Footsteps echoed through the quiet mansion as Dmitri climbed the staircase toward Nik's room. He had just come back from his conversation with Emil. Every part of him wanted to see Ash, but duty pulled him here first—to check on Nik's condition.
Just as he reached for the handle, the door creaked open. A woman stepped out, balancing a bowl of water and a folded towel. Dmitri froze for a moment before his lips curved into a smile.
"Kelly?" he said, a little surprised but warmly.
Kelly frowned and, without a word, grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the corner of the hallway, away from Nik's room. Setting the bowl down on the floor, she folded her arms across her chest.
With raised brows, he asked softly, " What are you doing here?"
"You're really asking me what I'm doing here?" she said, her brow furrowing deeper.
Dmitri's smile faltered. He scratched the back of his neck, eyes dipping to the floor. "I… things came up," he muttered, his tone apologetic.
Kelly let out a sigh, the sharpness in her expression softening as she looked at him. Something about the sorrow on his face made it impossible to stay mad.
Seeing her calm down, Dmitri tilted his head, his grin returning. "So, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the compound?"
"I had something to handle here," Kelly replied, her arms lowering. "And since someone refused to answer his calls—" she shot him a look, "—Alexie asked me to look after Nik. He said something about Nik not feeling comfortable around him."
"Uncomfortable?" Dmitri repeated under his breath, a crease forming on his forehead. Kelly only nodded, then bent to pick up the bowl again.
"Well, since you're here, I'll head back," she said briskly. "Something urgent came up, so Alexei had to deal with it." She shifted the bowl to one arm, already lifting her free hand in a casual wave as she turned to leave.
Dmitri pouted. "Wait."
Kelly stopped, brows raised in a silent question.
He tapped his finger against his jaw, eyes glinting with mischief.
Kelly couldn't help but smile, shaking her head with a sigh. "At your age, you're still asking me for a peck?"
"Yes," Dmitri said shamelessly, leaning closer with a grin.
She gave in, brushing her lips lightly against his jaw before pulling back.
His grin widened, boyish and unguarded.
"I'll never get tired of it."
Kelly chuckled softly, her earlier frustration completely gone. "You're impossible."
With that, she turned, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Left alone, Dmitri touched the spot on his jaw, smiling to himself before glancing back at Nik's door. The playfulness slipped from his face, replaced by quiet concern.
*************
Nik lay on his bed, facing the wall, the back of his head throbbing faintly from the fall. He heard the door creak open and turned, expecting to see Kelly—but when his eyes landed on Dmitri, his expression darkened. With a frown, he quickly turned away again, his back to him.
Dmitri stepped inside quietly, pulling the chair closer to the bed before sitting down. He studied his brother's still form, his voice soft.
"Nik."
No answer.
He leaned forward, placing a hand gently on Nik's shoulder. "Hey, Nik."
"Can you just leave me alone?" Nik muttered without turning.
Dmitri let out a sigh, rubbing his forehead. "Still angry… because I didn't tell you about the video?"
Silence.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Dmitri tried again. "I already apologized, and I—I planned on showing it to you."
Nik suddenly turned to face him, his emerald eyes burning with frustration. "When?" he shouted.
Dmitri flinched at the outburst, his head lowering as he bit his lip, guilt pressing down on him.
Nik's voice cracked with hurt as he went on. "If I hadn't come to your room that day, you'd still be hiding it from me, wouldn't you?"
Dmitri swallowed hard.
"I thought it wasn't… that important."
Nik's eyes widened.
"Not that important? Dmitri, are you serious?"
He lowered his gaze, his voice breaking.
"I'm sorry, Nik."
Nik turned away again, choosing silence over more anger.
But Dmitri couldn't bear it. He climbed onto the bed, wrapping his arms around his brother from behind. He pressed his forehead into Nik's back, his voice muffled but desperate.
"You know I don't like it when you're angry with me."
Nik let out a long sigh.
"…Fine. But next time, don't hide things like that from me."
Hearing those words, Dmitri lifted his head, relief washing over him. He smiled faintly, brushing his hand over Nik's hair—only for Nik to hiss in pain.
"Ah—!" Nik winced.
Dmitri jerked in alarm, sliding off the bed and rushing back to his chair.
"Sorry, Nik—I didn't mean to hurt you anywhere," he said quickly.
"It's fine," Nik muttered, though the frown still lingered.
That's when a mischievous spark flickered in Dmitri's eyes. A smirk curved his lips as he leaned forward.
"Hey, Nik… how did you feel when you were kissing him?"
Nik's eyes widened, his ears burning red. With a frustrated huff, he yanked the blanket over his face. "I—I wasn't in my right senses!" His muffled voice was shaky, further proving his embarrassment.
Dmitri chuckled and tugged the blanket down just enough to reveal Nik's flushed face.
"Ohhh, look at you. Red as a tomato." He burst into laughter, unable to resist teasing him further.
"Get out of my room!" Nik snapped, covering his face again.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry!" Dmitri said between chuckles, raising his hands in surrender.
But before Nik could say more, the door creaked open. Alexei stepped inside, his face tense.
"Sir Nik," he said urgently, "we have a problem. All the investors from the drug unit just pulled out their shares."
The room fell into sudden silence. Dmitri's laughter died instantly, replaced by a dark frown.
**************
📝Author's Note💌
Hey everyone! 👋
Thank you so much for reading and enjoying the story 💖 Your support means the world to us! If you'd like to help the novel grow, please consider sending a Power Stone ✨🥹.
Love you guys always.
Xoxo,
QuillQueens ✍️