Chapter 3

Andrei stood in the balcony of his room, the cold breezes of the night air rustling his hair as he gazed out upon the city. He held a glass of luxury wine in his hand, the brand a favorite of his, and sipped it slowly as he took in the view.

The city lights twinkled below him, and the sound of the traffic drifted up to him like a distant hum. Andrei felt a sense of power and control as he stood there, looking out over the city that he had grown up in.

He decided to walk down the hall, the soft carpet muffling his footsteps as he made his way through the darkened corridors. The mansion was quiet, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath his feet.

He turned a corner, and the hallway stretched out before him, lined with portraits of his ancestors.

As he approached the stairs, he saw a figure standing at the bottom, looking up at him. Andrei's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the figure as Kai.

"What are you doing up?" Andrei asked, his voice low and even.

Kai looked up, at him . "I couldn't sleep," he replied, his voice neutral.

Andrei walked up to Kai, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Want to have a drink then?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

Kai hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he replied, "But, sir—"

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Come on, Kai. It's not like you can't have drink just because I'm heir of Andreyev, is it?, he added, a hint of menace lurking beneath the surface.

Kai's expression remained cautious, but he nodded slowly. "Okay, sir. But just one drink."

He grinned, leading Kai to a small bar in the corner of the room. He poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to Kai.

"What do you think of my brother?" Andrei asked, his voice low and smooth as he leaned back in his chair.

He hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "You've been here since our teenage years," Andrei added, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his face.

Kai's mind flashed back to his time working for the Andreyev family. He had never seen his brother and him together grow but he thought maybe he had also became a rebellious teenager into a powerful and calculating young man somewhere.

"I think your brother might be a complex person," Kai replied finally, choosing his words carefully.

Andrei expression didn't change, but Kai sensed a flicker of emotion behind his eyes. "Go on," he said, his voice neutral.

He look directly towards Kai, his gaze piercing. "And what do you think of me?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

Kai's heart skipped a beat as he met Andrei's gaze. "I think you're a very intelligent and resourceful person, sir," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kai's skin prickled with unease as he wondered what Andrei was really asking. Was he testing him, or was he genuinely interested in Kai's opinion?

"Hm" Andrei gave him a small reply, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his face.

Kai felt a sense of uncertainty wash over him. Had he said something wrong? Was he displeased with his response?

The silence between them stretched out, the only sound the soft ticking of the clock on the mantle. Kai shifted uncomfortably in his seat, wondering what he should do next.

Finally, Andrei spoke up, his voice low and smooth. "I think we've talked enough for tonight, Kai," he said. "You can go now."

Kai nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He stood up and said, "I shall leave then, sir." He slightly bowed down, his eyes cast downward in respect.

Andrei watched through narrowed eyes as he walked away, his broad shoulders and confident stride a testament to the man's strength and authority.

As Kai disappeared from view, he turned back to the window, his eyes scanning the gardens below. The moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist in the darkness.

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