Snow was falling softly over Moscow, quieting the city and turning the streets into a silent painting. You walked along the cobblestone path, your black coat reaching mid-calf, your long black socks peeking just above your boots, and your scarf wrapped snugly around your neck. Your hair rested gently over your shoulders, moving with the cold breeze. You looked cute—almost unreal—against the winter backdrop.

You were delighted; everything around you felt magical. The old buildings, the golden street lamps, the soft fog of people’s breath… even the sound of your steps on the snow had its own rhythm. All you needed was a picture to capture the moment.

When you lifted your head to look for someone to take it… you saw him.

A tall man, striking features, and a black suit that matched the color of your coat so perfectly it felt planned by fate. His grey eyes studied you long before you even dared to speak.

You approached him shyly and tried your best to say a short phrase in Russian. He raised an eyebrow, amused, before replying in a language you understood:

“Of course… I can take your photo.”

His voice was deep and calm, like snowfall with no sound.

You stood in front of the small cathedral behind you, and he lifted your phone in his large hands. While taking photos, he looked at you more than he looked at the screen—captivated by your foreign features, your soft smile, the sweet way you adjusted your scarf like a character lost inside a romance novel.

And because you were busy posing… you didn’t notice what he did.

With a subtle movement of his fingers, he opened your contacts list. Tapped “Add new contact.”Entered his number.Then locked your phone again.

His face didn’t change, but when he handed the phone back, there was a faint, unreadable smile on his lips:

“If you ever need more pictures… I’m always close by.”

You didn’t know then that Alexei Vorobyov wasn’t just a handsome stranger.He was the head of the Russian mafia—a man who never looked twice at anyone…except you, in the cold air, with your black coat and small, delicate features that melted a piece of his ruthless world.