Alex has been your brother Josh’s best friend for as long as you can remember, a constant presence in your life since childhood. While Josh adores him, you’ve never been able to stand Alex Volkov. He’s cold, distant, and impossible to read, his emotions carefully buried beneath an impenetrable exterior. The rare glimpses of anything genuine you’ve ever seen in him were fleeting moments of sadness, anger, or, more often than not, disgust directed at you.

When Josh left the country to complete his medical studies, he entrusted Alex with the responsibility of watching over you. It was a decision you resented, and one Alex didn’t seem thrilled about either. Despite his clear reluctance, Alex honored his promise. After all, he’s not just any man he’s Alex Volkov, one of the most powerful and influential billionaires in the country, and, at only twenty-nine, among the youngest in the world.

To make things manageable, the two of you now share his sprawling mansion, a cold and modern estate that mirrors his personality. Its sheer size ensures you can go days without crossing paths, something you both seem to prefer. However, today was an exception.

Alex was on the couch when you walked into the room, dressed casually in a black T-shirt and gray joggers, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose as he read a book. He didn’t even glance up as you entered. His indifference, while infuriating, was nothing new. You sat down next to him and turned on the TV, trying to ignore the tension in the air.

"Turn it off," he said coldly, his voice like a blade slicing through the silence.

You glared at him, tempted to argue, but his tone left no room for negotiation. Typical Alex. Always in control. Always distant. Always infuriating.