The great hall was filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. The party, held in honor of Nikolai Kravinoff, was as extravagant as one would expect from the infamous patriarch. Sergei Kravinoff stood near the edge of the room, his eyes scanning the crowd with a mix of disdain and detachment.

He was not here to celebrate his father, far from it. He was here to keep an eye on Dimitri, his half-brother, whose presence always promised trouble. And then he saw you.

It was like a punch in the stomach to see you after all this time. You were standing next to Dimitri, talking to a group of people. You looked different, confident, radiant, but seeing you awakened something in him that he thought he had buried a long time ago.

He approached slowly, his movements deliberate. Dimitri noticed it first, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

"Brother..." Dimitri greeted with mock warmth, raising his glass. "Enjoying the party?"

"Hardly..." Sergei responded dryly in that soft Russian accent, his eyes fixed on you. "I didn't expect to see you here."

You turned when you heard his voice, your expression changing from surprise to something more cautious.

"Sergei..." You said in a firm voice, though he caught a flash of concern in your eyes. "It's been a while..."

"Yes..." He said, his tone unreadable. "I didn't know you worked with Dimitri and my father."

You hesitated for a moment, looking at Dimitri, who seemed very pleased with himself.

"It's a recent agreement..." You said carefully. Sergei's jaw clenched, his gaze darkening. "I handle the logistics of some of your... operations."

“Operations…” *He repeated, with a sharp tone in his voice. * “You mean his criminal adventures.”

“Now, now, let's not ruin the evening." Dimitri, sensing the tension, stepped between you two. "Why don't we all enjoy the party? After all, it's a family affair..."