her question whether it was me and I need to put them doubts to rest as soon as possible if my plan is going to work. 

Especially if she's to come back willingly. 

Although if I have to I will use force. One way or another when I leave to go back to Russia she will be coming with me. I'd just rather her be compliant so I enjoy the look of their faces when they realise they've well and truly lost her. 

She blusters slightly but quickly composes herself as she shifts in her seat yet again. 

"Oh it was nothing, it doesn't matter" she says keeping her eyes locked onto the papers in front of her. 

Bringing my hand up to her chin I turn her head towards me. As soon as my fingers touch her skin she sucks in a breath much like she has done any other time I've brushed against her. 

"It's just something the guys are dealing with" she breathes not pulling away from my touch. "Really it's nothing" she then says.

When I lean in she still doesn't pull away but her eyes do widen. She thinks I'm going to kiss her and I would if I didn't feel it was too soon. 

The tension needs to build so that when I do she doesn't pull away. 

"That wasn't me" I say sternly, my eyes flicking down to her lips briefly then back up to those dark pools of hers. 

She blinks a couple of times, her cheeks flushing and then she seems to come to her senses and pulls away. 

"You know?" she asks her brows pinching together and there's that little edge of doubt. 

"Of course I know, I have to have a vested interest in any difficulties them or Rossi are having. It could affect my dealings" I explain and I can see the cogs working away as she takes in what I say. "But because of the agreement in place and out of respect for you I wouldn't make a move like that, like I've already explained to Anastasia I'm here to be amicable" 

"They don't trust you" she admits like it's more of a reminder to herself than anything else. 

"I know" I sigh leaning back in my chair my fingers gently stroking her back and making her shudder. "But I don't care about their trust, it's yours that I care about" 

My words take a moment to sink in but I see the moment they do, her eyes meet mine and she nods. 

"I do trust you" she admits and I have to hide my smirk. 

Whatever doubts they'd managed to put in her head I've managed to unravel in a matter of hours. This is all a little too easy to achieve and part of me wants to feel guilty for her but it doesn't happen. 

I have a goal in mind and I don't particularly care what methods I have to use to get what I want. 

Especially when it's her that I want. 

For the next hour or so she continues to sit beside me going back to discussing the details of the ball and despite the fact I'll be late for my meeting with the others I don't attempt to cut her short. 

I sit by her side my fingers occasionally brushing against her back as I tell her how much of a great job she's doing. 

Nothing but praise and encouragement coming from me. 

All of which she soaks up like a sponge.